MS Assistantship in Wildlife Ecology (bats)
Texas State University (State) | https://www.bio.txst.edu/
Details
Application Deadline:
06/01/2025
Published:
04/07/2025
Starting Date:
8/11/2025
Hours per Week:
40
Salary:
$2,000 per month
Education Required:
Bachelors
Experience Required:
at least 1 year
Location:
San Marcos, Texas
Tags:
Graduate Opportunities
Description
Overview
I am recruiting a highly-motivated M.S. student interested in pursuing a Wildlife Ecology degree at Texas State University to assist in a bat ecology project at various sites in west Texas. Texas State University has >40,000 students and is situated between Austin and San Antonio on the I-35 corridor. The town is home to the beautiful San Marcos River, with headwaters on a Department of Biology property.
The position requires teaching two lab sections during the long semesters with a research assistantship for two summers. Although the State of Texas does not allow for direct tuition waivers, out-of-state students awarded assistantships only pay the Texas resident tuition rate. I am providing $500/month additional to the teaching assistant salary to cover tuition and fee costs. Additional competitive graduate student scholarship opportunities are available annually.
Research Focus
The position requires working with a team of ~6 to mist-net bats across West Texas to assess species distributions, community ecology, and activity. The student also will use acoustic recordings to compare to mist-net captures. Lodging while in the field will be a mix of camping and hotels.
Qualification
A BS degree in wildlife biology/management or closely-related field is required. Mist netting and acoustic experience with bats are strongly preferred. Demonstrated field experience such as capturing and handling bats and driving a 4WD truck is required. The ability to conduct rigorous fieldwork under extreme conditions (e.g., heat, humidity, insects) will be necessary. Excellent communication and time-management skills, a strong work ethic, and attention to detail also are essential. The candidate must also have a valid Texas driver’s license, or be able to obtain a valid Texas driver’s license immediately upon starting. This is a fully-immersive M.S. program and the student must reside in San Marcos when not in the field. The student also is expected to present their work at a variety of conferences and be a part of The Wildlife Society at Texas State University.
Deadline
I am recruiting a highly-motivated M.S. student interested in pursuing a Wildlife Ecology degree at Texas State University to assist in a bat ecology project at various sites in west Texas. Texas State University has >40,000 students and is situated between Austin and San Antonio on the I-35 corridor. The town is home to the beautiful San Marcos River, with headwaters on a Department of Biology property.
The position requires teaching two lab sections during the long semesters with a research assistantship for two summers. Although the State of Texas does not allow for direct tuition waivers, out-of-state students awarded assistantships only pay the Texas resident tuition rate. I am providing $500/month additional to the teaching assistant salary to cover tuition and fee costs. Additional competitive graduate student scholarship opportunities are available annually.
Research Focus
The position requires working with a team of ~6 to mist-net bats across West Texas to assess species distributions, community ecology, and activity. The student also will use acoustic recordings to compare to mist-net captures. Lodging while in the field will be a mix of camping and hotels.
Qualification
A BS degree in wildlife biology/management or closely-related field is required. Mist netting and acoustic experience with bats are strongly preferred. Demonstrated field experience such as capturing and handling bats and driving a 4WD truck is required. The ability to conduct rigorous fieldwork under extreme conditions (e.g., heat, humidity, insects) will be necessary. Excellent communication and time-management skills, a strong work ethic, and attention to detail also are essential. The candidate must also have a valid Texas driver’s license, or be able to obtain a valid Texas driver’s license immediately upon starting. This is a fully-immersive M.S. program and the student must reside in San Marcos when not in the field. The student also is expected to present their work at a variety of conferences and be a part of The Wildlife Society at Texas State University.
Deadline
Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. The candidates are expected to begin in August 2025.
Please send only one PDF file with a cover letter outlining your qualifications, research interests and experiences, copy of all transcripts that also includes coursework and overall GPA, GRE scores (if available), a CV, contact details of three references, and an example of your writing to Dr. Fritts (fritts.sarah@txstate.edu).
Contact
Sarah Fritts
fritts.sarah@txstate.edu (preferred contact method)