Natural Resources Job Board

Project Title: The Spatial-Temporal Activities, Habitat Selection, and Diet of the Understudied, Species of Greatest Conservation Need, the Western Massasauga Rattlesnake (Sistrurus tergeminus).

 

Start Date: Preferred M.S. enrollment beginning in January 2026.

 

Description: I am seeking TWO highly motivated M.S. students interested in herpetology, spatial ecology, and behavioral ecology to work on a field project involving Western Massasauga Rattlesnakes (Sistrurus tergeminus). These positions will be advised by Dr. Dylan Maag in the Department of Life, Earth, and Environmental Sciences at WTAMU. This project will be a highly collaborative effort requiring both graduate assistants to work simultaneously and with summer field technicians on all aspects of field data collection. Students will then focus separately on the analysis of spatial ecology and hunting behavior/diet, while working together on habitat selection for their theses, manuscripts, and project reports.

 

S. tergeminus is currently a Species of Greatest Conservation Need in Texas and is native to Texas grasslands (one of the most endangered habitats in TX). This project is funded by the Texas Office of the Comptroller through their Endangered Species Management Research. Students will use a combination of mark-recapture, radiotelemetry, animal-borne accelerometry, field videography, habitat sampling, and diet analysis in the field starting in late spring 2026 to early fall 2028 to achieve the following objectives: 1) Obtain basic demographic statistics for the population of S. tergeminus. 2) Estimate the spatial ecology of adult S. tergeminus. 3) Quantify diel and seasonal activity, and species-typical behaviors of adult snakes. 4) Model S. tergeminus habitat selection at multiple scales. 5) Measure critical spatial, temporal, selection, and social variables associated with overwintering. 6) Estimate and measure the snakes’ diets and hunting behaviors.

 

Prospective students should be comfortable working alone and in teams in the field and will be expected to mentor research technicians and undergraduate volunteers throughout the project. Students should also be comfortable with being trained to safety handle venomous snakes with the goal of them handling the snakes themselves. Students should also expect to regularly interact with both TX state biologists and managers, and private landowners throughout the project.

 

Qualifications: B.S. in Biology, Wildlife Biology, Zoology, or a related field is required. Students must meet the qualifications of WTAMU’s graduate program for MS, Biology, https://www.wtamu.edu/academics/college-agriculture-natural-sciences/department-life-earth-environmental-sciences/programs/graduate/biology-graduate-program.html (3.0 GPA in all undergraduate related science courses, etc.). Students must also possess a valid Driver’s License. Experience handling venomous snakes is NOT required but is preferred. Students must be willing to be trained to safely handle venomous snakes and demonstrate proficiency in doing so. Experience working within the R coding language, GIS programs, and radiotelemetry are preferred but not required. Lastly, this project is set to last for 38 months thus, students must be prepared to devote 2.5–3 years towards this project and their MS degree at WTAMU.

 

Compensation: These are fully funded graduate research assistant positions (i.e., no teaching) that comes with a stipend of $26,159–27,794 per year for 6 consecutive semesters, starting in Spring 2026. WTAMU graduate assistants also qualify for a partial tuition waiver and medical insurance coverage. For more information please visit WTAMU’s LEES department webpage, https://www.wtamu.edu/academics/college-agriculture-natural-sciences/department-life-earth-environmental-sciences/index.html, and WTAMU’s Graduate School webpage, https://www.wtamu.edu/academics/graduate-school/index.html. 

 

How to Apply: Interested applicants should submit a single PDF document, which includes the following: 1) A letter of interest. 2) CV. 3) A copy of unofficial transcripts. 4) Contact information for three academic/professional references. Applications should be sent to Dr. Dylan Maag at dmaag@wtamu.edu and include “M.S. MASSASAUGA APPLICATION” in the subject line.

Applications will be reviewed starting on August 4th, 2025 applications submitted after that deadline will be reviewed as first-come-first-served basis until both positions are filled. Interviews (via Zoom or phone) of the short-listed applicants will begin within 2 weeks after the deadline of August 4th, 2025.