Natural Resources Job Board

A graduate assistantship is available at the Ph.D. or M.S. level to study the role of weather patterns on migratory songbird flight behaviors, especially during trans-Gulf crossings, using barometric pressure data loggers. The project will focus on the deployment and recovery of geolocators and potentially other devices on a variety of migratory species, including (but not necessarily limited to) the Prothonotary Warbler, Swainson’s Warbler, and Purple Martin. This study is collaborative with other universities, and although the student will conduct field work in proximity to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, there will be the opportunity to analyze data gathered by partners from other regions. If applying at the Ph.D. level, additional related topics for exploration using these focal species are possible, including, but not limited to migration carry-over effects, trophic connections influenced by hydrology and habitat, and/or demographic processes along urban-rural gradients.

Qualifications: The student must have experience banding songbirds independent of supervision, be willing to work long hours in hot and humid subtropical environments, have strong data organization skills, and have strong oral and written communication skills. Applicants must have completed an undergraduate degree, ideally with a focus in wildlife biology, ecology, or a similar field, with at least a 3.0 GPA. If applying at the Ph.D. level, the completion of an M.S. degree is preferred. Stipends for the M.S. track is $33,000/year and for the Ph.D. track is $36,000/year; tuition is paid. The preferred start date will be January 2026. Equal Employment Opportunity applies to this position.

Please submit the following in an application: a 1-page cover letter stating your qualifications and research interests, a resume or CV, unofficial college transcripts, and the names and contact information for three references. The position will be open until it is filled, but application review will begin 9 September 2025. Please send the application to:

Dr. Erik I. Johnson

School of Renewable Natural Resources

Louisiana State University AgCenter

Baton Rouge, LA, USA

ErikJohnson@agcenter.lsu.edu

 
Selected candidates will be asked to apply to the Graduate School at Louisiana State University.