Natural Resources Job Board

Ph.D. Graduate Assistantship: Thermal imagery-based analyses of fish habitat -University of Maine, Orono

Maine Coop Unit/ University of Maine (State) | https://www1.usgs.gov/coopunits/unit/Maine

Details
Application Deadline:
12/31/2025
Published:
11/19/2025
Starting Date:
after 5/1/2026
Ending Date:
after 9/2/2030
Hours per Week:
at least 40
Salary:
starting at $30,000 per year
Education Required:
Masters
Experience Required:
none
Location:
University of Maine (Orono, Maine)
Tags:
Graduate Opportunities
Description
Responsibilities: The incumbent will develop a research project aimed at understanding the thermal environments experienced by cold water species such as Atlantic salmon and brook trout in Maine.  This may include areas of significant restoration importance, such as the Piscataquis River, and other regions with dams. There will be significant flexibility in developing study questions, and approaches using thermal imagery. Work may be collaboratively developed with national, international and tribal researchers. Experience in field ecology, GIS and database management, are desirable –a willingness to learn is a necessity. Good communication skills are essential.  The incumbent will work with many partners (State of Maine, federal, tribal and NGOs), and be responsible for frequent reporting. The student will be advised by both Drs. Christina Murphy and Joe Zydlewski.  One to two semesters of TA support are anticipated. All interested individuals, including non-traditional and underrepresented groups, are encouraged to apply. 
 
Qualifications: M.S. in biology, ecology, GIS, or similar, quantitative skills, interest in landscape and aquatic science and excellent work ethics. Must have a desire to work in a collaborative and supportive graduate student community.  GPA of 3.2+ is desired.   
 
Salary: $30,000 per year, $3,157 health, and $7,241 tuition (estimated). Funding is renewed annually; 4.5 years is anticipated.  
Closing date: Review will begin December 31, 2025, anticipated starting date of May 1, 2026 or as arranged. 
 
Contact: Please send cover letter, CV, transcripts, three references (names and contact only) and GRE scores/percentiles (optional). Please direct questions and applications to Joe Zydlewski (email josephz@maine.edu) with heading “Thermal”. 
 
Links: https://umaine.edu/mainecoopunit/; https://umaine.edu/graduate/ 
 
About UMaine: The University of Maine, an R-1 institution, is a friendly community in the small and bike-able town of Orono, just up the road from the City of Bangor.  The campus is surrounded by ample forests, bogs, rivers, and lakes set in the famous Hundred-Mile Wilderness of the Appalachian Trail and the spectacular coastline of Acadia National Park.  
 
 
Contact
Joseph Zydlewski
207 581 2853
josephz@maine.edu (preferred contact method)