Natural Resources Job Board

 PROJECT BACKGROUND Delta Waterfowl, in partnership with the Louisiana Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit and Louisiana State University, is seeking a motivated student to undertake a master’s degree project to conduct applied research on moistsoil management strategies at the historic Delta Marsh in Manitoba, Canada. Located on the south shore of Lake Manitoba, Delta Marsh is one of North America’s most storied wetland research sites. In 1979, Delta Waterfowl and Ducks Unlimited Canada established the Marsh Ecology Research Project (MERP), which includes 10 contiguous, 5-hectare wetland cells. Each cell is equipped with dikes and water control structures that allow independent water-level management in each of the 10 cells. 

The successful applicant will use these MERP cells to test how different water management strategies, herbicide applications, and soil manipulations affect soil salinity, vegetation diversity, and vegetation density. Findings from this work will contribute directly to improved wetland management and waterfowl conservation in northern marshes. 

The successful student will work closely with scientists from Delta Waterfowl and Louisiana State University. Fieldwork will begin in late April 2026 at the Delta Marsh in Manitoba, and coursework will commence at Louisiana State University in August 2026. 

 REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS • B.S. in biology, ecology, wildlife management or a related field • Ability to meet admission requirements for Louisiana State University • Strong commitment to conducting high-quality, team-based research 

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS • Previous experience with moist-soil management or wetland habitat studies • Experience identifying wetland vegetation and/or conducting vegetation surveys • Familiarity with waterfowl surveys or habitat-use assessments • Proficiency with data management and statistical software (e.g., R) • Experience operating tractors, ATVs, or water management equipment • Demonstrated ability to work independently in field conditions 

Contact Dr. Drew Fowler (dfowler@agcenter.lsu.edu ), Dr. Andrew Nyman (jnyman@lsu.edu), or Dr. Frank Rohwer (frohwer@deltawaterfowl.org) for more information. To apply, submit a single PDF including a cover letter, CV, academic transcripts, and reference contacts to Dr. Fowler.