Natural Resources Job Board

 

Position Description: 

The Kentucky State University (KYSU) School of Aquaculture and Aquatic Science (SAAS) seeks applicants for a graduate student (M.S.) supported through a research assistantship to start in the fall of 2026. The student will work in Dr. Patrick Erbland’s lab. 

The successful candidate will be expected to conduct research focused on behavioral observation of fish to estimate their level of appetite. The candidate will also develop and build a prototype feeding system that dispenses food based on this appetite estimate. The candidate will focus on low-cost sensors (i.e. video, audio, motion, etc.) The student will be expected to fulfill all KYSU graduate school requirements and assist with other work and SAAS activities. 

Qualifications: 

 Required – B.S. in Engineering, Biology or related field; A valid US driver’s license; Willingness to work long hours (including some weekends and holidays) and tolerate harsh field conditions (e.g., heat/cold, humidity, rain, insects); Ability to follow protocols and a strong attention to detail; Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple tasks and timelines; Strong verbal and written communication skills 

Preferred – Experience conducting field and lab work related to aquaculture; experience designing and building prototype equipment; proficiency with computer programming language(s) such as python; able to work independently and in collaboration with other researchers; commitment to publish findings in peer-reviewed journals; interest in aquaculture 

Salary: $30,000/ yr, tuition and benefits are not covered, however grants to cover tuition may be pursued 

To apply: 

Prior to applying to the Graduate School, qualified applicants should send a single email containing: 1) cover letter describing professional interests (1-page max), 2) a resume, 3) unofficial transcripts of college-level work, and 4) contact information for 3 professional references to Dr. Patrick Erbland (patrick.erbland@kysu.edu) with “Smart Feeder MS application” in the subject line. Open until filled. Review of applications will begin on June 15th, 2026. Start date is August 2026, pending successful funding of the project. 

About Kentucky State University: 

Kentucky State University (KSU) was chartered in May 1886 as a land grant institution and is located in the Kentucky state capital, Frankfort. KSU has more than 2,800 students, 450 faculty and staff members. The University’s student-faculty ratio is the lowest among public institutions of higher learning in the Commonwealth. 

The KSU Aquatic Research Center (ARC) includes 33 research ponds (24 at 0.1 acre; nine at 0.05 acre); a 3,000-square-foot hatchery for spawning, holding, and experimental tanks; a 3,500-square-foot nutrition laboratory, genomics lab and our fish disease diagnostic laboratory. The 14,400-square-foot Aquatic Production Technologies Laboratory supports controlled-environment, year-round production research across multiple species. This indoor, closed-system facility includes intensive recirculating systems, a water-quality lab, and a state-of-the-art genetics lab. 

Current species under investigation include largemouth bass, channel catfish, hybrid striped bass, tilapia, koi, paddlefish, freshwater prawns, Australian redclaw crayfish, saltwater shrimp, flounder, and freshwater mussels.