Natural Resources Job Board

 MS Assistantship – Bird-window Collision Research and Outreach 

Description: A fully funded master's assistantship is available in Oklahoma State University’s (OSU) Department of Natural Resource Ecology & Management (NREM), co-advised by Drs. Scott Loss and Tim O’Connell. The project will involve fieldwork and analyses to monitor buildings on the OSU campus for bird-window collisions, which are the top source of avian collision mortality in North America and worldwide, and the student’s research will address one or more topics regarding bird-window collisions. Potential research topics include evaluating effectiveness of methods to reduce bird-window collisions, identification of factors influencing collisions (e.g., light pollution, surrounding landscape characteristics, weather), and large-scale research questions that can be addressed using existing databases on bird-window collisions and bird occurrence (e.g., eBird). The student will also help lead communication, engagement, and outreach activities, including efforts to build support for additional window treatments to reduce collisions at OSU. There may also be an opportunity for the student to develop and lead educational presentations on bird-window collisions at local schools in Stillwater, to engage teachers and students in collision monitoring at their schools, and to develop a teaching-focused publication describing these educational activities. 

 

The graduate student will begin courses in January 2027, and we anticipate that collision monitoring fieldwork will begin during spring migration in April 2027. Funding, which will be available to support the student through May 2029, will be available through a research assistantship, but the student will also have an opportunity to TA for an NREM course if they are interested in gaining teaching experience (course TA options to be determined, but the student will likely have an opportunity to TA in Dr. Loss’s Applied Ecology field course or Dr. O’Connell’s Ornithology course). A stipend of $2,083/month ($25,000/yr) will be provided along with full tuition waiver and health insurance at $20/month. 

 

Required qualifications: Applicants must possess an undergraduate degree in Natural Resource Management, Wildlife Ecology/Management, Ecology, or a related field; a strong work ethic and sense of self-motivation; an ability to work both independently and collegially with others; strong written and oral communication skills; an interest in urban ecology, conservation biology, and/or human threats to wildlife; and experience in engaging with the public and a variety of stakeholder groups (because the position will include a strong outreach component including to university administrators, students, and/or teachers). 

 

Preferred qualifications: Ideal candidates will have one or several of the following skills and experiences: conducting, presenting, and publishing mentored research; coordinating and supervising field projects; conducting wildlife collision surveys; handling and identifying wild birds; experience with statistical analyses; and extensive experience in stakeholder engagement and public outreach, including educational or interpretive presentations to a variety of age groups. 

 

To Apply: Please send applications to Scott Loss (scott.loss@okstate.edu) by September 13th, 2026; applications should consist of a single zip file or merged pdf file that includes: (1) a cover letter outlining how you meet required and preferred qualifications, (2) a CV, and (3) contact information for three references. 

 

About the Loss and O’Connell Labs: Our labs lead and collaborate on a wide range of research projects in natural resource ecology and management, with strong emphases on landscape ecology, biodiversity conservation, wildlife ecology and management, and major global change issues like climate change, invasive species, and direct sources of bird mortality. Tim, Scott, and their lab groups have collaborated collegially and productively for 13 years. They seek to foster a vibrant and collegial lab culture and provide a comprehensive mentoring approach that fosters academic inquiry, professional development, and work-life balance. For more information about our labs, see: 

 

Scott Loss’s Lab: https://scottrloss.wixsite.com/losslab 

Tim O’Connell’s Lab: https://timoconnell.wordpress.com/ 

 

About Oklahoma and OSU: Oklahoma is one of the most ecologically diverse states, with ecosystems ranging from forested mountains in the east to mesas and canyons in the west, and including some of the largest remaining tracts of prairies in the world, including the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve, the largest remaining protected area of tallgrass prairie. Recreational opportunities abound, with national forests, grasslands, and wildlife refuges all within 2-3 hours of Stillwater, where OSU is located. In addition, Stillwater is 1 hour from both Oklahoma City and Tulsa, which have additional opportunities for recreation, sporting events, music, the arts, restaurants, etc. 

 

OSU is a land-grant institution with an enrollment of ~25,000 students, and it is located on the ancestral lands of the Kickapoo, Osage, Kiowa, and Quapaw peoples. Indigenous people from other Native nations also reside here, many of whom were forcibly removed from their ancestral lands. They all contribute to the history and current vitality of our region. The Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management is part of the Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources and conducts interdisciplinary research, instruction, and extension education to address the sustainable management and conservation of the wildlife, forest, rangeland, and fishery resources of Oklahoma and beyond. The Department is a source of cutting-edge research, quality instruction, and effective outreach to students, landowners, managers, and public agencies. 

 Any offer of employment is contingent on the university’s verification of credentials and other information required by law and/or university policies, including but not limited to a criminal background check. Oklahoma State University, as an equal opportunity employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding non-discrimination and affirmative action. Oklahoma State University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all individuals and does not discriminate based on race, religion, age, sex, color, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, disability, or veteran status with regard to employment, educational programs and activities, and/or admissions.