MS Assistantship: Wild Turkey Ecology and Management in West Virginia
U.S. Geological Survey/West Virginia University (Federal)
Details
Application Deadline:
05/06/2024
Published:
04/19/2024
Starting Date:
before 8/21/2024
Hours per Week:
at most 40
Salary:
$21,500 per year
Education Required:
Bachelors
Experience Required:
none
Location:
Morgantown, West Virginia
Description
Location: Morgantown, WV with fieldwork throughout WV
Salary: $21,500/year + tuition waiver and health insurance
Start Date: August 2024
Last Date to Apply: 5/6/24
Description: One MS position is available to conduct research related to wild turkey ecology and management in West Virginia, in cooperation with the WV Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit at West Virginia University, and the WV Division of Natural Resources. This research will provide valuable information to help inform current and future management decisions for turkeys in WV.
The MS student will join an on-going statewide research project on wild turkeys, to investigate questions related to the human dimensions of wild turkey management in WV. Specifically, the student will survey WV turkey hunters to assess hunter effort and satisfaction, and investigate the effects of hunting on turkey movement and vocalizations. The selected candidate will work with a team of graduate students, technicians, and agency biologists to coordinate fieldwork across the state of WV (including but not limited to fitting turkeys with GPS transmitters, monitoring survival, installing and maintaining autonomous recording units, collecting vegetation data etc.). The intended start date for this position is August 2024. Funding is secured for 2.5 years through a Research Assistantship (which includes a tuition waiver and health insurance). Funding includes travel to 1 conference per year, and a laptop.
Qualifications:
Required qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in wildlife biology, ecology, or related field
- A valid US driver’s license
- Ability to work both independently and part of a team
- Strong written and oral communication skills
Preferred qualifications:
- Experience conducting independent research
- Experience with trapping and monitoring (e.g. VHF telemetry) turkeys or other game birds
- Experience using R, GIS, or other statistical programs
- Experience with human dimensions research or survey designs
To Apply: Please send the following as a single PDF to Dr. Laura Gigliotti (laura.gigliotti@mail.wvu.edu) with a subject line of “Turkey MS” by: 1) a cover letter, 2) a CV or resume, 3) copy of academic transcripts (unofficial is fine), 4) names and contact information for 3 references. Applications will be reviewed starting on May 6th, and continue until a suitable candidate is found.
Contact
Laura Gigliotti
laura.gigliotti@mail.wvu.edu (preferred contact method)