Maine Cooperative Fish And Wildlife Research Unit
Education, Research And Technical Assistance for Managing Our Natural Resources
Student Opportunities
PhD Assistantship in Wildlife Ecology
A PhD assistantship (including a stipend, tuition, health insurance) is available at the University of Maine in the Department of Wildlife Ecology beginning September 2012 to study relationships between forest bird community composition and forest harvest practices in northern Maine, with a focus on priority species dependent on conifer forests.
The research will evaluate if forest harvest approaches used in conifer-dominated stands retain the species composition and structural attributes necessary to support an intact and productive avian community that includes federal priority species. The Ph. D. dissertation will relate avian diversity and abundance to stand composition and structural attributes in forests that have been harvested with a range of intensities along a temporal gradient and quantify relationships between avian community composition and forest harvest pattern in the landscape. Prior experience with forest bird surveys and experience in GIS and spatial analysis are desired. An M.S. degree is required. We seek outstanding applicants with relevant coursework and research experience in the following areas: wildlife biology, ecology, zoology, or forest ecosystems. Stipend level (minimum $18,000 annually) will be based on relevant experience and coursework.
Please send pre-applications of a cover letter expressing interest in the position, CV, and unofficial copies of transcripts to Drs. Cynthia Loftin (Cynthia.Loftin@maine.edu) and Daniel Harrison (Harrison@maine.edu), with subject line Forest Birds Ph.D. Assistantship.
Post-Doctoral Research Associate Opportunity
We are seeking a candidate with strong quantitative and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) skills for a Post-Doctoral Research Associate opportunity in the USGS Maine Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit at the University of Maine.
The candidate will participate in an effort to implement Priority Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Area (PARCA) criteria to identify focal areas vital to maintaining reptile and amphibian diversity in the North Atlantic Landscape Conservation Cooperative (NA-LCC); integrate spatially-explicit projections of current and future climatic suitability for priority reptiles and amphibians; identify gaps in the existing protected area network for identified PARCAs; and assess climate sensitivity and future resiliency of the identified PARCAs. The candidate will collaborate with scientists from the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, the University of Georgia, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, and state fish and wildlife agency or natural heritage program personnel throughout the NA-LCC. The position is funded for up to 2.5 years, and the target start date is May 2012 (negotiable). A competitive salary including benefits is offered, depending on experience.
Minimum qualifications are:
- Ph.D. in biology (wildlife), ecology, herpetology, or related field by May 2012.
- Experience conducting large-scale GIS analyses and developing and maintaining large relational databases.
- Experience conducting large-scale GIS analyses and developing and maintaining large relational databases.
- Demonstrated proficiency with and understanding of spatial statistical methods used for modeling species and habitat distributions.
- Demonstrated proficiency with ArcMap and R or SPlus.
- Demonstrated desire and proficiency to publish in peer-reviewed literature.
- Knowledge of natural heritage data bases, interpretation of climate model output, and experience with herpetofauna are assets.
- Desire to work in a collaborative team setting.
To Apply: Candidates should e-mail a cover letter, CV, and names and contact information of three references in a single pdf to Dr. Cynthia Loftin (Cynthia.loftin@maine.edu) and Dr. Phillip deMaynadier (phillip.demaynadier@maine.gov), with the subject line as “PARCA Postdoc”. Review of applications will begin January 15, 2012 and continue until a suitable applicant is identified.
PhD Assistantship
Landscape Ecology of Pollinator Conservation and Pollinator Services by Native Bees
A PhD Fellowship (covering a stipend, tuition, and health insurance) is available at the University of Maine beginning September 2012 to study native bee conservation from a landscape ecology perspective.
The grant supporting this research is part of a multistate, interdisciplinary study that examines pollinator ecology and conservation biology in focal crops of wild blueberries, apples, selected vegetables, and cranberries to understand factors affecting pollination security in Maine, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, and Maryland. The doctoral student will provide GIS support to the multi-state interdisciplinary team. The PhD dissertation will focus on spatial analyses and model development to understand relationships between landscape conditions and pollinator communities in these specialty crops, with particular focus on wild blueberries in Maine. Prior coursework and experience in GIS and ecological or spatial modeling are desired. An MS degree is required.
Please send pre-applications of a cover letter expressing interest in the position, CV, GRE scores, and transcripts to Drs. Cynthia Loftin (Cynthia.Loftin@maine.edu) and Frank Drummond (Frank.Drummond@umit.maine.edu).
Last updated: 5/14/2012
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