Agency: Southern Illinois University Location: Carbondale, Illinois Job Category: Graduate Assistantships Salary: $25k/yr + tuition and student health care access; up to 5 years of support Start Date: August 2025, negotiable Last Date to Apply: Open until Filled; applicants will be reviewed on rolling basis. Advisors: Dr. Brent Pease and Dr. Guillaume Bastille-Rousseau Website: https://peaselab.com/; https://bastillerousseau.wixsite.com/research
Description A Ph.D.-level Graduate Research Assistantships is available starting August 2025 in the PEASE Lab (Population Estimation and Spatial Ecology; peaselab.com) at Southern Illinois University to lead a statewide wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) spatial ecology project. This project will focus on wild turkey spatial ecology, specifically space-use, nest site selection, timing of nesting, and survival in northern Illinois. Primary field duties include capture and affixing GPS radiotags, monitoring hen survival and nesting and brooding success, and deploying and monitoring camera traps at nest sites. This is a multi-year project with goals to capture many birds, leading to exciting field research opportunities. This position will emphasize species-specific ecological knowledge and movement ecology. The selected student will have extensive knowledge of wild turkey ecology and will ideally have experience capturing and handling upland game birds. Additionally, the ideal individual will have experience with GPS/VHF technology, will have processed and analyzed movement data, and have general interest/experience with population modeling. The student should also be excited about carrying out field work during winter and spring across Illinois, in sometimes difficult field conditions. The successful applicant is expected to communicate findings to state agencies and other on-going, regional monitoring efforts. The student will earn a Ph.D. in Agricultural Sciences at Southern Illinois University. -- -- -- -- -- -- -- ---- -- -- ---- -- -- ---- -- -- ---- -- -- ---- -- -- -- General Qualifications This is a well-funded, multi-agency research project, and the graduate student will be expected to assist in hiring and managing field technicians to support the data collection efforts. The successful applicant will have (1) obtained M.S. degree in wildlife, ecology, biology, forestry, zoology, or related fields; (2) knowledge of wild turkey ecology; (3) exceptional quantitative skills with experience using a variety of data types and models; (4) knowledge of program R and spatial software (e.g., QGIS, ArcGIS); (5) a driver's license and ability to conduct independent field work in difficult conditions (e.g., steep terrain, poison ivy, ticks); (6) strong oral and written communication skills, and (7) a cooperative, team-oriented mindset eager to carry out wildlife research and address key problems in wildlife conservation and management. To apply please email a single PDF to Dr. Brent Pease (bpea...@siu.edu<mailto:bpea...@siu.edu>) that includes: 1. A cover letter that describes your specific interest in this position and how your past experiences and career goals align with the goals of the project. 2. Curriculum Vitae (with GPA and GRE scores included) 3. Undergraduate and graduate transcripts (unofficial is acceptable) 4. Example of writing (e.g., M.S. thesis or publication; can be included separately as PDF) 6. Contact information for 3 references The email subject should be “PhD – Spatial Ecology”. Applications will be accepted until positions are filled and reviewed on a rolling basis. Questions: Contact Person: Dr. Brent Pease Contact Email: bpea...@siu.edu<mailto:bpea...@siu.edu> Please see the PEASE lab website (https://peaselab.com/) and the SIU Forestry Program’s homepage (https://forestry.siu.edu<https://forestry.siu.edu/>) for more information on our research and academic department. BRENT PEASE, PH.D. ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, FORESTRY PROGRAM SCHOOL OF FORESTRY AND HORTICULTURE MAIL CODE 4411 SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY 1205 LINCOLN DRIVE, AGRICULTURAL BUILDING, ROOM 186B CARBONDALE, ILLINOIS 62901 bpea...@siu.edu<mailto:bpea...@siu.edu> P: 618.453.7474 PEASELAB.COM SIU.EDU FORESTRY.SIU.EDU SCHEDULE A MEETING<https://outlook.office.com/bookwithme/user/3da611d2ce874b1d9770732e6cf06...@siu.edu/meetingtype/XtAWixY1Kkq3e3avTnnkyQ2?anonymous&ep=mlink> To unsubscribe from this list please go to https://community.esa.org/confirm/?u=RhPWqPxFwODKvbkiT32nkIqRrsiSgulp
