One Graduate Research Assistantship (GRA) at the University of Illinois is available to study avian response to a fire-grazing interaction in the Grand River Grasslands of southern Iowa and northern Missouri. This project is part of an ongoing multi-disciplinary effort involving scientists at the University of Illinois, Iowa State University, and Oklahoma State University. The successful candidate will work as part of a team including other faculty, research associates, graduate students, resource managers, technicians, and undergraduates. This is an excellent opportunity for integrative research at the PhD level, but I will consider a highly qualified MS student.
The ideal candidate will have a degree in ecology, conservation biology, wildlife ecology, natural resource management, zoology, or a related discipline. Previous experience in avian field studies, a strong quantitative background, and excellent writing skills are essential. Prairie plant identification skills and experience with GIS are preferred. The preferred start date is summer 2010. Potential applicants should send a cover letter outlining their research interests, a CV detailing their academic and professional backgrounds, GRE percentile scores (need not be an official copy at this point), and the names and contact information (including email) for three references to Dr. James Miller ([email protected]). Information will be reviewed upon receipt and the position will remain open until a suitable candidate has been found. Once a suitable candidate is identified, they will formally apply for admission to either the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences (http://www.nres.uiuc.edu/) or the interdisciplinary Program in Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology (http://sib.illinois.edu/peec/).
