Please see below for two open positions: 1) Ph.D. assistantship, and 2) Research technician. Application information below as well. Thank you, Sarah Karpanty
Ph.D. Project Red Fox Movements, Habitat Selection, and Demography, on Fire Island, New York Virginia Tech Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation Many studies have shown that predation is a key determinant of piping plover reproductive output, and predator management often is used to improve piping plover breeding success. The red fox is a key predator in a number of piping plover nesting areas. On Long Island, Cohen et al. (2009) showed that plover reproductive output in West Hampton Dunes was improved when foxes and cats were removed. Research conducted in 2013-2014 at Fire Island National Seashore and Smith Point County Park on Long Island showed that foxes were common in that area, a fact long known to Park Service biologists and others. Red foxes also have been identified as an important potential predator at Democrat Point in Robert Moses State Park. Despite the recognition that predator management is an important part of piping plover management along the entire U.S. coast, and that management of red foxes at these sites on Long Island, whether through lethal removal of adults, destruction of active den sites, or simple nest exclosure, may be important for piping plover populations, there still are many gaps in our knowledge of the foxes, fox responses to management, and the effects of foxes and fox management on piping plover habitat use and reproductive output. In order to effectively and efficiently design long-term red fox management, research is needed to 1) assess the abundance, occupancy, habitat selection, movement ecology, reproductive success, and survival of red foxes before, during and after predator management activities are implemented, and 2) quantify the interactions between red foxes and piping plover nests, and between foxes and banded plover adults and chicks, before, during, and after predator management. We will use GPS collars, camera-trapping, and den and scat surveys to accomplish these objectives. The recruited Ph.D. student will join this collaborative project overseen by Drs. Sarah Karpanty, Jim Fraser, and Dan Catlin. This individual will work collaboratively with these PIs, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, the US Army Corps of Engineers, the National Park Service, New York State, and county and local governments in the study area. This individual will also join a collaborative team of other students and post-docs at Virginia Tech in the labs of the PIs. For examples of ongoing projects, see http://vtshorebirds.fishwild.vt.edu; http://fishwild.vt.edu/faculty/karpanty.htm; http://fishwild.vt.edu/faculty/fraser.htm ; http://fishwild.vt.edu/Catlin/index.html .This position would be excellent preparation for students or post-docs wishing to work in an academic setting, a resource management agency, or a conservation NGO. Duties: Complete study design in consultation with PIs Karpanty, Fraser and Catlin; collect behavioral and ecological data to test hypotheses and fit models; supervise technicians; operate trucks, boats, and UTVs; coordinate with the USFWS, USACE, NPS, New York State and local governments, and other researchers; analyze data, write reports and publish research results in refereed journals with PIs. Fieldwork involves long hot days, early mornings and nights. Incumbent will live at a field site for a portion of each year during which time housing will be provided. This will be an excellent project for someone wishing to make a research contribution to basic science and, simultaneously, to the design of predator management and avian conservation strategies. Position is subject to receipt of funding, expected in April 2015. Start date is asap. Qualifications: B.S. and M.S. in Wildlife Science, Ecology, Conservation Biology or closely allied field, with excellent grades, strong GRE scores, evidence of completed or in-progress peer-reviewed publications, and references. Demonstrated ability to get along with cooperators including USFWS, US Army Corps of Engineers, state and local authorities. Previous field experience required, preferably with carnivores. Experience with carnivore live-capture and handling and camera-trapping preferred. Evidence of scientific writing skills (i.e. academic papers, publications, etc.) and a commitment to scientific publication. Coursework or experience with population and/or behavioral ecology desired. Willingness to work long hours in the hot sun in remote conditions. To apply: email C.V., 1 page letter of application, degree title and GPA for all degrees, GRE scores and names and contact information for 3 references including at least one field supervisor and two academic references. Finalists will be asked to participate in a phone interview and on-site interview, to send transcripts, and to apply to the Virginia Tech graduate school (for PHD applicants). Send information to Sarah Karpanty, [email protected] . Candidate selection will begin immediately and will continue until position is filled. We recommend applying as quickly as possible. Research Technician See above for project description. The technician will join this collaborative project overseen by Drs. Sarah Karpanty, Jim Fraser, and Dan Catlin and a to-be-named PhD student. For more information, see above. Duties: Activities will be conducted between May 1-November 30th annually, with potential for year- round work or renewal across multiple years. $520/week, or higher based on experience, plus free housing. Work will involve capturing and attaching GPS collars to red foxes; remotely monitoring and downloading GPS collar data; establishing and maintaining camera trapping grids; processing camera trapping data; surveying for fox dens and scat; analyzing fox scat; assessing habitat; collaborating and assisting on piping plover field work; operating trucks, boats, and UTVs. Fieldwork involves long hot days, early mornings and nights. Incumbent will live at a field site during which time housing will be provided. This will be an excellent project for someone wishing to make a research contribution to basic science and, simultaneously, to the design of predator management and avian conservation strategies. Position is subject to receipt of funding, expected in April 2015. Start date is asap. Qualifications: B.S. in Wildlife Science, Ecology, Conservation Biology or closely allied field, with excellent grades,and references. Previous field experience required, preferably with carnivores. Experience with carnivore live-capture and handling and camera-trapping preferred. Demonstrated ability to get along with cooperators including USFWS, US Army Corps of Engineers, state and local authorities. Willingness to work long hours in the hot sun in remote conditions. To apply: email C.V., 1 page letter of application, degree title and GPA for all degrees, and names and contact information for 3 references including at least one field supervisor and two academic references. Finalists will be asked to participate in a phone interview. Send information to Sarah Karpanty, [email protected] . Candidate selection will begin immediately and will continue until position is filled. We recommend applying as quickly as possible.
