The research group of Dr. Sydne Record (https://sydnerecord.blogs.brynmawr.edu/ – relocating to UMaine in Fall 2022) seeks applicants for a M.S. position in Wildlife Ecology or Ecology and Environmental Sciences at the University of Maine in Orono in the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Conservation Biology. Our research group focuses on population and community ecology from a biogeographical perspective. We apply computational methods to data from various environmental observatory networks to explore ecological dynamics across space and time. Potential research projects will expand current research in our group such as remote sensing of vegetation structure to inform wildlife habitat use, collating land use information for the National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) sites to understand the coupled-human natural systems in which they are situated, and determining abiotic and biotic drivers of biodiversity. The preferred start date for this position is Fall 2022, but Spring 2023 enrollment will be considered. This position is a fully funded 12-months for up to three years and includes tuition and health insurance. There may also be an opportunity to extend the position to a PhD.
Qualifications: B.S. in biology, ecology, statistics, or other relevant discipline, quantitative skills (e.g., R, Python, geographic information systems) or willingness to acquire such skills, interest in population and community ecology, and excellent work ethics. Successful applicants will be expected to work both independently and collaboratively, mentor undergraduates in the group, develop independent research questions related to overall project goals, embrace environmental data science, conduct field work, publish research results, and see projects from start to finish. Good oral and written communication skills and flexibility given the unexpected nature of research are highly valued. We are committed to anti-racism and value diverse identities, experiences, and skills.
Location: The University of Maine Orono campus is a community of ~12,000 undergraduate and graduate students. UMaine is in beautiful central Maine with an excellent quality of life (little traffic, reasonable cost of living, safe neighborhoods). Outdoor recreational activities abound with Mount Katahdin (Baxter State Park) and Acadia National Park within one hour drive and 15 miles of running, biking, and cross-country skiing trails on campus.
Closing date: when filled; preferred start date of Aug. 29, 2022, with potential to start in Spring ‘23.
Contact: Please apply at https://tinyurl.com/MSRecordUMaine
Questions or trouble applying? Email sydne.record@maine.edu with the subject line “Graduate Assistantship”
