The Montaña Aquatic Ecology Lab at the Department of Biology at Stephen F. Austin State University is recruiting a Master’s student to begin in Spring 2023 or Summer 2023. The position is funded for 2.5 years, and will be based in the research group of Dr. Montaña at SFASU. Student will receive a stipend of $1,800/month and Nonresident (NR) tuition is waived (resident tuition fees apply).
Funds will partially help to cover tuition (e.g., credit hours) during the summer semester. Research Focus This is a collaborative project that will survey the freshwater fish assemblages in the Neches and Sabine River basins in east Texas to elucidate how fish assemblages and species distributions have changed in these river basins over the last century. The project will use a combination of fishing gears and sampling methods to accurately assess the freshwater fish diversity of the Neches and Sabine River basins in east Texas.
The surveys will be conducted on a yearly basis for two years, including three seasons (spring, summer, and fall) to better understand changes in fish assemblage dynamics over time. Surveys will also include measurement of environmental data at survey sites which will allow to characterize the aquatic community and habitat associations of fish species under varying environments. About the Area/University SFA is located in Nacogdoches, Texas, with more than 11,000 undergraduate and graduate students enrolled.
Please send only one PDF file with a cover letter outlining your research interests and experiences, GPA, GRE scores (if available), a CV, contact details of three references and an example of your writing to Dr. Carmen Montaña (montanascg@sfasu.edu). Qualifications Desired Qualifications Individuals with research interests in aquatic ecology, functional ecology, fisheries, river ecology, food-web ecology, and/or conservation ecology are especially encouraged to apply.
Candidates must hold a Bachelor’s degree by the start date in ecology, wildlife and fisheries sciences, or related field. Demonstrated experience in fish sampling and identification; use of water quality meters, an understanding of biodiversity metrics, and coding in R is a plus, though all of these can be learned during graduate school. Driving a boat/trailer is required.
The ability to conduct rigorous fieldwork under extreme conditions (e.g., heat, humidity) will be necessary. Excellent communication and time-management skills, a strong work ethic and attention to detail also are essential. The candidate must also have a valid driver’s license (will need to get a Texas driver license). Contact Person Carmen Montana Contact eMail car1607@gmail.com
The Department of Biology has (http://www.sfasu.edu/academics/colleges/sciences-math/biology) has a diverse faculty with strengths in ecology and evolutionary ecology, conservation biology, botany, and cellular and molecular biology. Nacogdoches is a city with more than 33,000 residents. It recently was designated as the Top Small City in Texas according to Cities Journal. Deadline Review of applications will start March. 20th 2023 and continue until the position is filled. The candidate is expected to begin in Fall 2023.
Salary $1800/month
Last Date to Apply 03/20/2023
Website https://www.carmengmontana.com/