I am seeking to have two PhD students join my lab. The students with investigate the effects of extreme weather events and hunting pressure on Bobwhite Quail populations in Oklahoma. One PhD student will take the lead on developing an integrated population model (IPM) based upon relatively abundant demographic data on bobwhite quails in Oklahoma, and predict how hunting pressures affect bobwhite quail populations.
The other PhD student will lead on quantifying the conditions that cause extreme winter mortality events for bobwhite quail survival, and predicting the frequency and severity of those events and their effects on population numbers. Both projects will be highly collaborative with the students expected to work together and with other graduate students and faculty. There will be resources and time to pursue other questions about Bobwhite Quail populations.
The positions start June 1, 2023, but some flexibility is possible. The students will be in the lab of Dr. Barney Luttbeg (Integrative Biology at Oklahoma State, Luttbeg Lab) and collaborate with the labs of Drs. Craig Davis, Sam Fuhlendorf, and Dwayne Elmore (Natural Resources Ecology and Management at Oklahoma State).
This project is funded by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation for four years and will utilize extensive demographic data collected during previously funded projects. Salaries are $30,900 per year with a tuition waiver also included. Additional years as a teaching assistant are available. Ideal candidates for these positions will have population modeling and data analysis experience, and be proficient in coding (particularly in R).
Qualifications: Ideal candidates for these positions will have population modeling and data analysis experience, and be proficient in coding (particularly in R). A Master’s degree is preferable, but is not a requirement. Interest in ecological questions is helpful and expanding the scopes of the core questions of the project are expected.
A Master’s degree is preferable, but is not a requirement. Interest in ecological questions is helpful and expanding the scopes of the core questions of the project are expected. We maintain a supportive, friendly and collaborative lab environment, and encourage applications from all people regardless of race, religion, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender-identity, physical abilities, or socio-economic status.
If interested, please provide the following information: 1) a brief letter (one-page) letter describing your research interests and how they fit either of these positions, 2) your CV, and 3) unofficial transcripts. Materials should be sent to luttbeg@okstate.edu. Please send questions or comments to Dr. Luttbeg at the same address. Contact Person Barney Luttbeg Contact eMail luttbeg@okstate.edu