Dr. Mitch Weegman in the Department of Biology at the University of Saskatchewan advertising 3 grad positions! High quality teams/training opportunities, science to guide future conservation planning:
1 – PhD studentship: Development of full annual cycle models for Arctic-nesting geese using state-of-the-art tracking devices:
Description: A PhD studentship is available with Dr. Mitch Weegman in the Department of Biology at the University of Saskatchewan. The student will use state-of-the-art tracking devices deployed on mid-continent white-fronted geese to conduct research in movement and population ecology.
This project is an international partnership among the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Environment and Climate Change Canada, US Geological Survey, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Texas A&M University-Kingsville, and University of Saskatchewan.
Our project goals are to quantify habitat use and the degree of inter- and intra-winter movements of white-fronted geese within and among wintering sites, and assess the extent to which variation in migration attributes (e.g., staging and wintering habitat use) explains variation in nesting propensity and reproductive outcomes.
We anticipate the student will explore bird decision-making during subarctic staging, which is a relatively unknown period of the annual cycle. Based on tracking devices currently on individuals, we anticipate collation of millions of data points providing examples of individual decision-making. Using multi-year data, the student will develop full annual cycle models for the first time for these birds, yielding novel opportunities for conservation planning.
Prerequisites: Ideal candidates will have an undergraduate and master’s degree in statistics, wildlife ecology or a closely related field, and interpersonal skills to lead discussions among collaborators. Preference will be given to those with a strong quantitative background (e.g., experience with Program R, Bayesian methods), knowledge of migratory bird ecology and management, and field skills (e.g., capturing and handling birds). Students must have a valid driver’s license. The successful applicant will be expected to publish manuscripts in peer-reviewed journals and present papers at scientific meetings.
Salary and benefits: $35,000 Canadian per year plus compensation for tuition and fees
Start date: 1 Sept 2023
Last date to apply: 14 Apr 2023 or until a suitable candidate is selected
To be considered for this position, please send the following (preferably as a single PDF) to Dr. Mitch Weegman (mitch.weegman@usask.ca): (1) Letter of interest summarizing your experience, (2) Curriculum vitae or resume, (3) University transcripts (unofficial are OK), (4) Contact information for three references.
2 – MSc studentship: Evaluating Western Arctic snow goose impacts on local habitat quality and Arctic wildlife:
Description: An MSc studentship is available with Dr. Mitch Weegman in the Department of Biology at the University of Saskatchewan, This two-year project will assess the impact of overabundant snow geese using GPS-acceleration data from birds summering at Banks Island, Northwest Territories. The objective of this project is to determine the extent to which the Banks Island snow goose colony is impacting local habitat, by linking fine-scale location data to decadal satellite imagery and vegetation monitoring.
The student will also identify staging areas/areas of high use during snow goose migration, for additional perspective about the relative importance of Banks Island habitat and other habitats (temperate and subarctic) throughout the annual cycle. Indigenous communities have expressed concern that these birds are competing with Peary caribou and muskox for forage, so there is potential for the student to assess habitat use overlap among these species.
This project is a partnership between Environment and Climate Change Canada and the University of Saskatchewan. We anticipate the student will use ~100 tracking devices recently deployed on snow geese. The student will have opportunities to join field work on Banks Island, and engage in novel ecological modelling and collaboration among other projects using GPS-acceleration tracking devices to study the full annual cycle in migratory birds.
Prerequisites: Ideal candidates will have an undergraduate degree in ecology, statistics or a closely related field, and interpersonal skills to lead discussions among collaborators. Preference will be given to those with a strong quantitative background (e.g., experience with Program R), knowledge of migratory bird ecology and management, and field skills (e.g., capturing and handling birds). Students must have a valid driver’s license. The successful applicant will be expected to publish manuscripts in peer-reviewed journals and present papers at scientific meetings.
Salary and benefits: $35,000 Canadian per year plus compensation for tuition and fees.
Start date: 1 Sept 2023
Last date to apply: 14 Apr 2023 or until a suitable candidate is selected
To apply: To be considered for this position, please send the following (preferably as a single PDF) to Dr. Mitch Weegman (mitch.weegman@usask.ca): (1) Letter of interest summarizing your experience, (2) Curriculum vitae or resume, (3) University transcripts (unofficial are OK), (4) Contact information for three references.
3 – MSc/PhD studentship: Comparing movements, behaviour, survival, harvest and reproductive success in ducks using different device types:
Description: An MSc or PhD studentship is available with Dr. Mitch Weegman in the Department of Biology at the University of Saskatchewan. The student will use state-of-the-art tracking devices deployed on mid-continent mallards to compare movements, behaviour, survival and reproductive success of birds using harness, anchor/suture and implant attachment techniques, and geolocators.
This project is an international partnership among the Canadian Wildlife Service, Delta Waterfowl Foundation, Ducks Unlimited Canada, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, and University of Saskatchewan. Our project goals are to (1) Deploy Global Positioning System-acceleration (GPS-ACC) tracking devices on 25 wild mallards per attachment technique, and geolocators on 150 wild mallards as a control group, per year for two years (totaling 200 GPS-ACC tracking devices and 300 geolocators),
(2) Compare movements, behaviour, survival, harvest and reproductive success of tagged birds within and among treatments relative to a control group, (3) Assess retention of anchor/suture design in wild birds, and (4) Develop a reproducible framework to evaluate effect sizes of movement, behaviour, survival, harvest and reproductive success with varying frequency of GPS and ACC data, as well as sample size for each attachment technique.
Our team deployed GPS-ACC devices and geolocators on mid-continent mallards in Aug-Sept 2022, as year 1. We anticipate collation of millions of data points providing examples of individual decision-making. While GPS-ACC tracking devices have become common tools across animal ecology, and to some extent negative effects of devices on survival and reproductive success have been shown in a variety of animals, there have not been recent evaluations to contextualize data gained and inform operational monitoring programs/conservation planning.
The student will have opportunities for field work in Saskatchewan, Manitoba, North Dakota and South Dakota, and engage in novel ecological modelling and collaboration among other projects using GPS-ACC devices to study the full annual cycle in migratory birds.
Prerequisites: Ideal candidates will have an undergraduate degree in ecology, statistics or a closely related field, and interpersonal skills to lead discussions among collaborators. Preference will be given to those with a strong quantitative background (e.g., experience with Program R, Bayesian methods), knowledge of migratory bird ecology and management, and field skills (e.g., capturing and handling birds). Students must have a valid driver’s license. The successful applicant will be expected to publish manuscripts in peer-reviewed journals and present papers at scientific meetings.
Salary and benefits: $35,000 Canadian per year plus compensation for tuition and fees.
Start date: 1 July 2023
Last date to apply: 14 Apr 2023 or until a suitable candidate is selected
To be considered for this position, please send the following (preferably as a single PDF) to Dr. Mitch Weegman (mitch.weegman@usask.ca): (1) Letter of interest summarizing your experience, (2) Curriculum vitae or resume, (3) University transcripts (unofficial are OK), (4) Contact information for three references.
Website: https://www.ducks.ca/our-work/science/saskatchewan-endowed-chair/