PhD Position in Molecular Diet of Owls at UW-Madison

We are seeking an outstanding student to pursue a MSc in Conservation Genetics and Wildlife Ecology in the Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology (FWE) at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The student’s thesis will involve studying the diet of the invasive barred owl using metabarcoding and next-generation sequencing techniques. The successful applicant will be responsible for: (1) extracting DNA from various biological sources, conducting PCR and building metabarcoding libraries; (2) analyzing large sequence datasets for prey items consumed by barred owls across the Pacific Northwest region; and (3) identifying associations between diet and ecological/life history variables.

The successful applicant will be funded through TAships in the Fall semesters in the course Extinction of Species and as an RA in Spring and Summer. The student will be co-advised by Drs. Zach Peery and Emily Fountain (website: http://labs.russell.wisc.edu/peery/). Applicants must possess a bachelor’s degree in biology, ecology, genetics, or a closely related field. Applicants with strong molecular laboratory skills will be given preference. Bioinformatic experience is also an asset. The student should be able to work both independently and collaboratively with others in the laboratory. To be considered for this position, please send a cover letter outlining your interests and research background, a curriculum vitae (including GPA), and contact information for three professional references (name, email, phone, address) as a PDF to [email protected].

The selected student is expected to enroll at the UW-Madison in the Fall Semester of 2022 starting 1 September 2022. More details on the graduate programs can be found at https://guide.wisc.edu/graduate/forest-wildlife-ecology/wildlife-ecology-ms/. The Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology and our laboratory are committed to building a diverse staff and strongly encourage applications from historically under-represented groups including but not limited to race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability and socio-economic status. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. For full consideration applications must be received by 21 February 2022.

For more information, contact:
Emily Fountain
Scientist
Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology
University of Wisconsin, Madison
Madison, WI 53706
[email protected]