Graduate position in forest bees and fuel-reduction treatments at University of Oregon

M.S. position at OSU –
The Forest Animal Ecology Laboratory (http://people.forestry.oregonstate.edu/jim-rivers/) at Oregon State University (OSU) is seeking a M.S. student to quantify the response of wild bee communities to post-harvest fuel-reduction treatments on private timberlands in managed forest landscapes of northern California. This is an excellent opportunity for a highly motivated student interested in pollinator ecology and forest management to conduct applied ecological research with high conservation relevance. The student will be admitted into the Sustainable Forest Management Graduate Program in the Department of Forest Engineering, Resources, and Management in the OSU College of Forestry. During the course of their degree the incumbent will gain skills in quantitative data analysis, professional writing and public speaking, and experience conducting large-scale field research. Applicants are expected to be intellectually curious, hard-working, self-motivated, and have a strong desire to develop skillsets that are critical for success in a science-based career. The strongest applicants will have experience leading independent research, working with wild bees in forest landscapes, and a working knowledge of software used to organize and analyze data.
Minimum qualifications
· B.S. degree in animal ecology, wildlife biology, entomology, or a closely related field
· at least 2 years of experience conducting field research (1 seasonal position = 1 year of experience)
· detail oriented with strong time- and project-management skills
· evidence of strong written and oral communication skills
· evidence of experience conducting research in remote locations
· ability to work long hours in all types of weather and field conditions
Preferred qualifications
· demonstrated experience conducting field research on insects, especially wild bees
· evidence of conducting independent research to completion (e.g., undergraduate thesis research)
· evidence of successful leadership of a field crew(s) in data collection
· demonstrated knowledge of flowering plants of northern California/southern Oregon
· experience conducting statistical and spatial data analysis (i.e., R and GIS/QGIS, respectively)
Compensation
The position starts in late September 2022 and provides a 12-month stipend ($2077/month), tuition, and health insurance for two years, subject to a satisfactory performance review after 12 months. Applicants with existing funding (e.g., NSF, Fulbright) will be given high priority, and individuals from underrepresented groups are especially encouraged to apply. Oregon State University is among the top U.S. universities for scientific productivity in environmental sciences and conservation biology, and the OSU College of Forestry is currently ranked second globally in forestry programs.
Application Instructions
Applicants must submit a single PDF that contains all of the following information; applications that are incomplete or that consist of multiple documents will not be considered: a cover letter that (1) provides evidence of the applicant’s qualifications and (2) describes how this position fits into their long-term career goals, a full-length curriculum vitae or resume, an official copy of the applicant’s academic transcript(s), and the names, email, telephone, and mailing address of 3 professional references.
This single document should be emailed to Dr. Jim Rivers ([email protected]) with “Forest Pollinator M.S. Position” in the subject line. Review of applications will begin on March 7, 2022, and the position will remain open until a suitable candidate has been selected.
Note that submission of GRE scores with application materials is optional; however, the finalist will be required to submit official GRE scores for admission into the Sustainable Forest Management Graduate Program in the OSU College of Forestry. For admission requirements and additional program details see: https://ferm.forestry.oregonstate.edu/graduate-programs/sfm-admission-information
Oregon State University commits to inclusive excellence by advancing equity and diversity in all that we do. We are an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer, and particularly encourage applications from members of historically underrepresented racial/ethnic groups, women, individuals with disabilities, veterans, LGBTQ community members, and others who demonstrate the ability to help us achieve our vision of a diverse and inclusive community.
Jim Rivers (he/him/his)
Assistant Professor of Wildlife Ecology
Dept. Forest Engineering, Resources, & Management
College of Forestry | Oregon State University
Phone: +1 541-737-6581
Forest Animal Ecology Lab
Oregon Marbled Murrelet Project