Opportunities for graduate students:

We seek outstanding applicants for an NSF funded traineeship called Ecological Management and Public Lands Opportunities for Young Scientists (EMPLOYS). EMPLOYS Trainees will earn two degrees in three years, complete a thesis using big data to study an ecological question, and apply research findings to help managers take action. They will prepare for science and management careers in the National Park Service, National Forest Service, US Fish and Wildlife Service, and more.
Please read more about the EMPLOYS program and the application process here.

Our lab specifically is looking for an EMPLOYS trainee to fill the following position:

Comparing Habitat Use of Small Mammals in Grazing Systems

We are seeking diverse and quantitatively inclined candidates for a partially funded graduate position to examine small mammal habitat selection and compare and contrast small mammal communities in bison and cattle pastures. Study site is the Crane Trust, a non-profit organization that conserves over 6,000 acres of riverine and meadow habitat in Wood River Nebraska. Ecological monitoring has taken place at the Crane Trust property for 7+ years and includes data on vegetation, management, and small mammals. Research should focus on potential effects of habitat structure and grazing management. The successful applicant will start at Western Colorado University in the fall semester of 2023, and participate in data collection at the Crane Trust property during the summer of 2024.

This research will be a collaborative effort with professor Madelon van de Kerk of the Western Wildlife Lab at Western Colorado University and Joshua Wiese, range manager at the Crane Trust. Contact e-mail: mvandekerk@western.edu