Prospective 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 hoping for an EMPLOYS trainee to fill the following position:
Effects of Beetle Kill on Ungulates
We are seeking diverse and quantitatively inclined candidates for a graduate assistantship to examine the effects of conifer bark beetle kill on ungulate distribution and other population parameters in Colorado. Data has been collected for 6+ years and includes GPS locations of elk, mule deer and bighorn sheep as well as some remotely sensed / spatial data on beetle kill areas. No additional fieldwork is needed, but opportunities for participating in field work related to this project and other research (i.e., wildlife capture, mortality investigations) are available. Specific research questions within the overarching theme will be developed based on the successful applicants interests and may include topics such as ungulate resource selection, survival rates, logging treatments and hunter access.
This research will be a collaborative effort with professor Madelon van de Kerk of the Western Wildlife Lab, Western Colorado University; Wildlife Biologist Kevin Blecha, Colorado Parks and Wildlife; and Jonathan Coop, Western Colorado University.
Contact e-mail: mvandekerk@western.edu
Please read more about the EMPLOYS program and the application process here.
Our lab specifically is hoping for an EMPLOYS trainee to fill the following position:
Effects of Beetle Kill on Ungulates
We are seeking diverse and quantitatively inclined candidates for a graduate assistantship to examine the effects of conifer bark beetle kill on ungulate distribution and other population parameters in Colorado. Data has been collected for 6+ years and includes GPS locations of elk, mule deer and bighorn sheep as well as some remotely sensed / spatial data on beetle kill areas. No additional fieldwork is needed, but opportunities for participating in field work related to this project and other research (i.e., wildlife capture, mortality investigations) are available. Specific research questions within the overarching theme will be developed based on the successful applicants interests and may include topics such as ungulate resource selection, survival rates, logging treatments and hunter access.
This research will be a collaborative effort with professor Madelon van de Kerk of the Western Wildlife Lab, Western Colorado University; Wildlife Biologist Kevin Blecha, Colorado Parks and Wildlife; and Jonathan Coop, Western Colorado University.
Contact e-mail: mvandekerk@western.edu