POSITION TYPE: Full-Time 12-Month

DEPARTMENT: Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Aquaculture, Mississippi State University

SALARY: $20,000 + benefits

DESCRIPTION: Population monitoring is vital to the conservation and appropriate management of white-tailed deer. In collaboration with the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks (MDWFP), we are seeking a motivated and personable individual to focus on estimating accuracy and precision of roadside thermal camera surveys among known deer densities and various environmental conditions with the goal of developing a sampling protocol for efficient statewide deer monitoring.

 

Core tenets of our research group are teamwork and leadership development. We have an interdisciplinary team of researchers including members of the home department and wildlife biologists from MDWFP. The incumbent will have the opportunity to collaborate with other graduate students, mentor undergraduate researchers, and work closely with postdoctoral research associates and MDWFP staff. Collaboration among other colleges and research institutes within the university will also be encouraged as necessary for the success of the project. Scientific communication of project outcomes will be expected through a variety of outlets including publications, presentations, and public outreach. Applicants should be self-motivated, fit well within a multidisciplinary team environment, and exhibit good oral and written communication skills. For more information on MSU’s Graduate School admissions policies, please visit https://www.grad.msstate.edu/students/admissions. 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• B.S. degree completed by the start date.

• Degree should be wildlife science, ecology, wildlife damage management, natural resource management, conservation biology, or a related field.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS  

• Demonstrated application of creative thinking and effective communication among multiple stakeholder groups

• Experience with drones, thermal camera surveys, or other technologies related to natural resource monitoring

 

ABOUT MISSISSIPPI STATE
Mississippi State University is one of the leading research institutions in the Southeast (Carnegie R1 Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity) and ranked as a top-tier land grant university by the National Science Foundation. The Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture is comprised of 35 faculty, >20 support staff, and > 60 graduate students on campus (>30 additional graduate students online). It is home to the Mississippi USGS Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, a US Fish and Wildlife Service Unit, USDA Wildlife Services State Director’s office, and some state agency offices. 
MSU is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, ethnicity, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, disability status, age, sexual orientation, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We always welcome nominations and applications from women, members of any minority group, and others who share our passion for building a diverse community that reflects the diversity in our student population.
 

To apply, please submit a single PDF including a cover letter, CV, one-page statement of research interests with emphasis on how this opportunity aligns with career goals and interests, and complete contact information for three references to Dr. Melanie Boudreau at  mrb851@msstate.edu (Subject: “Thermal Survey MSc”).  The position is slated to begin January 202, but the start date is negotiable.