Graduate Research Assistantship Position Available: 

Human Dimensions of Shorebird Stewardship on the Gulf Coast (US)

Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA: Dept. of Fish and Wildlife Conservation

Support: The student will be supported with a research assistantship with competitive stipend, a full tuition waiver, and student health benefits.

Start date: August 2024

Review of applications will begin January 5, 2024. 

Description:

We are seeking a Graduate Research Assistant to conduct human dimensions research focused on reducing human disturbance to shorebirds along the Gulf Coast of the United States. This is a unique opportunity to to be part of a large, transdisciplinary collaboration involving numerous partner organizations and led by the National Audubon Society. The selected student will be responsible for designing and conducting observations, interviews, and surveys of beach recreationists. Additionally, the student will contribute to the design of community-based social marketing campaigns based on the research findings and evaluate the campaigns. Interested students must be willing to work in the coastal environment during hot and humid summer conditions.

This position offers valuable experience in designing human dimensions research and evaluation methodologies, the opportunity to co-produce research and recommendations with the practitioners who will use the data, and communicate study results through written reports and presentations. The student will be mentored by Prof. Ashley Dayer, a conservation social scientist with extensive experience in bird conservation and science co-production with conservation practitioners. 

Funding from NOAA Restore is available to support a student year-round for 2-3 years. The student will receive a MS in Fish and Wildlife Conservation from Virginia Tech and be part of the Dayer Human Dimensions Lab (https://dayer.fishwild.vt.edu/). 

Graduate degree program will begin in August 2024. 

Minimum qualifications:

  • BS or BA degree in human dimensions, fisheries, wildlife, natural resources, environmental social sciences, geography, or related discipline with coursework or other experience in social sciences and natural resources or environment
  • GPA of 3.4 or higher (over the last 60 credit hours)
  • Interest in human dimensions research and science co-production
  • Willingness to travel and conduct field work in a coastal area
  • Experience with education, outreach, communications, or community engagement
  • Excellent writing skills
  • Organized and attention to detail
  • Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion
  • Works well independently and as part of a team

Preferred qualifications:

  • Demonstrated research experience (data collection, analysis, and writing)
  • Field work experience in social science or biology
  • Experience writing science research reports or journal articles
  • Experience with survey and/or interview research
  • Knowledge of shorebird conservation 
  • Skills in using statistical analysis software
  • Skills in qualitative data analysis software 

To apply:

Submit a single pdf including: 

  1. Cover letter summarizing interest in the position, qualifications, and experience, as well as research and career goals. 
  2. CV or resume
  3. Academic transcripts (can be unofficial)
  4. Names, contact information (email address and phone number), and short description of relationship for three professional or academic references 

Submit application materials via email to Sami Livingston (sami3@vt.edu) with “Dayer Lab GRA application” in the email subject line. Applications should be submitted by Friday, January 5th, but the position will remain open until filled. The top candidate will also need to apply to the Virginia Tech Graduate School before acceptance (but applicants do not need to initiate this application yet).

Contact Person: Sami Livingston (note:

Sami will be out of the office from Dec 22 to Jan 3).

Contact email: sami3@vt.edu

Graduate Research Assistantship Position Available: 

Listening to Longleaf Landowners

Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA: Dept. of Fish and Wildlife Conservation

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC: Dept. of Geography and Environment 

Salary: The student will be supported with a research assistantship, a full tuition waiver, and student health benefits.

Start date: May 2024 for VT student; August 2024 for UNC-CH student

Review of applications will begin November 27, 2023. 

 

Description:

Two Graduate Research Assistants are needed for a social science study focusing on understanding longleaf pine landowners and their participation in the Conservation Reserve Program. The project has a specific focus on motivations for participation, critical program components from landowner perspectives as well as barriers landowners may face to participation. This is a unique opportunity to join a research team and work collaboratively with faculty at Virginia Tech (Drs. Dayer and Holland) and UNC Chapel Hill (Dr. Allred). The students will participate in mixed-methods research to engage both conservation practitioners and landowners in the range of the longleaf pine. Methods will include conducting a literature review and secondary data analysis, semi-structured interviews and a quantitative survey. The UNC Chapel Hill doctoral student will have a particular focus on historically underserved landowners in the study area. Excellent organization, writing skills and attention to detail are essential as the student will be leading aspects of the research project. The students will have ample opportunity to design qualitative and quantitative research, write and present study results, and co-produce research and recommendations with the practitioners who will use the data.

Virginia Tech: Funding is available to support a student at the doctoral level. The student will receive a PhD in Fish and Wildlife Conservation from Virginia Tech and be part of the Dayer Human Dimensions Lab (http://www.fishwild.vt.edu/faculty/dayer/index.htm). PhD students will also be encouraged to apply to the interdisciplinary graduate education program Interfaces of Global Change (http://www.globalchange.vt.edu/igc/) which offers unique intellectual focus and training in the realm of global change and the science-policy interface. 

Preferred start date of May 2024 is negotiable. Graduate degree program will begin in August 2024.

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill:  Funding is available to support a student at the doctoral level on a 9-month Graduate Research Assistantship. In addition to the 9-month stipend, the student will have a summer GRA for 2025 and 2026. The student will receive a Ph.D. in Geography from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and be part of the Allred Lab Group in the Dept. of Geography and Environment with a start date of Fall 2024.  

 

Minimum qualifications:

  • MS or MA degree in human dimensions, fisheries, wildlife, natural resources, environmental social sciences, geography, or related discipline with coursework in social sciences and natural resources or environment
  • GPA of 3.4 or higher (over the last 60 credit hours)
  • Interest in social science research and science co-production with government agencies and landowners
  • Excellent writing skills
  • Organized and attention to detail
  • Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion
  • Works well independently and as part of a team

 

Preferred qualifications:

  • Demonstrated research experience (data collection, analysis, and writing)
  • Experience writing science research reports
  • Experience with survey and/or interview research
  • Knowledge of longleaf ecosystems, private lands conservation,
  • Skills in using statistical analysis software
  • Skills in qualitative data analysis software 

 

To apply:

Submit a single pdf including: 

  1. Cover letter summarizing interest in the position, qualifications, and experience, as well as research and career goals. Indicate your preference for the position at VT or UNC.
  2. CV or resume
  3. An academic/research writing sample (from a publication, research project, or class assignment) including a paragraph explaining applicant’s and others’ contributions to the piece
  4. Academic transcripts (can be unofficial)
  5. Names, contact information (email address and phone number), and short description of relationship for three professional or academic references 

Submit application materials via email to Dr. Kathleen Holland (kkholland@vt.edu) with “Dayer Lab GRA application”  or “Allred Lab GRA application” in the email subject line depending on which program you wish to be considered. Applications should be submitted before November 27, 2023, but will be reviewed as they are received. The top candidate will also need to apply to the Virginia Tech Graduate School or the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Graduate School before acceptance (but applicants do not need to initiate this application yet).

 

Contact Person: Dr. Kathleen Holland

Contact email: kkholland@vt.edu