M.S. position in Biology
Arkansas State University

Eastern small-footed bat day-roost distribution

Description:

The R2 Lab is inviting applications for a graduate position in the Biology program at Arkansas State University. The overall goal of the project is to determine the distribution of roost preferences of a rare bat species in Arkansas, the eastern small-footed bat (Myotis leibii). The objectives are (1) to create a GIS layer of habitat features, particularly for talus slopes, rocky outcrops, and boulder fields of the Ouachita Mountains, (2) determine the presence of the species in the region, and (3) quantify the relative influence of habitat and landscape features on the probability of occupancy of the species.

The position starts January 1, 2019. The successful applicant is expected to interact with USFS, collect data over two seasons (May-August 2019 and 2020), analyze the data, and present results in peer-reviewed manuscript(s) and at scientific meetings. He/she will be supported through a combined research (53%) and teaching (47%) assistantship.

Qualifications:
Applicants must have a B.S. in wildlife ecology or related field with ≥ 3.0 GPA. Talus slopes and boulder fields that are not all easily accessible from the road involve hiking steep slopes for substantial distances. Therefore, applicants should also be in excellent physical condition. Applicants with GIS and field experience (mist-netting, bat handling, and acoustics) will be given preference.

Application documents:

Please send the following documents to Dr. Virginie Rolland (vrolland@astate.edu) by October 5, 2018:

1) letter of intent
2) CV
3) unofficial transcripts
4) GRE scores
5) contact information of at least two references

Contacts:
For more information, you may contact either Dr. Virginie Rolland (vrolland@astate.edu; 870-972-3194) or Dr. Tom Risch (trisch@astate.edu; 870-972-3333).