Research Opportunity at Northern Illinois University

The following information was submitted to the Sustainability Office on behalf of Dr. Holly Jones of Northern Illinois University:

We seek a motivated Ph.D. student to develop a dissertation research project utilizing data from the Lake County Forest Preserve District (LCFPD) Long-Term Wildlife Monitoring Program to assess outcomes and identify successful strategies for meeting restoration and management targets. The LCFPD has substantial data on wildlife populations (especially small mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians), land cover, and management history, which will allow the student to pursue unique and important questions about restoration ecology and habitat management.

The student will work under the guidance of ecologists and restoration biologists at Northern Illinois University, Dr. Nick Barber (http://niu.edu/biology/about/faculty/barber/Barber_Lab/Home.html), Dr. Holly Jones (http://niu.edu/biology/about/faculty/jones/jones_lab/index.html), and Dr. Rich King (http://niu.edu/biology/about/faculty/rking/index.shtml), and with managers at LCFPD.

Prospective students should be comfortable working during inclement weather, possess a valid driver’s license, and be willing to oversee a small team of field technicians. Competitive candidates will have a Master’s degree and strong GRE scores. Experience with mark-recapture methods, occupancy modeling, and wildlife management is desirable. The position will include stipend and tuition remission, with a starting date of August 2016 or January 2017.

Northern Illinois University is a 20,000-student research university in DeKalb, Illinois, a diverse community of 50,000 with a low cost of living. The Department of Biological Sciences includes faculty with a wide range of research interests, including an active Ecology, Evolution, Behavior, and Conservation research concentration.

Details of the graduate program are available at http://niu.edu/biology/academics/graduate-studies/index.shtml. Interested students should email Nick Barber (nbarber[at]niu[dot]edu) by May 15, 2015, with a cover letter that explains your research background and interests and why you want to pursue a Ph.D. Please also include a CV with GPA and GRE scores.