Positions Available

MS | PhD | Postdocs

MS Positions

M.S. Graduate Assistantship: Tracking Lake Whitefish Recruitment in Maine

Responsibilities: The incumbent will develop a collaborative project with the Maine Department of Inland Fish and Wildlife aimed at understanding the patterns of Lake Whitefish juvenile in lake systems of northern Maine. We anticipate that approaches to this work will be developed collaboratively with the State but are likely to include developing a systematic method to capture larval smelt. Experience in field ecology, fish capture techniques, and modeling are desirable – but only a willingness to learn is a necessity. Good communication skills are essential. The incumbent will work with many other partners (e.g., federal and NGOs), and be responsible for frequent reporting. The student will be advised by both Christina Murphy and Joe Zydlewski. One to two semesters of TA support are anticipated. Individuals from underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply.

Qualifications: B.S. in biology or equivalent, quantitative skills, interest in fisheries science, and excellent work ethics. Must have a desire to work in a collaborative and supportive graduate student community. GPA of 3.2+ is desired.

Salary: $27,000 per year, $3,157 health, and $7,241 tuition (estimated). Funding is renewed annually, 2.5 years is anticipated.

Closing date: Review will begin September 1, 2024, and continue until filled; anticipated starting date of January 1, 2025.

Contact: Please send a cover letter, CV, transcript, three references (names only), and GRE scores/percentiles (optional) using this link (https://forms.gle/AsGVHfC6xuScoG59A) Please direct questions to Joe Zydlewski (email josephz@maine.edu) with heading “Lake Whitefish”.

Link: https://www1.usgs.gov/coopunits/unit/Maine

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M.S. Graduate Assistantship: Road crossing influences on beaver ecology and fish communities

Responsibilities: The incumbent will develop a collaborative project with the Penobscot Nation aimed at understanding the connectivity among critical habitats for fish communities (including Atlantic salmon and brook trout) in a forested ecosystem dominated by beavers. Areas of interest have road crossing changes that are anticipated to reduce local beaver mediated impacts. The student will conduct community and trophic assessments that are relevant to the beaver influenced landscape. Experience in field ecology, GIS, and modeling are desirable – but only a willingness to learn is a necessity. Good communication skills are essential. The incumbent will work with many other partners (e.g., State of Maine, and NGOs), and be responsible for frequent reporting. The student will be advised by both Christina Murphy and Joe Zydlewski. One to two semesters of TA support are anticipated. Individuals from underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply.

Salary: $27,000 per year, $3,157 health, and $7,241 tuition (estimated). Funding is renewed annually; 2.5 years is anticipated.

Closing date: Review will begin September 1, 2024, and continue until filled; anticipated starting date of January 1, 2025.

Link: https://www1.usgs.gov/coopunits/unit/Maine

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M.S. Graduate Assistantship: Penobscot River Striped Bass Movement Behavior

Responsibilities: The incumbent will develop a collaborative project with the Penobscot Nation aimed at understanding the risks of consuming Striped Bass in the Penobscot River of Maine. The student will conduct mercury contamination assessments, use acoustic telemetry to track the movements, and use microchemical analysis of otoliths to inform patterns of estuary use and exposure to contaminated sediments. Collaboration with the University of New Hampshire and the Department of Marine Resources is anticipated. Experience in field ecology, telemetry, database management, and modeling are desirable – but only a willingness to learn is a necessity. Good communication skills are essential. The incumbent will work with many other partners (State of Maine, federal, and NGOs), and be responsible for frequent reporting. The student will be advised by Joe Zydlewski. One to two semesters of TA support are anticipated. Individuals from underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply.

Qualifications: B.S. in biology or equivalent, quantitative skills, interest in fisheries science and excellent work ethics. Must have a desire to work in a collaborative and supportive graduate student community. GPA of 3.2+ is desired.

Salary: $27,000 per year, $3,157 health, and $7,241 tuition (estimated). Funding is renewed annually; 2.5 years is anticipated.

Closing date: Review will begin September 1, 2024, and continue until filled; anticipated starting date of January 1, 2025.

Link: https://www1.usgs.gov/coopunits/unit/Maine

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PhD Assistantships

Ph.D. Graduate Assistantship: Sturgeon Demography and Movement Patterns

Responsibilities: The incumbent will develop a research project aimed at understanding the movements of Atlantic and shortnose sturgeon in the Kennebec and Penobscot Rivers of Maine using acoustic telemetry. The student will investigate the use of “scutes” to estimate age and to infer habitat use using microchemical analysis. Other complimentary approaches will be collaboratively developed with collaborators at the University of Maine and the Department of Marine Resources. Experience in field ecology, telemetry, database management, laboratory techniques, and modeling are desirable – but only a willingness to learn is a necessity. Good communication skills are essential. The incumbent will work with many partners (State of Maine, federal, tribal, and NGOs), and be responsible for frequent reporting. The student will be advised by Joe Zydlewski. One to two semesters of TA support are anticipated. Individuals from underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply.

Qualifications: M.S. in biology or equivalent, quantitative skills, interest in fisheries science and excellent work ethics. Must have a desire to work in a collaborative and supportive graduate student community. GPA of 3.2+ is desired.

Salary: $30,000 per year, $3,157 health, and $7,241 tuition (estimated). Funding is renewed annually; 4.5 years is anticipated.

Closing date: Review will begin September 1, 2024, and continue until filled; anticipated starting date of January 1, 2025.

Link: https://www1.usgs.gov/coopunits/unit/Maine

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Ph.D. Graduate Assistantship: Arctic Char Habitat Use in Maine

Responsibilities: The incumbent will develop a collaborative project with the Maine Department of Inland Fish and Wildlife aimed at understanding the patterns habitat use by Arctic Char in lake systems of northern Maine. We anticipate that approaches to this work will be developed collaboratively with the State but are likely to include acoustic telemetry and side scan sonar techniques. Experience in field ecology, telemetry, fish capture techniques, and modeling are desirable – but only a willingness to learn is a necessity. Good communication skills are essential. The incumbent will work with many other partners (e.g., federal and NGOs), and be responsible for frequent reporting. The student will be advised by both Christina Murphy and Joe Zydlewski. One to two semesters of TA support are anticipated. Individuals from underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply.

Qualifications: M.S. in biology or equivalent, quantitative skills, interest in fisheries science, and excellent work ethics. Must have a desire to work in a collaborative and supportive graduate student community. GPA of 3.2+ is desired.

Salary: $30,000 per year, $3,157 health, and $7,241 tuition (estimated). Funding is renewed annually; 4.5 years is anticipated.

Closing date: Review will begin September 1, 2024, and continue until filled; anticipated starting date of January 1, 2025.

Link: https://www1.usgs.gov/coopunits/unit/Maine

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Postdoctoral Positions

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None at this time.

Updated 7/31/24