Students
Current opening (last date to apply July 31, 2018) :
I am seeking an outstanding student to pursue a MSc in Natural Resources in the Department of Fish and Wildlife Sciences at the University of Idaho. The thesis project will evaluate effects of livestock grazing of riparian and wet meadow habitats used for brood-rearing by greater sage-grouse. The student will evaluate responses of plants important to sage-grouse, as well as responses of soil moisture and livestock performance. The successful applicant will be responsible for: (1) conducting two field seasons of survey work at Rock Creek Ranch (near Hailey, ID) and 1-2 additional sites in southern Idaho; (2) analyzing and interpreting data collected from the field; and (3) publishing results from the study in peer-reviewed journals. Fieldwork involves plant species identification in sagebrush steppe and riparian habitats and working with livestock. The position offers a unique opportunity for interdisciplinary training and excellent preparation for a career in land management.
The successful applicant will be funded through a combination of research assistantships and teaching assistantships. The student will be co-advised by Drs. Tracey Johnson and Melinda Ellison (https://www.uidaho.edu/cals/animal-and-veterinary-science/our-people/melinda-ellison).
To apply: Email the following information to traceyj@uidaho.edu
-Personal statement – this should describe your research interests and career goals, and explain how your skills and experience make you a strong candidate for this position. (2 pp. max)
-CV
-transcripts (unofficial okay)
-GRE scores (unofficial okay)
-Contact information for three references
UI is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer committed to assembling a diverse, broadly trained faculty and staff. Women, minorities, people with disabilities and veterans are strongly encouraged to apply. AA/EO
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Current Students
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Jordan Rabon
Jordan graduated from the University of Connecticut majoring in Natural Resources and the Environment. After graduating he volunteered on a ruffed grouse research project and became extremely attached to all aspects of Galliforms, including their research, management, and ecology. He has worked for the past four years on several upland game bird research projects, gaining skills including capturing, banding, radio marking, and bleeding upland game birds, radio telemetry, plant identification, and many more. He has worked with ruffed grouse, spruce grouse, prairie chickens, and wild turkey and is excited to add greater sage-grouse to that list. The focus of his graduate research at the University of Idaho includes sage-grouse demographic responses to juniper removal. He enjoys the outdoors, hunting upland game birds, fishing, and hiking. |
Prospective Students
I am happy to hear from prospective students! I am excited to have the opportunity to train talented young biologists and help them move to the next stage in their careers. The best prospects will be curious, self-motivated, highly conscientious, and will have goals for achievement after graduate school. I seek students with an interest in contributing to the development of wildlife science through both the primary literature and by considering the practical applications of their work to conservation and management. Prospective masters students should have experience from multiple field positions and ideally, have completed an undergraduate thesis. Prospective doctoral students should have produced at least one peer-reviewed publication. I gladly receive inquiries from prospective students that have secured their own project funding, or are pursuing external fellowships or grants. If you are interested in working with me, email me the following items: 1. Cover letter summarizing research experience, research interests, and career goals 2. Curriculum vitae 3. GRE scores 4. College transcripts OR a summary of classes taken with grades earned |
Keri York
Keri is returning to graduate school after working for the past 9 years at the Wood River Land Trust, based in Hailey. She now works for Trout Unlimited while completing her Master’s degree. Her earlier academic career focused on marine fisheries biology, but while working at Wood River Land Trust she has developed a strong interest in the intersections of rangelands, fish and wildlife, and management. She has been involved in Rock Creek Ranch and the partnership with the University of Idaho, where she is completing her master's research. The focus of her graduate research includes assessing patterns in cattle grazing utilization rates in wet meadows and brood-rearing habitat for Greater sage-grouse, particularly on preferred forbs. She is happy to have returned full circle to her home in Idaho and the rangelands that she grew up in.
Keri is returning to graduate school after working for the past 9 years at the Wood River Land Trust, based in Hailey. She now works for Trout Unlimited while completing her Master’s degree. Her earlier academic career focused on marine fisheries biology, but while working at Wood River Land Trust she has developed a strong interest in the intersections of rangelands, fish and wildlife, and management. She has been involved in Rock Creek Ranch and the partnership with the University of Idaho, where she is completing her master's research. The focus of her graduate research includes assessing patterns in cattle grazing utilization rates in wet meadows and brood-rearing habitat for Greater sage-grouse, particularly on preferred forbs. She is happy to have returned full circle to her home in Idaho and the rangelands that she grew up in.
Aaron Young
Aaron graduated from Western Michigan University with B.S. degrees in Biology and Environmental Studies. Following undergrad, he worked various field research positions around the country, primarily examining the effects of management and human altered ecosystems on songbird populations. For his Master’s work at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, he examined post-fledging survival, habitat selection, and seasonal fecundity of Henslow’s Sparrow in southwest Missouri. Aaron is interested in applying current statistical and modeling approaches to understand how management of imperiled or multi-use ecosystems affects populations at multiple levels. He also really likes sparrows. For his Ph.D. research, Aaron is studying the bird and small mammal community response to juniper management in a southwest Idaho sagebrush ecosystem. He will investigate changes in abundance and community composition with juniper removal at multiple scales, as well as the underlying mechanisms driving any changes at the site level through altered habitat quality or species interactions.
Aaron graduated from Western Michigan University with B.S. degrees in Biology and Environmental Studies. Following undergrad, he worked various field research positions around the country, primarily examining the effects of management and human altered ecosystems on songbird populations. For his Master’s work at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, he examined post-fledging survival, habitat selection, and seasonal fecundity of Henslow’s Sparrow in southwest Missouri. Aaron is interested in applying current statistical and modeling approaches to understand how management of imperiled or multi-use ecosystems affects populations at multiple levels. He also really likes sparrows. For his Ph.D. research, Aaron is studying the bird and small mammal community response to juniper management in a southwest Idaho sagebrush ecosystem. He will investigate changes in abundance and community composition with juniper removal at multiple scales, as well as the underlying mechanisms driving any changes at the site level through altered habitat quality or species interactions.
