MSU Listserv

From: Mammalian Biology <[log in to unmask]> on behalf of Joy O'Keefe <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Wednesday, July 31, 2024 at 6:33 PM
To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: MS Assistantship: Bat Conservation, University of Illinois
External Email - Exercise Caution
MS Assistantship: Bat Conservation, University of Illinois
Agency: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Location: Urbana, IL
Website: http://wildlife.nres.illinois.edu<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http*3A*2F*2Fwildlife.nres.illinois.edu*2F&data=05*7C02*7CMAMMAL-L*40si-listserv.si.edu*7C7478b984784644f089d908dcb1b0b455*7C989b5e2a14e44efe93b78cdd5fc5d11c*7C0*7C0*7C638580619703596668*7CUnknown*7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0*3D*7C0*7C*7C*7C&sdata=8uYFkPvqsgI6N80ZxWr*2Bc5S0ZcF0atzA4Si7uGxILa8*3D&reserved=0__;JSUlJSUlJSUlJSUlJSUlJSUlJSUl!!HXCxUKc!yjCs_qqgrQRRQYSPC-hOsKdPdj2FjGc8MZoATPQtw1c9hP7DMhayZhpg_XUGGQnWfnIDM0EEm_bCWPd3_Vk$>
Salary: Approximately $28,556 for 11-mo. appt., benefits, tuition waiver
Start Date: January 2025
Last Date to Apply: 1 September 2024

I am seeking one highly motivated student to join my research group in the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences (NRES) at the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign. The student will use radio telemetry and passive acoustic monitoring to study the responses of bats to removal of non-native, invasive Amur honeysuckle from the forest. The focal species is the endangered Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis). This is a two-year field study centered on protected land just outside of Indianapolis, Indiana. The student will be part of a collaborative team of researchers, including Dr. Joy O’Keefe, another MS student, and field technicians. The student will lead the radio telemetry effort, conducting homing telemetry to locate daytime roosts and leading a team to triangulate locations of bats at night. The student will also deploy and analyze data from acoustic detectors, participate in capture surveys, and help to monitor artificial roosts for a companion study. There is potential to explore additional questions surrounding the insect community and bat diets. This study is funded by the Indiana Department of Transportation and will be conducted in coordination with this and other local, state, and federal agencies. Results will inform policy on conservation practices to enhance and protect habitat for the federally endangered Indiana bat and other imperiled species.
Qualifications
Applicants should have a BS degree in biology, ecology, wildlife, or another related discipline. Required qualifications include strong quantitative and analytical skills, field research experience, and a competitive GPA. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, a strong work ethic, and the ability to both work independently and contribute to a research team are critical. A valid driver’s license is also required. Experience with radio telemetry and bat handling is preferred, as is experience working in a team environment.
Start date will be January 2025 (enrolling in classes for the Spring semester).
If interested, please send an email to Dr. Joy O’Keefe ([log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>) with the following combined into one PDF with your last name in the file name: CV, undergraduate transcripts (unofficial are sufficient), statement of interest reflecting on the position description, and contact information for three references. Review of applications will begin 26 August 2024; the last date to apply is 1 September 2024.