Position Summary

The Forest Animal Ecology Laboratory (http://people.forestry.oregonstate.edu/jim-rivers/) in the College of Forestry at Oregon State University is soliciting applications for a M.S. student to join the Oregon Marbled Murrelet Project (https://www.oregonmurrelet.org/). The student will be advised by Dr. Jim Rivers in the Department of Forest Engineering, Resources, and Management and will lead research aimed at expanding our understanding of the breeding ecology of the endangered Marbled Murrelet in western Oregon. In particular, this position will focus on quantifying murrelet parental care behaviors, nest survival, and nest-site characteristics. The successful candidate will start field work in summer 2022 to assist in the collection of field data, with matriculation into the graduate program in fall 2022.

This position provides an excellent opportunity for a student interested in avian ecology, behavioral ecology, and forest management to conduct applied research with high conservation relevance. During the course of their degree the successful applicant will gain skills in quantitative data analysis, professional writing and public speaking, as well as first-hand experience working with a species of high conservation importance. The successful applicant will have a B.S. degree in wildlife ecology or a closely related field, have demonstrated experience conducting ornithological field research on breeding birds, be intellectually curious and hard-working, and be motivated to develop skillsets that are critical for success in a science-based career. The strongest applicants will have experience working with breeding seabirds (especially auks), have conducted independent research, and/or have a working knowledge of statistical and spatial data analysis software (i.e., R and GIS/QGIS, respectively).

This position provides a 12-month stipend (minimum of $2036/month), tuition and health insurance. This is a two-year position, subject to a satisfactory performance review after 12 months. Applicants with existing funding (e.g., NSF, NSERC, Fulbright) will be given high priority, and individuals from underrepresented groups are especially encouraged to apply. Oregon State University is among the top U.S. universities for scientific productivity in environmental sciences and conservation biology, and the College of Forestry is currently ranked second globally in forestry programs. 

Application Instructions

Applicants should create a single PDF file that contains:

1. a cover letter addressing qualifications as they relate to the position requirements,
2. a full-length curriculum vitae or résumé,
3. GRE scores,
4. academic transcripts (unofficial transcripts are sufficient), and
5. the names and contact information (email, telephone, and mailing address) of 3 individuals who may be contacted as professional references.

This document should be emailed to Dr. Jim Rivers (jim.rivers@oregonstate.edu) with “Murrelet M.S. Position” in the subject line. Review of applications will begin on December 15, 2021, and the position will remain open until a suitable candidate has been selected.  

Oregon State University commits to inclusive excellence by advancing equity and diversity in all that we do. We are an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer, and particularly encourage applications from members of historically underrepresented racial/ethnic groups, women, individuals with disabilities, veterans, LGBTQ community members, and others who demonstrate the ability to help us achieve our vision of a diverse and inclusive community.