Graduate Assistantship in Zoonotic Diseases, Wildlife, and Forest Management

Description: The Wildlife Ecology lab
(https://wbsutton.wordpress.com/) at Tennessee State University
announces a Graduate Research Assistantship (either Master’s or
preferably PhD) beginning January 2016. The purpose of this project is
to evaluate the impacts of forest management on wildlife and tick
populations and prevalence of tick-borne pathogens. This research is an
excellent opportunity for a student who is interested in understanding
how landscape disturbances simultaneously impact wildlife populations
and zoonotic pathogen prevalence. The GRA will manage this project and
will oversee all aspects of the project, including data collection, data
analysis, and manuscript preparation in partial fulfillment of the
terminal degree. The successful applicant will be under primary
advisement of Dr. William Sutton.

Compensation: Full project support including tuition waiver and graduate
stipend.

Qualifications: B.S. or M.S. in wildlife ecology, ecology, biological
sciences, or related discipline, English fluency, and a valid U.S.
driver’s license.

Desired Experience: Excellence in written and oral communication;
considerable field experience (preferably with herpetofauna and
mammals); experience with molecular techniques, including quantitative
PCR; willingness to sample and identify tick species; maturity,
responsibility and dedication to meticulous field work despite harsh,
hot, and wet field conditions; and leadership in supervision of field
technicians.

For Consideration: Please send the following (in PDF format as one file)
via email to wsutton@tnstate.edu:  1) cover letter expressing interest
in, potential research questions and goals for, and suitability for the
position; 2) position type (Master’s or PhD) being applied for; 3) CV or
resume describing relevant experience; 4) names and contact information
for at least three references; 5) unofficial transcripts and
undergraduate GPA; and 6) unofficial GRE scores. Please do not submit a
formal application to the Department unless requested to do so.
Applications will be accepted until 23 October 2015.

Tennessee State University (TSU) is a public university located in
downtown Nashville, Tennessee. Nashville is a burgeoning multi-cultural
city well known for excellent music. Multiple outdoor recreation
opportunities abound in close proximity to the city.

Tennessee State University is an AA/EEO employer and does not
discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex,
disability or age in its programs and activities.