Catheline Froehlich · Texas · posted 6 days ago
Description: The Fish Connections Lab at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) is seeking a highly motivated M.S. student for a graduate assistantship(s) (stipend plus tuition covered, may include teaching) beginning in Fall 2027. The successful applicant will develop a thesis project focused on the ecology, evolution, and/or conservation of reef fish symbioses. There may be multiple topics addressed within this project, including animal ecology, disturbance ecology, morphology, behavior, dietary ecology, community ecology, genomics, microbiome, and/or habitat use. The Fish Connections Lab works on a variety of reef fish symbioses globally, for example clownfish-anemone, goby-coral, and cleaner-client-habitat mutualisms. Studying these symbioses often incorporates field, aquaria, and laboratory techniques. Students will receive training in study design, field and laboratory techniques, and data analysis. Students will be expected to present at scientific conferences and publish their research in peer-reviewed journals. The successful applicant will begin their M.S. program in August 2027. UTRGV is a R1 research university and the second largest federally designated Hispanic-Serving Institution in the United States, with campuses located in the Rio Grande Valley region of Texas, including Brownsville, Edinburg, and Port Isabel. The Fish Connections Lab is based on the Port Isabel Campus with degree coursework based primarily on the Brownsville campus. Rio Grande Valley is a vibrant, multicultural community with an affordable cost of living and year-round warm weather. Qualifications: B.S. in Biology, Marine Ecology, or a similar degree, with strong academic credentials, is required. Applicants should be highly motivated, capable of conducting fieldwork under challenging conditions, able to manage multiple projects, and willing to work both independently and collaboratively. Applicants should be comfortable participating in field collections, euthanasia, and preservation of specimens. Competitive applicants will demonstrate intellectual curiosity, initiative, strong organizational skills, and excellent written and oral communication. Students must have the ability to travel for many weeks away (possibly in remote places with limited connection) and travel overseas. Highly competitive applicants will demonstrate experience conducting field research (underwater experience is a bonus), preferably during their undergraduate program, and other research engagement. The selected applicant will be required to apply and be accepted into the UTRGV Graduate College and the School of Earth, Environmental, and Marine Sciences. How to Apply: Applicants should send an e-mail with a cover letter describing their research interests, motivation for joining the Fish Connections Lab, previous research experience, and long-term career goals. Please include your resume/CV, unofficial transcripts, and contact information for two professional references to Dr. Catheline Froehlich at catheline.froehlich@utrgv.edu (subject line = ‘UTRGV MS Position’). Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled, with full consideration for those received before 2 November 2026. Direct any questions about this position to the e-mail address above.
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