University of North Dakota · North Dakota · posted today
Position Title: Ph.D. Graduate Assistantship – Optimizing Invasive Cattail Treatment Effectiveness for Native Vegetation, Waterfowl, and Marsh Birds in Prairie Wetlands Location: Grand Forks, ND, with field work in western MN (Otter Tail, Pope, Stevens, Traverse, Big Stone, Swift, Chippewa, and Todd counties) Start Date: Spring 2027 for fieldwork with the potential of a January or August 2027 official grad program start Position Description: We are seeking a PhD student with broad interest in wetland habitat management and wetland biology/ecology (especially wetland plant, waterfowl, and marsh bird communities) to join a research team comparing the effectiveness and longevity of several treatments for invasive cattail in seasonal prairie pothole wetlands, with the goal of informing habitat management techniques for waterfowl and marsh birds. Invasive cattail species (Typha angustifolia, T. x glauca) have dramatically proliferated across North America’s prairie pothole region since the mid-twentieth century. Unlike native cattail, invasive cattail forms thick monocultures, impacting native plant diversity, displacing wildlife food plants, and disrupting habitat structure. The overarching research project is a before-after/control-impact study comparing the outcomes of four cattail treatment methods across approximately 50 wetlands in western Minnesota for the first 3 years following treatment. The selected candidate will collect and analyze post-treatment data, including (1) vegetation type and structure data from vegetation surveys and high-resolution aerial imagery from an uncrewed aerial system (UAS; i.e., a drone), (2) waterfowl and secretive marsh bird abundance from UAS surveys, and (3) waterfowl and secretive marsh bird occupancy from passive acoustic recording units. The selected candidate will analyze these data streams toward the goal of producing practical information for land managers to balance frequency of needed retreatment versus cost per treatment. The candidate will also participate in sharing results with natural resource managers and the public. Given the vast amount of data collected, there is the potential to develop additional questions of interest to the candidate. This research is highly collaborative, offering opportunity to engage with professionals in various career tracks and agencies/entities. Partners include scientists and wetland managers from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, Delta Waterfowl, and the University of Minnesota. Good communication skills will be key to success in this collaborative team. This research will have a heavy field travel component, with the PhD student stationed full-time in the field from April to August in 2027, 2028, and possibly 2029. During this time, the student will lead field technicians in data collection. Co-PIs will provide close support, including regular in-person presence. Field work will include piloting UAS’s, driving 4WD trucks and UTVs, hiking across prairie, and wading/collecting data in shallow wetlands with thick emergent vegetation, in a variety of weather conditions (cold early spring to hot summer temperatures). Minimum qualifications · Master’s degree in plant ecology, wildlife biology, biology, ecology, or a related field · Commitment to fostering an inclusive and respectful work environment · Strong communication and collaboration skills for working within a large research team · Interest in research spanning all project lines of inquiry (wetland management techniques, wetland plant biology/ecology, avian biology/ecology, wetland soils), and research experience pertinent to 1-2 of those topics · Willingness to work full-time in the field April-August (with field lodging provided by University of North Dakota) · Field work experience relevant to at least one of the project data collection methods · Already possess or willing to obtain (with guidance from PIs) a FAA Part 107 license (Remote Pilot Certificate) for operating UAS · Experience with statistical analysis of biological data and analysis software (e.g., R) · Experience with GIS software (e.g., ArcGIS) · Strong writing skills · Experience prioritizing research project tasks and setting realistic timelines for completion Preferred qualifications · Experience leading field crews in data collection · At least one peer-reviewed scientific publication · Research experience in multiple lines of project inquiry (wetland management techniques, wetland plant biology/ecology, avian biology/ecology, wetland soils) · Field work experience with multiple project data collection methods (e.g., waterfowl surveys using UAS with thermal and EO sensors, plant surveys, passive acoustic recording units, creating orthomosaics from UAS imagery, wetland soil sampling) Salary and benefits: $30,240/year plus a tuition waiver. Student is expected to cover the modest student fees that are not an expense that can be covered by grants. The position is primarily funded through a research assistantship through June 2030. The selected candidate will be expected to work a teaching assistantship for 1-2 semesters to develop teaching/mentoring experience and to meet project budget constraints. To apply: Please e-mail a cover letter summarizing your interest and qualifications for the position, CV, and names and contact information of three professional references to Dr. Susan Ellis-Felege (susan.felege@und.edu). For full consideration, please apply by November 15, 2026. Questions about the position may be addressed to Dr. Ellis-Felege (susan.felege@und.edu) and/or Dr. Megan Fitzpatrick (megan.fitzpatrick@state.mn.us)
Apply on the employer's site →JobMoo watches every zoo, aquarium, wildlife, and marine source we know and emails you the roles that fit, once a day, with a real human keeping an eye on your search. Built by a dad and his daughter, and it worked: she landed the job.
Start your 7-day trial, $9/mo after