Subject: M.A. GRADUATE RESEARCH POSITION on breeding Painted Buntings in agricultural habitats modified by CP-33 Habitat Buffers.

A graduate assistantship is available August 2008 at the UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA WILMINGTON, Department of Environmental Studies to conduct intensive bird surveys to determine breeding bird abundance and nest success for Painted Bunting and other indicator songbird species in agricultural landscapes modified by Farm Bill Conservation Practice 33 (habitat buffers) within South Carolina.  As part of the research effort, a landscape/GAP analysis model will be developed to track dynamic seasonal crop rotation and predict the pattern of habitat occupancy and breeding distribution of Painted Bunting and associated songbird indicator species (i.e., Indigo Bunting and Blue Grosbeak).

The successful applicant should have some experience with point count and/or transect monitoring as well as some experience with mist-net capture and banding of songbirds.  Experience with Geographic Information Systems is a plus as well as experience with radio telemetry.

Stipend will be ~$10,000 per year plus a tuition/fee-waiver and housing and expenses during the field season (pending funding by summer 2008).  More information about my research and information for prospective students are available at: http://people.uncw.edu/rotenbergj.

For more information about the Department, visit the website http://www.uncw.edu/evs.

Interested individuals should send a cover letter outlining experience (including your experiences with banding) and research interests, curriculum vitae, including G.P.A. and GRE scores, and contact information for three references to DR. JAMES ROTENBERG, Department of Environmental Studies, University of North Carolina Wilmington, 601 S. College Road, Wilmington, NC 28403-5949; (910) 962-7549  (910) 962-7634 FAX; Email: rotenbergj@uncw.edu.

In addition applications need to apply on-line at

https://app.applyyourself.com/?id=uncw-grad

Minimal requirements for unconditional admittance into the program include:

successful completion of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university or college, or its equivalent; strong academic performance in an undergraduate curriculum indicated by a minimum of a GPA of 3.0 or higher, or its equivalent; indication of graduate academic potential reflected by satisfactory performance on the Graduate Record Examination;

Indication of graduate academic potential reflected by three letters of recommendation from individuals in professionally relevant fields

Concurrency of personal goals with the focus of the environmental studies graduate curriculum.

I will give strong preference to applicants who have a record of previous research or field experience.

James A. Rotenberg, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor Environmental Ecology

Department of Environmental Studies                     

University of North Carolina Wilmington

601 S. College Road

Wilmington, NC 28403-5949

(910) 962-7549  (910) 962-7634 FAX

http://people.uncw.edu/rotenbergj/

email:  rotenbergj@uncw.edu