M.S. in Wildlife and Fisheries Science – Communities Associated with Aquatic Habitat Restoration

Salary/Compensation: $35,000/year stipend plus tuition coverage and health insurance benefits (Student responsible for graduate student fees).

Application Deadline: Open until filled (Review begins June 1, 2025)

Starting Date: August 2025 (or earlier, depending on candidate availability)

Ending Date: Approx. 2.5-year appointment

Hours per Week: At least 40 (Full-time graduate research assistantship)

Education Required: Bachelor’s degree in Natural Resources, Ecology, Wildlife Science/Management, Fisheries Science/Management, or a closely related field.

Experience Required: None required beyond Bachelor’s degree. Prior experience with vegetation, bird, amphibian, and fish identification/sampling, data entry, and statistical analysis is desired.

Project Overview:

Drs. Lisa Izzo and Matt Gray in the School of Natural Resources at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville are seeking applicants for a M.S. student in Wildlife and Fisheries Science. The student’s thesis work will focus on aquatic habitat restoration efforts in western Tennessee, particularly documenting pre-restoration conditions at a hardwood bottomland site at the West Tennessee Research and Education Center. The M.S. student will lead research that investigates vegetation and vertebrate communities associated with a stream and floodplain restoration project.

Duties:

In addition to course requirements of the M.S. in Wildlife and Fisheries Science program, primary duties of the student will include (1) field assessments of vegetation composition and structure, bird and amphibian use, and fish community composition; (2) growth analysis of larval and/or age-0 fish species of interest, (3) estimating pathogen prevalence in amphibian communities, (4) eDNA sampling for aquatic community assessment, (5) data management and analysis, and (6) writing of a final thesis, at least one manuscript for submission to a peer-reviewed journal, and reports to project funders. The selected applicant will have the opportunity to develop and investigate hypotheses and address objectives of interest within the context of the project.

Location:

The position will be based in the School of Natural Resources at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Fieldwork will involve several multi-day, overnight trips to the West Tennessee Research and Education Center in Jackson, Tennessee (housing provided during fieldwork).

Start Date:

August 2025 or before (dependent on funding and successful candidate availability)

Qualifications:

Successful applicants must have a Bachelor’s degree in Natural Resources, Ecology, Wildlife Science/Management, Fisheries Science/Management, or a closely related field, and meet all other qualifications for admission to the School of Natural Resources Master’s Program (https://naturalresources.tennessee.edu/masters-program/). Please note that GRE scores are optional for admission. Applicants must have an interest in natural resource management, wetlands ecology, aquatic habitat restoration, and a strong desire to learn new skills. The successful candidate must possess a valid driver’s license and be able to lead fieldwork independently. Prior experience with vegetation, bird, amphibian, and fish identification and sampling is desired, as well as some previous training with data entry and statistical analysis.

Salary and Benefits:

$35,000/year stipend for 2.5 years, coverage for tuition, and health insurance benefits. The student will be responsible for paying graduate student fees.

To Apply:

Please submit (1) a one-page statement of research interests and career goals, (2) a CV, (3) unofficial transcripts, and (4) contact information for three references to Drs. Izzo and Gray via Google Forms at https://forms.gle/boipXAvRu6jxXcpPA. Review of applications will begin on 1 June 2025 and continue until a suitable candidate is identified. The successful candidate will apply formally to the UTK graduate school following the internal application process.