Geospatial and Movement Ecology
Description: Are you passionate about integrating wildlife research, big data, and geospatial analyses? The CKWRI Spatial Analytics Laboratory and Technology hub (C-SALT) is seeking a highly motivated PhD student to work on an exciting project at the intersection of movement ecology, geospatial science, and computational biology.
The successful candidate will lead a research project focused on integrating large-scale animal movement datasets (e.g., GPS, VHF telemetry) with diverse geospatial data layers (e.g., satellite imagery, climate data). The goal is to develop and apply novel analytical techniques to answer critical questions in ecology and conservation. Potential research areas include modeling habitat selection and resource use at fine spatial and temporal scales, quantifying the impacts of climate change and landscape scale disturbance metrics on animal behavior and distribution, developing predictive models of animal movement patterns, e.g., migration routes and dispersal corridors, or using machine learning to identify behavioral states from sensor data.
You will have the opportunity to collaborate across CKWRI’s research programs that span ungulates, carnivores, gamebird species, and waterfowl, and to work with unique, high-resolution datasets to develop sophisticated quantitative skills to transform data into ecological insights for species of critical conservation and management concern. The position allows for considerable flexibility for candidates to explore their own research directions across landscape ecology, computational ecology, and wildlife conservation domains.
Key responsibilities of the incumbent will include helping manage C-SALT operations, mentoring CKWRI’s masters and undergraduate students, presenting research at professional conferences, and contributing to grant proposal development and manuscript preparation. The position affords excellent opportunities to collaborate regionally and globally on interdisciplinary projects involving diverse biota.
Required qualifications:
• A Master's degree in Ecology, Biology, Geography, Environmental Science, Computer Science, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience with a programming language, preferably R and/or Python.
• Strong quantitative and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
• Desired:
• Experience with Geographic Information Systems (GIS), such as QGIS or ArcGIS.
• Familiarity with remote sensing data products, especially using Google Earth Engine and Foundational Earth Models.
• Previous experience analyzing animal movement or spatial data.
• A strong interest in ecological modeling and data science.
• Willingness to work with a wide variety of stakeholders, foster new collaborations, mentor students, and lead fieldwork in difficult terrain.
• Ability and willingness to drive a 4X4 vehicle and lead field campaigns in difficult terrain/weather.
Benefits:
• A supportive, collaborative, and interdisciplinary research environment.
• Access to C-SALT’s remote sensing infrastructure and instrumentation.
• Mentoring and professional development opportunities and collaboration with wildlife ecologists, government agencies, and global partners.
Stipend/Salary: $2,200/month plus benefits (medical package available after completion of waiting period) and full tuition waiver (nonresident tuition waived-resident tuition fees apply but will be reimbursed to ensure a full tuition waiver)
Start Date: January 2026 preferable, but open to negotiation
Application Deadline: The position is open and will remain open until an appropriate candidate is found.
To Apply: Send current CV, two writing samples, a cover letter outlining research interests (2-3 pages max), unofficial undergraduate/graduate transcripts, and contact information of up to three professional references as a single PDF file titled: CSALT-MOVECOL-2025-[LastName_Firstname].pdf to Dr. Aditya Singh (aditya.singh@tamuk.edu).
Note: Selected candidate must pass a pre-employment background investigation to be hired for this position.
Texas law requires that males 18 through 25 show proof of compliance with Federal Selective Service law in order to be eligible for employment.
EEO/AA/ADA