|| Two (2) M.S. Graduate Assistantships || Carnivore community dynamics in an ocelot pre-reintroduction landscape

Position description: The Spatial and Population Ecology of Carnivores (SPEC) Lab at the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute at Texas A&M – Kingsville, in partnership with the East Foundation, is pleased to announce two M.S. opportunities to assess bobcat (Lynx rufus) and coyote (Canis latrans) spatial and foraging ecology within an ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) pre-reintroduction landscape. South Texas is home to the last two remaining ocelot populations in the United States, and a reintroduction effort is dedicated to establishing a third population. Project work will take place at East Foundation’s San Antonio Viejo Ranch, the proposed site of ocelot reintroduction. Two candidates will be selected to address different aspects of the carnivore community. One M.S. student will focus on interspecific interactions of bobcats and coyotes via GPS collars and camera traps. The other M.S. student will work on dietary niche overlap of bobcats and coyotes, and will quantify resource availability on the pre-reintroduction landscape. Both chosen students will be expected to play a significant role in the field components of the project, including (1) trapping and GPS-collaring of bobcats and coyotes; (2) deployment of a camera grid; and (3) small mammal trapping.

The SPEC Lab is a new and growing lab and we expect to recruit students who are passionate about carnivore conservation AND prepared for the challenges of working in dense thornscrub habitat in temperatures that are regularly in the 80s-90s+. Interested applicants should note that a thoughtful cover letter addressing motivations and both minimum and desired qualifications will be the most important factor in choosing the finalist pool.

Position location: Kingsville, TX

Position supervisor: Dr. Lisanne Petracca, Assistant Professor of Carnivore Ecology, Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute

Stipend/Salary: $2,000 per 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: August 2025

Qualifications

Minimum qualifications:

  1. Bachelor’s degree in Wildlife, Ecology, Statistics, or related field by the anticipated start date (Fall 2025)
  2. Familiarity with the coding language R
  3. Familiarity with the statistical analysis of data from wildlife populations
  4. Ability to conduct fieldwork in challenging environmental conditions
  5. Ability to meet deadlines
  6. Ability to work both independently and collaboratively
  7. Excellent written and personal communication skills 

Desired qualifications:

  1. Experience with live-trapping, chemical immobilization, and/or GPS collaring of wildlife
  2. Experience deploying and monitoring camera trap arrays
  3. Experience in geospatial analysis (R, ArcGIS, QGIS)

Deadline to apply: 11:59 PM PST June 1, 2025


HOW TO APPLY:

Please submit a *single .pdf* to Dr. Lisanne Petracca at lisanne.petracca@tamuk.edu titled “MS_Position_Carnivore_Community_ApplicantLastName_ApplicantFirstName.” For example, if your name is Amanda Clark, your single .pdf will be titled “MS_Position_Carnivore_Community_Clark_Amanda.pdf.”

Importantly, this .pdf should have 

  1. a (max) one-page, single-spaced letter of interest that describes your qualifications and how this position fits into your career goals
  2. a CV that includes contact information (phone and email) for three references that can attest to your professional and academic abilities
  3. unofficial transcripts from your undergraduate institution
  4. an example of your scientific writing (e.g., undergraduate thesis, undergraduate capstone project, etc.)


Please apply by 11:59 PM PST June 1st, 2025 for full consideration.

 

 

Texas law requires that males 18 through 25 show proof of compliance with Federal Selective Service law in order to be eligible for employment. Selected candidate must pass a pre-employment background investigation to be hired for this position.

 

EEO/AA/ADA