Space Use and Resource Selection of White-winged Doves in The Non-Breeding Season
Position Description: We are recruiting one Ph.D. student to conduct research which broadly aims to assess the space use and resource selection of White-winged Doves (Zenaida asiatica) in South Texas in the non-breeding season to expand on work currently being conducted in the Smith Lab at The Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, Texas A&M-Kingsville. We will achieve these goals via a coordinated telemetry and banding program in South Texas that permits assessments of movements and resource selection at multiple-spatial scales. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to shape specific questions related to the overall goals of the project and will have access to an existing telemetry dataset collected via GPS-GSM devices which will be supplemented by additional telemetry data collected as part of this study. The successful candidate will also have access to hunter-harvested birds for use in e.g., diet analysis. By providing insight into the spatial ecology and resource selection of White-winged Doves in the non-breeding season, our aim is to inform management strategies that bolster recreational hunting opportunities during this period in addition to expanding knowledge of the ecology of this understudied species during the non-breeding season, an often overlooked yet important part of the annual cycle.
Key Responsibilities
• Conduct fieldwork in South Texas to meet project objectives, to include capture and tagging of doves
• Manage field technicians during fieldwork
• Data management
• Apply statistical analysis used in assessments of e.g., habitat selection, migratory/dispersal decisions, space use
• Liaise and collaborate with private landowners and agency personnel
• Present research findings at conferences, in public forums, and via peer-reviewed journal articles
Qualifications Required:
• M.S. in ecology, wildlife biology, natural resources, or related discipline
• A minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale)
• Strong quantitative skills
• Demonstrated experience with statistical and geospatial software (e.g., Program R, ArcPro)
• Excellent communication skills (written and verbal)
• Demonstrated research experience (data collection, analysis, writing)
• Ability to conduct fieldwork in hot and humid conditions
Preferred Qualifications
• Demonstrated involvement in trapping, handling, and banding birds
• Experience with telemetry equipment and telemetry tag data
• Record of peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations
Stipend/Salary:
$2,200/month stipend 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 is preferable, but we will also consider applicants for Summer or Fall 2026.
Application Deadline: We will begin reviewing applications on 31st October 2025 and will continue until a suitable candidate is selected.
To Apply: Submit an application packet as a single PDF including: (1) one-page letter of interest, (2) CV or resume, (3) unofficial undergraduate/graduate transcripts, and (4) contact information for two professional references to Dr. Jennifer Smith (jennifer.smith@tamuk.edu).
For questions regarding this position:
Dr. Jennifer Smith
Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, Texas A&M University-Kingsville
Email: jennifer.smith@tamuk.edu
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