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PhD Position: Improving Drone-Based Monitoring of Wildlife

Mississippi State University

Starkville, Mississippi

Job Type Student / postdoc
Salary Details $25,000 USD stipend plus health insurance
Deadline Nov 30, 2024

The Wildlife Habitat and Human Interactions Lab (“Iglay Lab”) in the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Aquaculture at Mississippi State University is seeking a motivated, personable, and knowledgeable individual to join our team. The lab has focused on developing best practices for aerial monitoring of wildlife with drones (i.e., small Unmanned Aircraft Systems). Recent work with the Federal Aviation Administration and USDA Wildlife Services National Wildlife Research Center has expanded research to explore bias using this sampling method through simulations in an Agent-based Model (ABM). We have also explored computer vision improvements with multidisciplinary team members from the Geosystems Research Institute on campus.

The proposed Ph.D. position will focus on continuing to modify our ABM for developing best practices associated with aerial wildlife monitoring. The current ABM explores multiple drone flight patterns, animal movements, and animal distributions in an open area (100% detection probability). Current project objectives include [1] extending the current ABM to explore other types of bias in drone surveys, [2] conducting field validation experiments between visual and thermal sensors, and [3] assisting the Mississippi Department of Wildlife Fisheries and Parks in their wildlife monitoring efforts. Despite these objectives, expansions to this ABM are limitless considering student interests, questions derived from current efforts, and the lab’s access to the university’s high-powered computer consortium. Therefore, the incumbent can expect a great degree of flexibility regarding dissertation objectives and plenty of guidance among their advisors and committee members.

Core tenets of the Iglay Lab are teamwork and leadership development. We have an interdisciplinary team of researchers including members of the home department and computer vision and image analysis researchers from the Geosystems Research Institute. The incumbent will have the opportunity to collaborate with other graduate students, mentor undergraduate researchers, work closely with postdoctoral research associates, and gain teaching experience through a teaching assistantship. Scientific communication of project outcomes will be expected through a variety of outlets including publications, presentations, and public outreach. The incumbent will also be encouraged to collaborate with lab members and faculty on projects outside their dissertation and be involved with seeking funding which will allow for CV diversification, conditioned upon maintaining primary dissertation responsibilities.

Minimum qualifications include an M.S. degree completed by the start date. At least one degree (B.S. or M.S.) should be in wildlife science, ecology, wildlife damage management, natural resource management, conservation biology, or a related field. Degree holders in a technology-related field are also encouraged to apply if at least one degree is related to the above list. Preferred qualifications include experience with Python coding language, ABMs, drones, computer vision, or other technologies related to natural resource monitoring. Preferred demonstrated abilities include designing and managing field research projects, managing and analyzing data, creative thinking, publication development, and/or effective communication among multiple stakeholder groups. Applicants should be self-motivated, fit well within a multidisciplinary team environment, and exhibit excellent oral and written communication skills. For more information on MSU’s Graduate School admissions policies, please visit https://www.grad.msstate.edu/students/admissions.

The Ph.D. position is fully funded ($25,000 stipend plus tuition waiver and graduate student health insurance provided with additional graduate student activity fees < $300/annually).

HOW TO APPLY

PLEASE APPLY EARLY IF INTERESTED. Applications will be reviewed when received. Pre-application questions are welcome (see contact information below).

To apply, please submit a single PDF including a cover letter, vitae, one-page statement of research interests with emphasis on how this opportunity aligns with career goals and interests, and complete contact information for three references. For additional information, please e-mail Dr. Ray Iglay at ray.iglay@msstate.edu (Subject: “ABM PhD”) or call 662-325-5933 and leave a detailed message.  The position is slated to begin fall semester 2025 (August 16, 2025), but the start date is negotiable to an earlier summer start. The lab website has additional information regarding current projects, students, and staff. Drs. Kristine Evans and Mel Boudreau of the QuEST lab will also be involved with this project. Links to their lab are on the Iglay Lab website (About Us, Lab Collaborators). 

About Mississippi State University

Mississippi State University is one of the leading research institutions in the Southeast and ranked as a top-tier land grant university by the National Science Foundation. The Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture is comprised of 35 faculty, >20 support staff, and > 60 graduate students. It is home to the Mississippi USGS Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, a US Fish and Wildlife Service Unit, USDA Wildlife Services State Director’s office, and several state agency offices. MSU is also the lead organization of FAA’s Centers for Excellence (ASSURE; https://www.raspet.msstate.edu/research/faa-assure) and home to the Raspet Flight Laboratory. The incumbent will be requested to have a faculty member of the Geosystems Research Institute (https://www.gri.msstate.edu/) on their committee. The incumbent can also expect teaching assistantship responsibilities of no more than one course per semester. Most department courses with teaching assistants request minimum time commitments.

MSU is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, ethnicity, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, disability status, age, sexual orientation, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We always welcome nominations and applications from women, members of any minority group, and others who share our passion for building a diverse community that reflects the diversity in our student population.

When you apply, please indicate that you are responding to the posting on Conservation Job Board.

Category Ecology, Wildlife