Join our team!

The Bishop Lab is looking for two MSc Candidates in Marine Mammal Ecology to start next Fall!

For additional information or to be considered for these positions, please email your CV, a Cover letter expressing why you are interested in this position, and the names/contact details of 2 references to Dr. Amy Bishop (ambishop2@alaska.edu).

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My lab is looking for two (2) Masters of Science (MSc) candidates to work on projects examining the foraging ecology of pinnipeds. These positions would begin in Summer or Fall 2024, and are based in Anchorage, Alaska. Here are links for more details on the graduate program at UAA (including admission criteria), and the graduate program in the Department of Biological Sciences. (Note: the posted deadline for applicaitons of March 1st does not apply to these positions).

The successful candidates will join highly collaborative teams associated with two on-going projects. The first project is in collaboration with the University of Alaska Fairbanks and the Aleut Community of St. Paul Island Tribal Government and is focused on determining potential competition between pinniped species, geographic variation in trophic niches, and to assess for impacts of recent environmental variation on foraging strategies. The second project is in collaboration with the University of Alaska Fairbanks, Durham University (UK) and St. Andrews University (UK) and is focused on identifying geographic and temporal variation in contaminants in grey seals, and assessing potential linkages between contaminants, maternal foraging strategies, and reproductive success. Both projects will rely on stable isotope, and other laboratory techniques, to explore these questions.

Preference will be given to highly motivated candidates with a Bachelor of Science in biology or a related field, who enjoy or have a desire to learn about foraging ecology, marine conservation, and climate change in the Arctic. Prior experience with conducting laboratory analyses, statistical and mathematical analyses in R and/or field research is a plus, but not required. Curiosity, creativity, and communication are equally important to technical skills. While the majority of the work will be in the lab, the teams will facilitate opportunities for the successful applicants to network with collaborators, and pursue additional field and laboratory skills related to marine mammal ecology, physiology, and management. Student stipend and tuition are provided through a Research Assistantship. 

The Bishop Lab is dedicated to training the next generation of marine conservation leaders, and finding holistic solutions to ocean management. Dr. Bishop is committed to creating a supportive, diverse, and inclusive mentoring environment. Current students are exploring marine mammal diving physiology, telemetry data refinement, predator-prey interactions, and trophic ecology; and past team members have gone on to pursue PhD programs, and careers in science education, natural resource management, and conservation non-profits. 

The positions are open until filled.