MS position available: pika ecology in Alaska

MSc Position: Effects of climate on collared pika ecology and demography in Alaska

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We are seeking an MSc student to conduct research focused on how climate directly and indirectly affects pikas in Alaska. Pika in Alaska are potentially sensitive to climate via multiple mechanisms, including via thermal limitations to foraging in hot weather, reduction of snow insulation in winter, changes to forage quality and quantity via shrub expansion and increased competition, and changes to predation risk following shrub and competitor expansion.

As a result, collared pika have been identified as a species of greatest conservation need for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, and are of interest to federal land managers in Alaska, including project collaborators on military lands (Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson). Many questions remain unanswered in terms of pika ecology and response to climate, and this study aims to fill some of these gaps in knowledge, using pika colonies selected across climate gradients and measured through multiple years. Now entering its 3rd year, this project’s existing data includes multi-year occupancy data across a wide area of Alaska, demographic data from marked individual pikas at focal colonies, data on forage selection from experimental foraging trials and natural pika haypiles, and data from camera traps and weather stations.


The MSc student will help answer questions related to: 1) how landscape, habitat and climate factors affect occupancy, extinction, and colonization dynamics across space and time; and 2) how pika foraging activity relates to weather patterns; with the further potential to contribute to 3) how multi-year survival and reproductive success rates are affected by landscape, habitat, and climate (depending on student’s time availability and interest).

The project team: The PhD student will be supervised by Dr. Sophie Gilbert (www.gilbertresearch.org) at the Department of Fish & Wildlife Sciences, University of Idaho, located in beautiful Moscow, Idaho. The student will be working within a broader team, including personnel from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game and the Department of Defense. The MSc student is expected to work collaboratively and to engage productively with all team members, as well as to supervise summer technicians from the University of Idaho.

Desired qualifications include a good theoretical understanding of mammal/herbivore ecology coupled with a spirit of curiosity and inquiry, the demonstrated ability to work well as part of a team, experience with or willingness to learn small mammal handling, camera trapping, plant identification, 4x4 vehicle operation, coding in program R, GIS analyses, and occupancy analysis. Required qualifications include a BSc in ecology or related fields by Spring 2020, and U.S. citizenship. Those with non-ecological majors will be considered if significant knowledge of and passion for ecology can be demonstrated.

To apply for this position, please send a single pdf attachment (file name formatted as lastname_firstname_date.pdf) to sophiegilbert@uidaho.edu containing (1) a cover letter indicating reasons for desiring this position, past experiences in mammal ecology including relevant field experience, and experience with teams; (2) a recent CV; (3) copies of undergraduate transcripts; (4) GRE scores for US applicants; and (5) contact information for three references. Please use the subject header “Pika MSc application”. The student will commence fieldwork as a technician on the project in July 2020 and begin graduate studies in September 2020. Review of applications will begin February 15th, 2020.