Positions

The Mabry and Orr laboratories in the Department of Biology at New Mexico State University are recruiting a graduate student(s) to participate in an NSF-funded project investigating the effects of animal movement and social behavior on disease dynamics, with a focus on bats and SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Candidates who have interests in and/or experience with social network analysis, movement ecology, disease ecology, and the behavior and ecology of bats are encouraged to apply. The admitted student(s) will participate in field work with bats of the desert southwest and will be expected to formulate a MS or PhD project that contributes to overall project goals. The student(s) will be co-advised by Drs. Mabry and Orr and will join a graduate program with strengths in animal behavior and disease ecology. Rabies vaccinations will be provided if needed.

NMSU is a Hispanic-Serving Institution (Carnegie Classification R2) located in Las Cruces, NM. Las Cruces is situated in the Chihuahuan Desert, approximately 45 miles north of El Paso, TX and 225 miles south of Albuquerque, NM. Opportunities for outdoor recreation abound in the area, and Las Cruces experiences almost 300 days of sunshine each year.

Start date is somewhat flexible, but the admitted student(s) are expected to begin no later than the fall semester of 2021. The priority application due date for fall 2021 admission to NMSU is 15 January 2021.

We anticipate that selected students will be supported through a combination of research and teaching assistantships, including guaranteed summer support for the duration of the NSF grant.

Interested individuals should direct a single email to both Dr. Mabry ([email protected]) and Dr. Orr ([email protected]) by 30 November 2020. Please include in your email a brief statement of interest and experience and attach a current CV, and include “bat movement study” in the subject line of your email. Promising candidates will be contacted for a Zoom interview and encouraged to submit a full application for admission to the NMSU Graduate School.

For more information:

Mabry lab: https://sites.google.com/site/mabrylab/home

Orr lab: https://teriorr.weebly.com/