GRADUATE OPPORTUNITY – MSc&PhD
Position: Graduate Assistantship (M.S. or Ph.D.) – Aquatic Species Responses to Changing River Conditions
Entity: West Virginia University – Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Design (Dr. Carol Arantes Lab)
Location: Morgantown, West Virginia
Salary: M.S.: $21,000/year + full tuition waiver + Ph.D.: 9-month funding + full tuition waiver (summer support possible)
Deadline: April 1, 2026
Description: “The Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Design at West Virginia University is recruiting a Master’s or Ph.D. student to join Dr. Carol Arantes’s lab starting Fall 2026. This interdisciplinary project examines how hydraulic infrastructure and river management have altered river discharge regimes and aquatic biodiversity globally. The student will collaborate with a multi-institutional team to develop and apply models integrating hydrologic alteration, river fragmentation, sediment transport, temperature shifts, and fish diversity patterns. Training will include quantitative modeling, ecological data integration, interdisciplinary collaboration, and professional development. Expected outputs include peer-reviewed publications, technical reports, and presentations to scientific and public audiences.
Requirements:
– B.S. or M.S. in ecology, fisheries, zoology, aquatic sciences, or related field
– Minimum GPA of 3.0
– Strong analytical, communication, and teamwork skills
– Interest or experience in fish and aquatic ecology
– Highly desirable: modeling, Bayesian/frequentist statistics, GIS
How to Apply: Email a single PDF to Dr. Carol Arantes (caroline.arantes@mail.wvu.edu) including:
– Cover letter (research background, interests, goals, motivation)
– CV or résumé
– Contact information for three references
– Unofficial transcripts and GRE scores (if available)
