Fully Funded Graduate Assistantship At Sul Ross State University USA: MS and PhD Scholarship

Imagine standing in the spring-fed wetlands of southern Nevada as flocks of cinnamon teal drop into the marshes of Pahranagat National Wildlife Refuge. These striking dabbling ducks, known for the rich reddish-brown plumage of breeding males, use this desert oasis as a critical bottleneck on the interior Pacific Flyway. Until recently, scientists had limited data on exactly how long the birds stay, which breeding and wintering areas they connect, and how managed wetlands influence their entire annual cycle.

That knowledge gap is about to close through a fully funded graduate assistantship in wildlife ecology. The Borderlands Research Institute at Sul Ross State University is recruiting a motivated PhD student or two Master’s students for a project centered on cinnamon teal movement ecology. Roughly 100 GSM-GPS units will generate the high-resolution data needed to answer practical management questions at local, regional, and national scales.

This graduate research assistantship wildlife opportunity sits at the intersection of cutting-edge technology, applied conservation, and real agency partnerships. Students will work with Co-PIs Dr. Dan Collins (Sul Ross) and Dr. Warren Conway (Texas Tech University), refuge biologists at Pahranagat National Wildlife Refuge, and Pacific Flyway state agency partners from Nevada, Utah, and Arizona.

Summary Section

Host Country: United States
Host University: Sul Ross State University (Borderlands Research Institute), with partnership support from Texas Tech University
Scholarship Type: MSC Scholarships/PhD Scholarships (Graduate Research Assistantships)
Eligible Countries: All Countries
Scholarship Benefits: Annual living stipend/salary of $18,000 to $30,000 plus fringe benefits, research project support, hands-on training in GIS and quantitative analysis, professional networking with state and federal agencies, and opportunities for tuition-related assistance typical of graduate assistant roles
Application Deadline: December 11, 2026

Why Cinnamon Teal Movement Matters Right Now

Cinnamon teal (Spatula cyanoptera) are among the less abundant dabbling ducks in North America. North American breeding populations are estimated in the range of 260,000–300,000 birds, with a global population around 380,000 mature individuals. While the species is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN, North American trends show declines in some regions, driven largely by wetland loss and degradation.

Pahranagat National Wildlife Refuge lies in the heart of the interior Pacific Flyway and functions as a major stopover. Managers need accurate estimates of time spent on the refuge, duck-use days, and linkages to breeding and wintering habitats so they can time water-level decisions and habitat work effectively. The project also uses Random Forest modeling to evaluate network connectivity and quantify how important the refuge’s managed wetlands are to cinnamon teal and other migratory game birds across their full annual cycle.

These movement ecology graduate opportunities directly inform decisions that affect waterfowl populations, hunter opportunity, and wetland conservation funding. The data will help refine duck-use day calculations that support habitat management funding and guide broader Pacific Flyway conservation measures.

See More Posts in Jobs, Scholarships, Technology, Career/Motivations, Football News Feeds

Join Job Whatsapp Channel, Scholarship Whatsapp Channel, Tech Whatsapp Channel, Follow Our Twitter (X) Channel.

Project Objectives and Research Approach

The selected student(s) will address two primary objectives:

Investigate migration strategies using GPS data to estimate time spent on Pahranagat National Wildlife Refuge. This allows managers to optimize the timing of management actions and calculate duck-use days needed to support cinnamon teal and other key migratory game birds. Linkages between the refuge and associated breeding and wintering areas will guide conservation measures at larger scales.
Perform network connectivity analysis through Random Forest modeling. This will quantify the importance of Pahranagat National Wildlife Refuge within the network of managed wetland systems used by migratory game birds throughout the annual cycle.

Fieldwork, data processing, statistical modeling, and stakeholder communication will form the core of the work. Students gain experience with large spatial datasets, resource selection analysis, and collaboration across multiple agencies and flyways. The unique capture location in southern Nevada provides access to birds moving through a true bottleneck, increasing the scientific value of every transmitter deployment.

Qualifications and What the Position Seeks

Ideal candidates bring a foundation in wildlife science and a clear interest in applied movement ecology.

B.S. or M.S. in Wildlife Science, Natural Resources, Environmental Science, Ecology, or a related field
Experience or coursework in GIS/remote sensing and quantitative analysis preferred
Demonstrated interest in movement ecology, wetland ecology, wetland-dependent wildlife conservation, or resource selection
Strong written and verbal communication skills
Ability to work independently and collaboratively with agency partners

The position requires at least one year of relevant experience and a bachelor’s degree. Hours range from 20 to 40 per week depending on the specific assistantship level and research demands. Starting dates fall between January 1 and January 13, 2027, with project timelines extending into 2030.

Benefits Beyond the Stipend

The salary range of $18,000 to $30,000 per year plus fringe benefits provides a competitive living stipend while students focus on research. As a graduate research assistant, students typically receive additional support structures common to such roles, including access to university resources, potential tuition assistance, and research funding tied to the project.

Beyond finances, the position offers rare exposure. Students collaborate with Pahranagat National Wildlife Refuge staff (including Rob Vinson), Pacific Flyway state biologists, and faculty at both Sul Ross and Texas Tech. Sul Ross is in the early stages of establishing a PhD program; an existing agreement allows students to complete coursework across both campuses. This dual-university structure, combined with multi-agency partnerships, gives participants broader networks and resources than many traditional single-institution assistantships.

Borderlands Research Institute graduates have historically high placement rates into conservation careers. The institute emphasizes field-driven research across West Texas and the Chihuahuan Desert borderlands, training students who go on to work with state and federal agencies, consulting firms, and nonprofits. Learn more about the institute’s mission and student opportunities at the Borderlands Research Institute website.

Life and Research in Alpine, Texas

Alpine, Texas, sits in the Trans-Pecos region near Big Bend National Park and the Chihuahuan Desert. The setting provides access to diverse ecosystems and a tight-knit conservation community. While the cinnamon teal fieldwork centers on Nevada, the academic home base offers additional opportunities in West Texas wildlife research, from big-game studies to habitat restoration.

Students interested in the broader academic pathway can explore the Trilateral Doctoral Program in Range and Wildlife Sciences, a partnership involving Sul Ross State University/Borderlands Research Institute, Texas Tech University, and Texas A&M University-Kingsville’s Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute. Details are available on the Sul Ross Natural Resource Management program pages.

Click Here to See other Scholarships.

Get Standard CV and Scholarship Essay/Statement of Purpose/Motivation Letter from a Professional.

How to Apply

Application deadline is December 11, 2026. Interested candidates should first send a letter of interest indicating the preferred assistantship level (PhD or MS) and a resume to Dr. Dan Collins at dan.collins@sulross.edu.

Formal applications are submitted through the Sul Ross State University portal:

PhD applicants: Graduate Research Assistant III (PhD) posting
MS applicants: Graduate Research Assistant II (MS) posting

Required documents typically include:

Resume
Letter of Intent
Transcripts
Two letters of recommendation
GRE scores (potential waiver available)

For questions, contact Dr. Dan Collins directly at dan.collins@sulross.edu or by phone at 432-837-8075. Review additional context on the refuge itself at the official Pahranagat National Wildlife Refuge page.

Why This Movement Ecology Graduate Opportunity Stands Out

Most graduate assistantships offer research experience. Fewer deliver high-resolution GPS datasets on a migratory game bird at a known flyway bottleneck, direct collaboration with refuge and state agency biologists, and a multi-university academic structure. The combination of fully funded support, applied management relevance, and professional exposure makes this graduate research assistantship wildlife position particularly strong for students aiming for careers in waterfowl biology, wetland conservation, or agency research.

If you have the quantitative skills, a genuine interest in wetland-dependent wildlife, and the drive to turn tracking data into management recommendations, this fully funded PhD in wildlife ecology or Master’s pathway is worth serious consideration. Positions of this quality fill quickly once strong applicants begin submitting materials.

Start by reviewing the institute’s work at https://bri.sulross.edu/ and contacting Dr. Collins with your letter of interest and resume before the December 11, 2026 deadline. The cinnamon teal are already moving through the Pacific Flyway—the research team is ready for the next graduate student to help map their path.

See More Posts In:

Tech School Info

Fully Funded Graduate Research Assistantship in Aquatic Animal Health and Sustainable Aquaculture at the University of Georgia in USA