Have you ever watched birds at a backyard feeder and noticed how some rush in fearlessly while others hesitate or watch from a distance? These consistent individual differences in behavior are known as animal personality, and they influence survival, foraging success, social interactions, and even disease risk.
A rare and exciting fully funded graduate position in personality and cognition in wild birds at Auburn University now offers the chance to study these questions using innovative technology. The McCune Lab in the College of Forestry, Wildlife and Environment is recruiting a motivated MS or PhD student to join the Auburn Backyard Birds project. The student will develop automated “smart feeders” that transform how researchers measure behavioral traits in common native birds across the southeastern United States.
This position combines field biology, technology development, and big-picture questions about how wild birds respond to human environmental change and disease. It is ideal for candidates who want hands-on research experience that leads to publications, presentations, and strong career preparation in wildlife sciences, behavioral ecology, or conservation.
Scholarship Summary
- Host Country: USA
- Host University: Auburn University
- Scholarship Type: MSC Scholarships/PhD Scholarships
- Eligible Countries: All Countries
- Scholarship Benefits: Full tuition fee, Living stipend, etc.
Why Personality and Cognition Research in Wild Birds Matters
Animal personality refers to repeatable differences between individuals in traits such as boldness, exploration, neophilia (attraction to new things), and caution. In birds, these traits affect which individuals thrive in suburban backyards versus natural habitats, how they find food, avoid predators, and interact with others.
Cognition — including learning, memory, and problem-solving — further shapes how birds adapt to predictable food sources or novel challenges. When birds share feeders, their visit patterns create contact networks that can spread pathogens. Understanding which personality types visit more often or take more risks helps explain disease dynamics in wild populations.
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Dr. Kelsey McCune’s research focuses on how behavioral and cognitive variation influences birds’ ability to persist in human-dominated landscapes. The Auburn Backyard Birds project specifically examines the effects of common suburban activities on native bird behavior, cognition, and disease. By deploying smart feeders in both backyards and natural areas, the lab compares how human-modified environments shape individual traits and population health. This work has direct relevance to conservation, urban ecology, and wildlife disease management in an era of rapid environmental change.
Smart Feeders: Bringing Automated Technology to Avian Field Research
Traditional behavioral studies require hours of direct observation, which limits scale and introduces observer bias. The McCune Lab overcomes these challenges with PIT (passive integrated transponder) tags and RFID technology. Birds receive small, harmless tags, and readers at feeders automatically record individual visits, timing, and frequency.
The graduate student will take this further by designing hardware and programming software for advanced smart feeder apparatuses. These computerized feeders can present cognitive tasks, log detailed interaction data, and operate reliably in the field. The student will use tools such as Arduino or similar microcontrollers to build and refine the systems, then deploy and manage networks of feeders across Auburn and surrounding sites.
This technology enables large-scale, continuous data collection on personality traits while also mapping disease contact networks based on shared feeder use. It turns ordinary backyards into powerful living laboratories and generates rich datasets for analyzing how boldness or caution correlates with environmental variables and health outcomes. Candidates with experience in RFID, PIT tags, Arduino, or R programming will hit the ground running, though the lab provides training and support for motivated learners.
Your Role and Responsibilities in This Graduate Position
As the MS or PhD student in this fully funded position, you will lead significant parts of the smart feeder development and the broader research program. Core responsibilities include:
- Conducting literature reviews to ground your work in current avian behavior and cognition science.
- Developing original research questions, experimental designs, and field methods that advance understanding of personality variation in southeastern birds.
- Designing, building, and programming smart feeder hardware and software while managing deployments and data collection in backyards and natural areas.
- Collaborating with researchers across institutions and disciplines, gaining exposure to interdisciplinary approaches in ecology, technology, and disease studies.
- Mentoring and supervising undergraduate students, field assistants, and interns, building leadership and teaching experience.
- Analyzing data (often in R), writing peer-reviewed publications, and presenting findings at conferences and public outreach events.
- Meeting all Auburn University graduate program requirements while contributing to a supportive, inclusive lab culture.
This role offers exceptional breadth: you will develop technical skills in hardware and software alongside traditional field biology and scientific communication. The combination is increasingly valuable for careers in academia, government agencies, NGOs, and technology-enabled conservation.
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Who Should Apply?
Minimum qualifications include a completed bachelor’s degree with GPA above 3.0 before starting, prior research experience in avian behavior, cognition, comparative psychology, or ecology, strong oral and written English skills, and the ability to work independently and collaboratively with a positive, critical-thinking mindset.
PhD applicants must have completed a master’s degree before beginning the position.
Desired qualifications that strengthen an application include demonstrated experience with PIT tags, RFID technology, microcontroller boards, Arduino or related platforms, R programming, analysis of PIT/RFID data, and a record of peer-reviewed publications or professional presentations.
If you have a background in biology, ecology, or psychology and are excited by the idea of building technology to answer fundamental questions about wild birds, this position is worth pursuing even if you do not meet every desired qualification.
Funding, Benefits, and Professional Development
The position provides a stipend of $23,000 to $28,000 per year depending on experience and degree track (MS or PhD), plus benefits and a full tuition waiver. This fully funded graduate position lets you dedicate yourself to research without financial pressure.
You will also benefit from mentorship by Dr. Kelsey McCune, professional development through conferences and outreach, and potential additional funding opportunities such as the Auburn Presidential Graduate Opportunity Program. GRE scores are not required for admission but may support extra funding consideration.
Auburn University’s College of Forestry, Wildlife and Environment offers rigorous MS and PhD programs in Wildlife Sciences. Students complete research methods coursework, seminars, and original thesis or dissertation work while accessing the diverse habitats of the southeastern United States — ideal for year-round bird studies.
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How to Apply for This Auburn University Graduate Position
Applications are due August 31, 2026, but will be evaluated on a rolling basis until a suitable candidate is found. Early applications are strongly encouraged.
Prepare a single PDF file named “LastName_FirstName.pdf” that includes:
- A statement of interest (maximum 2 pages, single-spaced, 12-point font) describing your relevant qualifications, research interests, and why this position and the McCune Lab align with your career goals.
- Your current CV.
- Unofficial transcripts from all colleges attended.
- Contact information for three professional references.
Complete the Google Form linked in the official posting and upload your PDF there. Competitive candidates will receive an invitation for a virtual interview. The selected applicant will then apply formally to Auburn University’s College of Forestry, Wildlife and Environment graduate program for Spring 2027 admission and is expected to arrive before the first day of classes on January 6, 2027.
View the complete position description and application instructions here: https://jobs.rwfm.tamu.edu/view-job/?id=116755
For questions, email Dr. Kelsey McCune at kbm0054@auburn.edu (preferred contact method).
Learn more about the lab at https://kelseymccune.com and the Auburn Backyard Birds research focus at https://www.kelseymccune.com/research. Details on Auburn’s graduate degrees in Wildlife Sciences are available at https://cfwe.auburn.edu/graduate-study/graduate-degrees/.
Take the Next Step in Your Wildlife Research Career
This fully funded graduate position in personality and cognition in wild birds at Auburn University offers a unique blend of technological innovation, rigorous field research, and meaningful scientific questions. Whether your passion lies in understanding what makes some birds bolder explorers, mapping disease transmission networks, or developing tools that advance behavioral ecology, this opportunity provides the resources, mentorship, and training to make a real impact.
If you are ready to contribute to cutting-edge avian research while building skills that open doors in academia and conservation, apply today. The rolling review process means the strongest candidates could be selected before the final deadline.
Share this opportunity with students and colleagues who would thrive in a collaborative, forward-thinking lab environment focused on wild bird behavior and adaptation.