Imagine holding the tools to measure exactly how an entire state’s landscapes have transformed over two decades. Agricultural expansion, woody plant encroachment, urban growth, and new infrastructure have reshaped Oklahoma’s native habitats in ways that directly affect wildlife populations and management decisions. Now a funded Master of Science position offers the chance to turn those changes into clear maps, data products, and conservation guidance.
The Biology Program at the University of Louisiana at Monroe is recruiting a highly motivated student for a spatial ecology graduate assistantship beginning in January 2027. Working under the supervision of Dr. Anastasia Couvillon and in close collaboration with the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, the selected student will quantify land-cover transitions and habitat fragmentation from 2005 to 2025. This is the first phase of a larger conservation-planning initiative designed to give state wildlife managers the spatial intelligence they need.
If you hold a bachelor’s degree in biology, wildlife ecology, conservation biology, environmental science, geography, geospatial science, or a related field and feel drawn to landscape-scale questions, this spatial ecology graduate assistantship deserves your attention.
Scholarship Summary
- Host Country: USA
- Host University: University of Louisiana Monroe
- Scholarship Type: MSC Scholarships
- Eligible Countries: All Countries
- Scholarship Benefits: Full tuition fee, Living stipend, etc.
Why Oklahoma’s Landscapes Matter Right Now
Oklahoma sits at the crossroads of the Great Plains, the Ozark Highlands, and the Gulf Coastal Plain. Its mix of grasslands, cross-timbers forests, wetlands, and river systems supports a wide range of game and nongame species. Over the past twenty years those habitats have not remained static. Satellite imagery and aerial photography reveal accelerating conversion driven by intensified agriculture, the spread of eastern redcedar and other woody species, suburban expansion around major cities, and the construction of roads and energy infrastructure.
Without precise, statewide maps of these changes, managers cannot prioritize the most critical remaining patches, evaluate connectivity for wide-ranging species, or design effective restoration projects. The research conducted through this spatial ecology graduate assistantship will fill that gap. The student will produce transition matrices among major land-cover classes, calculate rates and spatial patterns of habitat loss, and generate high-resolution maps of conversion and fragmentation that feed directly into decision-support tools used by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation.
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This is applied science with an immediate audience. Your thesis will not sit on a shelf; the maps and analyses will inform real habitat conservation decisions across the state.
What the Graduate Student Will Actually Do
Day-to-day work centers on geospatial analysis and change detection. Responsibilities include:
- Conducting thorough literature reviews on habitat loss, land-use change, and conservation planning in the southern Great Plains.
- Acquiring, organizing, and managing large spatial datasets drawn from satellite imagery, aerial photography, and existing land-cover products.
- Performing land-cover classification and multi-temporal change-detection analyses.
- Applying GIS, remote sensing, and spatial modeling techniques in platforms such as ArcGIS Pro or QGIS.
- Running statistical analyses and accuracy assessments, often in R or Python.
- Presenting findings at professional conferences.
- Preparing and defending an M.S. thesis.
- Contributing to peer-reviewed publications and technical reports for agency partners.
The position requires at least 40 hours per week and runs from early January 2027 through at least January 2029. Location is based at the University of Louisiana at Monroe in Monroe, Louisiana, with remote collaboration possible for data analysis and regular coordination with Oklahoma partners.
Students gain hands-on experience with the full research cycle—from data acquisition through publication—while working on a project whose products have clear management value. For more background on the lab’s approach to wildlife conservation, spatial modeling, and structured decision-making, visit the Couvillon Lab website at https://sites.google.com/view/acouvillon-lab/home.
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Requirements for Spatial Ecology Graduate Assistantship at University of Louisiana Monroe
Qualifications That Make a Strong Candidate
Minimum requirements are straightforward:
- A B.S. degree in Biology, Wildlife Ecology, Conservation Biology, Environmental Science, Geography, Geospatial Science, Natural Resources, or a closely related field.
- A strong academic record.
- Genuine interest in landscape ecology, GIS, conservation planning, or wildlife management.
Preferred qualifications that strengthen an application include prior experience with ArcGIS Pro or QGIS, familiarity with spatial data and remote-sensing products, working knowledge of R or Python, experience with scientific writing and data management, and the ability to work independently while handling large datasets.
No prior graduate experience is required. The assistantship is designed to train students who already possess foundational skills and a clear motivation to apply them to real-world conservation problems. Applicants who can articulate how this project aligns with their longer-term career goals will stand out.
Funding and Benefits of Spatial Ecology Graduate Assistantship at University of Louisiana Monroe
Financial support is competitive for a two-year master’s project. The package includes a Graduate Research Assistant stipend of approximately $29,000 over the duration of the project, a tuition waiver (subject to university and graduate-school policies), funding for professional development and conference travel, and opportunities to co-author peer-reviewed papers and technical reports with state wildlife agency staff.
Beyond the stipend, the real value lies in the training. Students receive intensive instruction in:
- GIS and advanced spatial analysis
- Remote sensing and land-cover classification
- Conservation planning frameworks
- Decision-support modeling
- Scientific writing and the publication process
- Oral presentation of research at regional and national meetings
These skills prepare graduates for careers in conservation science, wildlife management, GIS analysis, environmental consulting, federal and state natural-resource agencies, or continuation into doctoral programs. Collaboration with the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation provides direct exposure to how science informs policy and on-the-ground management.
The University of Louisiana at Monroe Biology graduate program offers both thesis and non-thesis M.S. options; this assistantship supports the thesis track. Details on admission requirements and the broader program can be found at https://www.ulm.edu/biology/graduate-program.html and https://www.ulm.edu/gradschool/ms_biology.html.
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How to Apply for Spatial Ecology Graduate Assistantship at University of Louisiana Monroe and Timeline
Applications are being reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled, with a formal deadline of October 31, 2026. The start window is January 1–11, 2027.
Required materials:
- A cover letter that describes your research interests, relevant experience, and career goals, and explains why this spatial ecology graduate assistantship fits your trajectory.
- A current curriculum vitae or résumé.
- Unofficial transcripts.
- Contact information for three professional or academic references.
Submit materials to Dr. Anastasia Couvillon, Assistant Professor of Biology, University of Louisiana at Monroe. Preferred email is ana.couvillon@gmail.com; the university address is couvillon@ulm.edu. The full official posting, including any updates, appears on the Natural Resources Job Board at https://jobs.rwfm.tamu.edu/view-job/?id=116975.
Before applying, spend time exploring the lab site and recent literature on Great Plains land-cover change. A thoughtful cover letter that references specific aspects of the project and demonstrates familiarity with GIS or remote-sensing concepts will strengthen your candidacy.
Why This Opportunity Stands Out
Many graduate assistantships focus on narrowly defined field experiments or single-species studies. This spatial ecology graduate assistantship operates at the scale of an entire state and produces decision-ready spatial products. You will learn to move fluidly between satellite data, statistical models, and the practical needs of wildlife managers. You will build a professional network that includes both academic mentors and agency biologists. And you will graduate with a thesis that has already contributed to conservation planning.
Habitat loss remains one of the primary drivers of biodiversity decline worldwide. Understanding its rates, patterns, and consequences at landscape scales is essential work. If you want to develop the technical skills and applied perspective needed to tackle that challenge, this position offers a clear and well-supported path.
Review the lab website, prepare your materials carefully, and reach out with questions. The application window is open now. The landscapes of Oklahoma—and the species that depend on them—will benefit from the maps and insights this research produces. Your career in conservation science can begin here.