I currently do not have any graduate student openings.
However, we regularly post technician positions for our ocelot and mountain lion research programs to the Texas A&M Job Board.
However, we regularly post technician positions for our ocelot and mountain lion research programs to the Texas A&M Job Board.
SPEC Lab Information
Thank you for your interest in the Spatial and Population Ecology of Carnivores (SPEC) Lab at the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute and Texas A&M University - Kingsville!
Graduate opportunities will generally focus on population parameter estimation, movement ecology, and genetics of ocelots, mountain lions, and other carnivores in South Texas, USA, and beyond. Any future openings will be announced here, on the Texas A&M Job Board, and pinned to the top of my X and Bluesky pages.
I am interested in working with students with a demonstrated interest in mammal ecology, particularly the use of quantitative approaches to guide wildlife management. I expect any incoming graduate student to have experience in (or strong motivation to learn) R, statistical fundamentals, and geospatial analysis (ArcGIS, QGIS, or R). A typical M.S. student admitted to the lab has 2+ years of wildlife technician experience, combined with one or more hard skills (e.g., R/Python coding, statistical analysis, database management, mapping experience) to make them stand out. At the Ph.D. level, I am looking for demonstrated success as a scholar, field scientist, and project leader, with peer-reviewed publications either already published or submitted to scientific journals.
So - what's so great about this lab? Well, we are a young, growing, and dynamic team who actually like to be around each other. :) I came here by way of New York, NY, Syracuse, NY, Oxford, England, and Seattle, WA, and had some trepidation about what life in South Texas would be like. Turns out South Texas has been the loveliest of surprises - highlights include Padre Island National Seashore (beach! windsurfing! fishing!), the Rio Grande Valley (birding! Mexican-American culture! incredible biodiversity!), and trips to nearby Corpus Christi (40 mins away), San Antonio (~2 hours away) and Austin (~3.5 hours away).
