Description

Funded MS Assistantship – Assessment of the avian, insect, and vegetative community response to restoration of Texas Playa Lakes

Borderlands Research Institute - Sul Ross State University 

Location: Alpine, Texas 

Start Date: Fall Semester 2026 or Spring Semester 2027
Application Deadline:  Open until a candidate has been identified
Stipend included: $18,000 plus fringe annually

Borderlands Research Institute (BRI) at Sul Ross State University is seeking multiple motivated master’s students to join a dynamic research team made up of community, restoration, and avian ecologists in assessing the response of the avian, insect, and vegetative communities to playa restoration efforts in the Southern High Plains of Texas. Students will collect data through ARUs, avian point count surveys, Malaise traps, sweep nets, and Daubenmire frames that meet the project objectives. However, prospective students will have a variety of thesis topics to explore such as but not limited to: seedbank potential of restored versus unrestored playas, trophic structure of restored versus unrestored playas, and avian community response to playa restoration in the context of other landscape, vegetation, and resource characteristics. 

Objectives:

1.      Quantify vegetation structure and composition across restoration sites and associated control sites in the Texas High Plains ecoregions to evaluate how restoration techniques and time since treatment influence native plant community recovery.

2.      Measure insect abundance, biomass, and diversity to assess how restoration-driven changes in native vegetation affect prey availability for bird species as well as the pollinator community (i.e., bees, butterflies, flies, wasps, etc.).

3.      Evaluate bird community use of playa sites using ARUs and avian point-count surveys to relate avian activity and community composition to wetland extent, vegetation, and insect metrics.

Requirements

Qualifications:

        B.S. in Wildlife Science, Natural Resources, Environmental Science, Ecology, or related field

        Demonstrated interest in wetland ecology, grassland and wetland dependent birds, plant ecology, entomology, or restoration ecology

        Strong written and verbal communication skills

        Ability to work independently and collaboratively as a team member and with partners (i.e., Texas Parks and Wildlife, Ducks Unlimited, and others)

Additional Information

Sul Ross State provides students with the education they need to translate their passions into a fulfilling career. This life-changing experience has a multi-generational impact, transforming the lives of our students, their families and positively impacting the communities in which they reside. We value learning and strive to provide high quality education in a welcoming, supportive environment. We take pride in serving many first-generation college students as well as non-traditional students, international students, student-athletes and graduate students.

From teaching, coaching and law enforcement, to science, ranch management and the fine arts, SRSU offers more than 60 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Known as the Frontier University of Texas, Sul Ross encourages each student to explore their own frontiers and to exceed their educational, personal and professional goals.

For more information visit www.sulross.edu

Information about the Borderlands Research Institute can be found at: https://bri.sulross.edu/ 

To Apply:
Submit the following to Sul Ross State University Applicant Portal | Graduate Research Assistant II - BRI (M.Sc. Candidate) and please make sure to indicate ‘Gamebird’ program for the area of focus. 

Required Documents *Prior to officially applying please send a letter of interest and resume to Dr. Collins

1.      Resume

2.      Letter of Intent

3.      Transcripts

4.      Letter of Recommendation (1)

5.      Letter of Recommendation (2)

6.      Graduate Record Examination (GRE) Scores

For questions, contact Dr. Dan Collins at dan.collins@sulross.edu