Graduate Research Assistant (Playa Restoration Assessment)

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 Objectives 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. 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.). 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. 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) For questions, contact Dr. Dan Collins at View email address on click.appcast.io. #J-18808-Ljbffr Texas Health Institute