[ECOLOG-L] Graduate assistantship - Disease transmission in salmon

[Ferguson, Paige]

We are seeking a MS or PhD student to begin in Fall 2019.  The student will be 
supervised by Dr. Paige Ferguson, assistant professor in the Department of 
Biological Sciences at the University of Alabama.

Research will focus on modeling transmission of infectious hematopoietic 
necrosis virus (IHNV) in salmonids in the Columbia River Basin in Washington, 
Oregon, and Idaho. IHNV causes severe disease, predominantly in juvenile 
steelhead trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and less frequently in Chinook salmon (O. 
tshawytscha). Mortality events following IHNV infection can be devastating for 
individual hatchery programs. This is of concern for managing healthy salmon 
populations, and salmon are notable for their cultural and economic value. This 
project is notable for the insights is offers into disease transmission in 
natural aquatic systems. There will be close collaboration and networking 
opportunities with colleagues at the USGS Western Fisheries Research Center, 
University of Washington, Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, and fish health 
agencies. For more background, see: Ferguson, Breta, Brito, Kurath, LaDeau. 
2018. An epidemiological model of virus transmission in salmonid fishes of the 
Columbia River Basin. Ecological Modelling 377: 1-15.

Applicants should have a background in many of the following: fish ecology and 
management, disease ecology, GIS, ecological modeling, statistics, computer 
programming, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Applicants should be highly 
motivated and prepared to conduct independent research.

To apply, please email Dr. Ferguson 
(pffergu...@ua.edu) the following:
1. a cover letter describing your interest in the project and prior experiences 
that have prepared you for graduate work in Dr. Ferguson’s lab
2. your transcript(s) (an unofficial copy is fine),
3. GRE scores,
4. a sample of your scientific writing (for example a manuscript or lab 
report), and
5. contact information for 3 references.

Application are due November 15. Review of applications will begin immediately 
and will continue until the position is filled.

The position comes with a full tuition waiver, a competitive 12 month stipend, 
and health insurance. Funding is available as a Graduate Teaching Assistant 
through the Department of Biological Sciences. Highly qualified applicants may 
be considered for Graduate School Fellowships, which offer a Research 
Assistantship during the student’s first year and a Teaching Assistant in 
subsequent years.

Additional information is available from the following links:
Dr. Ferguson’s Research: http://bsc.ua.edu/paige-ferguson/
Department of Biological Sciences: http://bsc.ua.edu/
Graduate School: http://graduate.ua.edu
University of Alabama: http://www.ua.edu
Tuscaloosa: http://www.tuscaloosa.com/visitor-services
Outdoor opportunities in Alabama: 
http://www.outdooralabama.com



Dr. Paige Ferguson

Assistant Professor, Department of Biological Sciences

The University of Alabama
Bevill 2109C
Tuscaloosa, AL 35405
Phone 205-348-1787
pffergu...@ua.edu | https://bsc.ua.edu/paige-ferguson/

[The University of Alabama] 

[ECOLOG-L] PhD assistantship: modeling virus transmission in salmon

[Ferguson, Paige]

Dr. Paige Ferguson, assistant professor in the Department of Biological 
Sciences at the University of Alabama, is seeking a PhD student to begin in 
Spring 2019, Summer 2019, or Fall 2019.

Research will focus on modeling transmission of infectious hematopoietic 
necrosis virus (IHNV) in salmonids in the Columbia River Basin. IHNV causes 
severe disease, predominantly in juvenile steelhead trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) 
and less frequently in Chinook salmon (O. tshawytscha). Mortality events 
following IHNV infection can be devastating for individual hatchery programs. 
In this project, there will be close collaboration with colleagues at the USGS 
Western Fisheries Research Center, University of Washington, Cary Institute of 
Ecosystem Studies, and fish health agencies. The specific research questions 
will be determined based on the interests of the student and collaborators. For 
more background, see: Ferguson, Breta, Brito, Kurath, LaDeau. 2018. An 
epidemiological model of virus transmission in salmonid fishes of the Columbia 
River Basin. Ecological Modelling 377: 1-15.

Applicants should have a background in many of the following: fisheries 
management, disease ecology, epidemiology, GIS, ecological modeling, 
statistics, computer programming, and interdisciplinary collaboration. 
Applicants should be highly motivated and prepared to conduct independent 
modeling research.

To apply, please email Dr. Ferguson 
(pffergu...@ua.edu) the following:
1. a cover letter describing your interest in the project and prior experiences 
that have prepared you for graduate work in Dr. Ferguson’s lab
2. your transcript(s) (an unofficial copy is fine),
3. GRE scores,
4. a sample of your scientific writing (for example a manuscript or lab 
report), and
5. contact information for 3 references.

Applications are due November 1. Review of applications will begin immediately 
and will continue until the position is filled.

The position comes with a full tuition waiver, a competitive 12 month stipend, 
and health insurance. Funding is available as a Graduate Teaching Assistant 
through the Department of Biological Sciences. Highly qualified applicants may 
be considered for Graduate School Fellowships, which offer a Research 
Assistantship during the student’s first year.

Additional information is available from the following links:
Dr. Ferguson’s Research: http://bsc.ua.edu/paige-ferguson/
Department of Biological Sciences: http://bsc.ua.edu/
Graduate School: http://graduate.ua.edu
University of Alabama: http://www.ua.edu
Tuscaloosa: http://www.tuscaloosa.com/visitor-services
Outdoor opportunities in Alabama: 
http://www.outdooralabama.com





Dr. Paige Ferguson

Assistant Professor, Department of Biological Sciences

The University of Alabama
Bevill 2109C
Tuscaloosa, AL 35405
Phone 205-348-1787
pffergu...@ua.edu | https://bsc.ua.edu/paige-ferguson/

[The University of Alabama] 

[ECOLOG-L] Graduate assistantship: Entomology, prairie land use & modeling

[Ferguson, Paige]

Spend time in the field catching cool beetles and moths, learn marketable 
modeling skills, and join the Crimson Tide!

Dr. Paige Ferguson, assistant professor in the Department of Biological 
Sciences at the University of Alabama, is seeking a PhD or MS student to begin 
in Spring, Summer, or Fall 2018.

Research will focus on land use in the Black Belt prairie of Alabama and how it 
relates to the occurrence of beetle and moth species. The student will conduct 
field work at prairie sites in the Black Belt and will conduct analyses with 
statistical models. Anticipated results include information about the 
distribution of beetle and moth species and quantified relationships between 
land use characteristics at multiple spatial scales and species occupancy 
probabilities.

The Black Belt Region is of great interest ecologically and culturally. Land 
use change throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centuries have left less 
than 1% of the native Black Belt prairie. Several beetle and moth species are 
endemic to Black Belt prairies or have disjunct distributions including the 
Midwestern prairies and Black Belt prairies. Both the natural history and human 
history of the Black Belt Region have contributed to current patterns of land 
use and prairie habitat quality. From the mid-1800s to the early 1900s, the 
Black Belt Region was the site of extensive slave-based cotton farming. When 
cotton farming declined, land was often converted to pasture. How land is 
distributed and used contributes to ecosystem health, socio-economic patterns 
among landowners, and social, political, and economic dynamics in the region.

Applicants should have a background in many of the following: ecology, 
environmental science, entomology, GIS, ecological modeling, statistics, 
computer programming, stakeholder outreach, and field work. Applicants should 
be highly motivated and prepared to conduct independent field and modeling 
research.

To apply, please email Dr. Ferguson 
(pffergu...@ua.edu) the following:
1. a cover letter describing your interest in the project and prior experiences 
that have prepared you for graduate work in Dr. Ferguson's lab
2. your undergraduate transcript (an unofficial copy is fine),
3. GRE scores,
4. a sample of your scientific writing (for example a manuscript or lab 
report), and
5. contact information for 3 references.

Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until positions 
are filled.

The position comes with a full tuition waiver, a competitive 12 month stipend, 
and health insurance. Funding is available as a Graduate Teaching Assistant 
through the Department of Biological Sciences. Highly qualified applicants may 
be considered for Graduate School Fellowships, which offer a Research 
Assistantship during the student's first year. Funding for summer field work 
expenses and conference attendance are available.

Additional information is available from the following links:
Dr. Ferguson's Research: http://bsc.ua.edu/paige-ferguson/
Department of Biological Sciences: http://bsc.ua.edu/
Graduate School: http://graduate.ua.edu
University of Alabama: http://www.ua.edu
Tuscaloosa: http://www.tuscaloosa.com/visitor-services
Outdoor opportunities in Alabama: 
http://www.outdooralabama.com



Dr. Paige Ferguson

Assistant Professor, Department of Biological Sciences

The University of Alabama
Bevill 2109C
Tuscaloosa, AL 35405
Phone 205-348-1787
pffergu...@ua.edu | https://bsc.ua.edu/paige-ferguson/

[The University of Alabama] 

[ECOLOG-L] Graduate assistantship in entomology & prairie habitats

[Ferguson, Paige]

Dr. Paige Ferguson, assistant professor in the Department of Biological 
Sciences at the University of Alabama, is seeking a PhD or MS student to begin 
in Spring 2017, Summer 2017, or Fall 2018.

Research will focus on land use in the Black Belt prairie of Alabama and how it 
relates to the occurrence of beetle and moth species. The student will conduct 
field work at prairie sites in the Black Belt and will conduct analyses with 
statistical models. Anticipated results include information about the 
distribution of beetle and moth species and quantified relationships between 
land use characteristics at multiple spatial scales and species occupancy 
probabilities.

The Black Belt Region is of great interest ecologically and culturally. Land 
use change throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centuries have left less 
than 1% of the native Black Belt prairie. Several beetle and moth species are 
endemic to Black Belt prairies or have disjunct distributions including the 
Midwestern prairies and Black Belt prairies. Both the natural history and human 
history of the Black Belt Region have contributed to current patterns of land 
use and prairie habitat quality. From the mid-1800s to the early 1900s, the 
Black Belt Region was the site of extensive slave-based cotton farming. When 
cotton farming declined, land was often converted to pasture. How land is 
distributed and used contributes to ecosystem health, socio-economic patterns 
among landowners, and social, political, and economic dynamics in the region.

Applicants should have a background in many of the following: ecology, 
environmental science, entomology, GIS, ecological modeling, statistics, 
computer programming, stakeholder outreach, and field work. Applicants should 
be highly motivated and prepared to conduct independent field and modeling 
research.

To apply, please email Dr. Ferguson 
(pffergu...@ua.edu) the following:
1. a cover letter describing your interest in the project and prior experiences 
that have prepared you for graduate work in Dr. Ferguson's lab
2. your undergraduate transcript (an unofficial copy is fine),
3. GRE scores,
4. a sample of your scientific writing (for example a manuscript or lab 
report), and
5. contact information for 3 references.

Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until positions 
are filled.

The position comes with a full tuition waiver, a competitive 12 month stipend, 
and health insurance. Funding is available as a Graduate Teaching Assistant 
through the Department of Biological Sciences. Highly qualified applicants may 
be considered for Graduate School Fellowships, which offer a Research 
Assistantship during the student's first year. Funding for summer field work 
expenses and conference attendance are available.

Additional information is available from the following links:
Dr. Ferguson's Research: http://bsc.ua.edu/paige-ferguson/
Department of Biological Sciences: http://bsc.ua.edu/
Graduate School: http://graduate.ua.edu
University of Alabama: http://www.ua.edu
Tuscaloosa: http://www.tuscaloosa.com/visitor-services
Outdoor opportunities in Alabama: http://www.outdooralabama.com

[ECOLOG-L] Graduate Assistantship - Red-cockaded Woodpecker Conservation

[Ferguson, Paige]

Dr. Paige Ferguson, assistant professor in the Department of Biological 
Sciences at the University of Alabama, is seeking a PhD or MS student to begin 
in Spring 2017, Summer 2017, or Fall 2018.

Research will focus on conservation of Red-cockaded Woodpeckers and land 
management. Potential research topics include RCW population dynamics and 
management in the Oakmulgee Ranger District of the Talladega National Forest or 
modeling future land use change scenarios and their relationship to RCW 
management. Close collaboration with the U.S. Forest Service and stakeholders 
is anticipated.

Applicants should have a background in many of the following: ecology, 
environmental science, ornithology, wildlife management, GIS, ecological 
modeling, statistics, computer programming, stakeholder outreach, and field 
work. Applicants should be highly motivated and prepared to conduct independent 
field and modeling research.

To apply, please email Dr. Ferguson 
(pffergu...@ua.edu) the following:
1. a cover letter describing your interest in the project and prior experiences 
that have prepared you for graduate work in Dr. Ferguson's lab
2. your undergraduate transcript (an unofficial copy is fine),
3. GRE scores,
4. a sample of your scientific writing (for example a manuscript or lab 
report), and
5. contact information for 3 references.

Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until positions 
are filled.

The position comes with a full tuition waiver, a competitive 12 month stipend, 
and health insurance. Funding is available as a Graduate Teaching Assistant 
through the Department of Biological Sciences. Highly qualified applicants may 
be considered for Graduate School Fellowships, which offer a Research 
Assistantship during the student's first year. Funding for summer field work 
expenses and conference attendance are available.

Additional information is available from the following links:
Dr. Ferguson's Research: http://bsc.ua.edu/paige-ferguson/
Department of Biological Sciences: http://bsc.ua.edu/
Graduate School: http://graduate.ua.edu
University of Alabama: http://www.ua.edu
Tuscaloosa: http://www.tuscaloosa.com/visitor-services
Outdoor opportunities in Alabama: http://www.outdooralabama.com

[ECOLOG-L] Funded research technician: Interviewing landowners about wildlife and land values

[Ferguson, Paige]

Dr. Paige Ferguson, Assistant Professor in the Department of Biological 
Sciences at the University of Alabama, is seeking a research technician to 
collect field data during the Summer of 2017. The technician will work in 
conjunction with a MS student and an undergraduate student.  The duties of this 
position include interviewing landowners in the Black Belt region of Alabama 
and transcribing interviews on to computer files. Interview questions will be 
provided and focus on land management practices, land use history, and values 
related to land and wildlife. Pay is $4000 for the summer (early June-early/mid 
August). A field vehicle or fuel reimbursement will be provided.  Housing will 
be a sublet apartment in Tuscaloosa, and the research technician is responsible 
for rent.

The Black Belt Region is of great interest ecologically and culturally. Land 
use change throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centuries have left less 
than 1% of the native Black Belt prairie. There is evidence that the Black Belt 
Prairie was historically connected with the Great Plains and may have served as 
a refugium for Great Plains species during glacial episodes. Several 
invertebrate species have disjunct distributions, with the Black Belt prairie 
comprising the eastern boundary of their range. The Black Belt prairie provides 
important habitat for many species of grassland birds and invertebrates Sites 
in the Black Belt are also used for recreational hunting of white-tailed deer 
and quail. The human history of the Black Belt Region is as equally important 
as the natural history, and both have contributed to current patterns of land 
use and prairie habitat quality. From the mid-1800s to the early 1900s, the 
Black Belt Region was the site of extensive slave-based cotton farming. When 
cotton farming declined, land was often converted to pasture. In 2014, the 
poverty rate in the Black Belt Region of Alabama was 30.0%, well above state 
(19.2%) and national (15.5%) averages. How land is distributed and used may 
contribute to socio-economic patterns among landowners and to social, 
political, and economic dynamics in a region.

Applicants who have or are currently pursuing a B.S. degree are preferred. 
Applicants should have experience in communicating with diverse members of the 
public. Applicants must have strong communication skills, work ethic, and 
behave professionally.

To apply, please email Dr. Ferguson 
(pffergu...@ua.edu) the following:
1. a cover letter describing your interest in the project and prior experiences 
that have prepared you for the project,
2. CV, and
3. contact information for 3 references.

Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the 
position is filled.




Dr. Paige Ferguson

Assistant Professor, Department of Biological Sciences

The University of Alabama
Bevill 2109C
Tuscaloosa, AL 35405
Phone 205-348-1787
pffergu...@ua.edu | https://bsc.ua.edu/paige-ferguson/

[The University of Alabama] 

[ECOLOG-L] Funded field technician position: Deer camera trapping

[Ferguson, Paige]

Dr. Paige Ferguson, Assistant Professor in the Department of Biological 
Sciences at the University of Alabama, is seeking a research technician to 
collect field data during the Summer of 2017. The technician will work in 
conjunction with a MS student to conduct camera trapping of deer in the Black 
Belt region of Alabama.  Pay is $4,000 for work from approximately early June 
until August.  Start and end dates are negotiable.  Housing will be a sublet 
apartment in Tuscaloosa.

Applicants who have or are currently pursuing a B.S. degree in wildlife 
sciences or a related major are preferred. Applicants should have experience in 
sampling design, camera trapping, GPS, and database management. Applicants must 
have strong communication skills and work ethic.

To apply, please email Dr. Ferguson 
(pffergu...@ua.edu) the following:
1. a cover letter describing your interest in the project and prior experiences 
that have prepared you for the project,
2. CV, and
3. contact information for 3 references.

Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the 
position is filled.

Additional information is available from the following links:
Dr. Ferguson’s Research: http://bsc.ua.edu/paige-ferguson/
Department of Biological Sciences: http://bsc.ua.edu/
Graduate School: http://graduate.ua.edu
University of Alabama: http://www.ua.edu
Outdoor opportunities in Alabama: http://www.outdooralabama.com
Tuscaloosa: http://www.tuscaloosa.com/visitor-services

[ECOLOG-L] Post-doc position: Modeling viral transmission

[Ferguson, Paige]

Dr. Paige Ferguson, Assistant Professor in the Department of Biological 
Sciences at the University of Alabama, is seeking a Post-Doctoral Researcher to 
begin in August 2017 or later. Research will focus on modeling the transmission 
of infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHNV) among salmonids in the 
Columbia River Basin landscape. The post-doc will extend an existing model to 
investigate generalist and specialist phenotypes. Throughout the project, the 
post-doc will be collaborating with colleagues at multiple institutions around 
the country. The position comes with competitive salary and benefits.

In the Columbia River Basin, IHNV causes severe disease, predominantly in 
juvenile steelhead trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and less frequently in Chinook 
salmon (O. tshawytscha). Mortality events following IHNV infection can be 
devastating for individual hatchery programs. Despite reports of high local 
mortality and extensive surveillance efforts, there are questions about how 
viral transmission is maintained. Modeling this system offers important 
insights into disease transmission in natural aquatic systems. Currently, our 
dynamic epidemiological model evaluates the relative importance of potential 
transmission routes. The post-doc will extend the model to develop 
understanding of how transmission of generalist and specialist genogroups has 
generated the explicit spatio-temporal patterns of infection across the CRB 
hatchery landscape.

Applicants should have a background in ecology, epidemiology, ecological 
modeling, and statistics. Applicants should have strong skills in computer 
programming, GIS, and communication across disciplines. Applicants should be 
highly motivated and prepared to conduct independent modeling research.

To apply, please email Dr. Ferguson 
(pffergu...@ua.edu) the following:
1. a cover letter describing your interest in the project and prior experiences 
that have prepared you for the project
2. your CV,
3. your transcript (an unofficial copy is fine), and
4. contact information for 3 references.

Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until positions 
are filled.

Additional information is available from the following links:
Dr. Ferguson’s Research: http://bsc.ua.edu/paige-ferguson/
Department of Biological Sciences: http://bsc.ua.edu/
University of Alabama: http://www.ua.edu
Outdoor opportunities in Alabama: http://www.outdooralabama.com
Tuscaloosa: http://www.tuscaloosa.com/visitor-services

[ECOLOG-L] Research associate: Modeling viral transmission

[Ferguson, Paige]

Dr. Paige Ferguson, Assistant Professor in the Department of Biological 
Sciences at the University of Alabama, is seeking a Researcher to begin in 
August 2017 or later. Research will focus on modeling the transmission of 
infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHNV) among salmonids in the Columbia 
River Basin landscape. The researcher will extend an existing model to 
investigate generalist and specialist phenotypes. Throughout the project, the 
researcher will be collaborating with colleagues at multiple institutions 
around the country. The position comes with competitive salary.

In the Columbia River Basin, IHNV causes severe disease, predominantly in 
juvenile steelhead trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and less frequently in Chinook 
salmon (O. tshawytscha). Mortality events following IHNV infection can be 
devastating for individual hatchery programs. Despite reports of high local 
mortality and extensive surveillance efforts, there are questions about how 
viral transmission is maintained. Modeling this system offers important 
insights into disease transmission in natural aquatic systems. Currently, our 
dynamic epidemiological model evaluates the relative importance of potential 
transmission routes. The researcher will extend the model to develop 
understanding of how transmission of generalist and specialist genogroups has 
generated the explicit spatio-temporal patterns of infection across the CRB 
hatchery landscape.

Applicants should have a background in ecology, epidemiology, ecological 
modeling, and statistics. Applicants should have strong skills in computer 
programming, GIS, and communication across disciplines. Applicants should be 
highly motivated and prepared to conduct independent modeling research.

To apply, please email Dr. Ferguson 
(pffergu...@ua.edu) the following:
1. a cover letter describing your interest in the project and prior experiences 
that have prepared you for the project
2. your CV,
3. your transcript (an unofficial copy is fine), and
4. contact information for 3 references.

Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until positions 
are filled.

Additional information is available from the following links:
Dr. Ferguson’s Research: http://bsc.ua.edu/paige-ferguson/
Department of Biological Sciences: http://bsc.ua.edu/
University of Alabama: http://www.ua.edu
Outdoor opportunities in Alabama: http://www.outdooralabama.com
Tuscaloosa: http://www.tuscaloosa.com/visitor-services

[ECOLOG-L] Research technician: Moth and beetle sampling

[Ferguson, Paige]

Dr. Paige Ferguson, Assistant Professor in the Department of Biological 
Sciences at the University of Alabama, is seeking a research technician to 
collect field data during the Summer of 2017. The technician will work in 
conjunction with a MS student to sample endemic moths and beetles in the Black 
Belt region of Alabama.

Applicants who have or are currently pursuing a B.S. degree in wildlife 
sciences or a related major are preferred. Applicants should have experience in 
sampling design, pitfall traps, ultra-violet light traps, GPS, and database 
management. Applicants must have strong communication skills and work ethic.

To apply, please email Dr. Ferguson 
(pffergu...@ua.edu) the following:
1. a cover letter describing your interest in the project and prior experiences 
that have prepared you for the project,
2. CV, and
3. contact information for 3 references.

Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the 
position is filled.

[ECOLOG-L] Research technician: Land use

[Ferguson, Paige]

Dr. Paige Ferguson, Assistant Professor in the Department of Biological 
Sciences at the University of Alabama, is seeking a research technician to 
collect field data during the Summer of 2017. The technician will work in 
conjunction with a MS student to interview landowners in the Black Belt region 
of Alabama. Interview questions will focus on land management practices, land 
use history, and values related to land.

Applicants who have or are currently pursuing a B.S. degree are preferred. 
Applicants should have experience in communicating with diverse members of the 
public and interview data management. Applicants must have strong communication 
skills, work ethic, and behave professionally.

To apply, please email Dr. Ferguson 
(pffergu...@ua.edu) the following:
1. a cover letter describing your interest in the project and prior experiences 
that have prepared you for the project,
2. CV, and
3. contact information for 3 references.

Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the 
position is filled.

[ECOLOG-L] Research technician: Deer camera trapping

[Ferguson, Paige]

Dr. Paige Ferguson, Assistant Professor in the Department of Biological 
Sciences at the University of Alabama, is seeking a research technician to 
collect field data during the Summer of 2017. The technician will work in 
conjunction with a MS student to conduct camera trapping of deer in the Black 
Belt region of Alabama.

Applicants who have or are currently pursuing a B.S. degree in wildlife 
sciences or a related major are preferred. Applicants should have experience in 
sampling design, camera trapping, GPS, and database management. Applicants must 
have strong communication skills and work ethic.

To apply, please email Dr. Ferguson 
(pffergu...@ua.edu) the following:
1. a cover letter describing your interest in the project and prior experiences 
that have prepared you for the project,
2. CV, and
3. contact information for 3 references.

Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the 
position is filled.

[ECOLOG-L] Graduate research assistantship: Modeling viral transmission

[Ferguson, Paige]

Dr. Paige Ferguson, Assistant Professor in the Department of Biological 
Sciences at the University of Alabama, is seeking a PhD or exceptional MS 
student to begin in Fall 2017 or Spring 2018. Research will focus on modeling 
the transmission of infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHNV) among 
salmonids in the Columbia River Basin landscape. The student will extend an 
existing model to investigate generalist and specialist phenotypes. Throughout 
the project, the student will be collaborating with colleagues at multiple 
institutions around the country. The position comes with Research 
Assistantships for three years and addition years of Teaching Assistantships 
through the Department of Biological Sciences.

In the Columbia River Basin, IHNV causes severe disease, predominantly in 
juvenile steelhead trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and less frequently in Chinook 
salmon (O. tshawytscha). Mortality events following IHNV infection can be 
devastating for individual hatchery programs. Despite reports of high local 
mortality and extensive surveillance efforts, there are questions about how 
viral transmission is maintained. Modeling this system offers important 
insights into disease transmission in natural aquatic systems. Currently, our 
dynamic epidemiological model evaluates the relative importance of potential 
transmission routes. The student will extend the model to develop understanding 
of how transmission of generalist and specialist genogroups has generated the 
explicit spatio-temporal patterns of infection across the CRB hatchery 
landscape.

Applicants should have a background in ecology, epidemiology, ecological 
modeling, and statistics. Applicants should have strong skills in computer 
programming, GIS, and communication across disciplines. Applicants should be 
highly motivated and prepared to conduct independent modeling research.

To apply, please email Dr. Ferguson 
(pffergu...@ua.edu) the following:
1. a cover letter describing your interest in the project and prior experiences 
that have prepared you for the project
2. your undergraduate transcript (an unofficial copy is fine),
3. GRE scores,
4. a sample of your scientific writing (for example a manuscript or lab 
report), and
5. contact information for 3 references.
Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until positions 
are filled.

Additional information is available from the following links:
Dr. Ferguson’s Research: http://bsc.ua.edu/paige-ferguson/
Department of Biological Sciences: http://bsc.ua.edu/
Graduate School: http://graduate.ua.edu
University of Alabama: http://www.ua.edu
Outdoor opportunities in Alabama: http://www.outdooralabama.com
Tuscaloosa: http://www.tuscaloosa.com/visitor-services