3 PhD Assistantships Available!

PhD Assistantships (3) -- Wild pig ecology & damage management; University of Georgia

Application Deadline:  December 1, 2026

Starting Date:  Approx. June 1, 2027

Hours per Week:  40

Salary:  Commensurate

Education Required:  Masters

Experience Required:  2+ years conducting ecological field work

Location:  Savannah River Ecology Laboratory in Aiken, SC

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Drs. James Beasley, Travis DeVault, and Jessy Patterson  are seeking three highly motivated students with strong academic credentials to join our team and pursue PhD degrees in wildlife ecology at the University of Georgia. Applicants must possess well-developed organizational skills and demonstrated excellence in written and oral communication. The successful applicants will enroll in the Warnell School of Forestry & Natural Resources in Summer (preferred) or Fall 2027. They will be stationed at the Savannah River Ecology Laboratory in Aiken, SC when not taking classes or collecting field data.

The successful applicants will join a large, interdisciplinary team focused on understanding and preventing damage by invasive wild pigs to agriculture, native species, and other natural resources throughout South Carolina. Student projects will focus on population dynamics, spatial ecology, agricultural and environmental damage assessments, and impacts of invasive wild pigs on native wildlife. Students will develop research questions within this framework to comprise their dissertations, depending on individual research interests. Students will work in close collaboration with other students, faculty, and agency personnel associated with this research.

Qualifications: Applicants must have completed an MS degree in wildlife biology, ecology, or a related discipline prior to enrolling at Warnell. Prior experience conducting ecological field work is required. Applicants should also have a demonstrated interest in resolving and understanding human-wildlife conflicts, excellent organizational, writing, and communication skills, and evidence of strong quantitative skills. Experience working with state and federal stakeholders as well as private landowners is preferred.

Application: Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until suitable candidates are found. Applicants should submit a letter of interest, CV (including GPA and GRE scores, if available), and contact information for three references in a single pdf attachment to Dr. Jessy Patterson (jrpatterson@uga.edu). Contact Dr. Patterson via email with questions. 

The University of Georgia is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, or protected veteran status.