Written by MS Assistantship Opportunity
The Rangeland Paleoecology Lab at New Mexico State University invites applications for one or more MS assistantship positions, with an anticipated start date of Summer or Fall 2026.
These positions offer an opportunity to join a new research program led by Dr. John Wendt. Successful applicants will have flexibility in shaping their research direction while contributing to understanding how animals, hydrology, climate variability, and disturbance shape rangeland landscapes. The lab integrates field ecology, paleoecology, spatial analysis, and quantitative modeling to study how ecosystems change across space and time.
Ongoing research threads provide several entry points for student-led projects:
1. Reconstruction of past animal impacts
We are developing biomolecular tools to detect and quantify animal impacts in past ecosystems, building on prior work in Yellowstone. Projects in this area may involve calibrating biomarkers against modern gradients of herbivore abundance, then applying these tools to sediment records to infer long-term ecological dynamics. This direction is well-suited for students interested in analytical chemistry, paleoecology, zooarchaeological integration, or long-term ecosystem change.
2. Spatial drivers of disturbance: climate, water, ecosystem engineers, and vegetation change
Water availability structures animal distribution, beaver engineering reshapes hydrologic and geomorphic processes, and climate variability influences both. Students may investigate the connections among surface hydrology, herbivore communities, fire, beaver activity, nutrient redistribution, and vegetation transitions. Approaches can include spatial modeling, remote sensing, ecological fieldwork, and integration of archaeological and historical records.
Qualifications. Minimum qualifications include a bachelor’s degree in ecology, environmental science, natural resources, chemistry, biology, computer science, statistics, geology, geography, anthropology/archaeology, or a related field; experience in ecological field work, computational skills, or laboratory methods; and possession of or ability to obtain a US driver’s license. Ideal candidates will have one or more of the following: research experience, laboratory or analytical chemistry skills, GIS/spatial analysis background, programming or quantitative modeling competence; interest in paleoecology and open ecosystems.
Applicants must also meet the requirements of the Range Science Graduate Program.
Additional information. Successful applicants will be housed in the Department of Animal and Range Sciences at NMSU in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Las Cruces is located in the Chihuahuan Desert, with access to diverse ecosystems across New Mexico, the Great Plains, and the Rocky Mountains. Funding will be provided by a teaching assistantship (up to 20 hours per week during academic year). The support package includes an annual stipend of at least $28,300, plus tuition and health insurance. NMSU is an equal opportunity employer.
How to apply. Email Dr. John Wendt (wendt@nmsu.edu) with:
- A CV or resume
- Unofficial transcripts
- A brief statement of interest (professional and educational background, skills, research interests, and motivation)
- Contact information for 2-3 professional or academic references
Priority review of applications will begin December 20 and continue until one or more positions are filled.