Position title: MS assistantship studying trophic ecology of large pelagic fishes
Location: University of North Carolina Wilmington
Responsibilities: The position will involve sampling at fishing tournaments along the NC and
SC coasts to collect stomach contents and tissue samples from tuna, dolphin, and wahoo species.
Both traditional diet and stable isotope analysis will be conducted to assess trophic relationships
within the offshore pelagic fish community. The project will begin approximately May 15 2012
and last for 2 – 2.5 years.
Qualifications: Students should be highly motivated, possess good writing and communication
skills, and have previously demonstrated a strong work ethic and the ability to work in a team
setting. Experience with fisheries biological sampling techniques (otolith, tissue, and stomach
removal) is a plus. At minimum, students need to possess a BS in fisheries, natural resources
management, biology or a related field and should have a 3.2 GPA and verbal and quantitative
GRE scores above the 50th percentile.
Salary: Annual stipend of $14,000 with additional support to cover tuition and health insurance.
Closing date: March 30th, 2012
Contact: Email a brief statement of interest, curriculum vitae, GRE scores and transcripts
(unofficial copies are OK), and contact information for three references to Fred Scharf at
scharff@uncw.edu
The successful candidate will be admitted to the MS program in Marine Biology at UNCW.
Students can learn about graduate study in the department at http://www.uncw.edu/bio/ and my
research program here: http://people.uncw.edu/scharff/
Recruitment process: I will generally invite up to 3 potential candidates to campus to visit with
current members of the lab and to see the surrounding area. The student that receives and
accepts an offer to join our lab will need to complete an official application to the Graduate
School at UNCW; however, that step does not need to be completed to be considered for the
position. Prospective students can save themselves the time and cost of applying to the Graduate
School until they have received an offer.