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<div class="elementToProof"><span style="font-family: Aptos, Aptos_EmbeddedFont, Aptos_MSFontService, Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><b>Open position: Ph.D. Graduate Research Assistant @ Hines' Lab (Texas A&M)</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 107%;">Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and the Department of Rangeland, Wildlife, and Fisheries Management at Texas A&M University seeks a
<b>Ph.D. Graduate Research Assistant </b>to investigate the ecological and economic impacts of vegetation management on biodiversity in solar facilities in South Texas.</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: black; line-height: 107%;">The United Nations set a goal to be carbon neutral by 2050, thus increased reliance on and construction of new carbon-neutral energy
facilities is a key component in achieving the UN’s carbon neutral goal. Solar facilities development in the United States are identified as one of the frontrunners for carbon-neutral energy production and are projected to increase 3-4 times the current rate
of construction. Concurrently, these solar farms eliminate hundreds of thousands of tons of carbon emissions annually while also transforming hundreds to thousands of acres to ground-mounted photovoltaic arrays and electrical infrastructure. Models predict
that solar farms with native grasslands improve ecosystem services and increase pollinator biodiversity. However, we lack empirical evidence of the impact of vegetation management strategies employed by solar facilities on biodiversity in Texas. The goal of
this project is to determine the ecological and economic impacts of current vegetation management strategies on biodiversity and compare them to alternative management strategies that may reduce costs and improve biodiversity metrics.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: black; line-height: 107%;">The successful candidate will work closely with faculty in February and March 2024 to finalize the full proposal, as per the research
program requirements and the position is anticipated to begin in summer/fall 2024. The graduate student will be housed in the Department of Rangeland, Wildlife and Fisheries Management at Texas A&M University in College Station, TX and field work will be completed
in South Texas. </span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 107%;">Compensation is $2,800 per month.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 107%;">Required qualifications:</span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 107%;">M.S. degree in range and wildlife management or closely related field conferred by May 2024.</span></li><li style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 107%; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 107%;">Strong oral and written communication skills.</span></li><li style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 107%; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 107%;">Demonstrated diligence and strong work ethic.</span></li><li style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 107%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 107%;">Driver’s license and ability to conduct independent field work in challenging conditions (e.g., heat, humidity, etc.).</span></li></ul>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 107%;">Preferred qualifications:</span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 107%;">Working knowledge of South Texas plant identification.</span></li><li style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 107%; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 107%;">Field experience in range and wildlife sampling methods.</span></li><li style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 107%; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 107%;">Grant writing experience.</span></li><li style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 107%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 107%;">Experience working with a variety of stakeholders.</span></li></ul>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 107%;">The field work is scheduled for three years with an anticipated graduation date within 4 years.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 107%;">Please email
<b>a summary letter of interest and qualifications</b> (3-page max.) and <b>CV </b>
to: Dr. Stacy L. Hines, Assistant Professor and Extension Rangeland Habitat Management Specialist:
<a href="mailto:stacy.hines@ag.tamu.edu" id="OWA29f78e10-d4e9-4fe8-fd75-2a4b1ae21673" class="x_OWAAutoLink" data-loopstyle="linkonly" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">
stacy.hines@ag.tamu.edu</a>. Include <b>Solar Biodiversity Ph.D. Assistantship </b>
in the email subject line. If you have any questions, please call me at 361-360-4533 (Direct) or 361-265-9203 (Office).</span></p>
<p style="line-height: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(86, 86, 90);"><i>Texas A&M AgriLife Extension is an
</i></span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><i><a href="https://agrilifeas.tamu.edu/hr/diversity/equal-opportunity-educational-programs/" id="OWA003f2b4a-e44a-d3d4-46ee-2ee99e1415a3" class="x_OWAAutoLink" data-loopstyle="linkonly" data-auth="NotApplicable" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">equal
opportunity</a></i></span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(86, 86, 90);"><i> employer and program provider.</i></span></p>
<p style="line-height: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(86, 86, 90);"><i>Texas A&M AgriLife Extension provides equal opportunities in programs and activities, education, and employment to
all persons regardless of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other classification protected by federal, state, or local law and will strive to achieve
full and equal employment opportunity throughout Texas A&M AgriLife.</i></span></p>
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