Master’s Assistantship: Black Bass Conservation & Ecology — NC State University

Description: Master’s opportunity to lead field investigation into effects of introduced Alabama Bass on native black basses in North Carolina. Introduced Alabama Bass have led to declines of native black basses in many southeastern reservoirs through hybridization and competition. The hired candidate will evaluate capture efficiency of Alabama Bass in reservoirs and explore comparative movement ecology of co-occurring black basses. The hired candidate will work directly with Dr. Corey Dunn (U.S. Geological Survey, North Carolina State University) and management biologists while learning in-demand skills transferable to broader applications in natural resources such as aquatic conservation, fisheries management, data analysis, and acoustic/radio telemetry.

Qualifications: Completed bachelor’s degree in biology, natural resources, or closely related field before start date. Candidates should have interests in fisheries management and conservation, fieldwork, R programming, and science communication. Existing boating experience is not necessary, but candidates must be willing to learn how to operate boats safely.

Start date: Candidate must be able to start as a research technician in early fall 2025 before eventually enrolling as a master’s student in January 2026.

Helpful links:

Riverine Fishes Lab: https://bit.ly/riverine_fishes

Department of Applied Ecology at NC State: https://cals.ncsu.edu/applied-ecology/