POSITION TITLE: Phd research position

Hiring Organization/Employer:  Michigan State University
Application Deadline:  10/30/2026
Education Required:  M.S. 
Location:  Michigan 

Description:  

  We seek a motivated doctoral student to join the Christensen Lab in the
Department of Fisheries and Wildlife at Michigan State University. The successful applicant will
conduct research evaluating deer population responses to community-based deer management
interventions in Michigan. This position is funded through a doctoral research assistantship for
the four-year project period (January 2027 through September 2030). The selected candidate
will work with a team of collaborators from Michigan State University and the Michigan
Department of Natural Resources, and will contribute to the multi-state effort of the CWD
Research Consortium.

This position is part of Evaluating New Approaches to Deer Overabundance
and Chronic Wasting Disease Management, a broader four-year project led by Michigan State
University (MSU) in partnership with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR)
Wildlife Division. The project tests whether coordinated, community-based deer management
interventions can increase hunter harvest and change deer population and disease outcomes,
using a treatment and control design in townships in the southern Lower Peninsula of Michigan.
It contributes to a multi-state effort evaluating approaches to deer management in CWD
affected areas across the Midwest. The broad project combines assessments of hunter and
landowner social and behavioral conditions with ecological outcomes such as deer harvest,
density, demographics, and CWD prevalence. The project team includes Dr. Sonja Christensen
(ecological and disease components) and Dr. Emily Pomeranz (human dimensions) of the MSU
Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, and Dr. Dwayne Etter and Dr. Brent Rudolph of the
Michigan DNR Wildlife Division. Dr. Sonja Christensen and the selected PhD student will focus
on the ecological and disease components of the project.

Compensation & Benefits:  

 Full tuition remission, health benefits, and a bi-weekly stipend (see below); supported
for the four-year project period, one semester of TA expected).
Opportunities for professional development and networking. 

  Minimum annual stipend of $34,789, plus tuition covered and health
benefits, and annual 3% raises. Some stipend flexibility available based on experience and
degrees. Start date is January 2027. Funding is budgeted through the end of the project in
September 2030 with options for Teaching Assistantships or Fellowships for the remaining
academic program assuming positive academic progress.  

Responsibilities:  

 Using baseline and follow-up assessments of deer populations, including roadside
distance sampling, to estimate deer density in an experimental study.
Evaluating changes in deer harvest (with an emphasis on antlerless deer), density,
demographics, fawn recruitment, and CWD prevalence in treatment and control
townships.
Developing models and statistical analyses to address the research objectives, including
the effects of interventions and other factors (e.g., epizootic hemorrhagic disease
events) on deer populations.
Collaborating with a multidisciplinary team of ecologists, social scientists, and agency
partners, including the Michigan DNR and the MSU Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory.
Contributing to community engagement with landowners, hunters, and other
stakeholders.
Preparing research findings for publication in peer-reviewed journals, presenting results
at conferences, and communicating findings to state wildlife agencies and the public.  

Preferred Qualifications:  

 A master’s degree in a relevant field (e.g., wildlife biology, epidemiology, ecology,
statistics, or related field).
 Experience with wildlife population estimation methods (e.g., distance sampling)
preferred.
Strong quantitative and analytical skills/aptitude.
Experience with statistical software preferred (e.g., R, SAS, Python).
Excellent communication skills, both written and oral.
Ability to work independently and as part of a collaborative, interdisciplinary team.
Interest in working with stakeholders and communities.
Passion for wildlife conservation, management, and research.
Experience working with state wildlife agencies and engagement with hunting
populations is preferred. 

How to Apply:  

  Interested candidates should submit the following materials to Dr. Sonja
Christensen (chris625@msu.edu). IMPORTANT: Submit applications with “Wildlife Health PhD
Application” in the subject line (single merged PDF file is preferred):
 A cover letter outlining your research interests and career goals.
 A resume or curriculum vitae.
 GRE scores preferred but not required
 TOEFL scores (for non-native English speakers only).
 Academic transcripts (unofficial copies are acceptable at this stage).
 Contact information for three references.
 One representative first-authored publication if any exist. 

Contact:  

  For inquiries about the position or the research project, please contact
Dr. Sonja Christensen (chris625@msu.edu) or reach out to members of my lab. Please allow
time for email response.