Graduate Research Assistantship (M.S.)
Aquatic/Fisheries Ecology
Illinois Natural History Survey
Prairie Research Institute
Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Project Description
The Illinois Natural History Survey (INHS) is seeking a graduate research assistant (GRA) starting Summer or Fall 2026 to conduct research on recreational fishing effort and harvest in a large reservoir ecosystem. The GRA will be a member of a research team assessing methods for improving estimates of fishing pressure and investigating emerging issues in sustainable fisheries management, such as the use of sonar technologies in recreational fisheries.
Students will be advised by Dr. Joe Parkos, a research scientist at the Illinois Natural History Survey (INHS; https://www.inhs.illinois.edu/), one of five scientific surveys housed within the Prairie Research Institute at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). The home department of successful applicants will be the Department is Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences (NRES) at UIUC, and must meet the minimum admission requirements of the NRES graduate program Graduate Admissions | Natural Resources & Environmental Sciences | Illinois.
The research activities of the Parkos lab are conducted from an integrated network of three INHS field stations: Kaskaskia, Ridge Lake, and Sam Parr Biological Stations. Field station facilities include outdoor ponds, mesocosms, microscope labs, wet labs, bunkhouses, and workshops. Further details about the Parkos lab and the field stations can be found at: https://kaskaskia-bio-station.inhs.illinois.edu/
Salary and Appointment Details: This position includes a 50% research assistantship with a tuition waiver through the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences (NRES). The current monthly stipend is $2,689 (M.S.) + tuition waiver and health insurance. The max appointment period for RAs is 11 months per academic year.
Qualifications
- B.A or B.S. in Biology, Ecology, Fisheries Science, or related field. GRE scores are not required.
- Competitive applicants will have some field or laboratory experience in aquatic or fisheries ecology and experience or an interest in working with stakeholders and professional natural resource agencies.
Start Date: Summer or Fall 2026
To Apply: To be considered for this position, please email a single PDF to Dr. Joseph Parkos at parkos@illinois.edu. Email must include 1) a cover letter that details your interest in the position and how you meet the qualifications listed above, 2) a CV with employment history, including dates of employment, 3) names and contact information for three professional references, and 4) copies of unofficial transcripts. Reference “Graduate Application” in the subject line and include your last name in all attached files. The deadline to apply is February 16, 2026.
Applicant review will begin January 5, 2026. The selected finalist will be directed to formally apply to the NRES graduate program at UIUC. All admission decisions must be approved by the NRES Director of Graduate Studies. The start dates of the positions are flexible between May 1 and August 1, 2026.
For additional information or if you have questions, please contact Dr. Parkos at parkos@illinois.edu