Michigan State University Smith BIRDS Lab Graduate Assistantship 2027

The Smith BIRDS Lab at Michigan State University has advertised graduate research opportunities for master’s and PhD students interested in bird conservation, biodiversity and ecosystem services in agricultural landscapes. This is a specific research assistantship opportunity, not a university-wide scholarship available across every department.

Research area and start date

The opportunity focuses on understanding birds and the ecological benefits they provide in working agricultural environments. Suitable candidates may have experience or interests in ecology, conservation biology, ornithology, field research, quantitative analysis or related disciplines. The advertised start is fall 2027 or spring 2028, subject to admission and the supervisor’s arrangements.

Funding and stipend

A faculty-authored position listing on the Texas A&M Natural Resources Job Board advertises a stipend starting at $31,361 per year. Funding terms may depend on the final assistantship appointment, academic programme and university policy. Scholarship Region describes tuition and health insurance as included; confirm tuition remission, mandatory fees, health insurance and appointment duration in writing with the lab before relying on a ‘fully funded’ description.

Who should apply?

Prospective MS or PhD candidates should have a relevant academic background and be able to demonstrate an interest in the lab’s research. Research experience, field skills, statistical analysis, writing and evidence of independent work may be useful. The university’s graduate school and department set formal admissions requirements; the lab’s interest in a candidate is not itself a university admission offer.

Application deadline and status

The faculty-authored job listing gives 9 November 2026 as the deadline. The lab’s website confirms that prospective graduate students are being recruited, but its general recruiting page does not independently specify that date or the stipend. Applicants should confirm both directly with the supervisor.

How to express interest

1. Read the Smith BIRDS Lab’s official website and its current graduate recruitment instructions.
2. Prepare an academic CV highlighting research, coursework, fieldwork, quantitative skills and publications, if any.
3. Write a concise description of your research interests and how they align with the lab’s work.
4. Contact Dr Olivia Smith using the contact information published on the official lab website, including the materials requested there.
5. Confirm the formal Michigan State graduate application process, required tests and funding offer before submitting.

Important distinctions

Do not confuse this 2027 bird-conservation position with older Michigan State assistantships that may appear in search results under similar titles. Some cached pages refer to unrelated research and expired deadlines. Always match the supervisor, research topic, intake and job posting date before applying.

Official sources and next steps

Check the Smith BIRDS Lab for recruitment and supervisor contact details and consult the relevant Texas A&M Natural Resources Job Board faculty posting for the advertised deadline and stipend. The Scholarship Region article is a secondary report; where its live or cached text differs, rely on the current faculty posting and official university requirements. See more postgraduate funding opportunities on Zejimo.