The Tennessee Tech University Scholarship offers qualified applicants the opportunity to pursue a funded Master of Science degree while conducting research in wildlife ecology and conservation. The Graduate Assistantship provides financial support, tuition and fee waivers, and hands-on research experience for students interested in waterfowl behaviour, drone technology and natural resource management.
Hosted by Tennessee Technological University, this fully funded graduate opportunity forms part of a multi-institutional research project aimed at improving drone-based wildlife monitoring techniques across wetlands in the Arkansas Delta. Successful applicants will work alongside experienced researchers and wildlife agencies while developing practical skills in ecological research and conservation.
About the Tennessee Tech University Scholarship
The scholarship supports a Master of Science Graduate Assistantship focusing on the behavioural response of wintering waterfowl to unmanned aircraft systems (drones).
The successful candidate will conduct field research across Wildlife Management Areas in the Arkansas Delta, helping researchers understand how ducks respond to different drone platforms in various wetland habitats. The project also provides training in identifying waterfowl species from drone imagery and improving drone-assisted wildlife survey methods.
The research is a collaboration involving Tennessee Technological University, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, Clemson University’s James C. Kennedy Waterfowl and Wetlands Conservation Center and the University of Missouri.
Scholarship Benefits
Successful applicants will receive:
- Annual stipend starting from $25,000.
- Full tuition waiver.
- University fee waiver.
- Training in wildlife ecology, drone applications and quantitative ecology.
- Opportunities to present research at regional and national scientific conferences.
- Collaboration with leading researchers and wildlife conservation agencies.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must:
- Hold a Bachelor’s degree in Wildlife Biology, Ecology, Natural Resources, Biology or a closely related field before commencing the programme.
- Demonstrate a strong interest in wildlife ecology, waterfowl conservation or drone applications in wildlife research.
- Be capable of working independently and within a collaborative research team.
- Possess a valid driver’s licence.
Preferred qualifications include previous field research experience and knowledge of GIS, R programming, drones or quantitative ecology, although these are not mandatory.
Research Focus
The project investigates how wintering waterfowl react to drone technology across wetland habitats within the Mississippi Alluvial Valley.
Students will gain practical experience in:
- Wildlife behaviour research.
- Waterfowl ecology.
- Drone-based wildlife monitoring.
- Image analysis.
- Quantitative ecological research.
- Collaborative conservation projects.
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It should read like this:
How to Apply
Interested applicants should submit the following documents as a single PDF file:
- Brief cover letter outlining your research interests and career goals.
- Curriculum Vitae (CV).
- Unofficial academic transcripts.
- Contact information for three professional referees.
Email your application to:
- Dr. Bradley Cohen – bcohen@tntech.edu
- Dr. Allison Keever – akeever@tntech.edu
Applications will be reviewed immediately and will remain open until the position is filled.
This makes the application instructions complete and faithful to the official announcement.
Application Deadline
July 31, 2026