Ph.D. Opportunity AI & Wildlife Ecology at Koger Lab (University of Wyoming) – Fall 2026

University of Wyoming

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Vacancy

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Description

The Koger Lab at the University of Wyoming is recruiting a Ph.D. student to join their team for Fall 2026. This is a unique interdisciplinary position housed jointly within the School of Computing and the Department of Zoology and Physiology.

The lab specializes in developing and applying cutting-edge AI-driven computer vision tools to study the natural world. This opportunity is ideal for candidates who are passionate about bridging the gap between computational methods (computer science/engineering) and ecological research.

Program & Funding

Graduate Programs: Students can join the Ph.D. program in either the Department of Zoology and Physiology or the interdisciplinary Program in Ecology and Evolution.

Funding: The position comes with 3 years of guaranteed Research Assistant (RA) funding, with additional support available through Teaching Assistant (TA) positions and internal university grants.

Research Opportunities Selected students will work on high-impact projects that use imagery from drones, aircraft, satellites, and camera traps to monitor wildlife populations and behavior. Current key initiatives include:

Pronghorn Monitoring (American West): Collaborating with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department to monitor pronghorn populations across millions of acres using high-resolution aerial imagery and AI software.

Salmon & Bear Dynamics (Alaska): Investigating the social migration dynamics of Pacific salmon and brown bears, focusing on sub-second, sub-meter precision tracking of individual and group behaviors.

Eligibility Criteria

Interdisciplinary Interest: Candidates must be excited to work in a diverse environment combining ecology, engineering, and computer science.

Technical Skills: Experience with programming (e.g., Python, R) is considered a major asset.

Background: Students from Ecology, Engineering, Computer Science, or related backgrounds are encouraged to apply. You do not need to be an expert in all areas but must be willing to learn.

Application Process Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, but the initial review will begin on January 23. The position will remain open until filled.

Submit Application:

Complete the online application via the Google Form linked in the lab's open positions page.

Contact: For questions or general inquiries, you may reach out to Ben Koger at bkoger@uwyo.edu.

Official Links

Lab Website & Job Details: Koger Lab Open Positions

Direct Application Form: Google Form