Nicholls State University Coastal Ecology Lab MS Assistantship — Fully Funded
The application window for the Nicholls State University Coastal Ecology Lab’s funded MS assistantship in Diamondback Terrapin research closed on 30th April 2026, with the position set to begin in August 2026. Given the start date is imminent, this specific opening is very likely filled — this post explains the role, its funding, and how to position yourself for the next time Dr Timothy Clay’s lab advertises a similar assistantship.
Don’t Forget To Read: Tips on How to Win a Scholarship
This fully funded assistantship comes with a salary of $18,000 per year plus a full tuition waiver, giving successful candidates the financial support they need to focus entirely on their research and graduate studies in the United States. Furthermore, the position offers hands-on field research experience with the Diamondback Terrapin — a fascinating and ecologically important coastal species — through the lab’s ongoing Head-Start Program.
Nicholls State University Assistantship Summary
| Position Name ⇒ | MS Teaching Assistantship |
| Host Country ⇒ | United States |
| Study Level ⇒ | Masters |
| Benefits ⇒ | $18,000 annual salary + full tuition waiver |
| Funded By ⇒ | Nicholls State University teaching assistantship + Coastal Ecology Lab grant funding |
| Eligible Countries ⇒ | All countries |
| Application Deadline ⇒ | 2026 opening closed 30th April 2026 for an August 2026 start. No fixed next-cycle date — openings depend on lab funding |
What the Coastal Ecology Lab Assistantship Actually Involves
This is a funded graduate teaching assistantship in the Marine and Environmental Biology Program at Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, Louisiana, under Dr Timothy Clay’s Coastal Ecology Lab. The lab studies the Diamondback Terrapin, a brackish-water turtle found along the U.S. Gulf and Atlantic coasts, through long-term mark-recapture work, telemetry, and a Head-Start hatchling program. Unlike a university-wide scholarship, this position is funded by a mix of teaching assistantship money and research grants held by one lab, so openings appear whenever the lab has both funding and capacity for a new MS student — not on a set annual calendar.
Don’t Forget To Read: Top Scholarships in Germany for International Students
The selected student develops a thesis on the geometric morphometrics and skeletochronology of Diamondback Terrapin — essentially measuring shell shape and reading age from bone growth rings — while supporting the lab’s ongoing Head-Start Program. Day-to-day work includes nesting surveys, road-mortality surveys, egg incubation, and rearing hatchlings before release. This is a field- and lab-heavy MS position, not a coursework-only degree, so applicants should expect fieldwork in Louisiana’s coastal wetlands as a core part of the role.
What the Coastal Ecology Lab Assistantship Offers
The assistantship pays $18,000 a year, funded through teaching duties during the fall and spring semesters and through grant money over winter and summer, so the funding runs year-round rather than pausing between semesters. It includes a full tuition waiver for the duration of the MS programme. It does not include a separate housing or relocation allowance based on the available information — budget for living costs in Thibodaux, Louisiana, separately.
How These Positions Get Advertised — And How to Catch the Next One
Most competing posts don’t mention this, but it matters: this role isn’t hosted on Nicholls’ general scholarships page. It’s typically posted on specialist wildlife and natural resources job boards (such as the Texas A&M Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences job board) and shared directly through the lab. Because funding is grant-dependent, a new opening can appear at almost any point in the year rather than on a fixed spring or fall cycle. If you want early notice of the next one, the most effective step is contacting Dr Clay directly, well before you plan to start a degree, to introduce yourself and ask whether the lab expects to have a funded opening. PIs running small labs like this one often keep informal notes on interested candidates rather than posting widely every time.
Eligibility Requirements
- You must be capable of independently completing an MS programme and writing a thesis.
- You must hold a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology or a closely related field.
- You need at least one year of relevant experience in conservation, ecology, herpetology, outreach, or environmental education.
- You must be able to work a minimum of 20 hours per week under the teaching assistantship.
- You must be able to carry out field research, including nesting surveys, road-mortality surveys, and hatchling rearing.
- Experience with the statistical software R is an asset, not a requirement.
- An interest in maintaining large research databases is an asset, not a requirement.
Required Documents
- Curriculum vitae (CV).
- Unofficial academic transcripts.
- A cover letter addressing your research interests and how they connect to terrapin conservation, your assessment of your ability to complete an MS programme, and any relevant experience in ecology, herpetology, R, statistics, or database management.
One clarifying point international applicants often miss: emailing your CV, transcripts, and cover letter to the lab is only the first step. Securing the PI’s interest doesn’t replace Nicholls State’s formal graduate admission process, which for the Biology Department’s MS programme separately requires an online application, official GRE scores, official transcripts, and three letters of recommendation submitted through the department.
Don’t Miss: Top Fully Funded Scholarships for International Students 2026
How to Prepare for the Next Round
- Check the official page from early 2027 onward for the next round’s opening and closing dates.
- For further information about the position or research, contact Dr. Clay directly at [email protected] or by phone at 985-448-4714.
- Visit the Nicholls State University website at www.nicholls.edu and review the Marine and Environmental Biology Program information to familiarise yourself with the programme requirements.
- Prepare your CV, ensuring it clearly highlights your academic background, research experience, and any relevant skills in biology, ecology, herpetology, R programming, or database management.
- Gather your unofficial academic transcripts from your undergraduate institution.
- Write a strong cover letter that directly addresses your research interests, how they align with the Coastal Ecology Lab’s work on Diamondback Terrapin, and your confidence in completing an MS programme and thesis.
- Email your complete application — CV, unofficial transcripts, and cover letter — to Dr. Timothy Clay at [email protected]
Application Deadline
Applications for the August 2026 start closed on 30th April 2026, sent by email to Dr Clay. There is no announced date for the next opening. Because this position depends on grant funding rather than an annual scholarship budget, treat any future opening as something to watch for continuously through the lab’s postings and specialist job boards, rather than expecting it on a fixed yearly schedule.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Nicholls State Coastal Ecology Lab assistantship still accepting applications?
No. The window for the August 2026 start closed on 30th April 2026, and the position is likely filled given how close that start date is.
Can international students, including Nigerian or other African applicants, apply for this position?
Yes. The listing states applicants from all countries are welcome. International students should confirm Nicholls State’s standard graduate visa and English-language requirements separately through the university’s international admissions office, since these weren’t detailed in the assistantship posting itself.
Do I need a GRE score to apply for this specific position?
Not for the initial email to Dr Clay. The GRE is required later, as part of Nicholls State’s formal MS admission process through the Biology Department, which runs alongside but separately from the lab’s own screening.
Is this a fully funded PhD or an MS position?
It’s an MS position. The role is a teaching assistantship tied to a Master of Science degree in the Marine and Environmental Biology Program, not a doctoral position.
When will the next opening in this lab be posted?
There’s no fixed schedule. Past openings have appeared at different points across several years depending on grant funding, so the most reliable approach is contacting the lab directly to express interest ahead of when you’d want to start.
Disclaimer: All position details, funding figures, and eligibility criteria in this post were verified from official sources as of July 2026. Information is subject to change without notice. Always confirm current openings and requirements directly with the Nicholls State University Coastal Ecology Lab or Department of Biological Sciences before applying. ScholarWaka is not affiliated with Nicholls State University.
Official Application Portal
Join ScholarWaka Community
Get the latest scholarship updates and study abroad opportunities before anyone else.
