2027 University of North Dakota Scholarship in USA | Fully Funded

The University of North Dakota is recruiting one or more MS or PhD students for scholarship to join a new freshwater ecology lab in its Department of Biology, with a start date between May and August 2027. The lab studies food webs in lakes and streams, and how climate change, wildfire and shifting water temperatures change who eats what in these systems. Because the lab is new, students who join will have a real say in how it is run and which research directions it takes.

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Students begin on a Department of Biology Teaching Assistantship that pays roughly $1,888 a month for MS students or $2,388 a month for PhD students, with a tuition waiver and health insurance included. The position is open to applicants with a bachelor’s degree in ecology, biology, environmental science or a related field. The lab will consider applications on a rolling basis until January 31, 2027, so the position is open now.

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University of North Dakota Scholarship Summary

What the Lab Works On

The lab, led by Dr. Matthew Dunkle, studies food web and trophic dynamics in freshwater ecosystems using diet analysis, stable isotopes and other methods. It is especially interested in how climate change and disturbances like wildfire, and shifts in water temperature and flow, reshape the food webs of lakes and streams.

Dr. Dunkle’s own field experience covers watersheds in Alaska and the Pacific Northwest. He is just as keen on students who want to build projects in North Dakota’s own waters, such as the prairie pothole lakes, the Red River and Devils Lake, or in Northern Minnesota’s boundary waters and its prairie-to-boreal transition zone.

Possible research directions include:

• Fish and invertebrate secondary production in streams, rivers and lakes
• How lakes and streams respond to wildfire or other sudden disturbances
• Climate-driven changes in water temperature and the knock-on effects on food webs
• Production and food web dynamics in braided river channels
• Stable isotope and biomarker methods for tracking energy flow in aquatic systems
• Comparing food web structure across gradients of hydrologic connectivity or land use

Training You Will Receive

Students are trained in traditional stream ecology, stable isotope methods, quantitative food web analysis, field sampling design, statistical and programming approaches in R, and scientific writing. The lab also supports students to attend and present at national conferences.

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University of North Dakota Scholarship: Who Can Apply

Required:

• A B.S. in ecology, biology, environmental science or a related field
• Real interest in freshwater ecosystems and willingness to build independent research skills
• Ability to work alone and with others
• Willingness to do fieldwork in variable conditions

Preferred:

• Earlier field or laboratory research experience
• Familiarity with R or another statistical or programming environment

Funding and Benefits

• A Department of Biology Teaching Assistantship to start with
• Stipend of roughly $1,888 per month for MS students or $2,388 per month for PhD students
• Tuition waiver
• Health insurance
• A move to a Research Assistantship is expected, depending on the success of pending grant proposals

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How to Apply for the University of North Dakota Scholarship

Send the following as a single PDF to [email protected], with the email subject line “GA Position (Last Name)”:

1. A brief cover letter of one page describing your research interests, relevant experience and career goals
2. A CV or resume
3. Contact details for three references

This email is only the first step. You must also apply separately to the UND Biology graduate programme, and that application is due February 15, 2027. Dr. Dunkle is happy to discuss timing with interested applicants, so email him early.

Application Deadline

The lab reviews applications on a rolling basis until January 31, 2027. The formal application to the UND Biology graduate programme is a separate step due on February 15, 2027. Because review is rolling, send your email well before January. Earlier applications are likely to be looked at first.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this open to international students?

The listing does not restrict applicants by nationality. Confirm your eligibility with Dr. Dunkle and the UND Biology graduate programme before you apply.

Do I need a Master’s degree to apply?

No. A B.S. in ecology, biology, environmental science or a related field is the required qualification, and the lab is recruiting for both MS and PhD positions.

Is the funding guaranteed for the whole programme?

Students start on a Teaching Assistantship with a stipend, tuition waiver and health insurance. A move to a Research Assistantship is expected but depends on pending grant proposals, so it is not guaranteed.

Do I apply to the lab and the university separately?

Yes. First email your application to Dr. Dunkle. Then submit the formal UND Biology graduate programme application, which is due February 15, 2027.

What should I put in the email subject line?

Use “GA Position (Last Name)”, replacing “Last Name” with your own.

Disclaimer: All position details, deadlines, and eligibility criteria in this post were verified from official sources as of October 2026. Information is subject to change without notice. Always confirm the latest details directly on the official University of North Dakota website before submitting your application. ScholarWaka is not affiliated with the University of North Dakota.

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