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Resources for Students

An AOS student member bands a bird.
Katherine (Kit) M. Straley PhD candidate in Organismic & Evolutionary Biology at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Photo by Mariamar Gutierrez Ramirez.

AOS provides many opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students in ornithology! As an AOS Student Member, you can:

If you have not previously been an AOS member, you may also be eligible to apply for a year of free membership via a Student Membership Award. AOS is a diverse, global network of empowered professionals, working together to advance the scientific study and conservation of birds—join us today!

Events

Student Affairs Committee (SAC) Webinar Series
Bookmark this page for upcoming event announcements. Our professional development events are open to current AOS members. You can join or renew your membership in the AOS Member Portal.

SAC Webinar Series Subcommittee
Lyn Brown, Stephanie Gaspar, Maina Handmaker, Kristen Rosamond

SAC Student Research Grant Seminar Series Host & Moderator

Robert Driver

UPCOMING WEBINARS & SEMINARS

SAC professional development events are open to current AOS members. You can join or renew your membership in the AOS Member Portal.

STAY TUNED FOR FUTURE SAC WEBINARS

STUDENT RESEARCH GRANT (SRG) SEMINAR SERIES (new in 2025)

The AOS Student Affairs Committee (SAC) is hosting a weekly seminar series in the spring of 2025, that offers recent AOS Student Research Grant recipients an opportunity to present their research in a seminar format. Join us for this exciting series!

The influence of conspecific attraction on habitat choices of a migratory species at risk

24 February 2025, Noon ET

Presenter: Vianney Cupiche, Professor, Intercultural Mayan University of Quintana Roo (UIMQROO)

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I will share one of my Ph.D. dissertation chapters on the conspecific attraction influence on the habitat choices of a migratory species at risk in its breeding grounds. I used playbacks simulating acoustic conspecific cues during the pre-breeding season to investigate the effect of these cues on the Canada Warbler (Cardellina canadensis) in Northwestern Ontario, Canada. My findings outline the importance of interspecific social interactions in assessing the distribution and habitat selection of the species. The findings suggest that conspecific attraction is a key factor in selecting breeding habitat territories of Canada Warbler in Northwestern Ontario.

The impact of wildfires on the vocal output of boreal birds communities in Alaska

3 March 2025, Noon ET

Presenter: Brendan A. Graham, Post-Doctoral Fellow, Institute of Arctic Biology

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The primary goal of my research is to examine how climate change affects boreal bird species. Specifically, I will examine how air pollution from wildfires impacts the behavior of resident and migratory birds in Alaska. using passive acoustic monitoring. My study will provide greater insight into how daily rates of vocal output change in association with changes in air quality.

Impacts of lead exposure on movements of California Condors

10 March 2025, Noon ET

Presenter: Varalika Jain, Ph.D. candidate, University of Vienna

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Lead contamination, an exclusively human-induced issue, poses a serious threat to the critically endangered California Condor (Gymnogyps californianus). Detecting lead exposures typically requires resource-intensive and invasive interventions. In this study, we explored a minimally invasive alternative, analyzing movement data from GPS-tagged condors.

“The canary in the gold mine”: Assessing the impacts of artisanal and small-scale gold mining on bird communities in the Peruvian Amazon

17 March 2025, Noon ET

Presenter: Chris Sayers, Ph.D. Candidate, University of California Los Angeles

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Skyrocketing gold prices are fueling an ongoing gold rush across the Amazon, but how does the gold mining industry affect biodiversity? To find out, we launched a field campaign that integrates mark-recapture, passive acoustic monitoring, and remote sensing techniques, and leverages birds as indicators of ecosystem function and contamination. We will review preliminary results on how bird communities respond to forest degradation, toxic mercury pollution, and other mining-induced disturbances in Madre de Dios, Peru.

Diet specialization in American Oystercatchers and effects on breeding success

24 March 2025, Noon ET

Presenter: Lyn Brown, Ph.D. candidate, Trent University

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Here, I (Lyn Brown) describe the first case of diet specialization for American Oystercatchers breeding on two barrier islands in Virginia, USA. We used behavioral observations of foraging adults, provisioning chicks, GPS tracking technology, and nest monitoring to understand diet and its role in breeding productivity. I also discuss diet overlap between the sexes and novel feeding behaviors shared between American Oystercatchers and Whimbrels.

PAST WEBINARS & SEMINARS

Asymmetrical responses to multimodal signals in two Neotropical sister species of songbird

17 February 2025, Noon ET

Presenter: Wiliam Ku Peralta, Ph.D Candidate, National Polytechnic Institute (CIIDIR-OAXACA)

Recording will be available soon.

Animals use different signals to communicate, however how females and males use multimodal signals in conspecific recognition remains understudied. This research explores how two closely related Wren species discriminate between conspecific and heterospecific multimodal signals. The study sheds light on how multimodal signals are used conspecific recognition and their implications in maintaining reproductive isolation.

SRG Seminar: Interspecific eavesdropping by birds on a keystone mammal increases vigilance towards predators

10 February 2025

Presenter: Andrew Dreelin, Ph.D. candidate, Northern Illinois University

Recording will be available soon.

In this talk, Andrew Dreelin will share a chapter of his dissertation research on the keystone effects of prairie dogs on grassland birds. He and his colleagues used playback and a simulated predator to investigate potential eavesdropping between Long-billed Curlews (Numenius americanus) and Black-tailed Prairie Dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus), a social, colonial keystone species with a detailed alarm call network. Their findings highlight the under-explored connections between grassland birds and keystone species, with implications for grassland bird conservation.

SRG Seminar: Investigating the island syndrome in the St. Kilda Wren

3 February 2025

Presenter: Michał Jezierski, Leverhulme Early Career Research Fellow, University of Birmingham

Recording will be available soon.

Island worldwide are host to a diverse array of species, yet they all show uncanny similarity in traits such as body size, pace of life or (we think) behaviour. This ‘island syndrome’ appears to be one of the most pervasive cases of convergent evolution, yet multiple biological traits have not been examined for it, and the drivers are still poorly understood. Here, I will describe a new study system that I am building, and show how an island endemic bird can help us understand the island syndrome.

SRG Seminar: Ultraviolet reflectance mediates parental feeding decisions between host and brood-parasitic nestlings: Student Research Grant Seminar

27 January 2025

Presenter: Kelly Miller, postdoctoral researcher, University of Memphis

Recording will be available soon.

Raising a brood parasitic nestling can be costly for host parents, yet they often feed these unrelated young more than their own genetic offspring. Increased feeding toward brood-parasitic nestlings has been attributed to their larger size and greater begging intensity compared to host young, but differences in mouth coloration may also contribute to parental favoritism. By reducing the ultraviolet (UV) reflectance from the rictal flange (the enlarged, brightly colored tissue surrounding the bill) of host and brood-parasitic nestlings, I tested the hypothesis that this trait is used by parents when making within-brood investment decisions. UV coloration of the flange was positively condition dependent, and nestlings with reduced UV reflectance were fed less overall than nestlings with natural mouth coloration.

Webinar: The Postdoc Experience (view video at link)

Join us to hear from a panel of current and former postdocs about their experiences. Panelists will share insights on a range of topics including how to find a postdoc, how to decide if a postdoc is right for you, and what day-to-day life is like in the position.

Moderators

Kristen Rosamond, Ph.D. Candidate, University of Missouri-St. Louis;
Stephanie Gaspar, M.S. Student, University of Central Florida

Presenters

Colleen Miller, Postdoctoral Fellow; Institute on the Environment at the University of Minnesota
Kirsty Gurney, Research Scientist, Science & Technology Branch, Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) / Government of Canada and Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan
Robert Driver, Research Scholar; Duke University School of Medicine
Brandon Hoenig, Emmes

Recorded 1/23/25

Webinar: Cultivating a Safe and Inclusive Fieldwork Environment (view video at link)

Many of us consider fieldwork one of our favorite parts of conducting research, but for some members of the ornithological community, going into the field presents higher safety risks due to prejudice and bias against individuals from minority identities. We all deserve to feel safe in the field, and as researchers, we can play a proactive role in reducing this burden on our at-risk colleagues. Learn about strategies to create and maintain a safe and inclusive environment in the field. Hear from a panel of four experts about fieldwork risks to be aware of, as well as best practices to address them, in our own field settings. Our panelists included Dayna De La Cruz (Hubbard Brook Ecosystem Study), Jerika Loren Heinze (The Fieldwork Initiative), Natasza Fontaine (Audubon Florida), and Viviana Ruiz Gutierrez (Cornell Lab of Ornithology; and board member, Field Inclusive, Inc.).

Additional resource provided by Kevin Holcomb and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWAS)

Recorded: 4/2/24

Webinar: Refining Your Resume for Ornithology Jobs Outside of Academia (view video at link)

Preparing a sparkling resume can be a daunting hurdle in the job search process given the varying skills prioritized by government, private sector, and non-profit organizations. We will be joined by a panel of five experts who will answer your questions about how to sharpen your resume for job applications. Our panelists will include Nick Bartok (Western Ecosystem Technologies), Kevin Holcomb (USFWS), Marnie Pepper (USDA Wildlife Services), Kelsey Rumley (World Bird Sanctuary), and Abby Sterling (Manomet).

Recorded 11/30/23

Webinar: Avian Chemosensation Webinar (view video at link)

Participants in the webinar learned about the diversity of olfactory and taste receptors in birds, as well as how they use the sense of smell to communicate! Robert Driver moderated a series of short talks from Julia Cramer (Max Planck Institute for Ornithology), Haoran Luo (Xiamen University), and Leanne Grieves (McMaster University) on the unique sensory adaptations of birds.

Recorded 9/20/23

Webinar: Manakin Mini Symposium (view video at link)

In this “Manakin Mini Symposium,” learn about manakins, a group of birds with elaborate and athletic courtship displays! Robert Driver moderated a series of short talks with manakin researchers, Camilo Alfonso, Lia Kajiki, and Kira Long, on different areas of manakin research, including physiology, evolution, and ecology, and showcased the work that stems from the collaborative National Science Foundation (NSF) Manakin Research Coordination Network. Whether you’re passionate about manakins or want to learn more about building a collaborative research network for another taxonomic group, we hope you’ll enjoy this first webinar of 2023!
Moderator: Robert Driver, Ph.D., East Carolina University; Postdoctoral Fellow, Duke University; Manakin Research Network
Presenters: Camilo Alfonso, Virginia Tech; Lia Kajiki, University of Brasilia; Kira Long, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

Recorded 2/15/23

Webinar: Navigating Permits (view video at link)

To legally and ethically study birds in the lab or the field, we need permits! But the process of figuring out how to apply for these permits can be daunting. Five experts answered questions about how to navigate the permit process. Our panelists included Breda Zimkus (Museum of Comparative Zoology), Carla Cicero (Museum of Vertebrate Zoology), Christopher Milensky (Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History), John Bates (Field Museum), and Laura Bies (Ornithological Council). Our panelists have extensive experience with U.S. and international permits needed for field work, sample collection, and sample transportation. Their expertise has relevance for anyone doing physical research on birds, not only those affiliated with natural history museums!

Recorded 10/21/22

Webinar: Careers Beyond Academia (view video at link)

Four panelists from a variety of careers outside of academia engaged in a panel discussion followed by breakout rooms to facilitate conversations between attendees and panelists in smaller group settings. This webinar was a complement to the workshop that took place at this year’s in-person AOS & BC 2022 meeting in Puerto Rico, “Fledging the Nest: Non-academic Research and Conservation Careers for Students.” If you were unable to attend this year’s in-person meeting, this was an opportunity to learn about this topic in a virtual setting and benefit from the knowledge of AOS members with careers outside of academia!

Recorded 9/27/22

Webinar: Design Principles for Making Publication-Ready Figures (view video at link)

Dr. Stepfanie Aguillon, Stanford Science Fellow and winner of the 2022 James G. Cooper Early Professional Award, led this workshop. From Stepfanie: “Figures are arguably the most important part of any manuscript or presentation, so it is vital that your audience can easily understand the messages you’re trying to convey. This workshop focused on the basic design principles that will help you communicate as clearly, accurately, and efficiently as possible in your figures.” Learn more about making effective figures – just in time for planning your presentation for the AOS & BC 2022 Conference in June!

Recorded 4/13/22

Webinar: How to Review Manuscripts for AOS Journals (view video at link)

This webinar focused on strategies for reviewing manuscripts for the AOS journals, Ornithology and Ornithological Applications. Our event featured a panel discussion with the current journal editors, who offered advice on how students can become reviewers for AOS’s ornithological journals and how to review manuscripts in a critical but helpful manner for the authors.

Recorded 1/23/22

Career Resources

Student Funding Opportunities

Jobs and Internships