Current lab opportunities:

LARGEMOUTH BASS GENOMICS MS ASSISTANTSHIP

Description: 

The Pregler Lab in the USGS New Mexico Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit and the Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Ecology at New Mexico State University invites applications for a MS research assistantship focused on population genomics of largemouth bass with an anticipated start of January 2026. 

This project will use genomic data to characterize the population structure and diversity of largemouth bass populations in New Mexico. A key objective is to determine which populations retain native New Mexico largemouth bass populations versus non-native hatchery strains from outside the state. New Mexico Department of Game & Fish biologists have also observed notable differences in growth rates among populations, with some growing much larger than others. As a result, there is strong interest in understanding the relative contributions of genetic versus environmental factors in driving these differences. Therefore, this project will also have opportunities to explore genotype-by-environment associations. The successful student will begin at NMSU in the spring 2026 semester (January) with their first field season beginning in May. The goal will be to sample largemouth bass populations across a number of reservoirs and rivers using boat electrofishing to obtain fin clips for later genetic analysis.

This project is a collaborative effort with New Mexico Department of Game & Fish and there may be opportunities to collaborate with other university partners and agencies. Benefits include a salary of $28,384 k/year, full tuition waiver, and subsidized health insurance. Funding will also be available for conference travel and potential workshop training for data analyses. 

How to apply: If interested, please email Dr. Kasey Pregler (kpregler@nmsu.edu) (1) a statement of interest that describes your educational and research background, as well as your research interests and how this position fits in your career goals (2) curriculum vitae or resume, (3) contact information for three professional references, and (4) unofficial transcripts compiled in a single PDF and save as ‘LASTNAME_LMB_MS.PDF’. Please use ‘Largemouth Bass MS position’ in the email subject line. Application deadline is 09/12/25 11:59p MT for full consideration. You can learn more about the Pregler Lab at https://preglerlab.com. 

Qualifications: 

Required: B.S. in fisheries, biology, or related field and possession of a valid U.S. driver’s license. The successful applicant must also meet the minimum requirements for admission to the NMSU Graduate School (3.0 GPA in last two years of undergrad), as well as GRE scores for applicants who received their undergraduate degree outside the U.S. Applicants should also have demonstrated excellent written and oral communication skills, and an ability to work independently. 

Successful candidates will have proficiency in R, and some prior experience/exposure to bioinformatics is expected. Applicants with experience in fish ecology, statistical & genetic analyses of large datasets are encouraged to apply.  

Salary: 

• ~$28,384 / year

• Full tuition waiver 

• Subsidized health insurance

For other prospective lab members:

Postdoctoral researchers

Availability for postdoctoral researchers is dependent on funding availability, but I am happy to discuss opportunities to collaborate on writing proposals with prospective postdoctoral researchers. Opportunities include NSF-PRFB and the David H. Smith Conservation Research Fellowships.

Graduate students

Prospective graduate students should reach out to me prior to applying to the FWCE graduate program to discuss if research/funding opportunities are available. I am also happy to discuss collaborating on seeking external funding such through the NSF-GRFP.

Undergraduate students

Our lab group is supportive of increasing access to research experiences for NMSU undergraduate students. NMSU undergrads interested in gaining research experience should contact me to see if there are any current opportunities.