Pre-publication discount for SSAR members available now!

New SSAR Publication offering: J. G. Schneider’s Historiae Amphibiorum: Herpetology at the Dawn of the 19th Century is the first English translation originally published in 1799 in Latin.

J.G. Schneider was a classical philologist by profession, and an experienced naturalist of the first order. His discussions on crocodiles, frogs, salamanders, lizards, and snakes review virtually all of the herpetological knowledge of the ancient and Medieval worlds as well as providing his own “modern” insights.

This edition (translated, introduced and annotated by Aaron M. Bauer and Esteban O. Lavilla) serves as a massive resource for all of classical Herpetology before the 1800’s. Its extensive annotations, beautiful illustrations, and three fully cross-referenced indices provide unprecedented context and access to the world of amphibians and reptiles as it was known to the generation between the time of Linnaeus and the great flowering of the discipline in the 19th Century.

Please see attached flyer for specifications on the publication and pre-order details including Member’s discount.  Available now!

Download PDF Flyer

Faculty who are recruiting students for the 2022-2023 academic year (or postdocs to begin any time) can fill out this form:
https://forms.gle/RHDsVgrh7bD47Yci8

The form populates a view-only spreadsheet that prospective applicants can use to find labs that match their interests.

Prospective applicants to master’s, PhD, and postdoctoral positions can check out this spreadsheet of faculty who are currently recruiting:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1UzgHEit4FJI5CbZ2Ex-xQ8SNYO79Gd9JOLyHKEViR1g/edit?usp=sharing

The spreadsheet has five separate tabs to help you navigate:

1. All advertised positions
2. Master’s positions
3. PhD positions
4. Postdoctoral positions where the PI already has funding
5. PIs who don’t currently have funding for postdocs but who are happy to help with postdoctoral fellowship applications

Check back periodically for new entries, which are added to the bottom of the spreadsheet.

Advice for students navigating the application process:

Most PhD programs will cover your tuition and pay you a stipend; master’s programs may or may not be funded (this handy spreadsheet provides information on some funded master’s programs in organismal biology). Funding situations vary wildly by department, though, so you should reach out to people whose labs interest you to ask for details.

Sending the first email to a prospective advisor can be intimidating. If you have a mentor who can help you, it’s wise to get their help. If you need to figure out how to write the email on your own, this blog post has some useful tips: https://contemplativemammoth.com/2013/04/08/so-you-want-to-go-to-grad-school-nail-the-inquiry-email/

You will want to choose a lab that not only does research you find interesting, but that will also provide a supportive environment where you can thrive. Many factors go into a good graduate school experience. Bobby Espinoza, a professor at Cal State Northridge, has prepared a list of sample questions that you might want to ask of prospective advisors, their current students (very important!), and other people in the department to collect the information you will need to make an informed graduate school decision: Questions for Prospective Advisors & Programs.

Attention pre-tenure faculty in herpetology! Are you seeking support for exciting new research in your lab? Applications are being accepted now until May 30, 2021 for the Raymond D. Semlitsch Research Award. This Herpetologists’ League award supports research on the ecology, evolution, and conservation of amphibians and reptiles, with particular interest in research on contemporary questions that helps bridge disciplines and that incorporates manipulative, experimental approaches. One award of $5000 is given each year, with the recipient announced at JMIH. See here for eligibility information and proposal instructions.

HR Volume 52, Number 1 (March 2021). Our cover features the spectacular and endangered Golden Alpine Salamander (Salamandra atra aurorae). This rare endemic was photographed in the Venetian Prealps of Italy by Simone Giachello. Simone is a naturalist who studies the impact of alien invasives on native amphibians. The journal is scheduled to be mailed on 25 March. Full contents are now available online to SSAR members at https://ssarherps.org/herpetological-review-pdfs/. Natural History Notes, Geographic Distribution Notes, and Book Reviews are Open Access and are available for download at the same link. If you are not a member of SSAR, please consider joining the leading international herpetological society. Student and online-only rates available. Follow the “Join SSAR” link on the home page. Congratulations to Simone for a great cover image!