Graduate School Opportunities

Listings will be kept for a month after being posted or until their deadline (if listed). Please send any opportunities not listed here by clicking on this link:

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M.S. Assistantship: Forest Science

The School of Forest Resources at the University of Arkansas-Monticello is seeking a highly motivated M.S. student interested in the productivity and eco-physiology of intensively managed short rotation plantations. The actual project is flexible, but can include topics describing C allocation patterns, nutrient use efficiency, or root dynamics relative to varying levels of nutrient availability.

The 2-yr graduate assistantship includes $15,000/yr stipend and a tuition + fee waiver.

Qualifications: Applicants should have an undergraduate degree in forestry, ecology, natural resources management, or related fields, and a minimum 2.7 GPA (or 3.0 GPA for the last 60 hours) is required. GRE scores should exceed 1000 for verbal + quantitative. Individuals need to be self-starters, able to work outdoors during inclement conditions, and have a valid driver license.

Applications: Applications are being accepted for the Fall 2010 semester.  For additional information or to apply, please contact: Dr. Jamie Schuler, University of Arkansas-Monticello, School of Forest Resources, P.O. Box 3468, Monticello, AR 71656. E-mail: schuler@uamont.edu; Phone: 870-460-1448.

Additional information about the School of Forest Resources and the University of Arkansas-Monticello can be found at:  http://www.afrc.uamont.edu/sfr/

Posted 11/21/09
M.S. Assistantship: Forest Science
"MULTIFUNCTIONAL MANAGEMENT OF NATURAL ORIGIN SOUTHERN PINE FORESTS TO IMPROVE ECOSYSTEM SERVICES"

The School of Forest Resources at the University of Arkansas-Monticello is seeking a highly motivated M.S. student interested in natural and plantation origin southern pine stands in terms of traditional forest commodities, carbon offset credits and bio-feedstock production potential.

The 2-yr graduate assistantship includes $15,000/yr stipend and a tuition + fee waiver.

Qualifications: Applicants should have an undergraduate degree in forestry, ecology, natural resources management, or related fields, and a minimum 2.7 GPA (or 3.0 GPA for the last 60 hours) is required. GRE scores should exceed 1000 for verbal + quantitative. Individuals need to be self-starters, able to work outdoors during inclement conditions, and have a valid driver license.

Applications: Start date for this assistantship is flexible. Applications  are being accepted for the Spring, Summer or Fall 2010 semester.  For  additional information or to apply, please contact: Dr. Jamie Schuler, University of Arkansas-Monticello, School of Forest Resources, P.O. Box 3468, Monticello, AR 71656. E-mail: schuler@uamont.edu; Phone: 870-460-1448.

Additional information about the School of Forest Resources and the University of Arkansas-Monticello can be found at:  http://www.afrc.uamont.edu/sfr/

Posted 11/21/09

PhD fellowship - African ungulates

Ph.D. fellowship opportunity for an independent and self-motivated student to research ungulate ecology in Africa as a member of the Graduate Program in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at Dartmouth College. Using computer assisted photographic mark-recapture methods we are studying the population dynamics of wildebeest, zebra, and giraffe in northern Tanzania.  We are seeking applicants with demonstrated ability to work independently in a developing country.  An M.S. degree, previous experience in Africa and knowledge of Swahili are desirable but not required. 

The successful applicant will receive generous fellowship support, health insurance, and a yearly discretionary fund for research and travel that are guaranteed for 5 years.  Detailed information about the program, and access to online applications, are available at http://www.dartmouth.edu/~biology/eeb/index.html

For further information contact Prof. Doug Bolger, dbolger@dartmouth.edu Applicants will be considered beginning December 1, 2009

Promising applicants will be invited and hosted for interviews 15-16 January 2010

Dartmouth is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and encourages applications from women and members of minority groups.

Posted 11/21/09

Doctoral Traineeships in Aquatic Sensing

Kent State and Miami University of Ohio are now accepting applications for our National Science Foundation funded Integrative Graduate Education and Research Training program entitled: "Environmental Aquatic Resource Sensing (EARS): Basic Science, Business Education and Outreach".

The EARS IGERT is part of the NSF foundation-wide interdisciplinary doctoral student training program. The theme of the EARS IGERT is training of doctoral students in environmental sensing, focused on freshwater resources, accentuated with business experiences, to develop professionals equipped for diverse careers.   Students eligible for traineeships are those that will be, or have already been, successfully admitted to doctoral programs in one of the participating science departments (Kent: Biological Sciences, Chemical Physics, Chemistry, Geography, Geology; Miami: Chemistry, Geography, Geology, Microbiology, Zoology); international students are not eligible. IGERT trainees receive a stipend of $30,000 plus $10,500 for cost of education per year.

 Details, including the application materials and frequently asked questions, can be found at our web page: http://bioweb.biology.kent.edu/igert/home.html.  For more information, please e mail Heather Chapman, IGERT program assistant, at hchapma5@kent.edu.  To ensure full consideration for a traineeship starting in Fall 2010, please apply before February 1st 2010: applications will continue to be accepted until all positions are filled.  Deadlines in subsequent years will be similar.  Please also make sure you are aware of and follow the specific deadlines and requirements for graduate admissions for the specific department of interest. Initial notifications will be made by approximately the 3rd week of February.

Posted 11/20/09

Graduate assistantship, native bees, South Dakota State University

Availability:  Fall 2009

Position:          Graduate Research Assistantship, MS or PhD
                         Biological Science or Plant Science, 0.49% time

Location:         Insect Research Collection

Plant Science Department
                         South Dakota State University
                         Brookings, South Dakota

Qualifications: B.S. or M.S. degree in Entomology, Zoology, Biology, or related discipline.  A strong background with insect taxonomy or ecology is highly desirable. Candidates must meet academic requirements of the Graduate School and the Plant Science Department.  The student will be expected to work independently and collaboratively in the field and lab.

Research Objectives:  The research will focus on a biodiversity survey and inventory of the native bees of the Black Hills ecoregion of western South Dakota.  This research will be based on extensive fieldwork and collection study, and will involve multiple state and federal agency cooperation.  Data gathering will involve bee taxonomy, habitat selection, floral host preferences, nest site assessment, and land use/perturbation responses.  Cybertaxonomic/ecologic work will involve databases, webpages, and collaboration with the USDA Bee Lab, and geospatial analysis in collaboration with the USGS-EROS Data Center.

Stipend and Tuition Fees:  Current SDSU stipend rate for an MS is $16,709, and for a PhD is $20,778 per annum.  Graduate assistants receive a two-thirds tuition remission on graduate resident rates.  Doctoral candidates will be expected to seek supplemental funding.

Application:  Send a letter of application that includes a statement of career objectives, current resumé or CV, a list of 3 personal references of a professional status (including e-mail address and telephone), and a copy of academic transcripts to:

Dr. Paul J. Johnson
Insect Research Collection
Box 2207A, South Dakota State University
Brookings, SD  57007
paul.johnson@sdstate.edu

South Dakota State University is committed to affirmative action, equal opportunity and diversity of its faculty, staff and students.  Women and minorities are encouraged to apply.  Arrangements for accommodations required by disabilities can be made at 605/688-4504 (TTY 605/688-4394).

Posted 11/20/09

GAANN PHD FELLOWSHIPS IN ECOLOGY, EVOLUTION, AND GENOMICS IN CHANGING ENVIRONMENTS, KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY, MANHATTAN, KANSAS

The Division of Biology at Kansas State University has been awarded funding from the US Department of Education GAANN program to support up to seven Graduate Fellows for PhD research in the areas of Ecology, Evolution, and Genomics (EEG).  The Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need (GAANN) program provides fellowships to assist graduate students with excellent academic records who can demonstrate financial need.  EEG GAANN Fellowships include tuition and a stipend of up to $30,000 per year (based on financial need).

The interdisciplinary GAANN program in Biology at Kansas State University will address the critical need to train biologists to be effective teachers and skilled researchers in diverse professional and cultural contexts.  One outcome of the GAANN program will be to train graduate students who are capable of addressing important conceptual and practical issues in interdisciplinary research in the biological sciences. 

The application deadline is December 15, 2009, for admission in Fall 2010.  Applicants must be citizens or permanent residents of the United States or its territories.  Individuals from groups underrepresented in science are particularly encouraged to apply!  For application instructions and additional information, visit:  www.k-state.edu/eeg.

The Ecology, Evolution, and Genomics GAANN draws on the strengths of our Ecological Genomics Institute (http://ecogen.k-state.edu/), expertise in Grassland Ecology, and Konza Prairie Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) program (http://kpbs.konza.k-state.edu).  GAANN EEG Faculty Research Interests:

+Molecular and Physiological Basis for Organismal Adaptation
     -Loretta <http://www.k-state.edu/johnsonlab/>  Johnson - Ecotypic differentiation, genetic variation in the prairie grass Andropogon
     -Ted Morgan <http://www.k-state.edu/morganlab/Morganlab/lab.html> - Drosophila quantitative genomics and thermal tolerance, statistical analyses
     -Jesse <http://www.k-state.edu/ecophyslab/>  Nippert - Physiological ecology and adaptation in grasses

+Genetic Architecture of Speciation
     -Susan Brown <http://www.k-state.edu/biology/faculty_pages/brown.html> - Evolution of gene networks regulating insect development, Bioinformatics
     -Carolyn <http://www.k-state.edu/fergusonlab/>  Ferguson - Evolutionary genetics, speciation and hybridization in Phlox
     -Mark Ungerer <http://www.k-state.edu/ungererlab/UngererWeb/Home.html> - Transposons and Speciation in Sunflowers

+Population Structure of Grassland Species and Conservation Genetics
     -Brett <http://www.k-state.edu/bsanderc/>  Sandercock - Demography of terrestrial vertebrates, behavioral ecology of social systems
     -Samantha <http://www.k-state.edu/wiselylab/MoLab.html>  Wisely - Population genomics responses to land use and cover changes, conservation genetics
     -Craig <http://www.k-state.edu/fisheries/>  Paukert - Dynamics of riverine fish populations

+Metagenomics and the Role of Species Interactions in Community Ecology
     -David <http://www.k-state.edu/biology/faculty_pages/hartnett.html> Hartnett - Role of mycorhizzae in community interactions, bud dormancy
     -Anthony <http://www.k-state.edu/grassland/>  Joern - Arthropod food web interactions and community dynamics
     -Ari Jumpponen <http://www.k-state.edu/fungi/>  - Host-fungus interaction genomics and microbial metagenomics
     -Michael <http://www.k-state.edu/hermanlab/>  Herman - Nematode community ecological genomics and environmental change

 +Linking Terrestrial and Aquatic Systems in Ecosystem Ecology
     -John <http://www-personal.ksu.edu/~jblair/>  Blair - Ecosystem nutrient dynamics
     -Walter <http://www.k-state.edu/doddslab/>  Dodds - Aquatic ecosystem ecology
     -Keith <http://www.k-state.edu/fishecology/>  Gido - Consumer regulation of aquatic ecosystems

Doris R. Merrill,  dmerrill@k-state.edu
Program Coordinator
Ecology, Evolution and Genomics in Changing Environments http://www.k-state.edu/eeg
Kansas State University, Division of Biology, 318 Ackert
Manhattan, KS  66506-4901
Phone: (785) 532-3482, Fax: (785) 532-6653

Posted 11/19/09

POSTDOC and PHD STUDENT POSITIONS, Community Ecology/Plant-soil Interactions, UC Berkeley

I am recruiting postdoctoral fellows and graduate students to join my research group at the University of California Berkeley. Details about the positions are listed below. Projects in the lab are broadly focused on community ecology, with an emphasis on biodiversity, plant invasions, environmental change, and restoration. We work in grassland, coastal sage scrub, oak savanna, and rangeland systems in California, as well as in alpine tundra in Colorado. Please see http://nature.berkeley.edu/sudinglab/ for more information about our group, current projects, and collaborations.

POSTDOCTORAL POSITION IN COMMUNITY ECOLOGY, PLANT-SOIL INTERACTIONS
Postdoctoral positions in community ecology are available in the research
group of Katharine Suding at the University of California, Berkeley. The successful candidate will be part of a NSF funded project to explore how soil-plant feedbacks may contribute to plant diversity decline with nitrogen enrichment. We are excited to work with someone with strong quantitative skills, expertise in biogeochemistry, microbial ecology, and/or community ecology, and the willingness to conduct fieldwork in the Colorado alpine tundra. Abilities in field experimental work and organizing research teams are also highly desirable. The position will begin as soon as a qualified candidate is found and is available for at least one year with possibilities for extension up to three years. Salary will be commensurate with experience.

Review of candidates will begin November 30, 2008. To apply, email a
research statement including a curriculum vitae, relevant publications,
and names of two references to suding@berkeley.edu. Please don't hesitate
to contact me if you have any questions or want more information about
this position.

GRADUATE STUDENT POSITIONS: PLANT-SOIL INTERACTIONS and SPECIES INVASIONS
 
We are looking for highly enthusiastic and exceptional PhD students to join our group. Funding for these positions are related to projects examining 1) links between microbial community structure and plant community response to environmental change and 2) restoration frameworks addressing exotic plant legacies and threshold dynamics. The exact projects will be developed collaboratively based on student interests and project needs.  If you are interesting in joining the lab, email me a description of your research interests, a curriculum vitae (including GPA and GRE scores), and names of two references to suding@berkeley.edu. If encouraged to apply, initial applications are due December 1st, with supporting documentation December 20th. Information on the ESPM graduate program at UCB can be found at http://espm.berkeley.edu/gradprograms/grad_programs_phd.php.

The University of California, Berkeley is an equal opportunity employer committed to excellence through diversity.

Posted 11/19/09

Graduate Program at the University of Toledo: Environmental Sciences

Graduate teaching and research fellowships in Biology-Ecology (M.S. and Ph.D.) and Geology (M.S.) are available for fall of 2010 in the Department of Environmental Sciences (DES) at the University of Toledo.  Typical annual (12 month) assistantship stipends are $15,000 (M.S.) and $20,000 (Ph.D.) plus a tuition waiver.  In addition, DES has an active NSF GK-12 program that provides a $30,000 annual stipend to several senior graduate students each year for research at the land-lake ecological interface involving local schoolteachers.
 
Inaugurated in July 2000, our department provides students with exciting opportunities in interdisciplinary research directed by internationally recognized faculty in ecology and geology in collaboration with colleagues in geography, environmental law, engineering and other fields of study.  Information about our entrance requirements, degree programs, course offerings, faculty members, and departmental resources can be found at: http://www.eeescience.utoledo.edu and http://gradschool.utoledo.edu/. DES is an interdisciplinary department with 22 faculty specializing in ecosystems, earth surface processes, and human impacts on the environment. The detailed descriptions for each research lab can be found at: http://research.eeescience.utoledo.edu/lees/eees/des_Labs.pdf.

Biology research interests include terrestrial/aquatic ecosystem and landscape ecology, ecosystem sustainability, wetlands, fish ecology, invasive species, agroecology, bioremediation, global change, bioenergy and environmental microbiology.  Geology research interests include glacial geology, near surface geophysics, remote sensing/GIS, coastal systems, hydrogeology, and environmental geochemistry and soil sciences. The University of Toledo is an urban university with rapid access to major transportation hubs such as the Detroit Airport, and is a Carnegie Foundation Doctoral/Research University and a member of Ohio's State University System. The beautiful main campus is located in an outlying residential area of the city. After its merger in 2006 with the Medical University of Ohio, the university is now the third largest public university in the state.  
 
The university is recognized as a prominent academic center for environmental education and research in Ohio and the Great Lakes region, and was recently named a statewide Center of Excellence in Advanced Renewable Energy and the Environment. The nearby glacial terrains and agricultural/urban ecosystems, interacting with local rivers and Lake Erie's productive fisheries and wetlands, combined with the remarkable diversity of Oak Openings savannas and woodlands make the Greater Toledo area an ideal natural laboratory for studies in ecology, geology, and environmental sciences. We have access to a wide array of field sites and modern research facilities, including the Lake Erie Center on Maumee Bay, the Stranahan Arboretum in Toledo, and the Plant Science Research Center on the main campus.  
 
When applying for admission to the graduate program in DES, international students must take one of two exams with a spoken English component, provided they are available in their area: either (1) the ŒiBT‚ (internet-Based Test) version of the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language), or (2) the IELTS (International English Language Testing Service) exam. Of the two exams, the TOEFL-iBT is preferred.  For the TOEFL, the university considers accepting students with a minimum score of 80 on the internet-based exam, 230 on the computer based exam and 550 on the paper exam. For the IELTS, the minimum score acceptable is 6 (out of a possible 9).
 
For more information concerning the admission process, please contact Dr. Von Sigler (von.sigler@utoledo.edu), and for information concerning graduate curriculum and advising, please contact Dr. Scott Heckathorn (scott.heckathorn@utoledo.edu). The University of Toledo is an Equal Access, Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer & Educator. Applications received by March 30 will be given full consideration, but if financial assistance is also requested then applications should be received by February 1 for admission during the next academic year.

Posted 11/19/09

Dendroecology Graduate Student Position at The University of Dayton

An opportunity exists for a MS-Level student to work on a project that will use tree-ring analysis to study the link between forest dynamics and a complex of ecosystem drivers in forests of southwestern Ohio.  The student will be based at The University of Dayton and will work in the laboratory of Dr. Ryan McEwan.   I am seeking a motivated student who is eager to perform the arduous tasks associated with tree-ring sample collection in steep, forested, terrain in all weather conditions.  Field dendrology skills are required and must be balanced by an eagerness to learn and implement complex statistical analyses.  Demonstrated research experience with tree-ring samples would be beneficial to the application process as would evidence of scientific writing.

The student will be supported by a teaching assistantship through the Department of Biology at the University of Dayton.  The assistantship is associated with a stipend of ~$14,000/year AND students have the opportunity to apply for summer fellowships which provide an additional ~$5,000 each year. The assistantship also comes with 100% tuition remission.

UD is the largest private University in the state of Ohio, and is consistently award winning for both academic programs and scholarship http://www.udayton.edu/awards_and_rankings.php.  Enrollment is ~11,000 with approximately 3,000 graduate students.  The Department of Biology is one of the largest majors at UD, and we have both a MS and PhD program.

Interested individuals are encouraged to view the following web sites:
University of Dayton: http://www.udayton.edu
UD Department of Biology: http://biology.udayton.edu
Dr. McEwan's Lab Pages:  http://academic.udayton.edu/RyanMcEwan

To being the application process, please send a CV and both GPA and GRE scores to: ryan.mcewan@udayton.edu.

Posted 11/19/09

Graduate study in behavioral ecology at New Mexico State University

The Mabry lab at New Mexico State University invites applications from motivated and independent students to begin graduate work in fall 2010. I anticipate accepting 2 students to pursue either PhD or MS work in behavioral ecology. Research in the lab focuses on the causes and consequences of individual behavioral variation, with a current emphasis on dispersal and habitat selection behavior in complex landscapes, using small mammals as a study system. Students with interests in animal movement, habitat selection, animal behavior in a landscape context, the population-level consequences of individual behavior, and/or landscape genetics are especially encouraged to apply.  Graduate students will be supported by a combination of research and teaching assistantships. More information about the lab is available at http://biology-web.nmsu.edu/mabry

Prospective students should contact Karen Mabry (kmabry@nmsu.edu), and provide a brief description of your research interests and experience, CV (including GPA and GRE scores, if available), and contact information for three references.  Suitable candidates will then be contacted for an interview. Departmental review of applications begins January 15, 2010, but interested students should contact me well before that date.

Posted 11/19/09

Graduate Student Positions Available - TTU

I am seeking motivated students to join my lab for either masters or doctoral work beginning in fall 2010 in the field of evolutionary ecology at Texas Tech University. Funding for 1-2 students will be provided either as teaching assistantships or fellowships, depending on student background and availability. Applicants should be independent, highly motivated, and some research and/or field experience would be a plus. Research in my lab generally addresses questions about behavioral ecology about signal function and evolution by performing experiments within a naturalistic context. Specific research topics have included a wide array of ecological and evolutionary questions. Such work includes studies on heterospecific eavesdropping, the evolutionary hypotheses for the role of the vocal sac in anurans, female mate choice based on genetic similarities, genetic diversity and morphology in island populations, and mating preferences at different scales of divergence. For further information on the Bernal lab see: http://www.webpages.ttu.edu/xbernal/

If you are interested, please send me an email including 1) a statement of research interests, 2) a brief overview of your previous academic and research experiences, and 3) how your interests might fit in with the lab. Also include a copy of your CV or resume, your GRE scores (if you have them), and an unofficial transcript. Funding may be available through research and/or teaching assistantships. In addition TTU offers fellowships for some of the most promising students.

Posted 11/14/09

MS Graduate postion at University of Southern Maine

Master's position available for the project:  An Interdisciplinary Approach to Defining River Herring Stock Structure in the Gulf of Maine  Responsibilities will include a combination of field work and lab work, some portion of which will be applied towards the student's thesis. Candidate will be working in freshwater (lakes and rivers) and marine environments, at times from fishing boats offshore in the Gulf of Maine . The successful candidate will possess the ability to work independently and as a team with PIs, a permanent technician, and commercial fishermen. Some knowledge of conservation genetics and/or statistics will be a bonus. Attention to detail a must.   Position will begin in January 2010. Funding for the project will end in December 2012.  Graduate stipend available.

   For more information, visit: http://research.usm.maine.edu/AquaticSystemsGroup/  follow the graduate position link. Or, contact: Dr. Karen Wilson, University  of Southern Maine kwilson@usm.maine.edu 207-228-1674 or  Dr. Theodore Willis, University of Southern Maine theowillis06@gmail.com 207-228-1673        

Posted 11/13/09

PhD opportunities in Environmental Life Sciences

The newly formed interdisciplinary PhD program Environmental Life Sciences (ELS) at Arizona State University seeks competitive applicants to work with a wide array of faculty on cutting edge research in environmental science, environmental engineering, environmental physiology, biogeochemistry, and sustainability, among other related fields. Financial support includes teaching and research assistantships that come with health benefits and a tuition waiver. Target date for applications for Fall 2010 is Dec. 15, 2009. For more information see http://els.asu.edu/.

Posted 11/13/09

GRADUATE OPPORTUNITIES IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY

The Graduate Program in Ecology and Evolution in the Department of Ecology and Evolution at Stony Brook University is recruiting doctoral and master's level graduate students for Fall 2010.  The program trains students in Ecology, Evolution and Biometry. The following faculty are seeking graduate students:

H. Resit Akcakaya http://life.bio.sunysb.edu/ee/akcakayalab/
Stephen B. Baines http://life.bio.sunysb.edu/ee/baineslab/
Michael A. Bell http://life.bio.sunysb.edu/ee/belllab/
David O. Conover http://www.msrc.sunysb.edu/~conover
Liliana M. Dávalos http://life.bio.sunysb.edu/ee/davaloslab/Welcome.html
Daneil Dykhuizen http://life.bio.sunysb.edu/dykhuizenlab/
Walter F. Eanes http://life.bio.sunysb.edu/ee/eaneslab/
John G. Fleagle http://www.anat.stonybrook.edu/people/facultypage/fleagle
Lev Ginzburg (631) 632-8569
Jessica Gurevitch http://life.bio.sunysb.edu/gurevitchlab/
Jeffrey Levinton http://life.bio.sunysb.edu/marinebio/levinton.main.html
Steve Munch http://www.somas.stonybrook.edu/people/munch.html
Dianna K Padilla http://life.bio.sunysb.edu/ee/padillalab
Joshua Rest http://life.bio.sunysb.edu/ee/restlab/
F. James Rohlf http://life.bio.sunysb.edu/morph
John True http://life.bio.sunysb.edu/ee/truelab/True_Lab.html
John J. Wiens http://life.bio.sunysb.edu/ee/wienslab/homepage.html
Pat C. Wright http://icte.bio.sunysb.edu

For more information regarding the Graduate Program in Ecology and Evolution see http://life.bio.sunysb.edu/ee and http://life.bio.sunysb.edu/ee/programs.htm

The deadline for receipt of all application materials is January 15, although earlier submission is encouraged to ensure full consideration for available fellowships.  For additional assistance, e-mail our Graduate Program Coordinator, Iris Roth, iroth@notes.cc.sunysb.edu

Posted 11/11/09

Ph.D. student opportunity at Wright State:  Host plant resistance to wood boring insects

I am seeking a Ph.D. student to join a project to examine the mechanistic basis of host resistance of trees to wood boring insects, with a specific focus on ash tree resistance to the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB).  This project is part of a larger collaborative effort, funded by USDA-APHIS, involving Don Cipollini at Wright State, and Pierluigi Bonello, Dan Herms, and Omprakash Mittipalli at Ohio State.  Major objectives of this part of project include the examination of various phloem metabolite fractions from different ash species, as well as specific metabolites and proteins identified through various metabolomic and proteomic screens, for their effects on EAB larval growth in vitro, as well as examinations of resistance in living trees.  In addition to contributing to these objectives, the student is expected to develop an independent line of research associated with host plant resistance to wood boring insects, using the interaction of ash with native and invasive wood borers as a model.  This position will be located at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio, with frequent interaction with collaborators at Ohio State and travel to various research sites.  The student will be enrolled in Wright State's Interdisciplinary Environmental Sciences Ph.D. Program.  At least four years of support are available through a combination of graduate research and graduate teaching assistantships, and the student may start as early as Spring Quarter 2010 (late March).  Application requirements include: Bachelors degree in Biology, Ecology, Entomology or related field; GRE scores within the last 5 y; minimum IBT TOEFL score of 100/120 and ability to pass a verbal English test (foreign students only).  Preferred qualifications include: Masters degree or equivalent experience; a strong background in host plant resistance, with specific skills in insect rearing and bioassays; experience in field and laboratory research; good communication skill.

 See http://www.wright.edu/academics/envsci/index.html for further information on the Environmental Sciences Ph.D. program at Wright State University, including program requirements, application procedures and stipends.  Please contact Don Cipollini (don.cipollini@wright.edu) for more information about the project and the program prior to submitting an application.

Posted 11/11/09
Opportunities for Graduate Study in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Kansas
www2.ku.edu/~eeb

The Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Kansas (KU-EEB) seeks applications from highly qualified and motivated graduate students. KU-EEB includes 43 faculty members and about 70 graduate students whose research focuses on three broad topical domains: Biodiversity and Macro–evolution, Ecology and Global Change Biology, and Evolutionary Mechanisms.

Facilities to support graduate education and research include world-class collections in our museums, equipment and expertise in molecular biology including DNA sequencing, growth chambers and greenhouses, and extensive field station land holds for establishing controlled experimental plots or for investigating non-manipulated systems.

Successful applicants to our graduate program receive a financial support package that includes a stipend and tuition sponsorship.  Doctoral students receive a five-year package, and master's students receive a two-year package.  The department provides support for travel to present results at national and international professional meetings. Funds to support graduate student research are also available through departmental endowment funds.

Applications from all qualified students will be given serious consideration; however, we specifically seek students whose interests match the following descriptions. Students who wish to pursue research in these areas are encouraged to contact prospective faculty mentors to introduce themselves and describe their academic goals and research experiences and interests.  Please contact Jaime Keeler (eebgradprogram@ku.edu) if you are interested in any of these projects or if you require additional information on our program.

Faculty members currently seeking new graduates students include those listed below:

Ford Ballantyne (http://www2.ku.edu/~eeb/faculty/ballantyne.shtml)
The Ballantyne takes a broad approach to studying ecology.  We spend a lot of time developing mathematical models, but we also perform experiments and analyze large data sets in effort to understand what dictates populations dynamics, what structure communities, and what drives element and material cycles in ecosystems.  Current projects are focusing on spatially and size structured population dynamics, N:P stoichiometry, and systems biology approaches for understanding metabolism and decomposition in soil microbial communities. 

Sharon Billings (http://www2.ku.edu/~eeb/faculty/billings.shtml)
The Billings lab explores how global change perturbations such as rising atmospheric CO2, land use change, rising temperatures, and changing water availability influence forest and grassland carbon and nitrogen pools and fluxes. There is a particular emphasis on stable isotope ecology as a tool for soil and tree ecophysiological studies, as well as microbial ecology.

Justin Blumenstiel (http://www2.ku.edu/~eeb/faculty/blumenstiel.shtml)
The Blumenstiel lab investigates evolutionary arms races, selfish genes and epigenetics.  Using approaches that include population genetics, molecular evolution, next-gen sequencing and molecular biology, the lab's aim is to characterize evolutionary conflict in the battleground of the germline.

Rafe Brown (http://www.nhm.ku.edu/rbrown/)
Research interests in the Brown lab include herpetological systematics and biodiversity, phylogenetic systematics, character evolution, phylogeography, population and conservation genetics, biogeography, and the evolution of animal behavior.

Paulyn Cartwright (http://www2.ku.edu/~eeb/faculty/cartwright.shtml)
The Cartwright lab studies cnidarian phylogeny and evolution.  In particular the lab is seeking a graduate student interested in studying the evolution of hydrozoans through phylogenetics and developmental gene expression.

Bryan Foster (http://www2.ku.edu/~eeb/faculty/foster.shtml)
Research interests in the Foster lab include experimental ecology, grassland dynamics, tests of community assembly theory, mechanisms of plant species coexistence and biodiversity, ecosystem con–sequences of biodiversity, and prairie and savanna restoration.

Jennifer Gleason (http://www2.ku.edu/~eeb/faculty/gleason.shtml)
The Gleason lab studies the evolutionary genetics of behavioral isolation between Drosophila species through analyses of genes influencing courtship behavior.

Lena Hileman (http://www2.ku.edu/~eeb/faculty/hileman.shtml)
Research in the Hileman lab integrates phylogenetic, molecular evolutionary, and molecular developmental approaches to investigate how flowers have evolved such a diversity of form.

Mark Holder (http://www2.ku.edu/~eeb/faculty/holder.shtml)
The Holder lab explores phylogenetic methods.  In particular lab members are interested in improving the statistical and computational tools used to estimate the genealogical relationships between organisms.

Rudolf Jander (http://www2.ku.edu/~eeb/faculty/jander.shtml)
Members of the Jander lab research animal behavior with special emphasis on spatial cognition in ants, honeybees and house mice.

Kirsten Jensen (http://www2.ku.edu/~eeb/faculty/jensen.shtml)
The Jensen lab studies parasitology with a particular emphasis on the systematics, morphology, biodiversity, and life-cycles of tapeworms.  The lab is seeking a Ph.D. student to participate in an NSF-funded Planetary Biodiversity Inventories project to document the diversity of elasmobranch (ray and shark) tapeworms from around the world.

Kelly Kindscher  (http://www.kbs.ku.edu/people/html/facweb_kindscher.htm)
The Kindscher lab studies ethnobotany, plant ecology, conservation biology, and prairie and wetland restoration.  Currently, the lab is looking for a graduate student to study the ecological, spatial, and phylogenetic characteristics of medicinal plants in relation to secondary compound concentrations (medicinal constituents).

Maria Orive (http://www2.ku.edu/~eeb/faculty/orive.shtml)
The Orive lab explores evolutionary genetic theory, focusing on models of population structure and organisms with complex life histories. Current research in the lab focuses on modeling host-endosymbiont systems.

Town Peterson (http://specify5.specifysoftware.org/Informatics/bios/biostownpeterson/)
The Peterson lab is comprised of a large group of graduate and undergraduates students who work on diverse topics in systematics, ecology, disease biology, and biogeography. Particular interests include studies of transmission risk of diseases such as fluviruses, filoviruses, and Chagas disease; phylogeography of bird lineages; and ecological niche modeling.

Val Smith (http://www2.ku.edu/~eeb/faculty/smithv.shtml)
Research interests Val Smith's lab include ecological stoichiometry, empirical and experimental tests of community assembly theory, eutrophication science, host-pathogen dynamics, mechanisms of species coexistence and biodiversity, metabolic ecology, and production of biofuels from algae.

Edith Taylor (http://www2.ku.edu/~eeb/faculty/taylore.shtml)
The research in Edie Taylor's laboratory centers on fossil plants from the Permian and Triassic of Antarctica, including the study of fossil tree rings and paleoclimate proxies.

Thomas N. Taylor (http://www2.ku.edu/~eeb/faculty/taylort.shtml)
Tom Taylor's research program involves two basic themes; the biology and evolution of fossil fungi and symbiotic interactions, and late Paleozoic and Mesozoic floras from Antarctica.

James Thorp (http://web.ku.edu/~riverecology/index.html)
The Thorp lab explores freshwater ecology, specifically studying the factors controlling the complexity of food webs in rivers and the relationships between riverine landscape heterogeneity and ecosystem function.

Joy Ward (http://www2.ku.edu/~eeb/faculty/ward.shtml)
Research in the Ward lab focuses on understanding how global change factors influence the physiology, population structure, and evolution of plant species.  More specifically, the lab seeks to understand the effects of global change drivers that alter plant resource availability, such as changing atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations, changing precipitation regimes, and rising temperatures.

Posted 11/11/09

Graduate position in amphibian ecology

Graduate position in ecology, Vonesh lab, VCU

The Vonesh lab in the Department of Biology at Virginia Commonwealth Univesity (www.has.vcu.edu/bio) invites applications from prospective graduate students for Fall 2010 to collaborate on our NSF-funded project at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (www.stri.org), Gamboa, Panama, "Fear, death, and life history switch points: cumulative effects of predation and phenotypic plasticity across three life stages." This project is a joint effort between the Vonesh (www.has.vcu.edu/bio/pages/jrvonesh)and Karen Warkentin labs (Boston University; people.bu.edu/kwarken), and focuses on the effects of sequential stage-specific predators on the survival and life history of tropical frogs. Students are expected to develop independent research projects that fit within the larger framework of the grant. The Vonesh and Warkentin lab team in Gamboa includes graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and undergraduate interns. In addition, STRI offers a diverse and intellectually rich, international scientific community in a tropical rainforest environment. VCU, located in Richmond, VA, is the largest public R1 university in Virginia and has an active and diverse Ecology and Evolution faculty that are engaged in research around the world.

Prospective students should apply through the Biology Masters in Science program (www.has.vcu.edu/bio/graduate/ms_program.html); however, the opportunity to continue through the PhD may also be possible via the VCU Integrative Life Sciences Ph.D. program (www.vcu.edu/lifesci/phd).  Competitive stipends, tuition waivers, and support for field work are available. Successful applicants to the Vonesh lab typically have had a BS in biology (or related field), GPA >3.3, GREs >1200, some prior research experience, a strong interest in developing quantitative skills, and an high level of self motivation. Some proficiency in Spanish is desirable.  Interested persons should initially email a letter that summarizes their background, educational goals, and research interests, along with curriculum vitae (include GPA and GRE scores) with contact information for three references to Dr. James Vonesh (jrvonesh@vcu.edu).

Posted 11/11/09

Graduate Position (Ph.D.) at Texas State University

The Department of Biology at Texas State University invites applications for a PhD research assistantship focusing on ecological modeling in the context of restoration ecology and invasive species control.  We seek a highly qualified and motivated individual to develop a model of perennial grassland subject to prescribed fire.  The purpose is to explore the long-term success of prescribed fire strategies as a tool for shifting competitive balances in favor of native species.  The student will also conduct field work to inform model development and test its predictions. The project will provide excellent cross-disciplinary education in ecological modeling, plant physiology and community ecology.

The student will be supported by a teaching scholarship from the Department of Biology.  We have strengths in organismal biology, aquatic resource management, conservation, population and evolutionary ecology, providing rich opportunities for broad scholarly development. San Marcos is an attractive student-oriented town at the edge of the Texas Hill Country, less than an hour's drive from Austin and San Antonio.

For further information contact Dr. Susan Schwinning (schwinn@txstate.edu, phone: 512-245-5373). Applications should be received by 15 January 2010 for the August starting date. More information about the Department and application procedures is available at www.bio.txstate.edu.

Posted 11/11/09

PhD Research Assistantship in Quantitative Floristics

The LIBRA group at Oklahoma State University (http://ecology.okstate.edu/Libra/index.htm) is seeking a PhD student to assist with the FloraS of North America Project (http://botany.okstate.edu/floras/index.html) as part of an NSF-EPSCoR funded collaborative proposal on Ecological Forecasting.   This position is funded for 2 years, after which teaching or other assistantships will be available.  The student is expected to qualify for and enroll in the OSU Plant Sciences PhD program (http://grad.okstate.edu/programs/ps/plantsci.htm), and to develop a dissertation project related to the funded research.  A start date of 2 June 2010 is desirable but negotiable.

The ideal candidate would have strong scientific writing skills in English, experience with GIS, and familiarity with North American floristics - although applicants with a subset of such experience will be considered.  The student will be expected to collaborate with a diversity of scholars with expertise in computer science, statistics, geography, botany, ecosystem science, and global change.

For full consideration, send a statement of interest, contact information for three references, and a current CV by 8 February 2010 to Michael Palmer at mike.palmer@okstate.edu.  Informal inquiries by email are welcome.

Posted 11/10/09

Graduate Student position in alpine ecology- vegetation-mammal interactions

The Eviner lab at University of California, Davis is looking for an enthusiastic and exceptional PhD student to begin Summer 2010 (highly qualified Masters candidates may also be considered).

Funding for this student is related to a large interdisciplinary project- looking at impacts of climate change on alpine and subalpine ecosystems in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, California. In particular, the project focuses on understanding how interactions among vegetation types and a suite of mammals (e.g. pika, marmot, bighorn sheep, squirrels) will drive changes in both the plant and mammal communities in response to warming. The exact nature of the student's project will be determined according to student interests and project needs, but requires an emphasis on plant ecology.

Further information on the Eviner lab can be found at: http://www.plantsciences.ucdavis.edu/plantsciences_faculty/eviner/

If you are interested in joining the lab, please contact Dr. Valerie Eviner (veviner@ucdavis.edu) and provide:
- a description of your research interests
- a summary of your research experiences
- a CV, including GPA and GRE scores
- Contacts for 3 references.

For those encouraged to apply to the graduate program, information on the application process at UCD's Graduate Group in Ecology can be found here: http://ecology.ucdavis.edu/  Application deadline to UCD is December 15, 2009.

Posted 11/10/09

Graduate Fellowships in Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation - Fall 2010

The Graduate Ecology program at Fordham University has new research opportunities and both teaching and research fellowships available for well-qualified students interested in pursuing a M.S. or Ph.D. in Fall 2010.  We have research opportunities through our expanded graduate program, which links scientists at our main campus, the Louis Calder Center Biological Station, the New York Botanical Garden, and the Wildlife Conservation Society. Students can work through our new Center for Conservation, Evolution, and Urban Ecology (CCEUE).

Accepted MS and PhD students could receive stipends in the range of $27,000 to $28,000 per year, plus full tuition remission.  Students may work in many areas of ecology and evolution, as well as applied areas such as conservation of endangered species, urbanization effects on terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, and responses of plants and animals to climate change. 

Specific research areas of our faculty include:
- Anthropogenic and disturbance-related effects on nutrient dynamics
- Biodiversity, biogeography, and ecology of freshwater algae
- Climate change effects on hibernation and survival of mammals
- Conservation of endangered species
- Ecology and epidemiology of vector-borne diseases
- Ecology of invasive species in urban landscapes
- Ectomycorrhizal fungal diversity and species function
- Evolution of animal social behavior
- Evolution of herbivory defense in invasive plants
- Experimental evolution of bacterial symbionts and pathogens
- Freshwater food webs in streams and rivers
- Landscape ecology and spatial distribution of disease vectors
- Microbial and ecosystem responses to disturbances such as urbanization, species invasions, and global change
- Nutritional and biochemical adaptations to seasonally cold environments

Interested students should contact relevant faculty members or research scientists to discuss mutual research interests via the following websites.

Louis Calder Biological Field Station: http://www.fordham.edu/calder_center
Opportunities at the New York Botanical Garden: http://sciweb.nybg.org/science2/GraduateStudies.asp
Opportunities at the Wildlife Conservation Society: http://www.wcs.org/

The deadline for applications is January 4, 2010. Online applications are available from: http://www.fordham.edu/gsas

For any questions, feel free to contact Dr. Amy Tuininga by email: tuininga@fordham.edu

Posted 11/9/09

PhD in community ecology

I am looking for highly motivated graduate students in community/population ecology starting September 2010 in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at Rice University in Houston, Texas. I will consider applicants who wish to pursue fundamental research on any aspect of population/community/evolutionary ecology.

My research examines the ecological factors that generate and determine the structure, dynamics and functioning of natural communities. Current projects include 1) influence of size-structure within populations on the diversity, dynamics, and functioning of natural communities, 2) the consequences of infectious diseases for community dynamics and biodiversity, and 3) the evolutionary dynamics resulting from the interaction of cannibalism and diseases/ parasitoids, using a variety of field and laboratory experiments in combination with modeling work.  While most of my work focuses on aquatic (freshwater) systems using organisms that range from stream salamanders to dragonfly larvae to zooplankton, I am amenable to students developing projects in other study systems. For further information in my research visit http://www.owlnet.rice.edu/~volker.rudolf/index.htm

Please see our departmental website <http://eeb.rice.edu/> for more information about the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at Rice University. Our research and graduate programs, and the recent addition of several outstanding new faculty complementing our strengths in community ecology and evolutionary biology. Research projects range from studies on biodiversity & ecosystem functioning, mutualistic interactions & networks, ecology & evolution of animal-plant interactions, tropical biology, conservation biology, invasive species, and genomics. Formal application materials for graduate school can be submitted using the above website.

Interested students should send me an email and attach a copy of their CV.

Volker Rudolf 
Assistant Professor
Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Rice University
Houston, TX, 77005

Posted 11/9/097

UCSD Graduate Program in Ecology, Behavior & Evolution

The Ecology, Behavior & Evolution (EBE) Section at UCSD seeks outstanding applicants to the PhD graduate program for the fall of 2010.  EBE is one of four sections within the Division of Biological Sciences at UCSD which sits at the center of the large, vibrant, and varied biological research community in San Diego.  This diverse group of researchers provides a stimulating intellectual environment for graduate training and research with a wide range of opportunities for interactions with local institutions such as Scripps Oceanographic Institute. Faculty within the EBE Section have focused interests in experimental and genetic evolution, community and ecosystems ecology, and insect ecology, behavior and evolution. The graduate program is committed to a supportive environment for research and learning and provides five years of funding for graduate student stipends and benefits.

More information and application instructions for the UCSD Division of Biological Sciences Graduate Program is available at http://biology.ucsd.edu/grad/overview.html

EBE Faculty Research Interests:

Lin Chao, Professor of Biology
    Evolutionary genetics; theory and experimentation.  Current interests: Evolution of senescence; antibiotic resistance; and cooperation.

Elsa Cleland, Assistant Professor of Biology
    Plant community and ecosystem ecology, global environmental change, biogeochemistry, ecological restoration

David Holway, Associate Professor of Biology
    Ecological basis of invasive species. Argentine Ants, Fire Ants - California.

Joshua Kohn, Professor of Biology, Chair of the Section of Ecology, Behavior and Evolution
    Plant population biology; mating system evolution; ecological genetics.

Carolyn Kurle, Assistant Professor of Biology
    Changes in community structure, trophic interactions, and native species composition when ecosystems are modified via human perturbations that result in biodiversity loss, species invasion, habitat alteration, and changes in food availability.

Therese Markow, Professor of Biology, Amylin Chair in Life Sciences Education and Research
    Speciation and adaptation to novel environments; Mating system evolution; Drosophila evolutionary genetics.
 
James Nieh, Associate Professor of Biology
    Evolution of animal language: Functionally referential communication in highly social bees; sensory physiology and mechanisms of multi-modal communication; bioacoustics; neuroethology of insect learning.

Scott Rifkin, Assistant Professor of Biology
    Sources of phenotypic variation; gene expression evolution; evolutionary and developmental systems biology

Kaustuv Roy, Professor of Biology
    Physical and biotic controls on the distribution and diversity of species in benthic marine ecosystems.

Jonathan Shurin, Associate Professor of Biology
    Causes and consequences of variation in species diversity, flow of energy between producers and consumers, and impacts of predators on ecosystem functioning.

Christopher Wills, Professor Emeritus of Biology
    Molecular evolution; genetic variation at DNA level, the ecology and evolution of complex ecosystems.

David Woodruff, Professor of Biology
    Conservation and evolutionary biology; speciation; genetics of endangered species.

Posted 11/4/09

Ph.D in Ecology, Evolution and Behavior at Georgetown

The Department of Biology at Georgetown University has multiple opportunities for doctoral study in ecology, evolution and behavior (EEB).

The faculty and graduate program in Biology at Georgetown help doctoral candidates develop into insightful researchers and effective teachers and communicators. Funding for graduate study is supported by a combination of assistantships, teaching fellowships and research grant support. Our program and institution welcomes students of all racial, ethnic and religious backgrounds.

Students interested in any of the opportunities listed below are strongly encouraged to contact the relevant faculty member(s) via email. The Department of Biology graduate program is described at http://biology.georgetown.edu/graduate/applicants/. Information about graduate school application procedures and deadlines can be found at http://grad.georgetown.edu/pages/admissions.cfm.

Community Ecology and Landscape Genetics:
Dr. Gina Wimp is seeking students interested in understanding the mechanisms that lead to the loss of biodiversity and increased risk of extinction in fragmented habitats.  Dr. Wimp's work takes place in the intertidal salt marsh where a rise in mean tidal height over the past 60 years has led to a change in the demography of the two dominant grass species, with the more flood-intolerant grass (Spartina patens) contracting in size.  She uses manipulative experiments to examine the effects of habitat loss and fragmentation in S. patens on the abundance, diversity and composition of the dependent arthropod community.  The Wimp and Hamilton labs have developed microsatellite genetic marker loci to examine the effects of habitat fragmentation on gene flow in two of the dominant herbivore species found in S. patens, both of which are flightless, specialist planthoppers.  Interested students should contact Dr. Gina Wimp via email (gmw22@georgetown.edu).

For further information see the following websites: http://biology.georgetown.edu/faculty/wimp/research/, http://www9.georgetown.edu/faculty/hamiltm1/

Mechanisms of phenotypic evolution:
Dr. Peter Armbruster seeks a highly motivated PhD student to join his laboratory's research on mechanisms of phenotypic evolution in natural populations. The Armbruster lab is currently focusing on the invasive and medically important mosquito Aedes albopictus. This mosquito invaded the US in 1985 and spread rapidly over approximately 15 degrees of latitude. This natural experiment in evolution provides an exciting opportunity to identify the molecular and physiological mechanisms underpinning climatic adaptation during invasion and range expansion. Dr. Armbruster's research is currently supported by grants from both NIH and NSF, and integrates a broad range of approaches, including molecular biology, bioinformatics, physiology, and quantitative genetics. Interested students should contact Dr. Peter Armbruster (paa9@georgetown.edu).

For further information on the Armbruster lab see: http://www1.georgetown.edu/departments/biology/faculty/armbruster/

Mathematical Population Biology:
Faculty in the Departments of Biology and Mathematics have ongoing collaborations centered on quantitative modeling and analysis of population genetic data.  Ongoing projects span a wide spectrum of applications including the development of coalescent models that better suit natural populations in order to infer biological mechanisms acting on genetic polymorphism to the development of novel quantitative models to analyze the evolution of HIV within an infected individual.  These projects are highly interdisciplinary, drawing on approaches and techniques from both disciplines.

Dr. Matthew B. Hamilton (Biology) and Dr. Sivan Leviyang (Mathematics) are seeking an outstanding student to pursue a jointly mentored PhD in mathematical biology.  The course of study will include classes in biology, mathematics and computer science, with the goal of providing the student with a firm background in population genetics, ecology, statistics, probability, and computation.  The specific topic of research is flexible and can favor theory or application depending on the students‚ interest.  The ideal student should possess a bachelor's degree in biology or mathematics (with some course work and experience in the alternate field) with some experience in computation.  Most importantly, an ideal student will have a strong desire to engage in interdisciplinary research in quantitative biology.  Interested students should contact Dr. Hamilton (hamiltm1@georgetown.edu) and Dr. Leviyang (sr286@georgetown.edu).

For further information on Dr. Leviyang's research see http://www9.georgetown.edu/faculty/sr286/. For further information on the Hamilton lab see http://www9.georgetown.edu/faculty/hamiltm1/.

Empirical population genetics and molecular evolution:
Dr. Matthew B. Hamilton is seeking students interested in using genetic marker data to test fundamental hypotheses in population genetics and molecular evolution. On-going empirical projects include using transcriptome-scale data to compare the molecular clock in annual and perennial plants, studying temporal genetic variation in striped bass and testing for the ecological causes of changes in genetic variation in salt marsh insects. The ideal project in the Hamilton lab is one that combines empirical genetic marker data collection with mathematical or computer simulation work to develop novel expectations or hypothesis tests.  Interested students should contact Dr. Hamilton (hamiltm1@georgetown.edu).

For further information on the Hamilton lab see http://www9.georgetown.edu/faculty/hamiltm1/.

Ecological interactions, behavior & learning:
Research in Dr. Martha Weiss‚ lab focuses on ecological interactions (between plants and animals, as well as predator and prey), with an emphasis on behavior and learning. Recent or ongoing projects include investigations of butterfly and caterpillar learning, retention of memory across complete metamorphosis, the ecological context of defecation behavior, and predatory wasp learning and foraging behavior. We are also working on development of hands-on science curricular materials, mostly related to plants and insects, for use in K-12 classrooms. We seek an outstanding graduate student interested in these or related projects.  For more information see the Weiss Lab website (http://www9.georgetown.edu/faculty/emc26/MarthaWeiss/weissm/), but be aware that its content is out of date and in the process of being updated.

Arthropod biodiversity and conservation:
Professor Edward M. Barrows is seeking an excellent, self-motivated, and biology-passionate student to work on a long-term project regarding arthropod biodiversity and conservation especially in Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve (DMWP), Virginia, near Georgetown University.  The study includes documenting DMWP species, their phenologies and relative abundances in habitats, and their food-web and other ecological roles in view of global change which may have significant effects on the Preserve. Dr. Barrows‚ Entomology and Biodiversity Laboratory is currently analyzing a huge, baseline, historical (1998-1999) DMWP arthropod sample.  The Friends of Dyke Marsh, National Park Service, Washington Biologists‚ Field Club, and others are supporting this study.  DMWP information is at http://biodiversity.georgetown.edu/files/informationfile.cfm?title=dykemarshintro.  Interested students should contact Dr. Barrows at barrowse@georgetown.edu.

Behavioral ecology, development, reproduction & life history of BottlenoseDolphins:
Professor Mann is seeking outstanding PhD students in 2011 to collaborate on her long-term study of wild bottlenose dolphins. Dr. Mann directs the Shark Bay Bottlenose Dolphin Research Project, a 25+ year longitudinal study on a population of wild bottlenose dolphins in Shark Bay, Western Australia.  Members of her lab are currently focusing on research questions related to behavioral development, life history, female reproduction, information transmission/diffusion, social networks, home range and habitat use.  More recently, members of her team are developing non-invasive techniques for sampling cetacean genetics, diet, and hormones. Her work is currently supported by NSF and ONR. Dr. Mann collaborates extensively with Dr. Lisa Singh in Computer Science. Dr. Mann is not accepting students in 2010 but will consider applicants the following year.

For more information see www.monkeymiadolphins.org, http://explore.georgetown.edu/people/mannj2, http://biology.georgetown.edu/faculty/Mann/

Posted 11/4/09

GRADUATE PROGRAM IN PLANT BIOLOGY AND CONSERVATION - NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY AND THE CHICAGO BOTANIC GARDEN

Northwestern University and the Chicago Botanic Garden jointly offer a graduate program in Plant Biology and Conservation and seek excellent applicants for both Master's and Doctoral degrees. The program offers exciting opportunities for graduate student research in plant ecology, restoration ecology, soil ecology, climate change, invasive biology, paleobotany, mycology, population biology, demography, plant-animal interactions, conservation genetics, evolution, and systematics. For more information about the program and faculty research interests visit our website: http://www.plantbiology.northwestern.edu
 
For more information about the new Plant Conservation Science Center, please visit: http://www.chicagobotanic.org/research/labs.php?expanddiv=plant_conservation
 
Or contact the director of the Graduate Program in Plant Biology and Conservation: Nyree Zerega (nzerega@chicagobotanic.org)

Posted 11/4/09

Graduate research position - UW-Madison (deer impacts/plant monitoring)

A graduate Research Assistantship will potentially become available with Don Waller's research group at University of Wisconsin-Madison in Summer or Fall 2010.  The RA will participate in developing a state-wide native plant monitoring program aimed at quantifying deer impacts and abundances and assessing the impacts of climate change, pervasive habitat modification, and shifts in forest and land management.  She/he should be familiar with plant identification and ecological survey methods and interested in statistics.  The Research Assistant will work closely with a deer impacts research consortium whose members include local, state, and federal agencies, NGOs, and researchers from multiple institutions and departments.  In addition to research duties, the RA will work closely with these partners and citizen scientists to foster this collaborative effort including creating a web page to share protocols, data, maps, and results. 

Those interested should familiarize themselves with the group's research described at:  http://www.botany.wisc.edu/waller/ and consider which UW graduate program is most attractive among Botany, Zoology, and Environment and Resources: 
    http://botany.wisc.edu/graduate_study_and_research/
    http://www.zoology.wisc.edu/grad/Prospective.html
    http://www.nelson.wisc.edu/education/programs/graduate-degrees/
They may also be interested in the research proposal submitted to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation that may support this position: http://www.botany.wisc.edu/waller/Researchpages/deerimpacts.html Funding of this position is contingent on receiving grant support.  To inquire about this opportunity, please send an e-mail and curriculum vitae to Don Waller at: dmwaller@wisc.edu

Posted 10/31/09

NSF IGERT Fellowships in the Ecology, Management and Restoration of Integrated Human-Natural Landscapes at UIC

Two-year NSF IGERT fellowships are available at the University of Illinois at Chicago in the LEAP ("Landscape, Ecological and Anthropogenic Processes") doctoral training program.  Next year will be the fith year of the LEAP Program, a broadly interdisciplinary program with the goal of training future researchers and leaders in the ecology, management and restoration of integrated human/natural landscapes.  Students earn a Ph.D. in a participating department after completing a rigorous two-year interdisciplinary training program that includes a substantial outreach component. The LEAP training program focuses on the health and vitality of ecosystems in which nature and people interact closely, and concentrates heavily on research, restoration and management programs in the greater metropolitan Chicago area. The LEAP Program involves faculty and doctoral students from the Colleges of Arts and Sciences, Engineering, and Urban Planning and Public Affairs at UIC.  A major innovation of the UIC IGERT is the active participation of numerous cooperating partners in the Chicago region (Chicago Wilderness, Chicago Botanic Garden, Morton Arboretum, Field Museum, US Forest Service, US Army Corps of Engineers and the Illinois Natural History Survey).  For more information about the program and how to apply, please visit our website at http://www.leap.uic.edu.

The UIC LEAP Program strongly encourages applications from women and minorities.

Posted 10/31/09
PhD fellowships at U of Louisiana

Doctoral Fellowships and other assistantships available for entering Ph.D. students in Environmental and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. 

We will be awarding University of Louisiana Fellowships and Board of Regents Fellowships to Ph.D. students entering Fall 2010.  UL Fellows are funded for 3-4 years and have limited teaching responsibilities, while BoR Fellows are funded for 4 years at and have no formal teaching duties.  Stipends are up to $26,000 per year (with tuition waiver).  Eligibility requirements include US citizenship (or permanent residency) or degree from a US institution.  We will also have teaching and research assistantships available for incoming Ph.D. students.  Potential applicants are strongly encouraged to directly contact prospective advisors.  Their contact information and research interests can be found at our departmental web site (http://biology.louisiana.edu/).  Our graduate program brochure is also posted at our Ecology Center's site (http://ulceet.com/site90.php).  The Department of Biology has approximately 70 graduate students and 25 graduate faculty members conducting research on a wide variety of topics.

Posted 10/31/09

Graduate Fellowships in Sustainability Science

Maine's Sustainability Solutions Initiative (SSI), a partnership between the University of Maine and the University of Southern Maine, offers unprecedented opportunities for graduate students to experience a truly interdisciplinary learning experience through a $20 million, 5-year program funded by the National Science Foundation's EPSCoR program. The SSI's mission is to create an integrative research program and strong stakeholder partnerships to generate improved solutions to intersecting ecological, social, and economic challenges in and beyond Maine. Graduate students will participate in collaborative research experiences with interdisciplinary faculty teams focused on urbanization, forest ecosystem management, and climate change.  These efforts address the dynamics of social-ecological systems with an emphasis on moving from knowledge to action. Students with backgrounds in a wide range of disciplines are encouraged to apply: e.g. social sciences, biological, earth, and chemical sciences, natural resource management, communication, engineering, education, mathematics, and more.

Up to 25 Ph.D. fellowships will be awarded at the University of Maine with a substantial portion of these beginning in fall 2010. Each fellowship will include a stipend of $20-25,000/ yr for up to five years, a tuition waiver, subsidy for health insurance, and some funds to support thesis research.  Masters degrees opportunities will be offered at the University of Southern Maine.

For more information on SSI and fellowship applications, visit www.umaine.edu/sustainabilitysolutions

Posted 10/31/09
Doctoral Research Opportunities at Baylor University

Profs. Boris Lau and Bryan Brooks are jointly recruiting outstanding PhD students to work on projects studying surface dynamics and ecological exposure and consequences of emerging contaminants (trace organics and nanoparticles).

This is an excellent opportunity for students who are interested to become experts in the emerging field that requires the crossover of aquatic ecology, toxicology and environmental nanoscience. Baylor University provides access and training to state-of-the art research facilities situated in the newly opened $103 million Baylor Sciences Building (www.baylor.edu/bsb). The students will be part of a multidisciplinary team of ecologists, environmental engineers, chemists, geoscientists, toxicologists and microbiologists from a newly formed Institute of Ecology, Earth, and Environmental Sciences (www.baylor.edu/tieees). Core multiuser laboratories with permanent scientific staff in aquatic science (www.baylor.edu/crasr), spatial science, molecular biosciences and mass spectrometry are available to support graduate research pursuits.

Successful applicants must possess a strong academic record and excellent English communication skills. Highly motivated candidates with a BS or MS degree in relevant science and/or engineering disciplines will be considered.  Qualified students will be funded through teaching and/or research assistantships that provide tuition remission, competitive stipends, health benefits, and travel support to attend professional meetings. Prospective candidates are encouraged to submit their CVs to Dr. Bryan Brooks (bryan_brooks@baylor.edu; www.baylor.edu/environmentalscience/index.php?id=3D56293) and/or Dr. Boris Lau (boris_lau@baylor.edu; www.baylor.edu/Geology/index.php?id=3D62676). Please use "Lau-Brooks Research Opportunities" in the subject line. Review of applicants will continue until all positions are filled.

Preferred start date: January or August 2010

Baylor University is a private university located in Waco, Texas, USA. Chartered in 1845, it is the oldest university in Texas. Ranked among the top 100 national universities, the University is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as research university with high research activity.

Posted 10/31/09

MS student opportunity in aquatic ecology
Department of Biological Sciences, Wayne State University

Support is available in the Steiner lab at Wayne State University for a Master of Science student interested in aquatic population and community ecology. The student will take part in a research project focused on the interactive effects of environmental perturbations and dispersal on the structure and dynamics of zooplankton populations. The student will be encouraged to develop an independent research project related to the primary project. Research during the summer will be conducted at Michigan State University's Kellogg Biological Station located in southwest Michigan.  Support during the academic year will be provided by departmental teaching assistantships while summer support will be provided by research assistantships. Funds are also available for housing during the summer field season.

Qualifications include: a record of academic achievement as an undergraduate; previous coursework or research experience in ecology or evolutionary ecology; the ability to work independently; and the ability to work long hours in the field (enduring heat, leech, mosquito, humidity, rain, hail, thunderstorms and pond scum). 

Those seeking further information about the position should contact Dr. Chris Steiner (csteiner@wayne.edu). Wayne State University is an urban university located in beautiful midtown Detroit. General information about the Steiner lab and the Biological Sciences Department can be found at: http://www.clas.wayne.edu/unit-faculty-detail.asp?FacultyID=1721. For information about the Kellogg Biological Station see: http://www.kbs.msu.edu

To apply: Please email the following to Dr. Chris Steiner (csteiner@wayne.edu): 1) CV, including GPA and GRE scores, 2) a letter of interest describing general research interests and any prior research experience; and 3) contact information (and email addresses) of 2-3 references.

Posted 10/30/09

NSF IGERT Fellowship Opportunities in Polar Environmental Change at Dartmouth College

Dartmouth is seeking applicants for our NSF Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship (IGERT) program in Polar Environmental Change. Polar systems are at the forefront of global change science research. We are an interdisciplinary graduate program in polar sciences and engineering that merges expertise and facilities from science and engineering departments at Dartmouth College with the U.S. Army Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (CRREL), creating one of the premier centers of scientific expertise in polar research. The investment of Dartmouth's Dickey Center for International Understanding and its Institute of Arctic Studies in forming relationships with Greenlandic institutions and Inuit leaders provides the opportunity for intensive field training in Greenland where science, policy and indigenous issues of the north can be explored. Collectively these experiences provide rigorous training in polar and related sciences and produce scientists with an advanced knowledge of the role of science in policy and the ethics of conducting research with indigenous people.

Research training is coupled with a coordinated core curriculum that focuses on three components of Arctic or Antarctic systems responding to rapid change in climate: 1) the cryosphere - glacial ice, snow, sea ice systems; 2) terrestrial ecosystems and biogeochemical linkages between the soil, plant, and animal system; and, 3) human systems - the process of policy making in political and social systems where Western science and traditional knowledge provide information.

Applicants should visit the Dartmouth IGERT website for information on participating departments, requirements, and application procedures:  www.dartmouth.edu/~igert/

For further information, email the Program Manager at IGERT@dartmouth.edu or the IGERT Principal Investigator at Ross.Virginia@dartmouth.edu.

The Dartmouth IGERT encourages applications from minorities, women, and individuals with disabilities. We especially seek to engage with Native American students, as is Dartmouth's tradition, by offering a graduate science program that is relevant to their individual needs and those of their communities.

Lee McDavid, Program Manager
Polar Environmental Change IGERT
Dartmouth College
Hanover, NH  03755
603-646-1278

Posted 10/30/09

NSF fellowships for research on vegetation-climate interactions in the Amazon

National Science Foundation (NSF) graduate fellowships ($30,000 per year, for up to two years) are available starting in the 2010-2011 academic year for Amazon-PIRE (Partnership for International Research and Education) for ecology and earth-system science students to study vegetation-climate interactions in the Amazon basin (Brazil).

Amazon-PIRE fellows must be admitted to a participating Ph.D. program at the University of Arizona or Harvard University. Fellowships support United States citizens or permanent residents, and include an annual stipend, tuition, health insurance, and travel to Brazilian field sites and collaborating institutions.

Amazon-PIRE is a U.S.-Brazilian partnership addressing the question, "What is the future of Amazon forests under climate change?" and promoting international education, collaboration, and exchange.  Research focii include long term observations (via eddy flux measurements, forest plot surveys, physiological measurements, remote sensing, and aircraft sampling), experimental manipulations (in the Tropical Forest Biome of Biosphere 2), and modeling.  

Amazon-PIRE is committed to diversity in education, and encourages the application of women and underrepresented minorities. 

    * Application deadline for funding of graduate fellowships - February 5, 2010  

See the program website (http://www.amazonpire.org/opportunities.php) for key application deadlines for relevant programs and more information, or email: amazonpire@arizona.edu.

Posted 10/28/09

MSc Student Opportunity in Aquatic Ecology, River Studies Center, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse

Graduate student support is available for a graduate student (MSc) interested in working on a multidisciplinary research project entitled "Modeling the response of imperiled freshwater mussels to anthropogenically induced changes in water temperature, habitat, and flow in streams of the southeastern and central United States".  The successful applicant will be expected to develop an independent research project to explore the thermal thresholds of juvenile and adult mussels based on physiological traits.  This is a joint project between the U.S. Geological Survey and the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.  The student would work jointly with Dr. Teresa Newton (who studies mussel ecology) and Dr. Roger Haro (who studies the biology of benthic invertebrates).

The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse recognizes and appreciates the importance of water to the competing forces of agriculture, business, recreation, and nature.  Consequently, freshwater is a focus of teaching and research in the Department of Biology.  At the graduate level, the Department offers an Aquatic Science Concentration to prepare students for exciting and challenging careers in the study and management of freshwater resources.  Many graduate students in the program are associated with the River Studies Center (Center) at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse which was established in 1972 to facilitate the University's scientific involvement with environmental and resource management issues pertinent to the Upper Mississippi River.  The Center has become nationally recognized for its investigations of non-point source pollutants in rivers, streams, lakes, and wetlands.

Selection will be based on undergraduate grades (GPA), GRE's (minimum combined score of 1100 on v-GRE & q-GRE), and letters of reference from at least three persons with sufficient knowledge of the applicant's potential for research.  Students with proven experience in measurement of physiological rates are encouraged to apply.

Support:   In-state (Wisconsin) tuition and an annual stipend, renewable for an additional year.

Starting Date:  January 2010 (preferred), June 2010 (acceptable)

Interested students should contact:

Dr. Roger Haro, River Studies Center, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, La Crosse, WI  54601, USA; email haro.roge@uwlax.edu

or

Dr. Teresa Newton, U.S. Geological Survey, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center,  La Crosse, WI  54603, USA; email tnewton@usgs.gov

Posted 10/28/09
Doctoral Fellowships - University of Arkansas

The Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Arkansas is actively recruiting Distinguished Doctoral Fellows (DDF) and Doctoral Academy Fellows (DAF) to begin graduate work in August 2010.  The Distinguished Fellowships have a range of $30,000 to $40,000 for a 12-month stipend, and the DAFs have a range of $20,000 to $30,000 for a 12-month stipend. Both are available for up to 4 years of support based on satisfactory progress. Fellowships will require research and/or teaching depending upon the major professor chosen.  In addition, fellowships include a full waiver of tuition, health care benefits, and most fees. Outstanding students from all biological disciplines are encouraged to apply.  Selection will be based on undergraduate GPA, GRE scores, letters of recommendation, and undergraduate (B.S.) research experience or graduate (M.S.) research experience. Applicants should contact faculty members in the Department of Biological Sciences whose research they may be interested in directly at http://biology.uark.edu/ For more information on departmental requirements, see http://biology.uark.edu/1255.htm or http://www.uark.edu/depts/gradinfo/recruit/funding/fellowships.html for general requirements.  DAF applications can be made at any time and will be reviewed as received.  Review of DDF applications will begin on 16 January 2010 with decisions made by the end of February. Those qualified applicants not chosen for a DDF will be offered a DAF. Contact Dr. David McNabb (dmcnabb@uark.edu, 479-575-3251), Chair, Graduate Studies Committee, Department of Biological Sciences, for any further information or questions.

Posted 10/28/09
Graduate Student Opportunity - U Montana (Missoula) - Riparian Ecology
 
We seek applications for an MS student to investigate site requirements of late-seral woody riparian plants along the upper Missouri River in central Montana. The primary objective is to assess how multiple factors (e.g., water availability, soil texture and stratigraphy, livestock herbivory) affect plant species composition.  In addition, successful applicants will be encouraged to develop and pursue their own, related study questions.  Preferred qualifications include: a record of strong academic achievement as an undergraduate; previous coursework and interest in terrestrial plant ecology and soil science; a desire to conduct independent fieldwork in remote settings. Site access and fieldwork may require multi-day canoe trips.
 
Funding is expected for a January 2010 start, and will include a stipend of ~ $16,000 per year, an in-state tuition waiver (for Montana residents), and research expenses including travel and per diem. The successful candidate will be co-advised by Drs. Michael Merigliano and Cory Cleveland (College of Forestry and Conservation) at the University of Montana in Missoula.
 
To apply: Please email the following application materials (as one document) to Dr. Cory Cleveland at cory.cleveland@umontana.edu: 1) a current resume or CV, including GPA and GRE scores (if available); 2) a letter of interest, including research interests, professional goals and prior experience; and 3) contact information, including Email addresses, of three potential references.

Posted 10/28/09

Graduate school position in Ecosystem Ecology (Boston Univ)

*Department of Biology - Program in Ecology, Behavior and Evolution
Program in Terrestrial Biogeosciences
Boston University

*I invite applications for doctoral work in my lab beginning fall 2010 in the areas of biogeochemistry, forest ecology, global change biology and related fields. Applicants should be independent and highly motivated with academic research and/or field experience in plant ecology, soil ecology or nutrient cycling. Funding is available to work on a project examining the impacts of variation in winter climate on forest productivity and nutrient dynamics. My research program covers a broad range of topics including human impacts on the global nitrogen cycle, the effects of exotic pests on forest biogeochemistry, nutrients inputs from fog to coastal forest ecosystems and the role of disturbances in nutrient uptake by trees. Our lab has excellent research facilities, including access to three isotope ratio mass spectrometers in our department.

I encourage prospective students to contact me (ptempler@bu.edu) to discuss potential projects and to set up an interview. Formal review of applications will begin in our department December 7, 2009, but interested applicants should contact me before the application deadline if possible.

Interested applicants can look at the following web-sites for useful information:
http://people.bu.edu/ptempler/
www.bu.edu/biology
www.bu.edu/bio-geo

Pamela Templer, PhD
Assistant Professor
Co-Director of the BU Stable Isotope Laboratory
Department of Biology
Boston University
5 Cummington Street
Boston, MA 02215

phone 617-353-6978
fax 617-353-6340
people.bu.edu/ptempler

Posted 10/28/09

Graduate Student Opening

The White Lab at Utah State University has an opening for a graduate student with interests in Macroecology, Community Ecology, or Ecological Theory/Modeling.  Active areas of research in the White lab include broad scale patterns of biodiversity and body size, dynamics of ecological communities, and the use of sensor networks for studying ecological systems.  We use computational, mathematical, and advanced statistical methods in much of our work, so students with an interest in these kinds of methods are encouraged to apply. Background in these quantitative techniques is not necessary, only an interest in learning and applying them. While students interested in one of the general areas listed above are preferred, students are encouraged to develop their own research projects depending upon their interests. Graduate students in the White lab are funded through a combination of research assistantships, teaching assistantships, and fellowships. Students interested in pursuing a Ph.D. are preferred, though exceptional students interested in a M.S. will be considered. Utah State University has an excellent graduate program in ecology with over 50 faculty and 80+ graduate students across campus affiliated with the USU Ecology Center (http://www.usu.edu/ecology/).

Additional information about the position and Utah State University is available at: http://whitelab.weecology.org/grad-student-opening

Interested students can find more information about the lab at our website: http://whitelab.weecology.org

If you are still interested after checking out the website you should contact me directly at epwhite@biology.usu.edu. Please send a CV, GPA, GRE scores (if available), and a brief description of your general research interests.

DEADLINE: For full consideration, formal applications should be submitted by January 1st, 2009.

-Dr. Ethan White
Email: epwhite@biology.usu.edu or ethan@weecology.org

Posted 10/23/09

PhD Assistantship Available:  Ecological Genomics of Drought Stress in Prairie Grasses

We have a position available for a PhD student to study the ecological genomics of drought stress.  The project will include studies of the responses of native prairie grasses to variation in precipitation using the ecologically dominant prairie grass big bluestem as a model. The work is part of a project funded by the USDA Plant Biology Abiotic Stress program.  The project will include common garden transplant experiments and genomic approaches to test for the signature of adaptive genetic differentiation among natural populations of big bluestem across the precipitation gradient of the Great Plains.

This collaborative research group assembles investigators with complementary expertise in Plant Ecological Genomics (Johnson www.ksu.edu/johnsonlab/, Garrett www.ksu.edu/pdecology), Genomics (Ahkunov eakhunov@ksu.edu), Evolutionary Genetics  (Morgan(http://www.ksu.edu/morganlab/) and Restoration Ecology (Baer, SIU (www.plantbiology.siu.edu/Faculty/Baer/index.html) to elucidate the response and adaptation of prairie grasses to abiotic stresses. This work will take place in the laboratories of Drs. Johnson, Akhunov, and Garrett, with close collaboration with Drs. Morgan and Baer. There will also be opportunities to interact with other researchers in the context of the Ecological Genomics Institute (www.ecogen.ksu.edu).

Applicants should have a demonstrated interest in ecological or evolutionary genomics. Preference will be given to individuals with experience in modern molecular approaches and genomics tools.

Review of applicants will begin Dec.15, and continue until the successful applicant is identified. The starting date is summer 2010. The position offers competitive salary of $25,000 and benefits.

Applications should include a cover letter with a statement of research interests and timing of availability, a CV, and names and contact information for three professional references.  Please send your application through e-mail to Loretta Johnson (Johnson@ksu.edu). To ensure that your application is received, please include the following in the subject of your e-mail: "Application for Ecological Genomics Assistantship".

Kansas State University is located in the college town of Manhattan (population ~45,000) in the Flint Hills of eastern Kansas, about 2 hours away from Kansas City.  Kansas State University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer and actively seeks diversity among its employees.

Posted 10/21/09

Graduate positions in community ecology at URI

I invite applications from motivated students for either masters or doctoral work beginning in fall 2010 in the field of terrestrial community ecology at the University of Rhode Island. Full funding for 1-2 students will be provided either as research or teaching assistantships, depending on student background and availability. Applicants should be independent, highly motivated, and possess some research and/or field experience. Research in my lab generally addresses predator-prey and/or herbivore-plant interactions; specific research topics have included the population-level consequences of non-lethal interactions between predators and their prey and the impact of interactions between invasive species on eastern forests. Detailed information about the lab is available at http://cels.uri.edu/preisserlab/

Prospective students should contact me (Evan Preisser, preisser@uri.edu) and provide a short description of research interests and accomplishments, a CV (including GPA and GRE scores), and contact information for three references. I will contact suitable candidates to discuss potential graduate projects and to set up an interview. Formal department review of applications will begin February 1, 2010, but interested students should contact me well before the application deadline.

Evan Preisser, Assistant Professor
Dept. of Biological Sciences, 9 East Alumni Ave.
University of Rhode Island, Kingston RI 02881 USA
(w) 401 874-2120 (fax) 401 874-4256
e-mail:  preisser@uri.edu
http://cels.uri.edu/preisserlab/index.html

Posted 10/20/09

PhD and MS Assistantships: Fish and Aquatic Ecology
Purdue University, Department of Forestry and Natural Resources
West Lafayette, IN, USA

Description:
Multiple (2-3) graduate student (PhD and MS) assistantships available to participate in research projects exploring ecological dynamics of Great Lakes fishes.  These projects involve an integration of field studies, laboratory analyses, controlled experiments and quantitative modeling.

Research topics include:

1)      Recruitment and early life history dynamics: linking early life growth and survival of Great Lakes fishes to physical processes.
2)      Intra-specific life history trait variation: inter-population variation of maturation schedules, growth rates, and egg characteristics.
3)      Description and modeling of food-web connections among Great Lakes fishes.

Within these general research topics students will have flexibility to develop their own thesis projects.  Selected individuals will enroll in Purdue University's Department of Forestry and Natural Resources (www.fnr.purdue.edu) in West Lafayette, IN.

Qualifications:
Minimum qualifications include a BS (for MS position) or MS (for PhD position) in Biology, Ecology, Fisheries Science, or related field; GPA of 3.2 or greater; and above average GRE scores (at least 50th percentile for quantitative and verbal; at least 4.0 for analytical writing).

Salary:
Assistantships include stipend, full tuition coverage, and insurance.

Start date:
Exact date negotiable (sometime between March-August 2010).

How to Apply:
The positions will remain open until filled. For full consideration, please respond by 18-December-2009 and submit cover letter, CV, GRE scores (unofficial is fine), transcript (unofficial is fine), and names and contact numbers of three references to Tomas Höök (thook@purdue.edu; 765-496-6799; www.ag.purdue.edu/fnr/pages/thook.aspx).

For more details please contact:
Tomas Höök

thook@purdue.edu

Purdue University is an affirmative action equal opportunity employer.

Posted 10/18/09

Ph.D. opportunities at Dartmouth

The Graduate Program in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at Dartmouth College invites applications from prospective Ph.D. students.  We offer a wide range of opportunities for studying a diversity of biological systems from ecological and evolutionary perspectives, and our core group of enthusiastic faculty, graduate students and post-docs provide an exciting environment in which to pursue a Ph.D http://www.dartmouth.edu/~biology/. Generous financial support is  provided in the form of Dartmouth Fellowships, health care, and a substantial yearly discretionary fund for research and travel that are guaranteed for 5 years.  Applicants with excellent records and who demonstrate financial need are also eligible for a U.S. Department of Education Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need (GAANN) Fellowship http://www.dartmouth.edu/~gradstdy/GAANNAWD.html. Detailed information about the program, and access to online applications, are available at http://www.dartmouth.edu/~biology/graduate/eeb/.  Students interested in alpine or polar ecosystems may also apply to the NSF IGERT training grant program on polar environmental change and its human dimensions. http://www.dartmouth.edu/~igert/

Applications will be considered beginning on December 1st.  Promising applicants will be invited and hosted for interviews in January.

Dartmouth is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and encourages applications from women and members of minority groups.

Posted 10/18/09

MS/PhD Opportunity in Soil Ecology/Biogeochemistry, Department of Ecosystems & Conservation Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, MT

Graduate student assistantships: One new graduate assistantship (MS or PhD) is available to prospective students interested in soil biogeochemical and microbial community dynamics in recently deglaciated landscapes. The successful candidate will be expected to develop an independent project in one of the following areas: soil biogeochemistry; soil microbial ecology; or plant-microbe interactions. Motivated students with prior experience using molecular microbiological techniques are especially encouraged to apply. Applicants should have a strong record of academic excellence, prior field and/or laboratory experience, a demonstrated interest in soils or ecosystems research, and be willing to work in cold, harsh environments. Student support will include a combination of teaching/research assistantships, a stipend ($XX/year [sic] for MS students; $XX/year [sic] for PhD candidates) and a tuition waiver. Preference will be given to candidates willing to begin in summer 2020 [sic] (summer salary included), and academic positions will begin in the fall of 2010.

The community and resources: Missoula, a city of ~ 60,000 people, is a great place to live and work. It is surrounded by the Bitterroot and Lolo National Forests, and the Missoula valley includes the Blackfoot, Bitterroot, and Clark Fork Rivers. It offers immediate access multiple wilderness areas and national parks, and many outdoor activities.

To apply: For more information, please contact Cory Cleveland (cory.cleveland@umontana.edu). Students interested in applying should email the following application materials (as a single PDF or Word document): 1) a current resume or CV, including GPA and test scores (if available); 2) a letter of interest, including research interests, professional goals and prior experience; and 3) contact information, including email addresses, of three potential references. Applications received by December 15, 2009 will be given preference, but the position will remain open until a successful candidate has been identified.

Posted 10/12/09

Graduate Assistantship: Bivalve Ecology

Subject: Graduate Assistantship/Invasive quagga mussels in the arid southwest

Institution: University of Nevada Las Vegas

An assistantship towards a Master degree of Public Health (MPH) is available in the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV). The candidate will work with federal, state, and local government agencies, as well as other research teams to monitor the life histories of quagga mussel (Dreissena bugensis) adults and veligers in Lake Mead and address the key environmental factors affecting these invasive mussels in this largest reservoir in the US (by volume). Invasive quagga mussels were discovered in Lake Mead on January 6, 2007. It is the first known occurrence of the dreissenid species in the western United States. Now it has been found in many ecosystems in the arid southwest region.

The final candidate needs to do field work to collect water and sediment samples in Lake Mead, summarize water quality data, enumerate quagga mussel veligers and adults, identify and count benthic samples, present research results in interagency meetings, and draft report to funding agencies. The funding is available for 2 years. Minimum requirements include 1) a Bachelor's degree in Ecology, Biology, Limnology, Chemistry, Environmental Sciences, or related field; 2) good physical condition; 3) safe driving history; 4) self-motivated personality; 5) working independently and interactively with a multidisciplinary team.

The position starts from January 2010 depending on the availability of qualified applicant. Interested students should send CV, letter describing their qualifications, contact list of three references, and unofficial transcripts to Dr. David Wong (David.Wong@unlv.edu), Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, University of Nevada at Las Vegas, 4505 Maryland Parkway Box 453064, Las Vegas NV 89154 (Tel: 702-895-2446/Fax: 702-895-5166). Electronic submission is preferred. The due date for application is December 7, 2009. More information about graduate studies at UNLV can be found at http://graduatecollege.unlv.edu/.

Posted 10/12/09

Graduate Assistantship in Freshwater Ecotoxicology

A graduate research assistantship (M.S. or Ph.D.) is available for a student to work on a project that examines how the diversity of freshwater species influences the transport and fate of nanoparticles through a food web.  The project is part of the new NSF/EPA funded Center for the Environmental Implications of Nanomaterials (CEIN), which brings together a team of engineers, medical doctors, and environmental scientists from several University of California campuses to study the biological impacts of nanomaterials from cells to ecosystems. 

The student will help set-up and manage the proposed experiments, as well as develop their own thesis or dissertation topic to compliment the broader goals of the project.  A background in ecology, environmental science, limnology, toxicology, or a related field is required. Experience working with freshwater organisms is preferred, but not required. 

UCSB is scenically located between the beach and mountains, and boasts a terrific quality of life.  Top-notch research facilities are available, and interaction with faculty in the Institute for Computational Earth System Science, the Bren School of Environment, the Marine Science Institute, and the National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis offers unparalleled opportunity for training that spans multiple disciplines and ecosystems.

The assistantship offers a competitive stipend plus tuition and health insurance.  Applications are due to the University of California-Santa Barbara's Graduate Division (https://www.graddiv.ucsb.edu/eapp/) by December 15th.

Pre-inquiries should be directed to:
Dr. Bradley J. Cardinale
Email: cardinale@lifesci.ucsb.edu
http://www.lifesci.ucsb.edu/eemb/faculty/cardinale

UCSB is an Equal Opportunity/ Affirmative Action Employer

Posted 10/7/09

Grad Student Postitions: Ph.D. Fellowships in Ecosystem Restoration

The State University of New York at Buffalo (UB) encourages qualified individuals to apply for doctoral study in ecosystem restoration. The Ecosystem Restoration through Interdisciplinary Exchange (ERIE) program provides students with the technical, professional, and personal skills necessary to become leaders in the rapidly advancing field of ecosystem restoration.  The ERIE Program is innovative and interdisciplinary, combining academic training in environmental sciences, engineering, and policy with focused research on ecological restoration linked to nationally-recognized watershed and stream restoration efforts in western New York State and the lower Great Lakes watershed.

Eligible ERIE students (US citizens or permanent residents only) are funded through a National Science Foundation IGERT traineeship (www.igert.org) that provides tuition, a generous stipend, and a research allowance for two years of Ph.D. graduate work, followed by additional support through departmental assistantships. ERIE Program trainees take several core courses in ecosystem restoration principles and practice, attend external professional training short courses, and have the opportunity for Canadian academic exchange activities, while also completing requirements for a doctorate in any of the eight participating science, engineering, and policy programs at the University at Buffalo or at nearby Buffalo State College.

Applications are due February 1, 2010 for admission in the Fall 2010 semester. For program and application information, please visit www.erie.buffalo.edu or contact:

David M. Blersch
Director, ERIE IGERT Program
State University of New York at Buffalo
202 Jarvis Hall
Buffalo, NY 14260
Phone: (716) 645-4001
Email: igert-erie@buffalo.edu

Posted 10/6/09

Graduate Assistantship in Freshwater Ecology

A graduate research assistantship (M.S. or Ph.D.) is available for a student to work on a newly funded National Science Foundation project that examines the relationship between species diversity and the productivity of aquatic ecosystems.  The goal of this project is to resolve two contrasting perspectives - one that suggests species diversity is a primary determinant of the productivity of ecosystems, and a second that suggests species diversity is simply a consequence of ecosystem production. The project will use stream ecosystems as a model, focusing on the diversity of both primary producers (freshwater algae) and consumers (invertebrate herbivores).  The work includes field and laboratory experiments, as well as a theoretical component through collaboration with Dr. Kevin Gross at North Carolina State University. 

The student will help set-up and manage the proposed experiments, as well as develop their own thesis or dissertation topic to compliment the broader goals of the project.  A background in ecology, environmental science, limnology, or a related field is required. Experience working with freshwater organisms is preferred, but not required.

UCSB is scenically located between the beach and mountains, and boasts a terrific quality of life.  Top-notch research facilities are available, and interaction with faculty in the Institute for Computational Earth System Science, the Bren School of Environment, the Marine Science Institute, and the National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis offers unparalleled opportunity for a graduate training that spans multiple disciplines and ecosystems.

The assistantship offers a competitive stipend plus tuition and health insurance.  Applications are due to the University of California-Santa Barbara's Graduate Division (https://www.graddiv.ucsb.edu/eapp/) by December 15th.

Pre-inquiries should be directed to:
Dr. Bradley J. Cardinale
Department of Ecology, Evolution & Marine Biology
Email: cardinale@lifesci.ucsb.edu
http://www.lifesci.ucsb.edu/eemb/faculty/cardinale

UCSB is an Equal Opportunity/ Affirmative Action Employer

Posted 10/6/09

GRADUATE STUDIES IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
AT VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY

The Department of Biology at Virginia Commonwealth University invites applications from prospective graduate students for Fall 2010. We have an active, well-supported, and diverse Ecology and Evolution faculty engaged in research in Virginia and around the world. Graduate students may apply through our Biology Masters in Science or Integrative Life Sciences Ph.D. programs. Competitive funding and tuition waivers are available to qualified students in both programs, and may include fellowships, and research/teaching assistantships. Please visit www.has.vcu.edu/bio/ to find information about both programs.

VCU is the largest public university in Virginia. We are located in Richmond, within easy reach of the Virginia coastal plain, Chesapeake Bay, James River, Virginia barrier islands and Blue Ridge Mountains, providing excellent opportunities for research in diverse natural systems. On campus research facilities include the Trani Center greenhouse, aquatics facility, and IACUC approved animal facility. A satellite lab of the Nucleic Acids Core Facility provides a broad range of support for molecular approaches.  The Environmental Analyses Laboratory provides state-of-the-art analytical services to support research in the environmental sciences. The Bioinformatics Computational Core Laboratory supports several supercomputing clusters and a research laboratory with access to state-of-the-art genomics and proteomics software and databases for research applications. In addition, VCU's Rice Center for Environmental Life Sciences, located 30 minutes from campus, encompasses 342 acres of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems along the James River. It provides an outstanding resource for field-based research by both faculty and graduate students in the department. Facilities include new office and lab space, conference center, and boat house. For more information, see www.vcu.edu/rice/.

Our graduate faculty in Ecology and Evolution include:
John E. Anderson, Remote Sensing and Environmental Biology
Bonnie L. Brown, Ecological and Conservation Genetics
Paul Bukaveckas, River and Ecosystems Ecology
Rodney J. Dyer, Population Genetics and Phylogeography
Michael Fine, Sensory Physiology and Ecology of Fishes
Rima B. Franklin, Microbial Ecology and Environmental Microbiology
Gregory C. Garman, Fish Ecology
Christopher M. Gough, Forest Ecophysiology and Ecosystem Ecology
Karen Kester, Insect Behavioral and Evolutionary Ecology
Ghislaine Mayer, Parasitology, Microbiology and Cell Biology
Leigh McCallister. Aquatic Ecology and Oceanography
Stephen McIninch, Fish Ecology
Maria C. Rivera, Computational Evolutionary Biology and Phylogenetics
Leonard A. Smock, Stream Ecology and Aquatic Entomology
J. "Clint" Turbeville, Animal Systematics and Evolution
James R. Vonesh, Population and Community Ecology
Donald R. Young, Plant Physiological Ecology

Competitive students have GPAs >3.0 and combined GRE scores 1,100 or greater. Experience, reference letters, and rationale for applying to the program are important elements of the application. Prospective students must apply through VCU's graduate school (http://www.vcu.edu/graduate/ps/admission.html) or through the Office of International Education (http://www.vcu.edu/oie/). For full financial consideration, applications must be received by January 15. Applicants that have identified faculty sponsors are more likely to be accepted and to receive financial support. Interested students are strongly encouraged to contact prospective mentors directly for more information, or graduate studies directors Dr. Jennifer K. Stewart (Biology MSc; www.has.vcu.edu/bio/graduate/, jstewart@vcu.edu) or Dr. Robert Tombes (Integrative LS PhD; www.vcu.edu/lifesci/phd/, rmtombes@vcu.edu).

Posted 9/30/09

NSF IGERT fellowships in "Watershed Science and Policy"

Southern Illinois University (SIU) is offering PhD fellowships under NSF's Integrative Graduate Education Research and Training (IGERT) program.  Fellowships are available to U.S. citizens and permanent residents in any water-, river- or watershed-related field of study, including Geology, Hydrology, Geography, Engineering, Plant Biology, Zoology, Ecology, and other areas.  Applicants should have a MS-level degree at the time of enrollment (direct PhD possible in cases of exceptional merit) and should have grades, test scores, and research records commensurate with one of NSF's most coveted fellowship awards.  Fellowship benefits include $30,000/year stipends, $10,500/year education allowances, student laptops, annual international river basin tours, and support for research, conference travel, etc.  Application deadline in Jan. 31, 2010.  For more information, please see http://www.igert.siu.edu or contact igert@siu.edu

Posted 9/27/09

GRADUATE ASSISTANTSHIPS IN AQUATIC ECOLOGY, BAYLOR UNIV.

The Aquatic Ecology Lab (http://www.baylor.edu/aquaticlab) at Baylor University is seeking applicants for up to two PhD graduate assistantships starting summer or fall 2010.  Applicants may apply to PhD programs in Biology (http://www.baylor.edu/biology/index.php?id=14903) or Ecological, Earth and Environmental Sciences (EEES) (http://www.baylor.edu/tieees).  Applicants may wish to apply to both programs to ensure full consideration for assistantships.

We are particularly interested in applicants who will structure their PhD
research within one or more of the following (or related) ongoing research
areas in the lab:

1)    The collective role of watershed physiography, upland vegetation, and riparian wetlands in constraining nutrient availability and energy pathways in small, salmon-rearing streams on the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska.
2)    How does nutrient enrichment influence biogeochemical processes in stream bacterial-algal (periphyton) communities?  How do consumers (macroinvertebrates and fish) interact with nutrient enrichment to influence stream biogeochemical processes?
3)    How have reduced hydrological connectivity and increased flow diversions and effluent discharges  influenced historical fish species distributions and genetic diversity in stream networks in Texas?

Baylor affords outstanding research and teaching facilities.  The Aquatic Ecology Lab is housed in the new 500,000 sq. ft Baylor Sciences Building and recently moved into brand-new expansion space to accommodate growth of the lab.  Student offices are situated adjacent to the lab and other aquatic teaching and research labs, most notably the Center for Reservoir and Aquatic Systems Research (http://www.baylor.edu/crasr), a state-of-the-art analytical laboratory supporting a suite of water, soil, and tissue chemical analyses.  A stable-isotope mass spectrometer lab available on-site for student research also is opening in spring 2009.  Off campus, the 180-acre Lake Waco Wetlands (http://www.lakewacowetlands.com) supports our new Baylor Experimental Aquatic Research (BEAR) outdoor stream facility (http://www.baylor.edu/aquaticlab/index.php?id=45868), one of the largest and most realistic experimental stream facilities in North America.  Baylor offers excellent financial support for highly qualified applicants.  Annual stipends range from $18,000-25,000, with the higher stipends awarded to top applicants.  Admission to either Biology or EEES PhD programs guarantees full tuition remission (up to a $20,000 value per year as of 2009), health insurance benefits, and additional funding opportunities to cover fees, books, etc.

To apply to Biology and/or EEES, please review university admission guidelines (http://www.baylor.edu/graduate/index.php?id=42273).  In addition to these application materials, applicants should possess an M.S. degree or substantial undergraduate research experience and a GRE verbal + quantitative score of 1200 or higher.  Applicants also much possess a U.S. driver's license.  If you meet these criteria and are interested in applying, please contact Dr. Ryan S. King (Ryan_S_King@baylor.edu) for more information.  For full consideration, applications must be received by FEBRUARY 15, 2010.

Posted 9/19/09

MS research assistantship - native springsnails and an invasive snail

*Job Description*: There is funding for a MS student to work in the lab of David Rogowski at Texas Tech University on a project entitled, "Native springsnails and the invasive red-rim melania snail (Melanoides tuberculata), species habitat associations and life history investigations in the San Solomon Spring complex, Texas". The objectives of this research is to determine patterns of abundance, distribution, and habitat use of two native snails, Phantom Cave snail (Cochliopa texana), Phantom Spring tryonia (Tryonia cheatumi), and the invasive red-rim melania snail (Melanoides tuberculta) in San Solomon Springs, and potential interactions. Both native snails are State Listed Priority and Federal Candidate species. San Solomon Springs is located in Balmorhea State Park, in west Texas. More information on the project and my lab can be found at http://www.rw.ttu.edu/rogowski/rogowski_research.html

*Location*: Department of Natural Resources, Texas Tech University, Lubbock TX.

*Stipend*: ~$15,000/year, with tuition waiver. Student fees and health insurance (if you want it) come out of the stipend.

*Start date*: January 2010

*Qualifications*: BS in ecology/biology, with an emphasis in aquatic ecology. Applicant should be motivated, have a strong work ethic, and play well with others. Applicants with field research experience preferred, and those with macroinvertebrate sampling/identification experience will be given a priority.

*Application Procedure*: Interested applicants should send a cover letter explaining their interest along with a CV and GRE scores to the e-mail address below. Our Department requires: GPA, GRE scores (>1100 favored), 3 letters of reference, C.V. Information on formal application as an MS candidate can be found at http://www.rw.ttu.edu/ttunrm/

I will be accepting applications until 4 December 2009 or until a suitable candidate is selected.

David Rogowski
Assistant Professor
Department of Natural Resources Management
Texas Tech University
Box 42125
Lubbock, Texas 79409-2125 USA

david.rogowski@ttu.edu

Dept. phone:806-742-2841
http://www.rw.ttu.edu/ttunrm/

Posted 9/18/09

GAANN PhD Fellowships: Ecology, Evolution, and Genomics in Changing Environments
KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY, MANHATTAN

The Division of Biology at Kansas State University has been awarded new funding from the US Department of Education GAANN program to support up to seven Graduate Fellows for PhD research in the areas of Ecology, Evolution and Genomics (EEG).  The Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need (GAANN) program provides fellowships to assist graduate students with excellent academic records who can demonstrate financial need.  EEG GAANN Fellowships include tuition and a stipend of up to $30,000 per year (based on financial need).

The Ecology, Evolution and Genomics GAANN draws on the strengths of our Ecological Genomics Institute (http://ecogen.ksu.edu), expertise in Grassland Ecology, and Konza Prairie Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) program (http://kpbs.konza.ksu.edu).  Areas of study open to Graduate Fellows include: 

   -Molecular and Physiological Basis of Organismal Adaptation
   -Genetic Architecture of Speciation
   -Population Structure of Grassland Species
   -Conservation Genetics
   -Ecological Genomics
   -Metagenomics
   -Community Ecology
   -Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecosystem Ecology.

GAANN awards are made to programs and institutions to sustain and enhance the capacity for teaching and research in areas of national need.  The interdisciplinary GAANN program in Biology at Kansas State University will address the critical need to train biologists to be effective teachers and skilled researchers in diverse professional and cultural contexts.  One outcome of the GAANN program will be to train graduate students who are capable of addressing important conceptual and practical issues in interdisciplinary research in the biological sciences. 

The application deadline for admission in Fall 2010 is December 15, 2009.  Applicants must be citizens or permanent residents of the United States or its territories.  Individuals from groups underrepresented in science are particularly encouraged to apply!  For application instructions and additional information, visit:  www.k-state.edu/eeg.

Doris R. Merrill, dmerrill@k-state.edu
Program Coordinator, Kansas State University
Division of Biology, Ackert Hall
Manhattan, KS  66506-4901
Phone: (785) 532-3482, Fax: (785) 532-6653

Posted 9/16/09

Ph.D. student position: community ecology/macroecology

The Ernest Lab at Utah State University has an opening for a Ph.D student in the general areas of Community Ecology or Macroecology to start fall 2010.  Active areas of research in the Ernest lab include desert ecology, long-term dynamics of community properties, and the role of body size in the ecology and life-history of mammals. While students interested in one of the general areas listed above are preferred, students are free to develop their own research projects depending upon their interests. Graduate students in the Ernest lab are funded through a combination of research assistantships, teaching assistantships, and fellowships.  Utah State University has an excellent graduate program in ecology with over 50 faculty and 80+ graduate students across campus affiliated with the USU Ecology Center (http://www.usu.edu/ecology/). 

More information about the lab is available at: ernestlab.weecology.org

Interested students should contact Dr. Morgan Ernest (morgane@biology.usu.edu) by Dec 1st, 2009 with their CV, GRE scores, and a brief statement of research interests.

Posted 9/15/09

PhD Graduate Research Position
Population dynamics in desert stream ecosystems
Department of Zoology, Oregon State University

The Lytle Lab at Oregon State University (science.oregonstate.edu/lytlelab) seeks a highly motivated PhD student to pursue doctoral research as part of a collaborative project that aims to understand how flow intermittence and landscape connectivity govern the population dynamics of aquatic invertebrates and amphibians in southern Arizona streams. The student will use fieldwork (population surveys, habitat measurements) and laboratory methods (mtDNA and microsatellites) to understand how hydrologic connectivity influences the population dynamics of aquatic organisms. The successful applicant will be advised by Dr. Dave Lytle (Department of Zoology, Oregon State University, Corvallis), and will work closely with researchers from University of Washington, State University of New York, and partners in Arizona including AZ Game and Fish Department and The Nature Conservancy.

Qualifications: BS or MS in ecology, zoology, or related field with competitive GPA and GRE scores. Priority will be given to applicants with previous experience studying aquatic invertebrates (biology, ecology, and sampling techniques), quantitative skills, and/or a background in molecular methods such as mtDNA or microsatellite analysis. A demonstrated ability to publish in peer-reviewed journals and experience conducting research in arid and semi-arid ecosystems is preferred, but not required.

Location: The position will be located within the Department of Zoology, Oregon State University. Zoology houses expertise in ecology, evolution, physiology, and genomics of aquatic and terrestrial organisms. Corvallis is home to a productive community of aquatic biologists, distributed across the OSU campus and at regional research labs for the EPA, USGS, and USFS. OSU maintains the largest insect collection in the Pacific Northwest (osac.science.oregonstate.edu) and is among the top-ranked North American universities for conservation biology and ecology/evolutionary biology.

Funding: The position will be funded primarily by graduate research assistantships (GRAs), with the opportunity to hold a teaching assistantship (GTA) during some academic quarters. The Department of Zoology guarantees 5 years of support for PhD students.

Start date: Fall 2010 (Summer 2010 preferred)

Contact: To apply email a cover letter that addresses your interest and experience, curriculum vitae, unofficial transcripts, and contact information for at least three references to: Dr. Dave Lytle, lytleda@oregonstate.edu. Screening of applicants will occur prior to the Zoology application deadline on January 15, 2010. OSU is an equal opportunity employer and actively seeks diversity among its employees.

Posted 9/3/09

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