Graduate student (MSci) opportunities in the Yoder Lab
The Yoder Lab at California State University Northridge seeks exceptional,
motivated candidates for the M.S. program in Biology. The lab opens in fall
2017 to study the coevolution of interacting species, particularly how
mutualists shape each others’ genomic diversity, and how interactions
between species can help or hinder adaptation to abiotic factors like
climate.
Our research particularly focuses on the yucca-yucca moth brood pollination
mutualism and the legume-rhizobium nitrogen fixation symbiosis, using
population genetics and genomics, phylogenetics, ecological fieldwork and
greenhouse experiments, and both mathematical and simulation-based
modeling. Planned projects include population genomic study of adaptation
to extreme climates and specialized polliantors by Joshua tree (Yucca
brevifolia and Y. jaegeriana) and experiments to study climate adaptation
in barrel medick (Medicago truncatula). Students will be encouraged to
develop independent projects with these or other local systems.
CSUN and the Department of Biology offer graduate student support in the
form of teaching assistantships and a variety of fellowships and aid
programs. Research assistantships for up to one year of the two-year
Master’s program will also be available through startup funding, and
students will work with the PI to identify and apply for external support
such as the National Science Foundation Graduate Student Research
Fellowship.
CSUN is in the San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles, surrounded by natural
habitats ranging from coastal chaparral to the Mojave Desert and montane
woodlands, and within a short commute of Santa Monica and Hollywood. CSUN
was recently recognized by Nature as one of the top 25 Rising Institutions
for Research in North America, and the Biology department has a reputation
for turning out excellent Master’s students who often continue on to
top-tier Ph.D. programs. The Yoder Lab is part of the Ecology & Evolution
program, and our research offers connections to the department’s other
programs in Molecular, Cellular, and Physiological Biology, Marine Biology,
Microbiology, and Genetics and Developmental Biology.
Ideal candidates will have previous research experience, familiarity with
the R programming language, and a passion for science. Interested students
should contact PI Jeremy Yoder at jbyoder@gmail.com. In your email, please
describe your research interests, any previous research experience, and
your career goals. Include a CV, if possible. Formal applications require
GRE scores and transcripts, and are due February 15, though exceptions may
be possible. The Yoder Lab values diversity, and members of groups
under-represented in ecology and evolutionary biology are especially
encouraged to apply.
For more information, consult the Yoder Lab website: http://lab.jbyoder.org
Full text of this ad with supporting links is at:
http://lab.jbyoder.org/graduate-student-msci-opportunities-in-the-yoder-lab
—
*Jeremy B. Yoder*
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Dept. of Forest and Conservation Sciences
University of British Columbia
jbyoder@mail.ubc.ca
jbyoder.org