Graduate Assistantships and Fellowships Available
 Purdue University

The Department of Entomology at Purdue University is recruiting outstanding students for MS and Ph.D. programs. Prospective students are invited to apply, and to visit the department in West Lafayette, Indiana.

The Department will cover costs of travel, hotel and a meal allowance for top applicants to visit campus during March of 2018.

Our more than 20 faculty have interests that span basic and applied entomology, encompassing the following broad themes:
* Biological control
* Insect biochemistry and cell biology
* Insect-plant interactions
* Integrated pest and resistance management * Landscape ecology * Molecular, behavioral, and population genetics * Systematic entomology * Urban and industrial entomology * Vector biology * Invasive Species

Interested students should contact prospective faculty before applying:
https://ag.purdue.edu/entm/Pages/FacultyDirectory.aspx

For additional details about graduate study at Purdue, please visit:
http://www.entm.purdue.edu/prospective-grads/index.html
http://www.entm.purdue.edu/EGO/

Contact Ms. Amanda Wilson, Graduate Program Assistant, apendle@purdue.edu, for application materials and administrative information.


Students must apply by January 5, 2018 to be considered for both assistantships and travel awards.

Master’s Student Opportunity at the CBFenster Lab, SDSU

Project: Predict mutational effects using comparative genomic approaches

Research Area: Evolutionary Genomics of mutation at Arabidopsis thaliana

Location: South Dakota State University, Department of Biology and
Microbiology/Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Brookings, SD

Mutations, the ultimate source of all genetic variation, provide the
substrate that fuels evolution.  However, most mutational input to genetic
variation is subsequently eliminated by selection or drift in natural
populations.  Why some mutations are eliminated and others preserved or
fixed in natural populations and whether there is a correlation between
the preservation of a given mutation and the magnitude of the mutation
effect are key questions in biology.

Equipped with the most comprehensive mutation profile of a plant species,
Arabidopsis thaliana, the CBFenster lab (charlesbfenster.wordpress.com)
in collaboration with Xijin Ge’s lab (http://secure-web.cisco.com/1hbrwwjHjlbJqjgJmC0TxFSUbmG_E_vA2WFBk2kSoazcAR3GCl0Jj2dTKX3xLY2w4IbBkeBEpfTaB1nXpkSBvo1JEnvOgbl_UPAqEIH7mAWSFRh6c9RsnzUwAYF97k5S-SrkhnSBinzdnbTuPxqmztBO6-5ddyjCpg_TkxVnFUraDk5vhq88DthGCj2vqTZa1QttupvQt5MAIVq0fHW_3Ydqf10gECV1YPF5G7PIpK2yyPx5vZIM_KZ8LVpZB8CRZK8Ml4yGKedT6eU9tEKBrfkSI8ZTWwqEBdqGVam4il8H-yzOvfmMGGlGFiaJDFE1cYkMD1Y-oxcEBq9WjSCuYxlpNqYxf7HEF1XpSOFV8Vnj6MKv2Eks0WDuJARwWc2yWfH4SO2CfzpC2XCJux8nRfoYTn6KfXf03m2XHvo_zAgLE94VHTJWdGTAQFQnVKBsx/http%3A%2F%2Fge-lab.org%2F%29, both
at South Dakota State University, provides a great opportunity for
graduate students to study spontaneous mutations using computational
tools.  The collaboration reflects a joint mentoring opportunity
from biological and mathematical/statistical perspectives and will
include mentoring by Dr. Mao-Lun Weng, a postdoc on the project
(https://maolunweng.wordpress.com/). Sequence data reflect a joint
collaboration among the Fenster (SDSU), Rutter (CoC), Weigel (Max Planck)
and Wright (U of Toronto) labs, funded by NSF.

The prospective student will investigate the effect of mutation at
protein-coding genes from protein structure and gene network perspectives.
Given an observed spontaneous mutation in mutation accumulation study,
the student will: (1)Use protein structure prediction algorithms
to simulate the protein structure from the mutated sequence and test
whether the mutation has strong effects on protein structure stability.
(2)Using a gene expression network investigate whether the mutation has
a potentially large effect on network connectivity.

We hypothesize deleterious mutations will detrimentally change protein
structure or be associated with proteins having high network connectivity.
We can validate these hypotheses by comparing the mutated protein-coding
genes in A. thaliana to other related species. If the mutated position
in the protein-coding gene also shows sequence variation among
related species, it suggests that this mutation did not have strong
effects, i.e. less deleterious.  Furthermore, we can compare overlap
of these mutations in the mutation accumulation study and in natural
populations. If mutations are deleterious, as predicted by protein
structure stability, they are less likely to be present in natural
populations.

This is a bioinformatics oriented project. The prospective student will
obtain skills of computational approaches to study protein structure
and gene network, and learn phylogenetic and population genetic theories
on mutations.

Students can begin as early as January 2018, but more likely summer or
fall 2018.

Funding will include teaching assistantship support and NSF funded
summer salary.

Please email all mentors if you are interested in the project:
charles.fenster@sdstate.edu; xijin.ge@sdstate.edu; maolun.weng@sdstate.edu

I am recruiting highly motivated and independent graduate students with strong quantitative skills to join my lab. The position/s will begin with fieldwork in the summer of 2018, before progressing to graduate classes at CSU in the fall. Research projects are broadly structured to understand phytochemical bases of honeybee health and related aspects. Knowledge of beekeeping is not required but is a plus. Successful candidates are expected be comfortable working with honey bees, performing regular hive maintenance, conducting behavioral and chemical assays in the lab, interacting with stake holders and extension personnel. Teaching and research assistantships are available. Please see the lab website for the different ongoing projects (https://pollinationbiologylab.wordpress.com/). Interested candidates are encouraged to send a preliminary application (CV, unofficial transcripts, GRE scores, contact information for three references) to Arathi Seshadri, Department of Soil and C
rop Sciences, Colorado State University, at arathi@colostate.edu.  Candidates should apply to the graduate program at the Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, College of Agriculture, (http://soilcrop.agsci.colostate.edu/) before March 1 2018. Candidates can also apply through the Graduate Degree Program in Ecology (http://www.ecology.colostate.edu/prospective.aspx) by Jan 1 2018.

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<div>I am recruiting highly motivated and independent graduate students with strong quantitative skills to join my lab. The position/s will begin with fieldwork in the summer of 2018, before progressing to graduate classes at CSU in the fall. Research projects
are broadly structured to understand phytochemical bases of honeybee health and related aspects. Knowledge of beekeeping is&nbsp;not required but is a plus. Successful candidates are expected be comfortable working with honey bees, performing regular hive maintenance,
conducting behavioral and chemical assays in the lab, interacting with stake holders and extension personnel. Teaching and research assistantships are available. Please see the lab website for the different&nbsp;ongoing projects (https://pollinationbiologylab.wordpress.com/).
Interested candidates are encouraged to send a preliminary application (CV, unofficial transcripts, GRE scores, contact information for three references) to Arathi Seshadri, Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Colorado State University, at&nbsp;arathi@colostate.edu.
&nbsp;Candidates should apply to the graduate program at the Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, College of Agriculture, (http://soilcrop.agsci.colostate.edu/) before March 1 2018. Candidates can also apply through the Graduate Degree Program in Ecology (http://www.ecology.colostate.edu/prospective.aspx)
by Jan 1 2018.&nbsp;</div>
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The Fuller lab at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is
looking for motivated graduate students interested in the evolution of
fishes. The Fuller lab focuses on two broad topics: (a) speciation in
fish as a function of local adaptation, chromosomal rearrangements, and
community structure and (b) the evolution of color patterns, color vision,
and sexual selection in different habitat types.  We use a variety of
approaches (fieldwork, lab experiments, sequencing, quantitative genetics)
in three main study systems: Lucania killifish, darters, and largemouth
bass. We are increasingly moving into genomics. Find out more about what
we do at our website (http://beckyfullerlab.weebly.com/). Students
can apply through either the Program in Ecology,
Evolution and Conservation(http://sib.illinois.edu/peec/)
or the Department of Animal Biology grad program
(http://www.life.illinois.edu/animalbiology/graduate_program.htm).
Applications are due by December 15, 2017 for full consideration for
graduate college fellowships and the deadline for general consideration
is January 1, 2018.

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign also offers
state-of-the-art research facilities in imaging, genomics, and
engineering.  Urbana-Champaign is a pleasant, affordable, university
town with good music and restaurants.  It has its own airport and is
close to three major U.S. cities (Chicago, Indianapolis, St. Louis).

The University of Illinois and the Fuller lab are committed to a diverse
workplace, and prospective students of all races, genders, and sexual
orientations are encouraged to apply.

Email Becky Fuller (fuller@life.illinois.edu) for more information.

fuller@life.illinois.edu

The Fowler Lab at George Mason University’s newly constructed Potomac Science Center in Woodbridge, VA is recruiting a PhD student in aquatic invertebrate ecology to begin August 2018 (https://esp.gmu.edu/faculty- staff/core-faculty-bios/amy-fowler/).

The student will pursue a PhD in the Department of Environmental Science and Policy (https://esp.gmu.edu/) supported by a research assistantship for two years (details below). Our current research focuses on biodiversity, phenotypic plasticity, parasitology, and community and population level interactions of aquatic invertebrates, especially those concerning invasions. Research in our lab spans freshwater, brackish, and marine ecosystems and includes field and laboratory experiments and environmental monitoring. The assistantship will include substantial flexibility in research topic, within the general realms of aquatic invertebrate ecology, including possible collaboration with other mentors within the PEREC (Potomac Environmental Research and Education
Center) research group (http://cos.gmu.edu/perec/#.Wilyr2hSz4Y).

The Ph.D. assistantship includes a yearly stipend of $14,500, a tuition waiver (12 credit hours of in-state tuition/semester) and health insurance for two years. Required qualifications include a minimum GPA of 3.5 on all undergraduate or graduate (if entering with a M.S.) coursework and GRE scores exceeding the 50th percentile. Prior research experience in aquatic ecology as well as proficient writing and speaking skills are preferred. Priority will be given to applicants with an M.S.
degree, but exceptional applicants at the B.S. level will also be considered.

PEREC, located at the Potomac Science Center (Woodbridge, VA), is an interdisciplinary and collaborative laboratory group featuring research programs in chemistry, ecology, geology, environmental science and education. Research program support includes state-of-the-art laboratory facilities and instrumentation, a wet laboratory, and a fleet of small and large research vessels. Additional information on the graduate program in Environmental Science and Policy can be found here:
https://esp.gmu.edu/academic-programs/graduate/programs/.

Interested students should contact Dr. Amy Fowler (afowler6@gmu.edu) before applying to GMU. In your email, please include a copy of your CV (including GRE scores), a brief (<500 words) description of research interests, unofficial undergraduate and graduate transcripts, and contact information for three professional references. Review of applicants will begin immediately. For full consideration, submit all materials prior to January 5, 2018.

Seaside Center Summer Naturalists (2)

APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED BEGINNING DECEMBER 2017.
Seasonal, full-time position. Old Greenwich, CT

13 weeks beginning early June  through early September, 2018
35 hours per week, 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM (one-hour unpaid lunch break), Tuesday – Sunday, with flex day off. Must work weekends,  July 4, and Labor Day Monday.  There may be times, especially at the beginning and end of term, that fall outside the Tues. – Sun. schedule.

Position and Responsibilities:

The Naturalists for the Bruce Museum Seaside Center at Greenwich Point Park are responsible for the operation and care of the building and marine touch tanks, under the supervision of Museum staff and in cooperation with the Town of Greenwich. The Naturalists are responsible for the development, implementation, staffing and evaluation of educational programs at the Seaside Center as well as the supervision of interns, volunteers and the general public.

These positions require a high degree of independence, managing the public and groups of all ages, working in a marine environment, being able to operate a vehicle, and dealing with facilities that are unequipped to accommodate the physically challenged.

The position reports to Manager of Seaside Center (and other museum staff as appropriate, e.g. manager of School/ Community Partnerships, Volunteer Program Manager, Exhibitions Design, Curator of Science, Finance or Facilities Maintenance). Comp/flex-time, as approved by supervisor.

Illustrative Examples of Work:
*Oversees the operation of the Seaside Center as part of a two-person team.
*Responsible for the supervision and scheduling of interns and volunteers.
*Monitors budgets under supervision of Museum staff.
*Keeps accurate records on Seaside Center attendance and volunteer hours.
*Files weekly reports, as well as a season-end report to the Manager of Seaside Center with attendance figures, volunteer hours, daily activities, building maintenance, etc.
*Coordinates activities and building maintenance with the appropriate Town of Greenwich officials through appropriate Museum staff, including beach access for interns, volunteers and special groups.
*Schedules and organizes groups in coordination with the Bruce Museum Seaside Center Manager.
*Develops education programs for general visitors, group visits, and special public programs (i.e. nature walks, seining activities, workshops, crafts, etc.).
*Trains, schedules and evaluates interns and volunteers.
*Maintains saltwater aquaria and responsible for the care and feeding of marine life.
*Maintains daily cleanliness of Seaside Center facility.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Traits:
*Demonstrated management skills.
*Teaching experience.
*Knowledge of marine life and environmental science and ability to handle natural history collection objects in accordance with general museum practices.
*Knowledge of informal and museum/naturalist education methods.
*Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
*Computer literate.
*Familiarity with general office procedures.
*Current driver’s license.
*US citizens only.

Recommended Education and Experience:
*Bachelor’s degree in science, education, museum studies or related field.
*Ability to work with children and adults of all ages.
*Knowledge of marine and terrestrial ecosystems.

Compensation $12 – $15/hour, dependent on experience.

Send cover letter and resume by 4/1/2018 to: Cynthia Ehlinger, Seaside Center Manager, Bruce Museum, 1 Museum Drive, Greenwich, CT 06830, or cynthiae@brucemuseum.org.