Description
Monarch butterfly populations have experienced dramatic declines in North America over the past two decades. This project is part of a broad collaboration that seeks to identify and mitigate factors associated with these declines.
Specifically, one M.S. assistantship is available to work with behavioral ecologists, entomologists, and theoretical modelers to understand how the distances at which monarchs perceive resources (flowering plants and
milkweed) could influence reproductive success at a landscape scale. This position will start as early as spring of 2018 in the Adelman and Sappington labs at Iowa State University, as part of the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Interdepartmental Graduate Program and/or the Departments of Entomology and Natural Resource Ecology and Management.
Qualifications
Official qualifications can be found on the EEB website here, https://eeb.iastate.edu/admissions/#admission-standards
However, in evaluation of candidates, highest weights will be given to letters of recommendation and prior research experience. Desired qualifications include excellent writing abilities, strong quantitative skills, and experience in animal behavior.
Stipend and Other Information
Stipend is approximately $24,000 per year. The student will receive health insurance and a waiver of 50% of graduate tuition. Graduate admissions to the NREM department are processed on a rolling basis, so review of applications will begin immediately and continue until a suitable applicant is found.
To apply, please email me the following documents: a cover letter describing professional interests and career goals, a curriculum vita, copies of all college transcripts and GRE scores, and the names, phone numbers, and email addresses of at least three references.
Contact
Dr. James S. Adelman, Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management, Iowa State University, adelmanj@iastate.edu.