Graduate Student Opportunity (MSc or PhD) – Algae Biofuel; Aquatic Ecology Location: New Mexico State University (NMSU), Las Cruces, NM
The Department of Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Ecology at New Mexico State University (NMSU) seeks a motivated Master’s (MSc) or Doctorate (PhD) Student to participate in a Department of Energy (DOE)- funded project aimed to increase algal biomass productivity through the design of microbial consortia. The project was developed in response to the Bioenergy Technologies’ Office (BETO) Productivity Enhanced Algae and Tool-Kits (PEAK) FOA (http://bit.ly/2HBN1i4).
Duties: The student will compare the productivity and stability of bacteria-algae combinations that were designed by researchers at the Los Alamos National Laboratory and New Mexico Consortium to that of algal monocultures through outdoor raceway trials in Las Cruces, NM. The student will be responsible for algal cultivation, daily sample collection, and laboratory analyses as well as occasional weekend duties. In addition, the student will design and conduct their own research according to interest.
Desired qualifications: Technical (electrical and computer) skills and abilities to trouble-shoot and make minor repairs to outdoor algae raceways; basic knowledge of cell biology, microbiology, molecular biology, ecology, and statistics; willingness to work independently as well as in a team, including outdoors in hot and cold weather; ability to lift 50 lbs; display common sense, awareness for safety, and efficiency.
Travel to scientific meetings is encouraged and will be funded.
The application deadline is October 31 and the starting date is either January 15, 2019 (spring semester) or August 15, 2019 (fall semester). The successful applicant will have to apply to NMSU graduate school. For further information or to submit your application (letter of interest, curriculum vitae, transcripts, GRE scores, and contact information of three references) contact:
Dr. Wiebke Boeing
Department of Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Ecology New Mexico State University
2980, South Espina; 132, Knox Hall
Las Cruces, NM, 88003-0003
(575) 646-1707