Summer 2024 NSF-IRES (International Research Experience for Students) program in Argentina. The deadline is January 4, 2024.  Information can also be found here: https://www.eduardofernandez-duque.com/oportunities

The faculty of the Evolutionary Biology group in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of South Carolina are recruiting graduate students (M.S. and Ph.D.) to start in Fall 2024.

We seek applicants who are highly motivated and enthusiastic, keenly interested in evolutionary biology, and looking to join a dynamic group of evolutionary scientists.  Our department also has strengths in ecology, marine biology, neurobiology, and plant biology, and many of the evolution faculty participate in those groups as well.  More information about our Department can be found at https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.biol.sc.edu%2F&data=05%7C01%7Cmiranda.l.davis%40uconn.edu%7C5482a53de543463efd1c08dbcbd59c31%7C17f1a87e2a254eaab9df9d439034b080%7C0%7C0%7C638327890536092811%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=bMWZQcfL7bB3s1S5r4WIVXt7Uc5pBFFhruRLEyJYNmw%3D&reserved=0.

Graduate students in our program are guaranteed financial support through TA and RA appointments for five years, including tuition and health insurance.  Outstanding applicants will be nominated for a variety of university fellowships.

Applications should be submitted by December 1st to ensure full consideration for all funding opportunities.  Potential applicants should contact one or more of our faculty before the deadline to discuss their interests; students are admitted only with the endorsement of a faculty member.  This year, the USC Graduate School has waived application fees.  Additional information on our graduate program, including instructions on how to apply, can be found at https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fsc.edu%2Fstudy%2Fcolleges_schools%2Fartsandsciences%2Fbiological_sciences%2Fstudy%2Fgraduate%2F&data=05%7C01%7Cmiranda.l.davis%40uconn.edu%7C5482a53de543463efd1c08dbcbd59c31%7C17f1a87e2a254eaab9df9d439034b080%7C0%7C0%7C638327890536092811%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=Jf0WnWZOpaEFJi4LKvdxBE58%2FQx%2Bg5Rid6JZbVoIMcc%3D&reserved=0.

The members of the Evolution Group, their areas of interest, and links to websites are below.

Labs potentially considering applicants this year include:

Carol Boggs (boggscl@mailbox.sc.edu) (Considering M.S. candidates only)

Evolutionary ecology & genetics; physiology, resource allocation, invasions, small populations.  See https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fboggslab.org%2F&data=05%7C01%7Cmiranda.l.davis%40uconn.edu%7C5482a53de543463efd1c08dbcbd59c31%7C17f1a87e2a254eaab9df9d439034b080%7C0%7C0%7C638327890536092811%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=OBjMKXcImhHB17jbOptvIIt%2BXFxddihGu1ErcS8SdFE%3D&reserved=0

Jeff Dudycha (dudycha@biol.sc.edu)

Evolutionary ecology & genetics; life history, phenotypic plasticity, diversification, vision/eyes, mutation.  See https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tangledbank.org%2F&data=05%7C01%7Cmiranda.l.davis%40uconn.edu%7C5482a53de543463efd1c08dbcbd59c31%7C17f1a87e2a254eaab9df9d439034b080%7C0%7C0%7C638327890536092811%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=TuI4UsGV3iQw8IqRL%2FZJyLuRR%2F4X6Sypl4o5B1ruM1A%3D&reserved=0

Bert Ely (ely@biol.sc.edu)

Evolutionary microbiology & genomics.  See https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fresearch.cas.sc.edu%2Fely%2F&data=05%7C01%7Cmiranda.l.davis%40uconn.edu%7C5482a53de543463efd1c08dbcbd59c31%7C17f1a87e2a254eaab9df9d439034b080%7C0%7C0%7C638327890536092811%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=94SWvDO%2FLD%2BGtPrYS1vP%2FPBWw%2BSFfmV6Ai57zmyMxXU%3D&reserved=0

Brian Hollis (brian.hollis@sc.edu)

Evolutionary genetics; sexual selection and sexual conflict, experimental evolution.  See https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fexperimentalevolution.org%2F&data=05%7C01%7Cmiranda.l.davis%40uconn.edu%7C5482a53de543463efd1c08dbcbd59c31%7C17f1a87e2a254eaab9df9d439034b080%7C0%7C0%7C638327890536092811%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=i5cVKEsctx0pkti%2F285%2FLi5RamwJmE8IzciiLkNr8G8%3D&reserved=0

Tim Mousseau (mousseau@sc.edu)

Evolutionary ecology & genetics; ecological and
evolutionary consequences of radioactive contaminants.   See
https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fsc.edu%2Fstudy%2Fcolleges_schools%2Fartsandsciences%2Fbiological_sciences%2Four_people%2Fdirectory%2Fmousseau_timothy.php&data=05%7C01%7Cmiranda.l.davis%40uconn.edu%7C5482a53de543463efd1c08dbcbd59c31%7C17f1a87e2a254eaab9df9d439034b080%7C0%7C0%7C638327890536092811%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=JEHlkyI6ix18biG8uZ92XnBF9CvBRfwMrj%2BcyvBF56M%3D&reserved=0

Dan Speiser (speiser@mailbox.sc.edu),

Sensory ecology, neuroethology, physiology, and macroevolution.
See https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.speiserlab.com%2F&data=05%7C01%7Cmiranda.l.davis%40uconn.edu%7C5482a53de543463efd1c08dbcbd59c31%7C17f1a87e2a254eaab9df9d439034b080%7C0%7C0%7C638327890536092811%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=wByIWobmL8ic%2Ffy2uWsZU7E4kFyCDavEqPIAJVLzEvI%3D&reserved=0

…and joining our faculty in January 2024,

Kathy Toll (ktoll@mailbox.sc.edu)

Evolutionary ecology & genetics; local adaptation, habitat segregation, plant ecology.  See https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fscholar.google.com%2Fcitations%3Fuser%3DgjxiWO4AAAAJ%26hl%3Den&data=05%7C01%7Cmiranda.l.davis%40uconn.edu%7C5482a53de543463efd1c08dbcbd59c31%7C17f1a87e2a254eaab9df9d439034b080%7C0%7C0%7C638327890536092811%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=rC%2B1sSAeFwnxGUoi%2BpqTsHy6UZ3nkBctabMGGTT3l00%3D&reserved=0.

Additional Labs in the Evolutionary Biology Group are not considering new grad students this year, but contribute to the educational environment for graduate students in evolutionary biology.  These labs include:

Jerry Hilbish: Evolutionary ecology & genetics; hybrid zones & speciation, species ranges, climate change

Joe Quattro: Evolutionary genetics; population & conservation genetics of rare/threatened aquatic animals

Carrie Wessinger:  Genetics/genomics of adaptation, parallel evolution, plant speciation.

Our department is located in the heart of Columbia, South Carolina, a metropolitan area of 750,000 people (and 186,000 dogs!).  Columbia (“Cola”
or “Soda City” to locals) enjoys more than 300 days of sunshine annually and has ready access to clean beaches, lakes, rivers, and mountains.
Congaree National Park, Sesquicentennial State Park, Lake Murray, and Harbison State Forest offer excellent wilderness areas nearby, along with several greenways on the city’s three rivers.  The Famously Hot/Surprisingly Cool city hosts historical and cultural attractions, performing arts and sporting events, and many annual festivals including the Rosewood Crawfish Festival, the Indie Grits Film Festival, the Famously Hot SC Pride Festival, and Reggaetronic, a floating music festival on Lake Murray.  See https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.experiencecolumbiasc.com%2F&data=05%7C01%7Cmiranda.l.davis%40uconn.edu%7C5482a53de543463efd1c08dbcbd59c31%7C17f1a87e2a254eaab9df9d439034b080%7C0%7C0%7C638327890536092811%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=p%2B6A%2BZ2oRR2NIwogBLb3nk5IORSlZH1YZfEGaymipj8%3D&reserved=0
for more information.

Hi Everyone,

Please help us recruit the next class of Pathway Summer Interns (and potential future NRCS full-time employees) by sharing these vacancy announcements with your alma mater and any other groups or people to help us cast a wide net!

Here are the links for the Student Trainee positions:

Student Trainee (Engineer) – https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/753483300

Student Trainee (Soil Con) – https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/753442300

They opened on 10/11 and close out on 10/26/2023.

The Hembry Lab in the Department of Biology at the University of Texas Permian Basin is recruiting three (3) master’s students to fill paid research positions in the evolutionary ecology of insect-plant interactions, supported by an NSF BRC-BIO grant to Dr. David Hembry. I am expecting to fill 1-2 positions in Fall 2024 and the remaining positions in Spring 2025 and/or Fall 2025.

Research in the Hembry Lab primarily focuses on the evolution and ecology of species interactions, with particular focus on brood pollination symbioses between leafflower plants (family Phyllanthaceae) and leafflower moths (genus Epicephala). This relationship is usually mutualistic, with the moths pollinating their host plants and the moths’ caterpillars eating a subset of the host’s seeds. However, this mutualism has also repeatedly evolved to become parasitic, in which the moths cease to pollinate their host plants. All three open master’s positions concern the biology of this mutualism-parasitism transition, and especially focus on the biology of parasitic leafflower moths found in the United States.

I am recruiting applicants to work on the following three projects:

– Two MS students will conduct research on the population genomics and phylogeography of leafflower moths and their host plants in the southern United States. One student will focus on cophylogeography of a widely distributed species pair (the leafflower Nellica polygonoides and its undescribed moth species) in Texas, New Mexico, and Oklahoma. The other student will examine host-associated population divergence of an undescribed leafflower moth species on its three host plants (native leafflowers Phyllanthus evanescens and Moeroris abnormis and the recently introduced Moeroris fraternus) in Texas, Louisiana, and Florida. Both students will have training visits to the laboratory of Dr. Katrina Dlugosch (University of Arizona). These projects will involve a roughly equal mixture of fieldwork, labwork, and computer-based analyses.

– One MS student will conduct research on the bacterial microbiomes of leafflower moths, examining variation in microbiomes among host plant genera and across the mutualism-parasitism transition. This student will be co-advised by Dr. David Hembry and Dr. Athenia Oldham (Department of Biology, UT Permian Basin), and will have a training visit to the laboratory of Dr. Gordon Bennett (University of California, Merced). This project will primarily consist of labwork and computer-based analyses, with some fieldwork.

Each of the three master’s projects is designed to result in a single first-authored peer-reviewed manuscript for the student.

These are paid positions for which recruited applicants will receive four semesters of stipend, two years of summer salary, and have four semesters of tuition and fees covered. Costs associated with fieldwork, labwork, and the training visits to larger institutions for each student are also covered by the grant. Each student will also have the opportunity to mentor a UTPB undergraduate for at least one summer in research.

Desired qualifications:
– Interest in evolution, ecology, species interactions, symbiosis, or
  coevolution
– Undergraduate degree (received or expected) in biology or a
  related field
– Prior research experience, especially in biology (fieldwork or
  labwork) or another natural science
– Knowledge of statistics or programming (especially R or Python) is
  fantastic but neither expected nor required.

These are good positions for students interested in:
– Evolutionary ecology, species interactions, coevolution, mutualism,
  parasitism, and evolution
– Insects and/or native plants
– Fieldwork in the south central and southeastern United States
– Pursuing a master’s degree in evolution or ecology in advance of
  applying to a PhD program
– Learning about bioinformatic methods and the use of next-generation
  sequence data in the lab and on the computer
– Mentoring of first-generation undergraduate students from diverse
  backgrounds in research

The University of Texas Permian Basin is a public university in the University of Texas System, located in Odessa, Texas where three ecoregions of Texas (the Llano Estacado, the Edwards Plateau, and the Chihuahuan Desert) converge. UT Permian Basin is a master’s level institution with an undergraduate population that is majority-first generation and majority-Hispanic/Latino. Odessa is part of the Odessa-Midland metropolitan area (population 340,000 with a domestic
airport) and is located 2.5 hours from Lubbock, 3 hours from Carlsbad Caverns and Guadalupe Mountains national parks, 4 hours from El Paso,
5 hours from Las Cruces, New Mexico and Big Bend National Park, and 6 hours from Austin and Dallas/Fort Worth.

To apply, please send Dr. David Hembry (hembry_d@utpb.edu) the following via e-mail:
(1) a short statement (1-2 paragraphs) explaining past research
    experiences and reasons for interest in the position;
(2) an up-to-date academic CV or resume; and
(3) names and e-mail addresses of two references who are prior mentors
    in biology or other natural sciences.

For full consideration, please send these materials by November 30, 2023. Informal inquiries before applying are welcomed, and very strongly encouraged. I am very happy to chat on Zoom with prospective applicants. Please write to Dr. David Hembry at hembry_d@utpb.edu to express interest and to ask questions.

Graduate research position in above and belowground multi-trophic interactions

The Mundim Lab at Utah State University is looking for enthusiastic graduate students (M.S. and Ph.D.) to begin Fall 2024. Research areas include plant-herbivore/parasite interactions and host-plant optimal defense, at the intersection of plant phytochemistry, entomology, nematology, population and spatial ecology, and evolution of species interactions. Students are welcome to bring/discuss their own original ideas or to work within the scope of the current projects in the lab, which include: the study of how belowground communities shape complex arrays of aboveground interactions; predictability and priority effects of plant responses to multiple herbivores; demographic responses of plant-animal interactions to disturbances/environmental variation.

The lab is highly interdisciplinary and candidates with experience and/or interest in plant-mediated interactions with aboveground and belowground partners/enemies are strongly encouraged to apply. Students will carry field work aimed at collecting insects, plants and soil organisms, conducting lab experiments, metabolomics and genomics analyses exploring chemical traits and genetic variation, and learning how to integrate these data using multiple statistical approaches.

Students will be funded via Teaching Assistantships and PI funds. However, I also strongly encourage applications for graduate research funding and doctoral dissertation improvement grants. In addition, students in the lab will be expected and supported to apply for additional funding opportunities from various sources in order to improve their grantsmanship skills.

To apply: Qualified candidates must contact Dr. Fabiane Mundim (fabiane.mundim@usu.edu) with the following information: 1) a letter of interest (one-page personal statement describing your scientific interests and career objectives), 2) a CV/resume (including GPA; unofficial transcripts are ok), and 3) contact information for two references. Prior to applying, students interested in joining the Mundim lab at USU are encouraged to review admission requirements (https://www.usu.edu/biology/students/graduate/prospective-students).

University, Community, and Lab: Utah State University is a student-centered land-grant and space-grant university. A core characteristic of USU is the engagement with community for economic development, improvements to quality of life, and human capital.

Our Biology Department (https://www.usu.edu/biology/) has a strong culture of collaboration across fields. The selected graduate student is expected and encouraged to interact with researchers from diverse fields as well as the community (farmers and stake holders).

The Mundim lab is a respectful and friendly environment that appreciates and welcomes the differences among us, whether in race, gender identification, sexual orientation, ethnicity, nationality, beliefs, or disabilities. In the Mundim lab we believe that a diverse group is essential to help us query the world from multiple perspectives and in inventive ways

Are you passionate about climate change education and looking to pursue a Master’s degree in biology education research? If so, we encourage you to apply to join the Holt lab at the University of Northern Colorado (https://www.unco.edu/nhs/biology/about-us/holt-emily/lab-home.aspx) to work on a biology education research NSF-funded project! The research will explore science undergraduate students’ acceptance of climate change and how their instructors define this acceptance. The prospective student would be funded by a teaching assistantship during the fall and spring semesters and receive one summer of research funding supported by the NSF grant. Please reach out to me for more details (emily.holt@unco.edu) and pass along to interested prospective MS students, we encourage applications to be submitted by 1 Jan 2024 for full consideration.

The Yang Lab (https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.yangya.org%2F&data=05%7C01%7Cmiranda.l.davis%40uconn.edu%7C67fddd43476a4e291ce808dbc7eceec7%7C17f1a87e2a254eaab9df9d439034b080%7C0%7C0%7C638323592660921043%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=EioIC4KxS%2FZgy7mqBYfUPX5CSATNygwTZ%2B3wps%2F%2BxzU%3D&reserved=0) at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is recruiting 1-2 graduate students to join our team in Fall 2024. We use phylogenetics and comparative transcriptomics and genomics to study plant systematics and the underlying mechanisms driving plant evolution. The lab mainly focuses on the plant groups Caryophyllales and Euphorbia, but students have the opportunity to develop their own independent projects. We provide competitive stipends and opportunities for teaching, research, and curatorial assistantships.

The University of Minnesota has many resources to support plant systematics and evolution research. These include the University of Minnesota Herbarium, the Minnesota Supercomputing Institute, the University of Minnesota Genomics Center, the University Imaging Center, the College of Biological Sciences Conservatory, onsite greenhouse facilities, Itasca Biological Station and Laboratories, and Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve. The campus is in the heart of the Minneapolis-Saint Paul metropolitan area, rich in cultural and natural attractions with extensive park and trail systems.

For inquiries, get in touch with Dr. Yang at yangya@umn.edu with a copy of your CV and a short description of your interests.

Ya Yang, Ph.D.
*On sabbatical till May 2024*
Associate Professor, Dept. of Plant and Microbial Biology University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
714 Biological Sciences Center
1445 Gortner Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55108-1095
(612) 625-6292
https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.yangya.org%2F&data=05%7C01%7Cmiranda.l.davis%40uconn.edu%7C67fddd43476a4e291ce808dbc7eceec7%7C17f1a87e2a254eaab9df9d439034b080%7C0%7C0%7C638323592660921043%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=EioIC4KxS%2FZgy7mqBYfUPX5CSATNygwTZ%2B3wps%2F%2BxzU%3D&reserved=0

Curator, University of Minnesota Herbarium (MIN) Bell Museum University of Minnesota bellmuseum.umn.edu

Ya Yang <yangya@umn.edu>

I am recruiting a graduate student to join my lab at the University of Wyoming in Fall 2024. Students interested in pursuing either a MS or PhD are encouraged to get in contact with me.

While students in my lab have the flexibility to design projects tailored to their individual interests, projects are expected to focus on questions related to speciation and adaptation in North American birds. Much of our work uses avian hybrid zones as models for understanding the processes important in generating and maintaining reproductive isolation between closely related species and students with similar interests are particularly encouraged to contact me. All of our work involves the collection or use of museum specimens. Please visit carlinglab.com for more information on recent research efforts.

Students will be supported through a mix of Research Assistantships, Teaching Assistantships, and Curatorial Assistantships, which include a stipend, tuition and fees and health insurance. Please contact me with specific questions about both the types and levels of support.

With a population of ~31,000, Laramie is a small college town, situated in a high plain between the Snowy Range (~30 miles west) and the Laramie Range (~7 miles east) in Southeastern Wyoming. It is a little over one hour north of Fort Collins, Colorado and ~2.5 hours from Denver. For better or worse, it was recently profiled in Outside Magazine as the Most Affordable Mountain Town in the West.

In my lab, I value curiosity driven research and aim to support students motivated by basic research questions. Other desired qualifications include a background in evolutionary biology, field experience, preferably with birds, and scientific writing skills. In addition, while past experience with natural history museums is not a specific requirement, a strong desire to contribute to the University of Wyoming Museum of Vertebrates (https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.uwymv.org%2F&data=05%7C01%7Cmiranda.l.davis%40uconn.edu%7C5c9127eab3624dd8b18208dbc7230269%7C17f1a87e2a254eaab9df9d439034b080%7C0%7C0%7C638322725445922763%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=mcQtNVlTPBYQsMfGbEzHQfcpo0g%2F6N3NnPrksbxSyJ4%3D&reserved=0) is needed. My lab also aims to be an inclusive space that welcomes diversity and seeks to broaden access to and participation in evolutionary biology and ornithology. All interested students, regardless of race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, class, disability, and past experiences are encouraged to apply.

To apply, please send a cover letter, current cv, and names and contact information for 3 references to mcarling@uwyo.edu. In your cover letter, please include some questions that excite you and information about your past relevant experiences and motivation for pursuing a graduate degree. If you have any questions about the opportunity, the University of Wyoming, or anything else, please don’t hesitate to contact me. While applications may be submitted at anytime, final review will begin 8 December 2023.

Matt Carling, PhD
Department of Zoology & Physiology
Berry Biodiversity Conservation Center
University of Wyoming

https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.carlinglab.com%2F&data=05%7C01%7Cmiranda.l.davis%40uconn.edu%7C5c9127eab3624dd8b18208dbc7230269%7C17f1a87e2a254eaab9df9d439034b080%7C0%7C0%7C638322725445922763%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=po59ZrMkOU2c8kTGUqFtof%2BDCEHrMZCxj8N64u2IRZ0%3D&reserved=0
mcarling@uwyo.edu

Several evolutionary biologists within the interdisciplinary ecology program at Colorado State University (CSU) are welcoming applicants for MS and PhD students to start Fall 2024. We provide outstanding education in evolutionary biology and ecology across a range of ecosystems, taxa, and subdisciplines. Our goal is to offer students strong training for professional success across a variety of career paths. In addition to the ecological core, we offer a specialization in human-environment interactions. Currently, we support a vibrant community of over 100 students. We are committed to creating a safe, welcoming and supportive environment.

The deadline for full consideration is December 1. Details are available here.

Many faculty members are open to taking students, and specific opportunities include:

Dr.Andrew Du working on paleoecology, paleoanthropology, human evolution, mammals

Dr.Emily Francis (joining CSU Jan. 1!) working on ecology and management of wildfire disturbance and forest structure

Dr.Chris Funk working on conservation genomics and evolutionary ecology

Dr.Dhruba Naug working on behavioral diversity and social behavior

Dr.Jen Solomon working on human dimensions of biodiversity conservation

Other faculty members are potentially open to taking students. Some of the general subjects include: bumblebee conservation, climate change, plant-insect interactions, wildlife and forest management, pollination on green infrastructure, the effects of drought and deluge events on plant communities, and soil organic matter and regenerative management.

Graduate student salaries are generally provided through faculty advisors in the form of research or teaching assistantships. Tuition is typically covered for students supported by assistantships and health insurance is available. A confirmed advisor is necessary for admission to the program, but not for application submission. Most students accepted to the program find advisors through their shared interests. Financial support is often in flux given pending grants, so there is no need to wait to see a particular position advertised. Advisors interested in accepting a student typically work with them to procure funding from various sources. Thus, we encourage prospective students to reach out directly to faculty members with expertise in your area of interest.

CSU is located in beautiful Fort Collins, on the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, and has been voted as one of the best places in the United States to live with easy access to outdoors activities, such as rafting, skiing, and rock climbing. This small, bike-friendly community has a vibrant art, music, and restaurant culture and is about hour from Denver, CO.

Colorado State University is an equal opportunity and equal access institution and affirmative action employer fully committed to achieving a diverse workforce and complies with all Federal and Colorado State laws, regulations, and executive orders regarding non-discrimination and affirmative action.

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to me, the director of the program, atruth.hufbauer@colostate.edu

“Hufbauer,Ruth” <Ruth.Hufbauer@colostate.edu>

Biological Technician
Full Time, Paid, with Benefits
Open until 10/20/2023.

Location: This position is based at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC) in Edgewater, Maryland. SERC is a research center of the Smithsonian Institution, located on the western shore of Chesapeake Bay, approximately 10 miles south of Annapolis, 40 miles west of Washington D.C., and 40 miles south of Baltimore. The 2,650-acre SERC campus contains a laboratory and office complex, as well as educational and waterfront facilities.

Starting Salary: $64,957/year plus benefits

Schedule: Monday-Friday schedule, 8 hours/day, full time

Description: The Molecular Ecology lab at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC), led by Dr. Melissa McCormick, is recruiting a full-time federal research technician. Our lab explores ecological and evolutionary questions (https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fserc.si.edu%2Flabs%2Fmolecular-ecology&data=05%7C01%7Cmiranda.l.davis%40uconn.edu%7C2923870557974584f6fd08dbc722d508%7C17f1a87e2a254eaab9df9d439034b080%7C0%7C0%7C638322724648940104%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=iRnAZnd6ldHOPaEJjG7iyYw1BRAqN9rNfRK7DfbNP5Y%3D&reserved=0)
involving symbiotic associations between plants and fungi, effects of anthropogenic changes on plants, and effects of invasive species on plant communities and ecosystems. Our research projects occur in field, lab, and greenhouse settings and include ecological genetics and genomics, fungal culturing, and field-based experiments. The technician will be based at SERC and will participate in collaborative projects investigating the impacts of symbioses on the functioning of plant, fungal, and bacterial communities. The technician will also be responsible for maintaining a multi-user genomics lab. SERC is a vibrant community of scientists set within a 1,027 hectare field-site, and located near the Annapolis, MD and Washington, DC metro areas.

Lab duties will include sample processing, culturing fungi and plants, routine molecular tasks (e.g., DNA extraction, PCR, DNA visualization, sequencing, genotyping), and next generation sequencing library prep. In addition, the technician will be responsible for day-to-day lab organization, maintenance, and safety under the direction of the PI, including supply inventory and ordering, maintaining lab records (hardcopy and digital), and working collaboratively with other lab members. Field and greenhouse duties will include plant population monitoring, root and soil collection, measurement of environmental parameters, seed preparation, experimental set-up and monitoring, and data entry. Occasional travel for fieldwork and training of interns and other staff members in lab and field techniques is also expected.

Minimum qualifications include one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-07 level in the federal service or comparable pay band system. For this position specialized experience is defined as: General academic training with a minimum of a baccalaureate in Ecology, Biology, Molecular Biology, Plant Ecology or equivalent with demonstrated professional experience in completing laboratory and field tasks as they relate to molecular and field ecology, data management, bacterial and/or fungal culturing, and ecological genetics.

The Smithsonian Institution is an equal opportunity employer, committed to a policy of non-discrimination on the basis of race, national origin, sex, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, age, religion, and disability. The SERC community recognizes the value of diversity in promoting innovative science and creative solutions, and we strongly encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply.

Applications for this position will be accepted through the USAJobs portal from https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.usajobs.gov%2Fjob%2F753589100&data=05%7C01%7Cmiranda.l.davis%40uconn.edu%7C2923870557974584f6fd08dbc722d508%7C17f1a87e2a254eaab9df9d439034b080%7C0%7C0%7C638322724648940104%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=vbVKobviedI4UYjHhK5cjebcTsBMGF2SbkIbAp4URjg%3D&reserved=0.

Melissa McCormick, PhD (she, her, hers)
Ecologist
Smithsonian Environmental Research Center
647 Contees Wharf Rd.
Edgewater, MD 21037
Ph: 443-482-2433
https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fserc.si.edu%2Flabs%2Fmolecular-ecology&data=05%7C01%7Cmiranda.l.davis%40uconn.edu%7C2923870557974584f6fd08dbc722d508%7C17f1a87e2a254eaab9df9d439034b080%7C0%7C0%7C638322724648940104%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=iRnAZnd6ldHOPaEJjG7iyYw1BRAqN9rNfRK7DfbNP5Y%3D&reserved=0