The Harvey Lab at the University of Rhode Island is recruiting PhD students in wildlife disease ecology to start in Fall of 2025. We seek one to two highly motivated students with passiona and experience working with birds, pathogens, immunology, or transcriptomics. We particularly encourage candidates who are from poorly represented backgrounds in Biology to apply. We will assess candidates based on the alignment of their research interests, shared values, and their preparedness to undertake a long-term, independent research project.
Students will have 5 years of guaranteed support through a combination TAships/RAships. They will be encouraged to apply for independent fellowships. Students are accepted through the Biological and Environmental Sciences Graduate Program either through the Ecology and Ecosystems specialization or the Evolution and Marine Biology specialization. URI is located Kingston, and is a small but in close proximity to beaches, lots outdoor recreation, and birding. Kingston is nearby to cities such as Providence (~30 min) and Boston (~1hr).
The Harvey lab is recruiting students broadly interested in endemic and emergent wildlife diseases with projects integrating immunology, immunogenetics, transcriptomics, evolutionary genetics, conservation genetics. Our lab works with primarily birds, but we are open to a variety of taxa (i.e., mammals, reptiles). The labs research aims are to:
– Understand the evolutionary mechanisms involved in immune response
(immunogenetics) in the wild
– Identify emerging disease drivers of wildlife decline and inform
conservation management
– Identify wildlife disease dynamics in the contexts of multiple
anthropogenic drivers
Please visit the Lab website for more information:
https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fjharvey.netlify.app%2F&data=05%7C02%7Cmid14018%40ad.uconn.edu%7C85d72159320948dc219b08dcedb81b51%7C17f1a87e2a254eaab9df9d439034b080%7C0%7C0%7C638646622206426014%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=nYnn3EgLVXWTZvlIT1MmYR%2BIS1PEXJOaCo8KtPCo%2FK8%3D&reserved=0
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
– B.S. Degree in evolutionary biology, molecular biology, conservation
genetics, bioinformatics or a related field
– Highly self-motivated, independent, and creative thinkers that are
enthusiastic about pursuing a career in disease ecology, conservation,
and evolutionary genetics.
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
– interest in core concepts in evolutionary biology and disease ecology
– motivation to do lab research
– proficiency in spoken and written English
– experience with statistics and R is an advantage
– experience working with viral pathogens, endoparasites, or host-
parasite systems is an advantage
– knowledge of (and experience with) wild waterfowl, seabirds, or
passerine systems
– field experience in capturing, banding, and auxiliary marker
deployment among waterfowl, seabirds or other birds.
– Experience in transcriptomics, evolutionary genetics, or molecular
evolution and with molecular data
APPLICATION PROCESS:
To apply, please send Dr. Johanna Harvey (j_harvey@uri.edu) a copy of your CV, and a one-page cover letter explaining your background and path to research, any research outcomes to date or relevant experience, your future research interests and expectations, potential career goals, and what type of research projects you would envision developing in my lab.
Please, also include unofficial academic transcript and the name and email, phone numbers for three professional references.
Please include “Graduate Student Application 2025” in the email subject line. I will set up zoom interviews with candidates that could be a good fit in my lab.
I will notify students that are encouraged to apply in time to prepare applications by the December 15, 2024 deadline.
Johanna Harvey, PhD (pronouns: she/her/hers) Assistant Professor Wildlife Disease Ecology Department of Natural Resources Science University of Rhode Island j_harvey@uri.edu
Johanna Harvey <j_harvey@uri.edu>
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