Opportunities

MS Student Position- NC State

Candidates for an MS position will be considered to begin in the Spring or

Fall of 2018 in the Watershed Ecology Lab in the Dept. of Forestry and Env.

Resources at NC State (http://watershedecology.weebly.com/). Candidates

should be interested in the intersection of the natural, agricultural, and

built environments, particularly with respect to water resources and

forests. Students should have a background in ecology, environmental

science, or a related discipline, and good quantitative skills. Spatial

analysis, including basic GIS are preferred. If interested, please contact

katie_martin@ncsu.edu and include a brief biosketch, (degree, GPA, GRE, and

TOEFL scores), and an overview of your motivation for this position,

including project ideas. Members of historically underrepresented identities

are particularly encouraged to apply.

MS and PhD graduate opportunities, Northern Illinois University

The Ecology, Evolution, Behavior, and Conservation faculty in the Department

of Biological Sciences at Northern Illinois University are seeking

applicants to the department’s M.S. and Ph.D. graduate programs starting

fall 2018.=20

=09=09

Research interests among the faculty are diverse and include community

ecology, restoration ecology, conservation genetics, vertebrate and

invertebrate evolution, plant phylogenetics, behavioral ecology, microbial

ecology, and bioinformatics.  The EEBC faculty includes:

-Nicholas A. Barber, community ecology, restoration ecology, and

plant-insect interactions:

https://barberna.wixsite.com/barberecology

-Neil W. Blackstone, ecophysiology of corals and their relatives,

evolutionary conflict and conflict mediation:

http://www.bios.niu.edu/blackstone/blackstone.shtml

-Holly P. Jones, restoration ecology and conservation biology:

https://hjones82.wixsite.com/website

-Bethia H. King, entomology (basic biology, especially behavior, and

applied), behavioral ecology:

http://niu.edu/biology/about/faculty/bking/index.shtml

-Richard B. King, herpetology, ecology, conservation biology:

http://niu.edu/biology/about/faculty/rking/index.shtml

-Virginia L. Naples, comparative morphology and vertebrate paleontology:

http://www.bios.niu.edu/naples/naples.shtml

-Karen E. Samonds, paleontology, skeletal biology and paleobiogeography:

http://www.sadabe.org/Samonds/Index.html

-Wesley D. Swingley, environmental microbiology, extreme ecosystems, and

astrobiology:

https://wswingley.wixsite.com/labsite

-Yanbin Yin, plant and microbial bioinformatics, genome biology and

evolutionary genomics

http://cys.bios.niu.edu/

Details of the graduate program and application process are available at

http://niu.edu/biology/academics/graduate-studies/index.shtml.  The

department offers teaching assistantships including stipend and tuition

waiver, on a competitive basis.  The deadline for application materials is

January 1, 2018.  However, prospective students should contact potential

faculty advisors well in advance of applying to discuss research interests

and relevant qualifications.=20

Northern Illinois University is a 18,000-student research university

situated an hour from downtown Chicago in DeKalb, Illinois, a diverse

community of 50,000 with a low cost of living.  Regional research resources

include The Field Museum, Burpee Museum of Natural History, TNC=92s Nachusa

Grasslands, Morton Arboretum, Fermilab, Argonne National Laboratory, NIU=92s

Lorado Taft campus, and numerous local county forest preserves and state parks.

Ph.D. or Masters Students in Conservation Science

The Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (EEB)

<http://eeb.bio.utk.edu/>at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, is

forming a new research unit focused on Conservation Science

<http://eeb.bio.utk.edu/con-sci-grads/>. We seek applications from

outstanding prospective graduate students in this topic, who wish to

pursue a PhD or research-based Masters. We have funding to admit a

strong cohort of students. While we encourage students to pursue

independent funding opportunities, EEB’s policy is to admit students

only when we are confident we can provide funding for the full duration

of their studies. We provide funding to both Masters and PhD students,

regardless of their citizenship. Our goal is to recruit a diverse pool

of students on a range of metrics, including background, career stage,

and research interests.

Our ecology program is among the top 10% for research impact in North

America (Keville et al., 2017

<http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ecs2.1620/full>). Our recent

Conservation Science graduates have an excellent record of placement,

with students accepting post-doctoral positions in internationally

renowned research groups and leadership positions within conservation

NGOs and public agencies. Our students’ dissertation projects are

published in top-tier journals and deliver research products that our

practitioner partners use and value. Our students study globally

important conservation questions, commonly working in overseas field

systems alongside in-country practitioners.

We anticipate having a “cohort-model” where students interact with each

other and multiple faculty members. However, students typically have one

lead faculty advisor. Ensuring a good match between this advisor and the

student is a central feature of our recruitment process. *Interested

students should reach out to potential advisors by email* (view advisor

email list and full ad at http://eeb.bio.utk.edu/con-sci-grads) to

explore possibilities.

Ph.D. Research Assistantships – Stream Ecosystems and Climate Change

PhD Assistantships Responses to Stream Warming: Food Webs (University of

Alabama); Carbon Dynamics (University of Georgia); and Metabolism and Carbon

Emissions (Virginia Tech), starting spring or fall 2018

We are seeking enthusiastic and qualified applicants to join our research

team investigating the effects of climate warming on macroinvertebrate

communities, stream carbon dynamics and ecosystem metabolism/carbon

emissions in a new project funded by the National Science Foundation. The

larger scope of the project includes microbial to whole-stream reach

responses to temperature that will be used to predict future network-scale

fates of carbon, using a multi-scale design that includes a paired-catchment

whole-stream warming experiment, an array of warmed streamside channels,

laboratory studies of aquatic microbes, and reach- and network-scale

modeling. Fieldwork will take place in the Southern Appalachians at the USDA

Forest Service Coweeta Hydrologic Laboratory, North Carolina. Students will

engage in multiple aspects of research and will also develop their own

research questions under the overall theme of global change and thermal

effects in stream ecosystems.=20=20

Prospective students interested in the Food Web position should contact Dr.

Jon Benstead (jbenstead@ua.edu) at the University of Alabama. Those

interested in the Carbon Dynamics position should contact Dr. Amy Rosemond

(rosemond@uga.edu) at the University of Georgia, and prospective students

interested in the Metabolism and Carbon Emissions position should contact

Dr. Erin Hotchkiss (ehotchkiss@vt.edu).=20

Please send an email with 1) a CV and 2) a letter of interest by December 1

for full consideration. Include a description of your education, research

and work experience and perceived fit for the position. These positions are

open until filled; desired start date is on or before August 1, 2018. Each

position includes a competitive stipend, health insurance and tuition waiver.

Graduate opportunity in urban forestry

Dr. Christina Staudhammer in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Alabama (http://cstaudhammer.people.ua.edu/) is now inviting applications for a PhD position starting in fall 2018, to work on a project in urban forestry.

The benefits of urban forests to city-dwelling people include recreation, pollution, mitigation, energy savings, and water purification. However, fundamental questions still remain about the resistance and resilience of urban ecosystems to anthropogenic change, especially associated with projected alterations in global climate. A graduate student is sought to undertake dissertation work modeling ecosystem services provided by the urban forests of the southeastern US. The goal is to enhance our scientific understanding of the role of urban forests at local to regional scales, and how they contrast with those of natural forests.

It is expected that prospective graduate students will develop their own research plans and goals, and therefore should be self-motivated and independent. Students should be interested in combining field data collection with statistical modeling. Students should have a strong background in statistics and forest ecology, geography, or environmental science. A solid working knowledge of SAS and/or R is required, and those with strong quantitative skills will be given preference.

This position is primarily a Teaching Assistantship, supplemented by grant funding. However students are expected to apply for additional funding. Interested students will earn a graduate degree from the Department of Biological Sciences. The project will also offer the opportunity to interact with researchers from the USDA forest service, as well as researchers across universities across the US.=20 The University of Alabama is located in Tuscaloosa, a college town of ~100,000, surrounded by extensive and varied forests. These forests, and the greater region, provide a wide range of recreational amenities including rock climbing, canoeing, kayaking, fishing, hiking and mountain biking. To be eligible, students must meet the graduate admission requirements of the University of Alabama: an undergraduate GPA > 3.0 overall, 3.0 for the last 60 semester hours in a degree program or 3.0 for a completed graduate degree program, and a 300 on the GRE.  If interested, email a short summary of your research interests, an unofficial transcript from undergraduate (and post-graduate, if applicable) work, as well as a CV to Dr. Christina Staudhammer (cstaudhammer@ua.edu

Wetland Graduate Research Assistantships, University of Toledo

The Department of Environmental Sciences at the University of Toledo is

offering two graduate research assistantships in environmental science and

ecology to begin in January 2018.  The positions are partially supported by

research grants funded by NOAA and Ohio Department of Natural Resources to

develop ecological indicators for measuring wetland ecosystem responses to

climatic variability and management practices.  The incumbent will use the

funded project to develop his/her MS/PhD thesis in wetland ecology and

management. The candidate should have an undergraduate degree in

environmental science, biology, or related fields by the end of 2017.

Depending on the interest of the incumbent, thesis/dissertation topic can

vary, but will be related to quantitative (statistical) modeling of wetland

services (e.g., nutrient retention, habitat) and the changes of such

service in response to short-term weather fluctuation and long-term climate

change.  The project will also involve the use of GIS and remote sensing

data.

For more information please contact Drs. Song Qian (song.qian@utoledo.edu)

and Kristi Arend (kristin.arend@dnr.state.oh.us) with a current CV and

names of three references.

Master’s Graduate Assistantship in Forest Biometrics & Modelling

A Master=92s position is available in the Quantitative Forest Management lab of Dr. Steve Chhin in the Division of Forestry and Natural Resources at West Virginia University (WVU).

The graduate student will primarily conduct field and laboratory work for a project recently funded by the USDA Forest Service.    The general objective of the project is to develop new site index curves for Central Appalachian red spruce by correcting for historical growth suppression. Models will also be developed which relate red spruce site index to the site index of commonly associated species such as American beech, black cherry, red maple, and yellow birch.  This will aid in restoration and resiliency efforts for red spruce by providing site quality information in areas where red spruce is absent or where new red spruce habitat is expected due to climate change.  Dendroclimatic models will be developed to examine sensitivity of red spruce to past and future climate change.=20

Qualifications:=20

A completed Bachelor=92s degree in forestry, biology, ecology, environmental sciences, or a similarly related natural resource field is acceptable.=20 Preference will be given to applicants that are highly self-motivated, possess a strong work ethic, and have strong oral and written communication skills.  Experience with statistical software packages (e.g., R) and proficiency with GIS would be assets.  A background or strong interest in conducting field based research and working in a laboratory environment is desirable.  Applicants must enjoy working (e.g., rigorous field work) and living outdoors (e.g., camping) and possess a valid driver=92s license.  A cumulative GPA greater than 3.25 in undergraduate coursework is preferred.  The start date for this position is January 2018.  This position includes a tuition waiver and health benefits, and a competitive stipend.=20

Application materials:

Please submit: 1) cover letter, 2) curriculum vitae, 3) unofficial transcripts, 4) GRE scores, 5) contact information of two references, and 6) TOEFL scores (for international applicants).  Please describe your career goals in the cover letter.  Applications will be considered immediately and continue until the position is filled.  To ensure full consideration, please e-mail your application material to Dr. Steve Chhin (sc0061@mix.wvu.edu) by October 9, 2017.=20

Ph.D. positions in Ecology, Evolution and Behavior at Georgetown

The Department of Biology at Georgetown University has multiple opportunities for doctoral study in ecology, evolution and behavior (EEB). Georgetown faculty are dedicated to the development of doctoral candidates into insightful and skilled scientists, scholars and teachers. Funding for graduate study is supported by a combination of assistantships, teaching fellowships and research grant support. Our program and institution welcomes students of all racial, ethnic and religious backgrounds. Students interested in any of the opportunities listed below are strongly encouraged to contact the relevant faculty member(s) via email. The Department of Biology graduate program is described at http://biology.georgetown.edu/graduate/applicants/.=20

Information about graduate school application procedures and deadlines can be found at http://grad.georgetown.edu/pages/admissions.cfm.=20

Molecular basis of adaptation: Dr. Peter Armbruster seeks a highly motivated PhD student to join his laboratory=92s research program on the molecular basis of adaptation in natural populations. The Armbruster lab is currently focusing on the invasive and medically important mosquito Aedes albopictus. This mosquito invaded the US in 1985 and spread rapidly over approximately 15 degrees of latitude. A major focus of work in the Armbruster lab is the use of transcriptome sequencing and genomics approaches to elucidate the genetic basis and molecular physiology of photoperiodic diapause in Ae. albopictus. Interested students should contact Dr. Peter Armbruster (paa9@georgetown.edu). For further information on the Armbruster lab see: http://faculty.georgetown.edu/paa9/

Ecological interactions, behavior & learning: Research in Dr. Martha Weiss=92 lab focuses on ecological interactions (between plants and animals, as well as predator and prey), with an emphasis on behavior and learning. Ongoing or recent projects include investigations of the ecological factors supporting shifts in host plant usage, butterfly and caterpillar learning, retention of memory across complete metamorphosis, and the ecological context of defecation behavior. We are also working on development of hands-on science curricular materials, mostly related to plants and insects, for use in K-12 classrooms. We seek an outstanding graduate student interested in these or related projects. For more information see the Weiss Lab website: http://www.weisslab.org/

Butterfly responses to climate change:  Dr. Leslie Ries is seeking a PhD student interested in field, laboratory and data-intensive approaches to ecology to join her lab=92s research program on butterfly responses to climate change.  The Ries lab uses both experimental approaches, measuring thermal tolerances of caterpillars in the lab and data-

intensive approaches, exploring large-scale spatiotemporal patterns using data sets mostly derived from citizen science monitoring programs.=20=

Students with previous independent research experience and/or excellent quantitative or computational skills will be given precedence.  In addition, the ability to start work during the summer of 2018 would be highly advantageous.  Interested students should contact Dr. Leslie Ries (Leslie.Ries@georgetown.edu). For further information on the Ries lab see: http://www.butterflyinformatics.org/

Disease ecology and network epidemiology: Dr. Shweta Bansal is seeking outstanding PhD students to collaborate on mathematical modeling projects for infectious disease dynamics. The Bansal Lab (http://bansallab.com) focuses on the feedback between host behavior and disease transmission using tools from network theory, statistical modeling, and computer science. Current study systems include influenza in humans, pathogen spread in ant colonies, and foot and mouth disease in cattle, with support from the NIH and NSF. Interested students should contact Dr. Bansal (shweta.bansal@georgetown.edu) with a description of their research interests.

Population genetics and molecular evolution: Dr. Matthew B. Hamilton is seeking students interested in using DNA sequence or genetic marker data to test fundamental hypotheses in population genetics and molecular evolution. On-going empirical projects include using genomic or transcriptome sequence data to infer possible causes of molecular clock variation in plants or in arthropods, estimating genetic effective population size, and testing for ecological-evolutionary coupling through genetic variation and effective population size in a salt marsh community of a foundation plant and insect herbivores and predators. The lab also develops software for estimation of population genetic parameters, and carries out simulation studies to better predict population genetic patterns. The ideal project in the Hamilton lab would combine empirical genetic marker data collection with mathematical or computer simulation work to develop novel expectations or hypothesis tests. Interested students should contact Dr. Hamilton (hamiltm1@georgetown.edu). For further information on the Hamilton lab see http:// http://hamiltonlabpage.weebly.com/.

PhD and MS positions in Microbial Ecology

The Aylward lab at Virginia Tech is seeking enthusiastic students interested in the ecology and evolution of microbial life to join the newly established research group in either a Masters or PhD track. The lab uses molecular, =91omic, and bioinformatic tools to address questions regarding the diversity, activities, and systems biology of microbial communities.

Potential projects include: 1) Analysis of the evolution and potential biogeochemical impacts of Bacteria and Archaea in the open ocean using metagenomics and comparative genomics, and 2) The development of new bioinformatic approaches leveraging large =91omic datasets to assess the diversity and activities of microbial life in the biosphere.

Requirements:

Students should have 1) a strong interest in microbial ecology and diversity, 2) a bachelor=92s degree (or equivalent) in a related field, and 3) some programming experience (preferably python or R).

Programs & Application:

Students can join the lab through several graduate programs offered at Virginia Tech, including different tracks within the Biological Sciences graduate program and the interdisciplinary program in Genetics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology. Students will be provided competitive stipends and have the opportunity to interact with the dynamic and inclusive community at Virginia Tech that includes scientists working on exciting questions in ecology, evolution, systems biology, and computational biology. More information regarding the Aylward Lab and links to different programs can be found on the lab webpage (www.aylwardlab.com).

Interested applicants should send a combined PDF with a description of their research interests and motivation, their CV, and contact information for three references directly to Frank Aylward (faylward@vt.edu).