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*Job Description*: There is funding for a MS student to work in the lab of David Rogowski at Texas Tech University on a project entitled, "Native springsnails and the invasive red-rim melania snail (/Melanoides tuberculata/), species habitat associations and life history investigations in the San Solomon Spring complex, Texas”. The objectives of this research is to determine patterns of abundance, distribution, and habitat use of two native snails, Phantom Cave snail (/Cochliopa texana/), Phantom Spring tryonia (/Tryonia cheatumi/), and the invasive red-rim melania snail (/Melanoides tuberculta/) in San Solomon Springs, and potential interactions. Both native snails are State Listed Priority and Federal Candidate species. San Solomon Springs is located in Balmorhea State Park, in west Texas. More information on the project and my lab can be found at http://www.rw.ttu.edu/rogowski/rogowski_research.html

*Stipend*: ~$15,000/year, with tuition waiver. Student fees and health insurance (if you want it) come out of the stipend.

*Qualifications*: BS in ecology/biology, with an emphasis in aquatic ecology. Applicant should be motivated, have a strong work ethic, and play well with others. Applicants with field research experience preferred, and those with macroinvertebrate sampling/identification experience will be given a priority.

*Application Procedure*: Interested applicants should send a cover letter explaining their interest along with a CV and GRE scores to the e-mail address below. Our Department requires: GPA, GRE scores (>1100 favored), 3 letters of reference, C.V. Information on formal application as an MS candidate can be found at http://www.rw.ttu.edu/ttunrm/

I will be accepting applications until 4 December 2009 or until a suitable candidate is selected.

-- David Rogowski Assistant Professor Department of Natural Resources Management Texas Tech University Box 42125 Lubbock, Texas 79409-2125 USA

I am seeking MS and PhD students to join my lab in the Department of Biological Sciences and Institute of Applied Science at the University of North Texas beginning January 2010. Research topics are open but should closely match my own interests in aquatic community and ecosystem ecology. Potential themes of investigation include: effects of food web structure and biodiversity on ecosystem function; effects of altered hydrology/drought on aquatic food webs; responses of aquatic communities to environmental change; multiple predator effects in aquatic ecosystems. Stream and pond mesocosms are available at UNT for experimental research, and potential field sites include Great Plains streams and reservoirs (TX, USA), large tropical river systems (PR, Brazil), and coastal lagoon complexes (RS, Brazil). Successful applicants will demonstrate a solid background in ecology and related disciplines, field experience in aquatic ecosystems, and the ability to work both independently and as part of a larger research team. Students are expected to present research findings at professional conferences, and publish in peer-reviewed scientific journals. Support will be provided by a combination of teaching and research assistantships.

I encourage you to send me an e-mail if you are interested in pursuing graduate studies in my lab. In your e-mail, please indicate what potential research topics you might like to pursue, and briefly tell me about your previous research experience. Attach any representative publications you may have, as well as a current CV that includes standardized test scores, evidence of academic achievement and relevant training/experience. Please do not apply to the graduate program at this time. I will request additional information, letters of recommendation and an interview before graduate applications are submitted. Interested students should contact me as soon as possible, but before October 15, 2009. Please be aware of additional requirements and deadlines for acceptance to the graduate program: http://www.ias.unt.edu/graduate/index.html

David J. Hoeinghaus, Ph.D. Department of Biological Sciences Institute of Applied Science University of North Texas 1155 Union Circle #310559 Denton, Texas 76203-5017 USA

The Aquatic Ecology Lab (http://www.baylor.edu/aquaticlab) at Baylor University is seeking applicants for up to two PhD graduate assistantships starting summer or fall 2010. Applicants may apply to PhD programs in Biology (http://www.baylor.edu/biology/index.php?id=14903) or Ecological, Earth and Environmental Sciences (EEES) (http://www.baylor.edu/tieees). Applicants may wish to apply to both programs to ensure full consideration for assistantships.

We are particularly interested in applicants who will structure their PhD research within one or more of the following (or related) ongoing research areas in the lab:

1) The collective role of watershed physiography, upland vegetation, and riparian wetlands in constraining nutrient availability and energy pathways in small, salmon-rearing streams on the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska. 2) How does nutrient enrichment influence biogeochemical processes in stream bacterial-algal (periphyton) communities? How do consumers (macroinvertebrates and fish) interact with nutrient enrichment to influence stream biogeochemical processes? 3) How have reduced hydrological connectivity and increased flow diversions and effluent discharges influenced historical fish species distributions and genetic diversity in stream networks in Texas?

Baylor affords outstanding research and teaching facilities. The Aquatic Ecology Lab is housed in the new 500,000 sq. ft Baylor Sciences Building and recently moved into brand-new expansion space to accommodate growth of the lab. Student offices are situated adjacent to the lab and other aquatic teaching and research labs, most notably the Center for Reservoir and Aquatic Systems Research (http://www.baylor.edu/crasr), a state-of-the- art analytical laboratory supporting a suite of water, soil, and tissue chemical analyses. A stable-isotope mass spectrometer lab available on- site for student research also is opening in spring 2009. Off campus, the 180-acre Lake Waco Wetlands (http://www.lakewacowetlands.com) supports our new Baylor Experimental Aquatic Research (BEAR) outdoor stream facility (http://www.baylor.edu/aquaticlab/index.php?id=45868), one of the largest and most realistic experimental stream facilities in North America. Baylor offers excellent financial support for highly qualified applicants. Annual stipends range from $18,000-25,000, with the higher stipends awarded to top applicants. Admission to either Biology or EEES PhD programs guarantees full tuition remission (up to a $20,000 value per year as of 2009), health insurance benefits, and additional funding opportunities to cover fees, books, etc.

To apply to Biology and/or EEES, please review university admission guidelines (http://www.baylor.edu/graduate/index.php?id=42273). In addition to these application materials, applicants should possess an M.S. degree or substantial undergraduate research experience and a GRE verbal + quantitative score of 1200 or higher. Applicants also much possess a U.S. driver's license. If you meet these criteria and are interested in applying, please contact Dr. Ryan S. King (Ryan_S_King@baylor.edu) for more information. For full consideration, applications must be received by FEBRUARY 15, 2010.

The Department of Biology at East Carolina University, the third largest campus in the North Carolina System, invites inquiries and applications from prospective graduate students for Fall 2010. We have an active and well-supported group of faculty in Ecology and Evolution and will guarantee accepted PhD students (in IDPBS, the Interdisciplinary Doctoral Program in Biological Sciences) at least two years of support with no teaching obligations and at least five years of support total, at a very competitive level. We also offer two MS programs (TA-ships readily available) and have students in ECU's Coastal Resources Management PhD program. Graduate students will be encouraged to participate in the newly formed North Carolina Center for Biodiversity (NCCB) at East Carolina University. Goals of the NCCB include training graduate students in biodiversity research and providing them opportunities to participate in related outreach.

Situated in the attractive and affordable community of Greenville, we are in easy reach of North Carolina's Research Triangle (including the National Evolutionary Synthesis Center), several marine institutes and laboratories, and the diverse natural communities of the Coastal Plain and Outer Banks. Thus excellent opportunities exist for collaboration and to work in terrestrial, aquatic, wetland and marine systems. A readily available 454 sequencer at ECU's Brody School of Medicine facilitates genomic research. Travel is convenient through either Pitt-Greenville or Raleigh-Durham International Airport and our faculty members are engaged in research on every continent but Antarctica.

Please visit http://www.ecu.edu/biology/ to find out more about our department. Information on our graduate programs is available here: http://www.ecu.edu/biology/graduate.cfm

Our Evolution and Ecology faculty (http://www.ecu.edu/biology/faculty.cfm) include: Jason Bond: Arthropod systematics. Mark Brinson: Wetland restoration ecology, ecosystem ecology. David Chalcraft: Population and community ecology; ecological aspects of biodiversity. Robert Christian: Systems and network theory; ecology of coastal ecosystems. Lisa Clough: Marine benthic ecology (Arctic and Atlantic). Carol Goodwillie: Plant mating system evolution. Jinling Huang: Evolutionary genomics, bioinformatics; horizontal gene transfer. Claudia Jolls: Plant evolutionary ecology and conservation. Dave Kimmel: Plankton ecology. Trip Lamb: Systematics and phylogeography. Joe Luczkovich: Food web ecology and fish bioacoustics. Jeff McKinnon: Sexual selection, speciation, mainly in fish. Sue McRae: Behavioral ecology and social evolution in birds. Anthony Overton: Larval fish ecology, fisheries biology. Enrique Reyes: Landscape ecology, ecological modeling, coastal management. Roger Rulifson: Fish ecology and fisheries. Jean-Luc Scemama: Post-duplication gene evolution. Matt Schrenk: Microbial ecology, geo-microbiology. Ed Stellwag: Vertebrate evo-devo and cis-regulatory network evolution. John Stiller: Molecular evolution and comparative genomics. Kyle Summers: Evolution of color, behavior in poison frogs; evolutionary medicine. Heather Vance-Chalcraft: Predation and community ecology. Terry West: Human impacts on coastal ecosystems. Baohong Zhang: MicroRNA evolution, comparative genomics, and molecular genetics.

In addition to visiting the websites, please contact prospective mentors directly for more information, or graduate studies director Terry West: westt@ecu.edu

M.Sc. or Ph.D. - Research Assistantship in Seaduck Spatial Ecology Department of Natural Resources Science, University of Rhode Island

Project title: Spatial ecology of seaducks in relation to key habitats in southern New England.

A research assistantship is available at the M.Sc. or Ph.D. level to study the distribution, abundance, and movement patterns of selected seaducks in offshore habitats in southern New England during the bird’s winter and staging periods. Satellite radiotelemetry will be combined with extensive boat-based and aerial-based surveys to determine (a) current distribution and movement patterns of seaducks in Rhode Island’s nearshore waters, offshore waters, and Narragansett Bay, (b) the temporal pattern of these movements in relation to key offshore habitats, (c) the route and destination of sea ducks departing Rhode Island and migrating to their breeding areas, and (d) how daily movement patterns and habitat use of seaducks affects the designation of offshore areas suitable for wind turbine placement. This study is part of a larger university-state agency collaborative effort to designate offshore areas suitable for wind turbine placement while attempting to minimize or avoid impacts to key natural resources.

Qualifications: Only hard-working, motivated, intelligent, good-natured persons interested in seaducks need apply. Applicants must have completed an undergraduate degree in animal/wildlife biology or ecology, earned at least a 3.2 GPA, must have taken the GRE, and must have excellent oral and written communication skills. Field experience with seabird capture and handling, techniques for censusing seabirds, radiotelemetry, and GIS is highly desirable. Experience with quantitative analysis and field research is required. Ability to work collaboratively and to supervise research assistants and undergraduates working in the field is also required. Stipends are approx. $20,000/yr and tuition is paid. Starting date is January 2010 (earlier employment as a research associate is possible).

To apply submit the following: a letter stating your qualifications and research interests, a resume or CV, college transcripts, GRE scores, and 3 letters of reference by no later than 15 October 2009 (early application is encouraged) to:

Dr. Scott R. McWilliams & Dr. Peter Paton Dept. Natural Resources Science, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881 401-874-7531; srmcwilliams@uri.edu

See the following websites for further information about the research and training program of the Department (http://nrs.uri.edu/), of the College of the Environment and Life Sciences (http://www.uri.edu/cels/ ), and of the University of Rhode Island (http://www.uri.edu/ ).

The Penn State Intercollege Graduate Degree program in Ecology (http://ecology.psu.edu) is a highly interdisciplinary cross-college program with over 60 faculty studying ecology at molecular to global scales in a wide range of disciplines. The Penn State Campus is nestled in the Appalachian Mountains of central Pennsylvania where it is ideally located for ecological research as well as outdoor recreation. The program has a number of fellowship opportunities for outstanding students in a wide range of fields of Ecology, including agroecology, infectious diseases, root and mycorrhizal ecology, microbial ecology, invasive ecology, paleoecology, climate-change ecology, plant physiological ecology, marine animal behavioral ecology, evolutionary ecology and landscape ecology. Preapplications can be found at the above website. Examples of some of the projects are listed below:

Invasive Ecology-Tomas Carlo (http://www.bio.psu.edu/people/faculty/tac17/Site/Welcome.html) is seeking a student to study bird-plant interactions in relation to invasive Honeysuckle species in Pennsylvania. The study will examine how native bird populations propagate invasives, and at the same time examine if native birds are developing a dependency on the alien species. The project will also examine what are the community-wide consequences of these interactions. Students with interests in spatial ecology, ornithology, plant community ecology, and conservation would be considered.

Agroecology-Mary Barbercheck (http://ento.psu.edu/directory/meb34) and Bill Curran (http://cropsoil.psu.edu/people/faculty/curranws.cfm). Assistantships (2, PhD) available for research on organic reduced-tillage feed grain production systems that integrate pest and soil management practices to overcome production constraints associated with high residue, reduced-tillage environments. This field-based research project will examine the effects of soil and crop management on weed and arthropod populations and soil quality. The project will also provide opportunities for the development and delivery of outreach programs and materials to a broad audience.

Mycorrhizal ecology/agroecology- Roger Koide (http://www.cas.psu.edu/docs/casdept/hort/EnvHort/) is seeking a student to study sustainable cropping systems based on ecological principles with special emphasis on mycorrhizal fungi. The student will have the opportunity to interact with a diversity of researchers, a postdoc, and other graduate students in Ecology, Horticulture, Crop and Soil Sciences, Entomology, The Rodale Institute, and the US Department of Agriculture. Cropping-system practices are being designed to minimize pest populations, conserve nutrients, soil, energy, and off-farm inputs.

Paleoecology - Peter Wilf <http://www.geosc.psu.edu/~pwilf> is a paleobotanist with broad interests in past environmental change, plant evolution and extinction, and the evolution of plant-insect associations. He seeks students who will bring an ecological approach to paleobiology or to modern analog studies.

Questions: Contact the Ecology Program Assistant (Jean Pierce, <mailto:jep32@psu.edu> jep32@psu.edu) or the Ecology Program Chair (David Eissenstat, dme9@psu.edu)

PENN STATE IS COMMITTED TO AFFIRMATIVE ACTION, EQUAL OPPORTUNITY AND THE DIVERSITY OF ITS WORKFORCE

Graduate Research Assistantships (M.S. and Ph.D.) are available as part of a new 4-year NSF-funded research program on the ecology of Lyme disease beginning in summer or fall 2010. The successful applicants will play key roles in the newly funded NSF Ecology of Infectious Disease program: Testing alternative hypotheses for gradients in Lyme disease in the eastern U.S.: climate, host community and vector genetic structure (Award EF-0914476). This $2.5 million program is a collaborative effort led by Michigan State University and involving The University of Tennessee, The University of Montreal, Hofstra University, Georgia Southern University, the University of Rhode Island and the USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center. Graduate students will help develop and participate in an extensive field and laboratory sampling program designed to test hypotheses about the ecological reasons for current distributional patterns of Lyme disease. The program aims to understand the ecological drivers for the geographic variation in Lyme disease risk in eastern North America. More information about the project and available assistantships can be found at: http://wildlifehealth.tennessee.edu/lyme_gradient/

Skills: Essential background includes an undergraduate degree (if applying for M.S.), and a Bachelor’s or Master’s level degree (if applying for Ph.D.) in biology, ecology, environmental biology, entomology, wildlife biology, or microbiology. Additional desirable competencies include project management skills, molecular biology, geographic information systems, and general field and laboratory skills relevant to the ecology of infectious diseases of wildlife (particularly the ecology/epidemiology of Lyme disease or other arthropod-borne diseases).

Application Process: There is presently no closing date for applications, however the initial round of applicants will be considered starting in November 2009. Requests for further information, and applications (in electronic format, including statement of interest, full Curriculum Vitae and names of three references with contact information), should be submitted to:

University of Rhode Island (Ph.D.): Dr. Howard Ginsberg at hginsberg@usgs.gov Dr. Roger LeBrun at lebrun@uri.edu

For which position(s) should you apply? We are a team of co-investigators (also including Dr. Lorenza Beati at Georgia Southern University and Dr. Nicholas Ogden at University of Montreal) that encompasses a variety of disciplinary and cultural backgrounds, professional positions, and skills. More information on us is available here: (http://wildlifehealth.tennessee.edu/lyme_gradient/positions_available.htm).

Review the material and links at the above webpage, considering carefully each investigator and graduate program to see which seems best aligned with your particular interests, skills and intended career path. Look at our individual, department, and institutional websites, as the formal training will vary.

Note that while you will be based at a particular university, the questions in this study require us to integrate each institution’s research, so you will become part of our overall team which will transcend the boundaries of our individual labs. Therefore, you will be responsible to the overall team and you will be able to draw on the expertise and experiences of all the co-investigators. So, to reiterate, look to see which advisor and graduate program best suits your particular interests and goals, but recognize that you’ll be able to interact with and learn from our larger group of mentors and peers as well.

Three Ph.D or M.S. student opportunities are available in the Winfree lab at Rutgers University for fall 2010. The focus of our lab's work is pollination ecology, broadly defined to include insect conservation and plant reproductive biology. Please see http://winfreelab.rutgers.edu for more information about our lab group.

1) A 1-year fellowship position is available for an outstanding applicant to the Ph.D. program in Entomology. The fellowship includes full tuition remission and a competitive stipend. The remaining years in the Ph.D. program would be funded by a teaching assistantship (TA).

2) I have funding for a 6-month, $17,000 Research Technician position (see job ad at http://winfreelab.rutgers.edu/join_us ) beginning in April 2010. This is an excellent opportunity for a M.S. or Ph.D. student who would like to continue with pollinator restoration as a thesis topic in Fall 2010. A graduate student stipend would need to be obtained through a TA or a merit scholarship, several of which are available through Rutgers.

3) In collaboration with Professor Peter Morin in Ecology & Evolution, we have funding to establish experimental plots of native and non-native plant species to investigate multi-trophic effects of invasions. This is an excellent opportunity for a student interested in plant-pollinator interactions and the effect of invasive species on pollination webs. A graduate stipend would need to be obtained through a TA or a merit scholarship.

I admit students through both the Ecology & Evolution http://ecoevo.rutgers.edu and the Entomology http://www-rci.rutgers.edu/~insects/gradprog.htm Graduate Programs. If you are interested in joining the lab, please email me with a brief description of your background and research interests, your undergraduate university, major and GPA, and GRE scores.

-- Rachael Winfree Assistant Professor Department of Entomology Rutgers University Tel 732 932 8315 http://winfreelab.rutgers.edu

Interested in pursuing a PhD? Come take a look at Texas A&M

The Department of Entomology at Texas A&M University, a growing and vibrant Department with

stimulating and diverse research opportunities, is pleased to announce the availability of travel grants

for prospective PhD students. These grants, which provide airfare (within the continental United

States), hotel accommodations and a per diem for food, give prospective PhD students the

opportunity to meet our faculty, students and staff, tour the department and campus, and explore

College Station. For more information on how to apply for a PhD travel grant, please visit us at

http://insects.tamu.edu/students/.

A graduate research assistantship (M.S. or Ph.D.) is available for a student to work on a project that examines how the diversity of freshwater species influences the transport and fate of nanoparticles through a food web. The project is part of the new NSF/EPA funded Center for the Environmental Implications of Nanomaterials (CEIN), which brings together a team of engineers, medical doctors, and environmental scientists from several University of California campuses to study the biological impacts of nanomaterials from cells to ecosystems.

The student will help set-up and manage the proposed experiments, as well as develop their own thesis or dissertation topic to compliment the broader goals of the project. A background in ecology, environmental science, limnology, toxicology, or a related field is required. Experience working with freshwater organisms is preferred, but not required.

UCSB is scenically located between the beach and mountains, and boasts a terrific quality of life. Top-notch research facilities are available, and interaction with faculty in the Institute for Computational Earth System Science, the Bren School of Environment, the Marine Science Institute, and the National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis offers unparalleled opportunity for training that spans multiple disciplines and ecosystems.

The assistantship offers a competitive stipend plus tuition and health insurance. Applications are due to the University of California-Santa Barbara’s Graduate Division (https://www.graddiv.ucsb.edu/eapp/) by December 15th.

Coastal Carolina University (15 miles from Myrtle Beach) offers a graduate degree (M.S.) in Coastal Marine and Wetland Studies. The program consists of 24 hrs of coursework and 6 hrs of thesis research. Courses are taught primarily by faculty members from two academic departments: biology and marine science. The coursework involves three core classes stressing coastal physical processes, ecology, and environmental policy. Located near coastal marshes, swamps, a large unregulated river, barrier islands, and the ocean, the program offers exceptional opportunities for basic and applied research. Students pursue projects that contribute to characterization and preservation of the coastal ecosystem and organisms that thrive in this ecosystem. Assistantships and Fellowships (GK-12) are available.

We invite applications for a graduate research assistantship focused on the impacts of forest biomass harvesting on soil carbon and nutrient cycling. The student will join a team of collaborators from UW-Madison, University of Minnesota, University of Missouri, and USFS to provide a regional assessment of the environmental sustainability of intensive biomass removal from regionally important forest types (aspen and northern hardwoods) within the Lake States. We have proposed to use a series of field experiments throughout the region combined with modeling to assess the effects of intensive utilization and removal of woody biomass on forest biodiversity (plant, microbe, and wood decay fungi) and productivity. The graduate research assistant will be based at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Dept. of Forest & Wildlife Ecology, and supervised by Dr. David Mladenoff and Dr. Jodi Forrester. For more information on the lab see: http://landscape.forest.wisc.edu.

Within the larger project, the student will be responsible for developing a PhD study in the area of how biomass removal in the short- and medium-term affects soil nutrient cycling, carbon, and microbial diversity. This involves conducting both field and lab work in support of the project goals, supervising field and lab assistants, analyzing data and preparing peer-reviewed publications.

The start date is somewhat flexible, but preferably the student will begin classes in Spring 2010. Position is funded for four years from DOE/USDA. Salary is $20,184 plus health insurance.

Qualifications: M.S. Biology, Forestry, or related field. Student is expected to have strong interests in ecology, forestry, soils and biogeochemistry. Applicants should be able to work independently, but also cooperatively with other researchers in the lab and on the project.

Application materials: Please send a statement of interests and goals, CV, and names and contact information for at least 3 references to: Dr. David Mladenoff, djmladen@wisc.edu. Apply by October 31, 2009 for full consideration, but open until filled.

Ph.D. Research Assistantship, South Dakota State University Brookings, South Dakota

Responsibilities: Lake mapping and database integration that leads to a classification system and habitat restoration plan. Project will involve some physical lake mapping and truthing, but most effort will be in performing spatial computing and database manipulation. Must report results in peer-reviewed publications and oral presentations.

Qualifications: Interest in landscape processes that influence lake habitat quality and fish communities. Applicants should have a B.S. or M.S. in fisheries, limnology, landscape ecology, or related interdisciplinary field and competitive GPA and GRE scores. Strong computer, analytical and writing skills, good knowledge of geographic information systems (e.g., ArcMap), and databases (e.g., STATSGO, STORET, GAP). Ability to interact and work effectively with multi-disciplinary groups is essential.

Contact: Send letter of interest, resume, names, phone numbers or email addresses of three references, and copies of transcripts and GRE scores (photocopies & email attachments acceptable) to: Michael Brown, michael.brown@sdstate.edu, Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences, SDSU, Brookings, SD 57007-1696.

MS/PhD Opportunity in Soil Ecology/Biogeochemistry, Department of Ecosystems & Conservation Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, MT

Graduate student assistantships: One new graduate assistantship (MS or PhD) is available to prospective students interested in soil biogeochemical and microbial community dynamics in recently deglaciated landscapes. The successful candidate will be expected to develop an independent project in one of the following areas: soil biogeochemistry; soil microbial ecology; or plant-microbe interactions. Motivated students with prior experience using molecular microbiological techniques are especially encouraged to apply. Applicants should have a strong record of academic excellence, prior field and/or laboratory experience, a demonstrated interest in soils or ecosystems research, and be willing to work in cold, harsh environments. Student support will include a combination of teaching/research assistantships, a stipend ($XX/year for MS students; $XX/year for PhD candidates) and a tuition waiver. Preference will be given to candidates willing to begin in summer 2020 (summer salary included), and academic positions will begin in the fall of 2010.

The community and resources: Missoula, a city of ~ 60,000 people, is a great place to live and work. It is surrounded by the Bitterroot and Lolo National Forests, and the Missoula valley includes the Blackfoot, Bitterroot, and Clark Fork Rivers. It offers immediate access multiple wilderness areas and national parks, and many outdoor activities.

To apply: For more information, please contact Cory Cleveland (cory.cleveland@umontana.edu). Students interested in applying should email the following application materials (as a single PDF or Word document): 1) a current resume or CV, including GPA and test scores (if available); 2) a letter of interest, including research interests, professional goals and prior experience; and 3) contact information, including email addresses, of three potential references. Applications received by December 15, 2009 will be given preference, but the position will remain open until a successful candidate has been identified.

Subject: Graduate Assistantship/Invasive quagga mussels in the arid southwest Institution: University of Nevada Las Vegas An assistantship towards a Master degree of Public Health (MPH) is available in the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV). The candidate will work with federal, state, and local government agencies, as well as other research teams to monitor the life histories of quagga mussel (Dreissena bugensis) adults and veligers in Lake Mead and address the key environmental factors affecting these invasive mussels in this largest reservoir in the US (by volume). Invasive quagga mussels were discovered in Lake Mead on January 6, 2007. It is the first known occurrence of the dreissenid species in the western United States. Now it has been found in many ecosystems in the arid southwest region.

The final candidate needs to do field work to collect water and sediment samples in Lake Mead, summarize water quality data, enumerate quagga mussel veligers and adults, identify and count benthic samples, present research results in interagency meetings, and draft report to funding agencies. The funding is available for 2 years. Minimum requirements include 1) a Bachelor’s degree in Ecology, Biology, Limnology, Chemistry, Environmental Sciences, or related field; 2) good physical condition; 3) safe driving history; 4) self-motivated personality; 5) working independently and interactively with a multidisciplinary team.

The position starts from January 2010 depending on the availability of qualified applicant. Interested students should send CV, letter describing their qualifications, contact list of three references, and unofficial transcripts to Dr. David Wong (David.Wong@unlv.edu), Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, University of Nevada at Las Vegas, 4505 Maryland Parkway Box 453064, Las Vegas NV 89154 (Tel: 702-895- 2446/Fax: 702-895-5166). Electronic submission is preferred. The due date for application is December 7, 2009. More information about graduate studies at UNLV can be found at http://graduatecollege.unlv.edu/.

The Langerhans Lab at North Carolina State University is looking for exceptional and enthusiastic Ph.D. students, and anticipates accepting approximately two new students starting fall 2010. While the lab primarily accepts Ph.D. students, exceptional students wishing to pursue a M.S. will also be considered. Additional information for prospective students can be found here: http://faculty-staff.ou.edu/L/Randall.B.Langerhans-1/labopps.html.

Research in the Langerhans Lab investigates a wide range of questions in evolutionary ecology, with empirical work focusing on aquatic systems (e.g., fishes, amphibians) and lizards. Due to this breadth of interests, graduate students can pursue a variety of research trajectories. Examples of ongoing research interests in the lab include: evolutionary consequences of anthropogenic impacts, ecological speciation, morphological and locomotor evolution, predictability of phenotypic evolution, functional morphology of locomotion, predator-prey coevolution, genital evolution in livebearing fishes, phylogeography, phenotypic plasticity, adaptive constraints of gene flow, sensory bias, evolution of sexual dimorphism, and links between locomotor, feeding, and life history evolution.

North Carolina State University is located in Raleigh, North Carolina’s state capital. The campus is home to a vibrant research community, and immersed within a thriving area for ecology and evolutionary biology research (e.g., within a 30-minute drive of Duke University, UNC Chapel Hill, the National Evolutionary Synthesis Center). The city is further conveniently located approximately 2 hours from both the ocean and the mountains.

If you are interested in joining the lab, please contact Dr. Brian Langerhans (langerhans@ncsu.edu) and provide a short description of your research interests and accomplishments, CV (including GPA and GRE scores), and contact information for three references. For those subsequently encouraged to apply, information on the application process can be found here: http://harvest.cals.ncsu.edu/biology/index.cfm?pageID=951.

More information on research in the lab can be found at: http://faculty-staff.ou.edu/L/Randall.B.Langerhans-1/

More information on the Department of Biology at NCSU can be found at: http://harvest.cals.ncsu.edu/biology/

Opening: PhD Student in Biogeography, Societies, Climate Change, or Species Interactions

Positions for PhD students are available in the laboratory of Rob Dunn at North Carolina State University, with funding through a mix of research assistantships and TAs to work on any of a wide range of topics. Student should be curious, driven and excited enough about science that it is what they might choose to do were they to win the lottery.

Opportunities exist to work on… societies (be they insect or otherwise), climate change, biogeography or some combination thereof. Within this context, students interested in the biology of parasites, infectious diseases, mutualists (be they butterflies, plants, microbes or anything else) or commensals of social insects and other societies are particularly encouraged to apply.

Research projects that span more than one lab within our conservation ecology lab group (http://www4.ncsu.edu/~rrdunn/labgroup.html), social insect group (http://www.ncsu.edu/project/honey_bee_res/NCSU- SIWG.html) or with existing collaborators associated with global projects on ants (http://www.antmacroecology.org/) are also encouraged.

Students who are interested in applying to the lab should send a CV, a list of reference writers, and a writing sample to Rob_Dunn “at” ncsu.edu. The CV should include information about existing skill sets such as languages spoken, molecular techniques, natural history knowledge, databasing abilities, GIS, or taxonomic knowledge. If you can identify, for example, every ant, fungus, springtail, carnivore tick, or mammal species in New Mexico, Alberta or anywhere else, let me know.

Current student projects in the lab include work on the biogeography of carnivores and their parasites, the behavior of male ants, the consequences of the cryptic invasion of a termite specialist ant, and modeling of the interactions between seed dispersers and seeds. Lab projects include global analysis of the biogeography of ants, modeling consequences of climate change for insects, pests and diseases, and an effort to work with NASA to highlight areas where discovery of new species is most likely.

Inquires from individuals of diverse backgrounds and underrepresented groups are particularly encouraged.

Fire Ecology Specialist Position Tall Timbers Research Station and Land Conservancy, Fire Ecology Program

Tall Timbers Research Station (Tallahassee, Florida) is seeking a field ecologist to assist with research in the area of Fire Ecology in southeastern U.S. with an emphasis on pine forests. The Fire Ecology Specialist will work closely with the Fire Ecologist in implementing collaborative and independent research in the Fire Ecology Program.

Qualifications: (1) Masters degree completed in biology, forestry, wildlife, natural resources, or related field, (2) comfortable with leadership role in supervising interns and technicians, (3) enjoys working in difficult (hot) outdoor conditions, (4) willing to receive training in prescribed burning and to provide leadership on burns, (5) comfortable with using and maintaining various tools, technology, and equipment, (6) enjoys plant identification and wants to become proficient with local flora, (7) ability to organize and manage a laboratory, (8) enthusiastic about conducting independent research and writing articles for publication with assistance from the Fire Ecologist, (9) relational database and GIS skills desirable, (10) supportive of land management practices for conservation (prescribed burning, timber thinning, wildlife management, hunting).

Description: The Fire Ecology Specialist is responsible for assisting the Fire Ecologist in implementing and developing plant ecology and fire science research and providing information and education to the public. Duties will include supervision of existing long-term research projects, assisting development and implimentation of new research projects, data management, writing manuscripts, hiring and supervising interns, acquiring and maintaining supplies and equipment, assisting with prescribed burning and other institutional needs, and assisting with extension and education activities. Research interests of the Fire Ecology Program are diverse and include effects of fire regime on natural community composition and structure, landscape fire history, natural community classification, fire and soil nutrient cycling, remote sensing of burn severity, and fire in hardwood forests. The position will provide opportunities to receive fire training and other educational experiences, such as attending conferences and workshops.

Salary and Benefits: Starting salary will be $35,000 annually. Benefits include full medical, unemployment, and worker's compensation insurance, and retirement benefits after one year of employment.

To Apply: Submit by e-mail or mail current Curriculum Vitae, college transcripts (if graduated within the past 5 years), and names, addresses, and phone numbers for three references to:

Kevin Robertson, PhD krobertson@ttrs.org Fire Ecology Research Scientist Tall Timbers Research Station 13093 Henry Beadel Drive Tallahassee, FL 32312 Office: 850-893-4153 x 254 Cell: 850-508-5499

Review of applications will begin December 1, 2009 with the goal of starting the position in January 2010.

A graduate student position in paleoecology is available to start in the summer or fall of 2010 at the University of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada (http://www.uvic.ca/). The main approach used in my lab is to examine ecological dynamics using the geological record and techniques such as pollen analysis that provide a long-term perspective on vegetation dynamics. Research focuses on the development and dynamics of vegetation communities since the last glaciation and the climatic and non-climatic factors that drive vegetation dynamics. The main geographical focus of the lab is the Pacific coast of Canada, a region characterized today by temperate rainforest. There are a number of specific research projects available but students are also encouraged to develop their own projects.

Applicants should be highly-motivated, with a strong background in community ecology and/or Quaternary geology and excellent academic standing. Guaranteed funding is available through a combination of fellowships, research assistantships, and teaching assistantships.

Interested students are encouraged to contact me as soon as possible via email (tlacours@uvic.ca) and to send a CV/resume, an unofficial copy of university transcripts, and a brief statement of scientific interests.

Ecology and population genetics of brook trout in the Delaware Gap National Recreation Area

The project: The status of brook trout populations in the Delaware Gap National Recreation Area is unclear. This specific goal of this project is to provide scientific support for a brook trout management plan in the Park. The broader goal is to use information collected in the Park to contribute to a larger effort to develop hierarchical models of brook trout population persistence. Field work in the Park will include an extensive survey to identify population structure based on microsatellites and an intensive 1-year PIT tag study to estimate seasonal body growth, survival and movement. Responsibilities will include participation in the extensive field study, leading the intensive PIT tag study, and genotyping sampled fish. Beyond these responibilities, the student will have opportunities to define dissertation topics.

Qualifications: MS (preferred) or BS in ecology, fisheries or genetics. Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Strong quantitative skills, including familiarity with linear mixed models and hierarchical Bayesian modeling. Interest in applying scientific results to natural resources management.

Stipend: Full time, $20K/year plus benefits. Tuition waiver from UMass. Additional funds are available for travel and research expenses.

To apply: Please send CV, transcripts (unofficial OK), and names, phone numbers and email addresses of 3 references to Ben Letcher at bletcher@nrc.umass.edu. Specify intererest in either the Organismic and Evolutionary Biology Program (http://www.bio.umass.edu/oeb/ ) or the Natural Resources Conservation Department (http://nrc.umass.edu/ ).

Closing date: November 13, 2009 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Silvio O. Conte Anadromous Fish Research Center U.S. Geological Survey Biological Resources Division P.O. Box 796 -- One Migratory Way Turners Falls, MA 01376 (413) 863-3803 Cell: (413) 522-9417 FAX (413) 863-9810

bletcher@nrc.umass.edu ben_letcher@usgs.gov http://www.lsc.usgs.gov/cafl/ecology/Ecology.html

The Graduate Program in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at Dartmouth College invites applications from prospective Ph.D. students. We offer a wide range of opportunities for studying a diversity of biological systems from ecological and evolutionary perspectives, and our core group of enthusiastic faculty, graduate students and post-docs provide an exciting environment in which to pursue a Ph.D http://www.dartmouth.edu/~biology/. Generous financial support is provided in the form of Dartmouth Fellowships, health care, and a substantial yearly discretionary fund for research and travel that are guaranteed for 5 years. Applicants with excellent records and who demonstrate financial need are also eligible for a U.S. Department of Education Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need (GAANN) Fellowship http://www.dartmouth.edu/~gradstdy/GAANNAWD.html. Detailed information about the program, and access to online applications, are available at http://www.dartmouth.edu/~biology/graduate/eeb/. Students interested in alpine or polar ecosystems may also apply to the NSF IGERT training grant program on polar environmental change and its human dimensions. http://www.dartmouth.edu/~igert/

Applications will be considered beginning on December 1st. Promising applicants will be invited and hosted for interviews in January.

Dartmouth is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and encourages applications from women and members of minority groups.

I invite applications from motivated students for either masters or doctoral work beginning in fall 2010 in the field of terrestrial community ecology at the University of Rhode Island. Full funding for 1-2 students will be provided either as research or teaching assistantships, depending on student background and availability. Applicants should be independent, highly motivated, and possess some research and/or field experience. Research in my lab generally addresses predator-prey and/or herbivore-plant interactions; specific research topics have included the population-level consequences of non-lethal interactions between predators and their prey and the impact of interactions between invasive species on eastern forests. Detailed information about the lab is available at <http://cels.uri.edu/preisserlab/> http://cels.uri.edu/preisserlab/

Prospective students should contact me (Evan Preisser, preisser@uri.edu) and provide a short description of research interests and accomplishments, a CV (including GPA and GRE scores), and contact information for three references. I will contact suitable candidates to discuss potential graduate projects and to set up an interview. Formal department review of applications will begin February 1, 2010, but interested students should contact me well before the application deadline.

<http://cels.uri.edu/preisserlab/index.html> http://cels.uri.edu/preisserlab/index.html

The Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources seeks a highly qualified graduate student for work serving as a foundation for urban long-term research in the “Triangle“ region of North Carolina.

Research will be conducted in the context of a larger effort to influence the policies that allow for the sustainable and equitable provisioning of ecosystem services. Urban research in the Triangle involves scientists from NC State University, UNC-Chapel Hill, and Duke University. It will provide rich opportunities for interaction among scientists and students from other urban research sites around the nation. Graduate research at either MS or PhD level will focus on demographic comparisons of populations both consuming and producing ecosystem services provided by Jordan Lake in the Triangle.

Support includes stipend, tuition and fees, and health insurance for at least two years. Preferred start date: January 2010.

•Have a strong academic background that will support socio-ecological research; •Possess strong quantitative skills; •Have excellent scores in all three components of the GRE (verbal, quantitative, critical thinking/analytic writing) and a high undergraduate/graduate GPA; •Be citizens or permanent residents of the U.S.

First, address a letter of interest to Dr. Melissa McHale at melissa_mchale@ncsu.edu, ASAP.

Second, potential candidates should also prepare to submit an application (including personal statement, CV, three letters of recommendation, transcripts, GRE scores) through the North Carolina State University Graduate School on-line application process. Review of applications will begin immediately and the position will remain open until filled. http://cnr.ncsu.edu/fer/grads/degprogs.html

The Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources is recognized internationally as a leader in graduate education. Currently, more than 140 students (40% doctoral, 60% master’s) are pursuing graduate degrees in forestry, fisheries and wildlife sciences, and natural resources. Graduate programs emphasize hands-on research, teaching, and external field opportunities. We produce graduate students who have the knowledge, skills and willingness required to succeed as responsible scientists, teachers and practitioners.

North Carolina State University is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer committed to excellence through diversity and encourages applications from minorities, women, veterans and persons with disabilities.

PhD Assistantship Available: Ecological Genomics of Drought Stress in Prairie Grasses

We have a position available for a PhD student to study the ecological genomics of drought stress. The project will include studies of the responses of native prairie grasses to variation in precipitation using the ecologically dominant prairie grass big bluestem as a model. The work is part of a project funded by the USDA Plant Biology Abiotic Stress program. The project will include common garden transplant experiments and genomic approaches to test for the signature of adaptive genetic differentiation among natural populations of big bluestem across the precipitation gradient of the Great Plains.

This collaborative research group assembles investigators with complementary expertise in Plant Ecological Genomics (Johnson www.ksu.edu/johnsonlab/, Garrett www.ksu.edu/pdecology), Genomics (Ahkunov eakhunov@ksu.edu), Evolutionary Genetics (Morgan(http://www.ksu.edu/morganlab/) and Restoration Ecology (Baer, SIU (www.plantbiology.siu.edu/Faculty/Baer/index.html) to elucidate the response and adaptation of prairie grasses to abiotic stresses. This work will take place in the laboratories of Drs. Johnson, Akhunov, and Garrett, with close collaboration with Drs. Morgan and Baer. There will also be opportunities to interact with other researchers in the context of the Ecological Genomics Institute (www.ecogen.ksu.edu).

Applicants should have a demonstrated interest in ecological or evolutionary genomics. Preference will be given to individuals with experience in modern molecular approaches and genomics tools.

Review of applicants will begin Dec.15, and continue until the successful applicant is identified. The starting date is summer 2010. The position offers competitive salary of $25,000 and benefits.

Applications should include a cover letter with a statement of research interests and timing of availability, a CV, and names and contact information for three professional references. Please send your application through e-mail to Loretta Johnson (Johnson@ksu.edu). To ensure that your application is received, please include the following in the subject of your e-mail: â€˜Application for Ecological Genomics Assistantshipâ€™.

Kansas State University is located in the college town of Manhattan (population ~45,000) in the Flint Hills of eastern Kansas, about 2 hours away from Kansas City. Kansas State University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer and actively seeks diversity among its employees.

Evolutionary Ecology of Plant-Herbivore Interactions University of Wisconsin, Madison

A Graduate Research Assistantship (M.S. - Ph.D. or Ph.D. only) is available for work with the research groups of Rick Lindroth and Eric Kruger at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Funded by a new, five-year NSF grant, this research addresses genetic, ontogenetic and environmental factors that influence aspen defense (chemical resistance, tolerance, escape) against mammalian herbivores (e.g., deer). Primary objectives of the work are to: 1) characterize aspen chemical defense traits, 2) assess costs/benefits of resistance, tolerance and escape, and 3) evaluate the selective impact of browsing on the genetic structure of defense traits in an experimental population. Applicants must be interested in investigating both the chemical and population genetics aspects of plant-herbivore interactions. Applicants should pursue admission to the graduate program in <http://www.zoology.wisc.edu/>Zoology (Ecology), <http://forestandwildlifeecology.wisc.edu/>Forest and Wildlife Ecology, or <http://www.botany.wisc.edu/>Botany.

For more information about the Lindroth and Kruger research groups, visit: <http://entomology.wisc.edu/~lindroth/>http://entomology.wisc.edu/~lindroth/ http://forest.wisc.edu/facstaff/kruger.html

The University of Wisconsin-Madison is a premier institution for research in ecology and evolution, and has ranked among the top five research universities in the United States for each of the past 20 years.

Highly motivated individuals with superior academic credentials and strong communication skills are encouraged to apply. Well-developed interpersonal skills are essential. Candidates must be able to work independently as well as part of a collaborative research team.

50% Research Assistantships currently provide a stipend of $ $20,184 (12 mo.), tuition waiver, and excellent medical/dental health plans.

Inquiries: Send preliminary e-mail letter of inquiry, describing research interests and academic qualifications, to:

237 Russell Labs 1630 Linden Drive University of Wisconsin Madison, WI 53706 U.S.A.

The White Lab at Utah State University has an opening for a graduate student with interests in Macroecology, Community Ecology, or Ecological Theory/Modeling. Active areas of research in the White lab include broad scale patterns of biodiversity and body size, dynamics of ecological communities, and the use of sensor networks for studying ecological systems. We use computational, mathematical, and advanced statistical methods in much of our work, so students with an interest in these kinds of methods are encouraged to apply. Background in these quantitative techniques is not necessary, only an interest in learning and applying them. While students interested in one of the general areas listed above are preferred, students are encouraged to develop their own research projects depending upon their interests. Graduate students in the White lab are funded through a combination of research assistantships, teaching assistantships, and fellowships. Students interested in pursuing a Ph.D. are preferred, though exceptional students interested in a M.S. will be considered. Utah State University has an excellent graduate program in ecology with over 50 faculty and 80+ graduate students across campus affiliated with the USU Ecology Center (http://www.usu.edu/ecology/).

Additional information about the position and Utah State University is available at: http://whitelab.weecology.org/grad-student-opening

Interested students can find more information about the lab at our website: http://whitelab.weecology.org

If you are still interested after checking out the website you should contact me directly at epwhite@biology.usu.edu. Please send a CV, GPA, GRE scores (if available), and a brief description of your general research interests.

DEADLINE: For full consideration, formal applications should be submitted by January 1st, 2009.

MSc Student Opportunity in Aquatic Ecology, River Studies Center, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse

Graduate student support is available for a graduate student (MSc) interested in working on a multidisciplinary research project entitled "Modeling the response of imperiled freshwater mussels to anthropogenically induced changes in water temperature, habitat, and flow in streams of the southeastern and central United States". The successful applicant will be expected to develop an independent research project to explore the thermal thresholds of juvenile and adult mussels based on physiological traits. This is a joint project between the U.S. Geological Survey and the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. The student would work jointly with Dr. Teresa Newton (who studies mussel ecology) and Dr. Roger Haro (who studies the biology of benthic invertebrates).

The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse recognizes and appreciates the importance of water to the competing forces of agriculture, business, recreation, and nature. Consequently, freshwater is a focus of teaching and research in the Department of Biology. At the graduate level, the Department offers an Aquatic Science Concentration to prepare students for exciting and challenging careers in the study and management of freshwater resources. Many graduate students in the program are associated with the River Studies Center (Center) at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse which was established in 1972 to facilitate the University's scientific involvement with environmental and resource management issues pertinent to the Upper Mississippi River. The Center has become nationally recognized for its investigations of non-point source pollutants in rivers, streams, lakes, and wetlands.

Selection will be based on undergraduate grades (GPA), GRE's (minimum combined score of 1100 on v-GRE & q-GRE), and letters of reference from at least three persons with sufficient knowledge of the applicant's potential for research. Students with proven experience in measurement of physiological rates are encouraged to apply.

Support: In-state (Wisconsin) tuition and an annual stipend, renewable for an additional year.

Dr. Roger Haro, River Studies Center, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, La Crosse, WI 54601, USA; email haro.roge@uwlax.edu

Dr. Teresa Newton, U.S. Geological Survey, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, La Crosse, WI 54603, USA; email tnewton@usgs.gov

The Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Arkansas is actively recruiting Distinguished Doctoral Fellows (DDF) and Doctoral Academy Fellows (DAF) to begin graduate work in August 2010. The Distinguished Fellowships have a range of $30,000 to $40,000 for a 12-month stipend, and the DAFs have a range of $20,000 to $30,000 for a 12-month stipend. Both are available for up to 4 years of support based on satisfactory progress. Fellowships will require research and/or teaching depending upon the major professor chosen. In addition, fellowships include a full waiver of tuition, health care benefits, and most fees. Outstanding students from all biological disciplines are encouraged to apply. Selection will be based on undergraduate GPA, GRE scores, letters of recommendation, and undergraduate (B.S.) research experience or graduate (M.S.) research experience. Applicants should contact faculty members in the Department of Biological Sciences whose research they may be interested in directly at http://biology.uark.edu/ For more information on departmental requirements, see http://biology.uark.edu/1255.htm or http://www.uark.edu/depts/gradinfo/recruit/funding/fellowships.html for general requirements. DAF applications can be made at any time and will be reviewed as received. Review of DDF applications will begin on 16 January 2010 with decisions made by the end of February. Those qualified applicants not chosen for a DDF will be offered a DAF. Contact Dr. David McNabb (dmcnabb@uark.edu, 479-575-3251), Chair, Graduate Studies Committee, Department of Biological Sciences, for any further information or questions.

We seek applications for an MS student to investigate site requirements of late-seral woody riparian plants along the upper Missouri River in central Montana. The primary objective is to assess how multiple factors (e.g., water availability, soil texture and stratigraphy, livestock herbivory) affect plant species composition. In addition, successful applicants will be encouraged to develop and pursue their own, related study questions. Preferred qualifications include: a record of strong academic achievement as an undergraduate; previous coursework and interest in terrestrial plant ecology and soil science; a desire to conduct independent fieldwork in remote settings. Site access and fieldwork may require multi-day canoe trips.

Funding is expected for a January 2010 start, and will include a stipend of ~ $16,000 per year, an in-state tuition waiver (for Montana residents), and research expenses including travel and per diem. The successful candidate will be co-advised by Drs. Michael Merigliano and Cory Cleveland (College of Forestry and Conservation) at the University of Montana in Missoula.

To apply: Please email the following application materials (as one document) to Dr. Cory Cleveland at cory.cleveland@umontana.edu: 1) a current resume or CV, including GPA and GRE scores (if available); 2) a letter of interest, including research interests, professional goals and prior experience; and 3) contact information, including Email addresses, of three potential references.

*Department of Biology - Program in Ecology, Behavior and Evolution Program in Terrestrial Biogeosciences Boston University

*I invite applications for doctoral work in my lab beginning fall 2010 in the areas of biogeochemistry, forest ecology, global change biology and related fields. Applicants should be independent and highly motivated with academic research and/or field experience in plant ecology, soil ecology or nutrient cycling. Funding is available to work on a project examining the impacts of variation in winter climate on forest productivity and nutrient dynamics. My research program covers a broad range of topics including human impacts on the global nitrogen cycle, the effects of exotic pests on forest biogeochemistry, nutrients inputs from fog to coastal forest ecosystems and the role of disturbances in nutrient uptake by trees. Our lab has excellent research facilities, including access to three isotope ratio mass spectrometers in our department.

I encourage prospective students to contact me (ptempler@bu.edu) to discuss potential projects and to set up an interview. Formal review of applications will begin in our department December 7, 2009, but interested applicants should contact me before the application deadline if possible.

Interested applicants can look at the following web-sites for useful information:

Pamela Templer, PhD Assistant Professor Co-Director of the BU Stable Isotope Laboratory Department of Biology Boston University 5 Cummington Street Boston, MA 02215

MS student opportunity in aquatic ecology Department of Biological Sciences, Wayne State University

Support is available in the Steiner lab at Wayne State University for a Master of Science student interested in aquatic population and community ecology. The student will take part in a research project focused on the interactive effects of environmental perturbations and dispersal on the structure and dynamics of zooplankton populations. The student will be encouraged to develop an independent research project related to the primary project. Research during the summer will be conducted at Michigan State University's Kellogg Biological Station located in southwest Michigan. Support during the academic year will be provided by departmental teaching assistantships while summer support will be provided by research assistantships. Funds are also available for housing during the summer field season.

Qualifications include: a record of academic achievement as an undergraduate; previous coursework or research experience in ecology or evolutionary ecology; the ability to work independently; and the ability to work long hours in the field (enduring heat, leech, mosquito, humidity, rain, hail, thunderstorms and pond scum).

Those seeking further information about the position should contact Dr. Chris Steiner (csteiner@wayne.edu). Wayne State University is an urban university located in beautiful midtown Detroit. General information about the Steiner lab and the Biological Sciences Department can be found at: http://www.clas.wayne.edu/unit-faculty-detail.asp?FacultyID=1721. For information about the Kellogg Biological Station see: http://www.kbs.msu.edu

To apply: Please email the following to Dr. Chris Steiner (csteiner@wayne.edu): 1) CV, including GPA and GRE scores, 2) a letter of interest describing general research interests and any prior research experience; and 3) contact information (and email addresses) of 2-3 references.

A graduate Research Assistantship will potentially become available with Don Waller’s research group at University of Wisconsin-Madison in Summer or Fall 2010. The RA will participate in developing a state-wide native plant monitoring program aimed at quantifying deer impacts and abundances and assessing the impacts of climate change, pervasive habitat modification, and shifts in forest and land management. She/he should be familiar with plant identification and ecological survey methods and interested in statistics. The Research Assistant will work closely with a deer impacts research consortium whose members include local, state, and federal agencies, NGOs, and researchers from multiple institutions and departments. In addition to research duties, the RA will work closely with these partners and citizen scientists to foster this collaborative effort including creating a web page to share protocols, data, maps, and results.

Those interested should familiarize themselves with the group’s research described at: http://www.botany.wisc.edu/waller/ and consider which UW graduate program is most attractive among Botany, Zoology, and Environment and Resources: http://botany.wisc.edu/graduate_study_and_research/ http://www.zoology.wisc.edu/grad/Prospective.html http://www.nelson.wisc.edu/education/programs/graduate-degrees/ They may also be interested in the research proposal submitted to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation that may support this position: http://www.botany.wisc.edu/waller/Researchpages/deerimpacts.html Funding of this position is contingent on receiving grant support. To inquire about this opportunity, please send an e-mail and curriculum vitae to Don Waller at: dmwaller@wisc.edu

Doctoral Fellowships and other assistantships available for entering Ph.D. students in Environmental and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. We will be awarding University of Louisiana Fellowships and Board of Regents Fellowships to Ph.D. students entering Fall 2010. UL Fellows are funded for 3-4 years and have limited teaching responsibilities, while BoR Fellows are funded for 4 years at and have no formal teaching duties. Stipends are up to $26,000 per year (with tuition waiver). Eligibility requirements include US citizenship (or permanent residency) or degree from a US institution. We will also have teaching and research assistantships available for incoming Ph.D. students. Potential applicants are strongly encouraged to directly contact prospective advisors. Their contact information and research interests can be found at our departmental web site (http://biology.louisiana.edu/). Our graduate program brochure is also posted at our Ecology Center’s site (http://ulceet.com/site90.php). The Department of Biology has approximately 70 graduate students and 25 graduate faculty members conducting research on a wide variety of topics.

Maine’s Sustainability Solutions Initiative (SSI), a partnership between the University of Maine and the University of Southern Maine, offers unprecedented opportunities for graduate students to experience a truly interdisciplinary learning experience through a $20 million, 5-year program funded by the National Science Foundation’s EPSCoR program. The SSI’s mission is to create an integrative research program and strong stakeholder partnerships to generate improved solutions to intersecting ecological, social, and economic challenges in and beyond Maine. Graduate students will participate in collaborative research experiences with interdisciplinary faculty teams focused on urbanization, forest ecosystem management, and climate change. These efforts address the dynamics of social-ecological systems with an emphasis on moving from knowledge to action. Students with backgrounds in a wide range of disciplines are encouraged to apply: e.g. social sciences, biological, earth, and chemical sciences, natural resource management, communication, engineering, education, mathematics, and more.

Up to 25 Ph.D. fellowships will be awarded at the University of Maine with a substantial portion of these beginning in fall 2010. Each fellowship will include a stipend of $20-25,000/ yr for up to five years, a tuition waiver, subsidy for health insurance, and some funds to support thesis research. Masters degrees opportunities will be offered at the University of Southern Maine.

For more information on SSI and fellowship applications, visit www.umaine.edu/sustainabilitysolutions

The Ecology, Behavior & Evolution (EBE) Section at UCSD seeks outstanding applicants to the PhD graduate program for the fall of 2010. EBE is one of four sections within the Division of Biological Sciences at UCSD which sits at the center of the large, vibrant, and varied biological research community in San Diego. This diverse group of researchers provides a stimulating intellectual environment for graduate training and research with a wide range of opportunities for interactions with local institutions such as Scripps Oceanographic Institute. Faculty within the EBE Section have focused interests in experimental and genetic evolution, community and ecosystems ecology, and insect ecology, behavior and evolution. The graduate program is committed to a supportive environment for research and learning and provides five years of funding for graduate student stipends and benefits.

More information and application instructions for the UCSD Division of Biological Sciences Graduate Program is available at http://biology.ucsd.edu/grad/overview.html

Lin Chao, Professor of Biology Evolutionary genetics; theory and experimentation. Current interests: Evolution of senescence; antibiotic resistance; and cooperation.

Elsa Cleland, Assistant Professor of Biology Plant community and ecosystem ecology, global environmental change, biogeochemistry, ecological restoration

David Holway, Associate Professor of Biology Ecological basis of invasive species. Argentine Ants, Fire Ants - California.

Joshua Kohn, Professor of Biology, Chair of the Section of Ecology, Behavior and Evolution Plant population biology; mating system evolution; ecological genetics.

Carolyn Kurle, Assistant Professor of Biology Changes in community structure, trophic interactions, and native species composition when ecosystems are modified via human perturbations that result in biodiversity loss, species invasion, habitat alteration, and changes in food availability.

Therese Markow, Professor of Biology, Amylin Chair in Life Sciences Education and Research Speciation and adaptation to novel environments; Mating system evolution; Drosophila evolutionary genetics. James Nieh, Associate Professor of Biology Evolution of animal language: Functionally referential communication in highly social bees; sensory physiology and mechanisms of multi-modal communication; bioacoustics; neuroethology of insect learning.

Scott Rifkin, Assistant Professor of Biology Sources of phenotypic variation; gene expression evolution; evolutionary and developmental systems biology

Kaustuv Roy, Professor of Biology Physical and biotic controls on the distribution and diversity of species in benthic marine ecosystems.

Jonathan Shurin, Associate Professor of Biology Causes and consequences of variation in species diversity, flow of energy between producers and consumers, and impacts of predators on ecosystem functioning.

Christopher Wills, Professor Emeritus of Biology Molecular evolution; genetic variation at DNA level, the ecology and evolution of complex ecosystems.

David Woodruff, Professor of Biology Conservation and evolutionary biology; speciation; genetics of endangered species.

The Department of Biology at Georgetown University has multiple opportunities for doctoral study in ecology, evolution and behavior (EEB).

The faculty and graduate program in Biology at Georgetown help doctoral candidates develop into insightful researchers and effective teachers and communicators. 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/. Information about graduate school application procedures and deadlines can be found at http://grad.georgetown.edu/pages/admissions.cfm.

Community Ecology and Landscape Genetics: Dr. Gina Wimp is seeking students interested in understanding the mechanisms that lead to the loss of biodiversity and increased risk of extinction in fragmented habitats. Dr. Wimp’s work takes place in the intertidal salt marsh where a rise in mean tidal height over the past 60 years has led to a change in the demography of the two dominant grass species, with the more flood-intolerant grass (Spartina patens) contracting in size. She uses manipulative experiments to examine the effects of habitat loss and fragmentation in S. patens on the abundance, diversity and composition of the dependent arthropod community. The Wimp and Hamilton labs have developed microsatellite genetic marker loci to examine the effects of habitat fragmentation on gene flow in two of the dominant herbivore species found in S. patens, both of which are flightless, specialist planthoppers. Interested students should contact Dr. Gina Wimp via email (gmw22@georgetown.edu).

For further information see the following websites: http://biology.georgetown.edu/faculty/wimp/research/ http://www9.georgetown.edu/faculty/hamiltm1/

Mechanisms of phenotypic evolution: Dr. Peter Armbruster seeks a highly motivated PhD student to join his laboratory’s research on mechanisms of phenotypic evolution 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. This natural experiment in evolution provides an exciting opportunity to identify the molecular and physiological mechanisms underpinning climatic adaptation during invasion and range expansion. Dr. Armbruster’s research is currently supported by grants from both NIH and NSF, and integrates a broad range of approaches, including molecular biology, bioinformatics, physiology, and quantitative genetics. Interested students should contact Dr. Peter Armbruster (paa9@georgetown.edu).

For further information on the Armbruster lab see: http://www1.georgetown.edu/departments/biology/faculty/armbruster/

Mathematical Population Biology: Faculty in the Departments of Biology and Mathematics have ongoing collaborations centered on quantitative modeling and analysis of population genetic data. Ongoing projects span a wide spectrum of applications including the development of coalescent models that better suit natural populations in order to infer biological mechanisms acting on genetic polymorphism to the development of novel quantitative models to analyze the evolution of HIV within an infected individual. These projects are highly interdisciplinary, drawing on approaches and techniques from both disciplines.

Dr. Matthew B. Hamilton (Biology) and Dr. Sivan Leviyang (Mathematics) are seeking an outstanding student to pursue a jointly mentored PhD in mathematical biology. The course of study will include classes in biology, mathematics and computer science, with the goal of providing the student with a firm background in population genetics, ecology, statistics, probability, and computation. The specific topic of research is flexible and can favor theory or application depending on the students’ interest. The ideal student should possess a bachelor’s degree in biology or mathematics (with some course work and experience in the alternate field) with some experience in computation. Most importantly, an ideal student will have a strong desire to engage in interdisciplinary research in quantitative biology. Interested students should contact Dr. Hamilton (hamiltm1@georgetown.edu) and Dr. Leviyang (sr286@georgetown.edu).

For further information on Dr. Leviyang’s research see http://www9.georgetown.edu/faculty/sr286/. For further information on the Hamilton lab see http://www9.georgetown.edu/faculty/hamiltm1/.

Empirical population genetics and molecular evolution: Dr. Matthew B. Hamilton is seeking students interested in using genetic marker data to test fundamental hypotheses in population genetics and molecular evolution. On-going empirical projects include using transcriptome-scale data to compare the molecular clock in annual and perennial plants, studying temporal genetic variation in striped bass and testing for the ecological causes of changes in genetic variation in salt marsh insects. The ideal project in the Hamilton lab is one that combines 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://www9.georgetown.edu/faculty/hamiltm1/.

Ecological interactions, behavior & learning: Research in Dr. Martha Weiss’ lab focuses on ecological interactions (between plants and animals, as well as predator and prey), with an emphasis on behavior and learning. Recent or ongoing projects include investigations of butterfly and caterpillar learning, retention of memory across complete metamorphosis, the ecological context of defecation behavior, and predatory wasp learning and foraging 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://www9.georgetown.edu/faculty/emc26/MarthaWeiss/weissm/), but be aware that its content is out of date and in the process of being updated.

Arthropod biodiversity and conservation: Professor Edward M. Barrows is seeking an excellent, self-motivated, and biology-passionate student to work on a long-term project regarding arthropod biodiversity and conservation especially in Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve (DMWP), Virginia, near Georgetown University. The study includes documenting DMWP species, their phenologies and relative abundances in habitats, and their food-web and other ecological roles in view of global change which may have significant effects on the Preserve. Dr. Barrows’ Entomology and Biodiversity Laboratory is currently analyzing a huge, baseline, historical (19981999) DMWP arthropod sample. The Friends of Dyke Marsh, National Park Service, Washington Biologists’ Field Club, and others are supporting this study. DMWP information is at http://biodiversity.georgetown.edu/files/informationfile.cfm?title=dykemarshintro . Interested students should contact Dr. Barrows at barrowse@georgetown.edu.

Behavioral ecology, development, reproduction & life history of Bottlenose Dolphins: Professor Mann is seeking outstanding PhD students in 2011 to collaborate on her long-term study of wild bottlenose dolphins. Dr. Mann directs the Shark Bay Bottlenose Dolphin Research Project, a 25+ year longitudinal study on a population of wild bottlenose dolphins in Shark Bay, Western Australia. Members of her lab are currently focusing on research questions related to behavioral development, life history, female reproduction, information transmission/diffusion, social networks, home range and habitat use. More recently, members of her team are developing non-invasive techniques for sampling cetacean genetics, diet, and hormones. Her work is currently supported by NSF and ONR. Dr. Mann collaborates extensively with Dr. Lisa Singh in Computer Science. Dr. Mann is not accepting students in 2010 but will consider applicants the following year.

For more information see www.monkeymiadolphins.org http://explore.georgetown.edu/people/mannj2 http://biology.georgetown.edu/faculty/Mann/

The Eviner lab at University of California, Davis is looking for an enthusiastic and exceptional PhD student to begin Summer 2010 (highly qualified Masters candidates may also be considered).

Funding for this student is related to a large interdisciplinary project- looking at impacts of climate change on alpine and subalpine ecosystems in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, California. In particular, the project focuses on understanding how interactions among vegetation types and a suite of mammals (e.g. pika, marmot, bighorn sheep, squirrels) will drive changes in both the plant and mammal communities in response to warming. The exact nature of the student's project will be determined according to student interests and project needs, but requires an emphasis on plant ecology.

Further information on the Eviner lab can be found at: http://www.plantsciences.ucdavis.edu/plantsciences_faculty/eviner/

If you are interested in joining the lab, please contact Dr. Valerie Eviner (veviner@ucdavis.edu) and provide: - a description of your research interests - a summary of your research experiences - a CV, including GPA and GRE scores - Contacts for 3 references.

The Graduate Program in Ecology and Evolution in the Department of Ecology and Evolution at Stony Brook University is recruiting doctoral and master's level graduate students for Fall 2010. The program trains students in Ecology, Evolution and Biometry. The following faculty are seeking graduate students:

H. Resit Akcakaya http://life.bio.sunysb.edu/ee/akcakayalab/ Stephen B. Baines http://life.bio.sunysb.edu/ee/baineslab/ Michael A. Bell http://life.bio.sunysb.edu/ee/belllab/ David O. Conover http://www.msrc.sunysb.edu/~conover Liliana M. Dávalos http://life.bio.sunysb.edu/ee/davaloslab/Welcome.html Daneil Dykhuizen http://life.bio.sunysb.edu/dykhuizenlab/ Walter F. Eanes http://life.bio.sunysb.edu/ee/eaneslab/ John G. Fleagle http://www.anat.stonybrook.edu/people/facultypage/fleagle Lev Ginzburg (631) 632-8569 Jessica Gurevitch http://life.bio.sunysb.edu/gurevitchlab/ Jeffrey Levinton http://life.bio.sunysb.edu/marinebio/levinton.main.html Steve Munch http://www.somas.stonybrook.edu/people/munch.html Dianna K Padilla http://life.bio.sunysb.edu/ee/padillalab Joshua Rest http://life.bio.sunysb.edu/ee/restlab/ F. James Rohlf http://life.bio.sunysb.edu/morph John True http://life.bio.sunysb.edu/ee/truelab/True_Lab.html John J. Wiens http://life.bio.sunysb.edu/ee/wienslab/homepage.html Pat C. Wright http://icte.bio.sunysb.edu

For more information regarding the Graduate Program in Ecology and Evolution see http://life.bio.sunysb.edu/ee and http://life.bio.sunysb.edu/ee/programs.htm

The deadline for receipt of all application materials is January 15, although earlier submission is encouraged to ensure full consideration for available fellowships. For additional assistance, e-mail our Graduate Program Coordinator, Iris Roth, iroth@notes.cc.sunysb.edu

Ph.D. student opportunity at Wright State: Host plant resistance to wood boring insects*

I am seeking a Ph.D. student to join a project to examine the mechanistic basis of host resistance of trees to wood boring insects, with a specific focus on ash tree resistance to the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB). This project is part of a larger collaborative effort, funded by USDA-APHIS, involving Don Cipollini at Wright State, and Pierluigi Bonello, Dan Herms, and Omprakash Mittipalli at Ohio State. Major objectives of this part of project include the examination of various phloem metabolite fractions from different ash species, as well as specific metabolites and proteins identified through various metabolomic and proteomic screens, for their effects on EAB larval growth in vitro, as well as examinations of resistance in living trees. In addition to contributing to these objectives, the student is expected to develop an independent line of research associated with host plant resistance to wood boring insects, using the interaction of ash with native and invasive wood borers as a model. This position will be located at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio, with frequent interaction with collaborators at Ohio State and travel to various research sites. The student will be enrolled in Wright State's Interdisciplinary Environmental Sciences Ph.D. Program. At least four years of support are available through a combination of graduate research and graduate teaching assistantships, and the student may start as early as Spring Quarter 2010 (late March). Application requirements include: Bachelors degree in Biology, Ecology, Entomology or related field; GRE scores within the last 5 y; minimum IBT TOEFL score of 100/120 and ability to pass a verbal English test (foreign students only). Preferred qualifications include: Masters degree or equivalent experience; a strong background in host plant resistance, with specific skills in insect rearing and bioassays; experience in field and laboratory research; good communication skill.

See _http://www.wright.edu/academics/envsci/index.html _for further information on the Environmental Sciences Ph.D. program at Wright State University, including program requirements, application procedures and stipends. Please contact Don Cipollini (don.cipollini@wright.edu <mailto:don.cipollini@wright.edu>) for more information about the project and the program prior to submitting an application.

-- *********************************** Don Cipollini, Ph.D. Professor- Plant Physiology/Chemical Ecology Director- Environmental Sciences PhD Program Department of Biological Sciences Wright State University 3640 Colonel Glenn Highway Dayton, Ohio 45435-0001 (937) 775-3805 FAX (937) 775-3320 email: don.cipollini@wright.edu Lab Page: http://www.wright.edu/~don.cipollini Env Sci PhD Program: http://www.wright.edu/academics/envsci/

Opportunities for Graduate Study in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Kansas www2.ku.edu/~eeb

The Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Kansas (KU-EEB) seeks applications from highly qualified and motivated graduate students. KU-EEB includes 43 faculty members and about 70 graduate students whose research focuses on three broad topical domains: Biodiversity and Macroevolution, Ecology and Global Change Biology, and Evolutionary Mechanisms.

Facilities to support graduate education and research include world-class collections in our museums, equipment and expertise in molecular biology including DNA sequencing, growth chambers and greenhouses, and extensive field station land holds for establishing controlled experimental plots or for investigating non-manipulated systems. Successful applicants to our graduate program receive a financial support package that includes a stipend and tuition sponsorship. Doctoral students receive a five-year package, and master’s students receive a two-year package. The department provides support for travel to present results at national and international professional meetings. Funds to support graduate student research are also available through departmental endowment funds. Applications from all qualified students will be given serious consideration; however, we specifically seek students whose interests match the following descriptions. Students who wish to pursue research in these areas are encouraged to contact prospective faculty mentors to introduce themselves and describe their academic goals and research experiences and interests. Please contact Jaime Keeler (eebgradprogram@ku.edu) if you are interested in any of these projects or if you require additional information on our program. Faculty members currently seeking new graduates students include those listed below:

The Ballantyne takes a broad approach to studying ecology. We spend a lot of time developing mathematical models, but we also perform experiments and analyze large data sets in effort to understand what dictates populations dynamics, what structure communities, and what drives element and material cycles in ecosystems. Current projects are focusing on spatially and size structured population dynamics, N:P stoichiometry, and systems biology approaches for understanding metabolism and decomposition in soil microbial communities.

The Billings lab explores how global change perturbations such as rising atmospheric CO2, land use change, rising temperatures, and changing water availability influence forest and grassland carbon and nitrogen pools and fluxes. There is a particular emphasis on stable isotope ecology as a tool for soil and tree ecophysiological studies, as well as microbial ecology.

The Blumenstiel lab investigates evolutionary arms races, selfish genes and epigenetics. Using approaches that include population genetics, molecular evolution, next-gen sequencing and molecular biology, the lab’s aim is to characterize evolutionary conflict in the battleground of the germline.

Research interests in the Brown lab include herpetological systematics and biodiversity, phylogenetic systematics, character evolution, phylogeography, population and conservation genetics, biogeography, and the evolution of animal behavior.

The Cartwright lab studies cnidarian phylogeny and evolution. In particular the lab is seeking a graduate student interested in studying the evolution of hydrozoans through phylogenetics and developmental gene expression.

Research interests in the Foster lab include experimental ecology, grassland dynamics, tests of community assembly theory, mechanisms of plant species coexistence and biodiversity, ecosystem consequences of biodiversity, and prairie and savanna restoration.

The Gleason lab studies the evolutionary genetics of behavioral isolation between Drosophila species through analyses of genes influencing courtship behavior.

Research in the Hileman lab integrates phylogenetic, molecular evolutionary, and molecular developmental approaches to investigate how flowers have evolved such a diversity of form.

The Holder lab explores phylogenetic methods. In particular lab members are interested in improving the statistical and computational tools used to estimate the genealogical relationships between organisms.

Members of the Jander lab research animal behavior with special emphasis on spatial cognition in ants, honeybees and house mice.

The Jensen lab studies parasitology with a particular emphasis on the systematics, morphology, biodiversity, and life-cycles of tapeworms. The lab is seeking a Ph.D. student to participate in an NSF-funded Planetary Biodiversity Inventories project to document the diversity of elasmobranch (ray and shark) tapeworms from around the world.

The Kindscher lab studies ethnobotany, plant ecology, conservation biology, and prairie and wetland restoration. Currently, the lab is looking for a graduate student to study the ecological, spatial, and phylogenetic characteristics of medicinal plants in relation to secondary compound concentrations (medicinal constituents).

The Orive lab explores evolutionary genetic theory, focusing on models of population structure and organisms with complex life histories. Current research in the lab focuses on modeling host- endosymbiont systems.

Town Peterson (http://specify5.specifysoftware.org/Informatics/bios/biostownpeterson/)

The Peterson lab is comprised of a large group of graduate and undergraduates students who work on diverse topics in systematics, ecology, disease biology, and biogeography. Particular interests include studies of transmission risk of diseases such as fluviruses, filoviruses, and Chagas disease; phylogeography of bird lineages; and ecological niche modeling.

Research interests Val Smith’s lab include ecological stoichiometry, empirical and experimental tests of community assembly theory, eutrophication science, host-pathogen dynamics, mechanisms of species coexistence and biodiversity, metabolic ecology, and production of biofuels from algae.

The research in Edie Taylor’s laboratory centers on fossil plants from the Permian and Triassic of Antarctica, including the study of fossil tree rings and paleoclimate proxies.

Tom Taylor’s research program involves two basic themes; the biology and evolution of fossil fungi and symbiotic interactions, and late Paleozoic and Mesozoic floras from Antarctica.

The Thorp lab explores freshwater ecology, specifically studying the factors controlling the complexity of food webs in rivers and the relationships between riverine landscape heterogeneity and ecosystem function.

Research in the Ward lab focuses on understanding how global change factors influence the physiology, population structure, and evolution of plant species. More specifically, the lab seeks to understand the effects of global change drivers that alter plant resource availability, such as changing atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations, changing precipitation regimes, and rising temperatures.

Master's position available for the project: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Defining River Herring Stock Structure in the Gulf of Maine Responsibilities will include a combination of field work and lab work, some portion of which will be applied towards the studentâ€™s thesis. Candidate will be working in freshwater (lakes and rivers) and marine environments, at times from fishing boats offshore in the Gulf of Maine . The successful candidate will possess the ability to work independently and as a team with PIs, a permanent technician, and commercial fishermen. Some knowledge of conservation genetics and/or statistics will be a bonus. Attention to detail a must. Position will begin in January 2010. Funding for the project will end in December 2012. Graduate stipend available. For more information, visit: http://research.usm.maine.edu/AquaticSystemsGroup/ follow the graduate position link. Or, contact: Dr. Karen Wilson, University of Southern Maine kwilson@usm.maine.edu 207-228-1674 or Dr. Theodore Willis, University of Southern Maine theowillis06@gmail.com 207-228-1673

I am seeking motivated students to join my lab for either masters or doctoral work beginning in fall 2010 in the field of evolutionary ecology at Texas Tech University. Funding for 1-2 students will be provided either as teaching assistantships or fellowships, depending on student background and availability. Applicants should be independent, highly motivated, and some research and/or field experience would be a plus. Research in my lab generally addresses questions about behavioral ecology about signal function and evolution by performing experiments within a naturalistic context. Specific research topics have included a wide array of ecological and evolutionary questions. Such work includes studies on heterospecific eavesdropping, the evolutionary hypotheses for the role of the vocal sac in anurans, female mate choice based on genetic similarities, genetic diversity and morphology in island populations, and mating preferences at different scales of divergence. For further !

If you are interested, please send me an email including 1) a statement of research interests, 2) a brief overview of your previous academic and research experiences, and 3) how your interests might fit in with the lab. Also include a copy of your CV or resume, your GRE scores (if you have them), and an unofficial transcript. Funding may be available through research and/or teaching assistantships. In addition TTU offers fellowships for some of the most promising students.

Graduate teaching and research fellowships in Biology-Ecology (M.S. and Ph.D.) and Geology (M.S.) are available for fall of 2010 in the Department of Environmental Sciences (DES) at the University of Toledo. Typical annual (12 month) assistantship stipends are $15,000 (M.S.) and $20,000 (Ph.D.) plus a tuition waiver. In addition, DES has an active NSF GK-12 program that provides a $30,000 annual stipend to several senior graduate students each year for research at the land-lake ecological interface involving local schoolteachers.

Inaugurated in July 2000, our department provides students with exciting opportunities in

interdisciplinary research directed by internationally recognized faculty in ecology and geology in collaboration with colleagues in geography, environmental law, engineering and other fields of study. Information about our entrance requirements, degree programs, course offerings, faculty members, and departmentalresources can be found at: http://www.eeescience.utoledo.edu and http://gradschool.utoledo.edu/. DES is an interdisciplinary department with 22 faculty specializing in ecosystems, earth surface processes, and human impacts on the environment. The detailed descriptions for each research lab can be found at:

Biology research interests include terrestrial/aquatic ecosystem and landscape ecology, ecosystem sustainability, wetlands, fish ecology, invasive species, agroecology, bioremediation, global change, bioenergy and environmental microbiology. Geology research interests include glacial geology, near surface geophysics, remote sensing/GIS, coastal systems, hydrogeology, and environmental geochemistry and soil sciences. The University of Toledo is an urban university with rapid access to major transportation hubs such as the Detroit Airport, and is a Carnegie Foundation Doctoral/Research University and a member of Ohio's State University System. The beautiful main campus is located in an outlying residential area of the city. After its merger in 2006 with the Medical University of Ohio, the university is now the third largest public university in the state.

The university is recognized as a prominent academic center for environmental education and

research in Ohio and the Great Lakes region, and was recently named a statewide Center of

Excellence in Advanced Renewable Energy and the Environment. The nearby glacial terrains and agricultural/urban ecosystems, interacting with local rivers and Lake Erie’s productive fisheries and wetlands, combined with the remarkable diversity of Oak Openings savannas and woodlands make the Greater Toledo area an ideal natural laboratory for studies in ecology, geology, and environmental sciences. We have access to a wide array of field sites and modern research facilities, including the Lake Erie Center on Maumee Bay, the Stranahan Arboretum in Toledo, and the Plant Science Research Center on the main campus.

When applying for admission to the graduate program in DES, international students must take

one of two exams with a spoken English component, provided they are available in their area:

either (1) the ‘iBT’ (internet-Based Test) version of the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign

Language), or (2) the IELTS (International English Language Testing Service) exam. Of the two

exams, the TOEFL-iBT is preferred. For the TOEFL, the university considers accepting students

with a minimum score of 80 on the internet-based exam, 230 on the computer based exam and

550 on the paper exam. For the IELTS, the minimum score acceptable is 6 (out of a possible 9).

For more information concerning the admission process, please contact Dr. Von Sigler

(von.sigler@utoledo.edu), and for information concerning graduate curriculum and advising,

please contact Dr. Scott Heckathorn (scott.heckathorn@utoledo.edu). The University of Toledo is an Equal Access, Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer & Educator. Applications received by March 30 will be given full consideration, but if financial assistance is also requested then applications should be received by February 1 for admission during the next academic year.

Graduate School Assistantships