Graduate Research Assistantship in Microbial Ecology / Biogeochemistry Arizona State University, School of Life Sciences
Project Title: Effects of prehistoric and current land use on soil microbial communities and the ecological processes they mediate Project Description: Microbial communities in soils control biogeochemical pathways of important nutrient elements within terrestrial ecosystems, yet we understand little about the composition, physiology, and functioning of these organisms and their importance to larger scale ecological processes. In this project, we are interested in exploring how past and present land cover and land use (native, agricultural, and urban ecosystems) structure microbial communities in soils (bacterial, fungal, archaeal), and how these changes in community structure and physiological capacity may alter biogeochemical cycling and ecological processes between plants, soils, and the atmosphere. Graduate RA Position: We are looking for a motivated and interested individual who is interested in pursuing a Ph.D. degree in Ecology/Microbiology to join us in this exciting research endeavor. The selected student will have broad flexibility in developing his or her dissertation research within the overall goals of the project and will work closely with the project investigators, including Drs. Sharon Hall and Ferran Garcia-Pichel. Additionally, the student will have the opportunity to interact broadly with our collaborators at ASU, including faculty affiliated with the School of Life Sciences, the Global Institute for Sustainability, the NSF-funded IGERT program in Urban Ecology, and the Central Arizona-Phoenix Long-Term Ecological Research Program (CAP- LTER). For more information on these innovative programs, see below. Candidates will apply for admission into the School of Life Sciences graduate program at ASU. The starting date is Fall, 2007. Minimum qualifications include a Bachelors degree in biology, microbiology, ecology, geology, chemistry, or related discipline. Interested candidates with a strong background or interest in microbiology, microbial ecology, soils, or biogeochemistry are encouraged to apply. Selection will be based on GPA, GREs (General and Biology subject), letters of recommendation, and enthusiasm for the work proposed. Send formal letters of interest to Dr. Sharon J. Hall through email at [EMAIL PROTECTED] or by mail at the School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Box 874501, Tempe, AZ, 85287-4501. Inquiries about the position should be directed to Dr. Hall through email or by phone at 480-965-5650. Graduate RA Stipend: $23,143-$30,000 for 12 months plus out-of-state tuition waiver. Stipends include health insurance. Relevant web sites: Dr. Sharon J. Hall: http://sols.asu.edu/faculty/shall.php Dr. Ferran Garcia-Pichel: http://sols.asu.edu/faculty/fgpichel.php NSF IGERT program in Urban Ecology at ASU: http://sustainability.asu.edu/igert/ CAP-LTER: http://caplter.asu.edu/ Global Institute of Sustainability: su.edu/gios/index.htm ASU School of Life Sciences (SoLS): http://sols.asu.edu/ SoLS Graduate Program: http://sols.asu.edu/grad/gradresource.php
