MS or PhD Student interested in plant-insect interactions I am seeking a highly qualified MS or PhD student to work on an NSF-funded project examining plant-insect interactions involving aspen (Populus tremuloides) in Interior Alaska. The research examines the impact of extrafloral nectaries (EFNs) and chemical defense on damage by an herbivore, the aspen leaf miner (Phyllocnistis populiella), that currently impacts 80% of all aspen leaves in the region. Much of our work seeks to understand the mechanisms leading to patterns of mining damage in relationship to the presence of EFNs and focuses on tri-trophic interactions involving both ants and parasitoids.
Competitive candidates will have a sincere interest in and curiosity about plant-insect interactions, a strong background in ecology, a good undergraduate record, superior GRE scores, and strong letters of reference. The successful candidate will be expected to qualify for admittance to the Department of Biology and Wildlife and the University of Alaska Fairbanks Graduate School. More information about our graduate program is available at http://www.bw.uaf.edu/bw_graduate.php The successful candidate may enter our graduate program in the summer or fall of 2007. For more information please contact Pat Doak ([EMAIL PROTECTED]).
