With apologies for cross-listings: Support for two graduate assistantships in oak ecology is anticipated for Summer-Fall 2008 in the Department of Forestry and Natural Resources at Purdue University (http://www.fnr.purdue.edu/). The successful candidates will conduct interrelated work on environmental factors influencing the distribution and dynamics of early life stages in oaks. Research will be conducted as part of the Hardwood Ecosystem Experiment, a long-term assessment of ecosystem responses to even- and uneven-aged silvicultural treatments being conducted as a cooperative venture involving scientists at four universities and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. One assistantship will focus on site and genetic impacts on oak by a) developing predictive models of advanced oak regeneration from attributes of woody plant communities and abiotic factors at multiple spatial scales and b) determining genetic structure in and around harvested areas for purposes of assessing parentage of regeneration. The other assistantship will address how animals influence early life stages of oaks by a) determining how seed predation and seed dispersal by rodents influence potential regeneration in harvested stands and b) experimentally assessing the impact of herbivores (deer, small mammals, insects) on seedling growth and survival. Strong quantitative skills are required; field research experience in forestry or wildlife is desirable. Candidates should have a GPA of at least 3.2 and a cumulative GRE score of at least 1200 (V+Q) and 4.5 for Analytical Writing. =20
=20 Please email a resume and a short (1-page) letter of interest, including cumulative GPA, GRE scores, and contact telephone numbers and email addresses for three references to Rob Swihart ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) and Michael Saunders ([EMAIL PROTECTED]). Graduate stipends currently are $16,675 (M.S.) and $19,140 (Ph.D.) per year and include tuition waivers. All inquiries must be received by 10 January to be considered for fall admission. Purdue University is an equal access/equal opportunity/affirmative action employer fully committed to achieving a diverse workforce. =20 Rob Swihart Professor and Head Department of Forestry and Natural Resources Purdue University West Lafayette, IN 47907-2061 PH: 765-494-3590 =20
