A qualified graduate student in community ecology is sought for 2009 to work in Rob Swihart's research group at Purdue University (http://www.fnr.purdue.edu/). The successful candidate will join the Hardwood Ecosystem Experiment (HEE, http://www.heeforeststudy.org/), a long-term assessment of ecosystem responses to experimental forest management being conducted as a cooperative venture involving scientists at four universities and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. A focus of HEE is to understand factors related to oak regeneration in a region where oak is a foundation species but is being replaced by sugar maple. The successful applicant will address how animals influence early life stages of oaks by a) quantifying effects of acorn weevils on mortality and germination success of acorns, b) determining how seed predation and seed dispersal by rodents influence potential regeneration in harvested stands and c) experimentally assessing the impact of herbivores (deer, small mammals) on seedling growth and survival. The work will complement and contribute to other studies for developing predictive models of advanced oak regeneration from attributes of woody plant communities and abiotic factors at multiple spatial scales. 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.
Please send 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 [EMAIL PROTECTED] Graduate stipends currently are $17,260 (M.S.) and $19,810 (Ph.D.) per year and include tuition waivers. Purdue University is an equal access/equal opportunity/affirmative action employer fully committed to achieving a diverse workforce.
