Graduate Student Position: Ph.D. student sought for host/parasite/conservation genetics study Department of Biology, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD I am seeking a doctoral student interested in the sylvatic plague/black-tailed prairie dog system. I recently received funding from the National Park Service for a three year study investigating the genetic concordance of black-tailed prairie dog (plague host) and flea (plague vector) populations in five western in National Park units. We will use microsatellite and VNTR markers to investigate how plague is spread among black-tailed prairie dog colonies on the prairie landscape. The project will also involve plague detection using PCR in previously plagued and apparently naive colonies of prairie dogs. The results of this study may have important implications for the management of the black-footed ferret and black-tailed prairie dog in the study areas. A teaching assistantship is available to qualified applicants. Minimum Qualifications: 1) MS in Biology or closely related field, 2) Desire and ability to carry out field work in remote areas with little supervision, 3) Experience with PCR and other molecular genetics lab techniques. Preferred Start Date: August 15, 2009 Please contact: Hugh Britten, Ph.D., at [email protected] for further details and visit www.usd.edu/biol/ for information about our graduate programs.
