The Penn State Intercollege Graduate Degree program in Ecology (http://ecology.psu.edu) is a highly interdisciplinary cross-college program with over 60 faculty studying ecology at molecular to global scales in a wide range of disciplines. The Penn State Campus is nestled in the Appalachian Mountains of central Pennsylvania where it is ideally located for ecological research as well as outdoor recreation. The program has a number of fellowship opportunities for outstanding students in a wide range of fields of Ecology, including agroecology, infectious diseases, root and mycorrhizal ecology, microbial ecology, invasive ecology, paleoecology, climate-change ecology, plant physiological ecology, marine animal behavioral ecology, evolutionary ecology and landscape ecology. Preapplications can be found at the above website. Examples of some of the projects are listed below:
Invasive Ecology-Tomas Carlo (http://www.bio.psu.edu/people/faculty/tac17/Site/Welcome.html) is seeking a student to study bird-plant interactions in relation to invasive Honeysuckle species in Pennsylvania. The study will examine how native bird populations propagate invasives, and at the same time examine if native birds are developing a dependency on the alien species. The project will also examine what are the community-wide consequences of these interactions. Students with interests in spatial ecology, ornithology, plant community ecology, and conservation would be considered. Agroecology-Mary Barbercheck (http://ento.psu.edu/directory/meb34) and Bill Curran (http://cropsoil.psu.edu/people/faculty/curranws.cfm). Assistantships (2, PhD) available for research on organic reduced-tillage feed grain production systems that integrate pest and soil management practices to overcome production constraints associated with high residue, reduced-tillage environments. This field-based research project will examine the effects of soil and crop management on weed and arthropod populations and soil quality. The project will also provide opportunities for the development and delivery of outreach programs and materials to a broad audience. Mycorrhizal ecology/agroecology- Roger Koide (http://www.cas.psu.edu/docs/casdept/hort/EnvHort/) is seeking a student to study sustainable cropping systems based on ecological principles with special emphasis on mycorrhizal fungi. The student will have the opportunity to interact with a diversity of researchers, a postdoc, and other graduate students in Ecology, Horticulture, Crop and Soil Sciences, Entomology, The Rodale Institute, and the US Department of Agriculture. Cropping-system practices are being designed to minimize pest populations, conserve nutrients, soil, energy, and off-farm inputs. Paleoecology - Peter Wilf <http://www.geosc.psu.edu/~pwilf> is a paleobotanist with broad interests in past environmental change, plant evolution and extinction, and the evolution of plant-insect associations. He seeks students who will bring an ecological approach to paleobiology or to modern analog studies. Questions: Contact the Ecology Program Assistant (Jean Pierce, <mailto:[email protected]> [email protected]) or the Ecology Program Chair (David Eissenstat, [email protected]) PENN STATE IS COMMITTED TO AFFIRMATIVE ACTION, EQUAL OPPORTUNITY AND THE DIVERSITY OF ITS WORKFORCE
