Subject: Graduate Assistantship/Invasive quagga mussels in the arid southwest Institution: University of Nevada Las Vegas An assistantship towards a Master degree of Public Health (MPH) is available in the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV). The candidate will work with federal, state, and local government agencies, as well as other research teams to monitor the life histories of quagga mussel (Dreissena bugensis) adults and veligers in Lake Mead and address the key environmental factors affecting these invasive mussels in this largest reservoir in the US (by volume). Invasive quagga mussels were discovered in Lake Mead on January 6, 2007. It is the first known occurrence of the dreissenid species in the western United States. Now it has been found in many ecosystems in the arid southwest region.
The final candidate needs to do field work to collect water and sediment samples in Lake Mead, summarize water quality data, enumerate quagga mussel veligers and adults, identify and count benthic samples, present research results in interagency meetings, and draft report to funding agencies. The funding is available for 2 years. Minimum requirements include 1) a Bachelor’s degree in Ecology, Biology, Limnology, Chemistry, Environmental Sciences, or related field; 2) good physical condition; 3) safe driving history; 4) self-motivated personality; 5) working independently and interactively with a multidisciplinary team. The position starts from January 2010 depending on the availability of qualified applicant. Interested students should send CV, letter describing their qualifications, contact list of three references, and unofficial transcripts to Dr. David Wong ([email protected]), Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, University of Nevada at Las Vegas, 4505 Maryland Parkway Box 453064, Las Vegas NV 89154 (Tel: 702-895- 2446/Fax: 702-895-5166). Electronic submission is preferred. The due date for application is December 7, 2009. More information about graduate studies at UNLV can be found at http://graduatecollege.unlv.edu/.
