I am looking for highly motivated graduate students in community/population ecology starting September 2010 in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at Rice University in Houston, Texas. I will consider applicants who wish to pursue fundamental research on any aspect of population/community/evolutionary ecology.
My research examines the ecological factors that generate and determine the structure, dynamics and functioning of natural communities. Current projects include 1) influence of size-structure within populations on the diversity, dynamics, and functioning of natural communities, 2) the consequences of infectious diseases for community dynamics and biodiversity, and 3) the evolutionary dynamics resulting from the interaction of cannibalism and diseases/ parasitoids, using a variety of field and laboratory experiments in combination with modeling work. While most of my work focuses on aquatic (freshwater) systems using organisms that range from stream salamanders to dragonfly larvae to zooplankton, I am amenable to students developing projects in other study systems. For further information in my research visit http://www.owlnet.rice.edu/~volker.rudolf/index.htm Please see our departmental website <http://eeb.rice.edu/> for more information about the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at Rice University. Our research and graduate programs, and the recent addition of several outstanding new faculty complementing our strengths in community ecology and evolutionary biology. Research projects range from studies on biodiversity & ecosystem functioning, mutualistic interactions & networks, ecology & evolution of animal-plant interactions, tropical biology, conservation biology, invasive species, and genomics. Formal application materials for graduate school can be submitted using the above website. Interested students should send me an email and attach a copy of their CV. Volker Rudolf Assistant Professor Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Rice University Houston, TX, 77005 Email: <[email protected]> http://www.owlnet.rice.edu/~volker.rudolf/
