An opportunity exists for a MS-Level student in a collaborative analysis of an outstanding example of old-growth mixed mesophytic forest in southeastern Kentucky. Research will be located at the Lilley Cornett Woods Appalachian Research Station. The student will be based at Eastern Kentucky University, and will work in the lab of Dr. Tyler Smith (http://people.eku.edu/smithty/), but will be jointly advised by Dr. Ryan McEwan from the University of Dayton (http://academic.udayton.edu/RyanMcEwan/). Drs. Neil Pederson (Research Scientist, Lamont-Daugherty Earth Observatory) and Shannon Galbraith-Kent (Thomas More College, KY), are also involved in the project. We are seeking a motivated student who is eager to work in steep, forested, terrain in all weather conditions. This student will conduct a rigorous ecological analysis of historic permanent plots established in 1971. Field tree identification skills are required, and must be balanced by an eagerness to learn and implement complex statistical analyses using large data sets. Students with proven research expertise in these areas are encouraged to apply.
The student will be supported by a teaching assistantship through the Department of Biology at Eastern Kentucky University. EKU is located in Richmond, Kentucky, on the border of Kentucky’s Bluegrass Region and the Cumberland Plateau. Abundant opportunities for outdoor recreation exist in the surrounding region, including perhaps the best rock climbing in the country at the Red River Gorge. Richmond is a city of 30,000 and is located 25 miles southeast of Lexington, KY, which has abundant cultural amenities. Priority applications are due March 15th, 2010. Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact either Tyler or Ryan prior to applying. -- Ryan McEwan The University of Dayton http://academic.udayton.edu/RyanMcEwan
