Graduate student positions in plant-herbivore interactions and
quantitative/theoretical ecology
The labs of Nora Underwood, Brian Inouye and Charlotte Lee in the
Ecology and Evolution Group at Florida State University are looking
for new graduate students (Ph.D. or exceptional M.S.) to join our
labs in fall 2012. Our three labs form an interactive group studying
species interactions (particularly but not exclusively plant/insect
interactions) from both empirical and quantitative/theoretical
perspectives. Students may be co-advised across labs.
We are seeking bright, independent, question-driven students with
interests in the ecology or evolution of plant/insect interactions,
population dynamics and species interactions, theoretical ecology,
and community ecology. Funding for all students in our program is
guaranteed for five years through a combination of TAships and
RAships. See below for specifics on each of our individual labs.
Brian Inouye's lab
(<http://bio.fsu.edu/~binouye/>http://bio.fsu.edu/~binouye/) focuses
on understanding the roles of spatial and temporal variation in
population and community ecology and linking theoretical and
empirical approaches. Empirical work in the lab focuses on insects
and plants. Current students work on questions ranging from
estimating interaction webs to landscape ecology to plasticity in
plant resource allocation.
Charlotte Lee's lab
(<http://bio.fsu.edu/~ctlee/>http://bio.fsu.edu/~ctlee/) focuses on a
broad range of questions involving population dynamics, species
interactions, demography and biodemography, and ecosystem dynamics.
Students in her lab should have some demonstrated interest in
quantitative theory and/or preparation in fields such as mathematical
ecology, math, programming, physics and so on.
Nora Underwood's lab
(<http://bio.fsu.edu/~nunderwood/homepage/>http://bio.fsu.edu/~nunderwood/homepage/
) focuses on empirical studies of the ecology and evolution of
plant/insect interactions, particularly questions relating to dynamic
properties of these systems such as population growth and spread,
natural selection, and interspecific interactions (competition,
pollination, predation), and in some cases combining those empirical
results with models.
The Florida State Ecology and Evolution group
(<http://www.bio.fsu.edu/ee/>http://www.bio.fsu.edu/ee/ ) is a highly
interactive and supportive community of about 20 faculty and 50
graduate students, with a particular strength in combining ecological
and evolutionary perspectives. FSU is located in the Florida
panhandle, with easy access to diverse natural habitats including
long-leaf pine forests and savannas, springs and rivers, old-fields,
and marine habitats in national forests, wildlife refuges and TNC properties.
Interested students should contact the professor(s) (Lee, Inouye,
Underwood) who most closely match their interests by email, including
a cover letter describing background and research interests and a CV
with names of two or more references.
