NSF-funded Master of Science position to study ecological and genetic diversity of endemic and invading plankton crustaceans in Lake Baikal. This is a collaborative project involving research labs from Michigan State University, University of California Santa Barbara, University of Texas Austin, Wellesley College and East Tennessee State University. Additional collaborators include Institute of Biology, Irkutsk State University and A. Kondrashovs lab in Moscow State University. Lake Baikal is the deepest, the oldest and the largest (in terms of volume) lake on Earth, home to 20% of planets unfrozen surface fresh water and to a unique assemblage of endemic species of algae, invertebrates and fish. During the last 50 years Baikal has seen a considerable increase in temperature, primary production and the frequency of non-endemic crustaceans in zooplankton. Funds are available to investigate the genetic structure of populations of endemic copepods and invading cladocerans. The student will participate in at least one field season on Lake Baikal. Familiarity with handling zooplankton organisms, population genetics, microsatellites and SNP genotyping is a plus, but not required. Likewise, ability to speak Russian is a plus, but not required. For further details on the project contact Lev Yampolsky, [email protected]. To apply: http://www.etsu.edu/gradstud/admissions.aspx.
