TEACHING ASSISTANTSHIP WITH PLANT AND ECOSYSTEM ECOLOGY RESEARCH OPPORTUNITY
I am seeking a MS-level graduate student to conduct research in plant and ecosystem ecology within boreal forests of Alaska/Siberia or in coastal ecosystems (prairies, brushlands, salt marshes, palm forests, etc) in south Texas. The student will be employed as a teaching assistant and will be expected to work 8-9 hours/week as assistant instructor in undergraduate biology laboratory classes, assist his/her faculty teaching mentor with laboratory preparation and grading, and participate in departmental outreach events. The research component is flexible, but specific research areas could include: 1) Consequences of increased fire activity on tree regeneration and carbon accumulation in Siberian and/or Alaskan boreal forests 2) Fate of Sargassum along Texas beaches: balancing inputs and outputs and implications for carbon storage 3) Role of fire disturbances in maintaining Texas coastal prairies 4) Effects of native and exotic tree and shrub species of south Texas on nitrogen and carbon cycling 5) Response of coastal vegetation to changing fresh and saltwater flooding regimes The appointment is to begin fall 2012 or spring 2013 in the Biological Sciences Department at the University of Texas-Brownsville (http://www.utb.edu/vpaa/csmt/biology/Pages/default.aspx). Applicants must have a Bachelor's degree in biology, ecology, or a related field. Successful candidates must demonstrate an aptitude for research and ability to work independently. Prior experience in plant and ecosystem ecology is preferred, as is the ability to conduct fieldwork occasionally under hot weather conditions. A current, valid U.S. driver's license and good driving record is also preferred. The successful applicant will be expected to enroll full time in either the UTB Biology or Interdisciplinary Sciences Masters program (emphasis in Biology) pursuing the thesis option. The available teaching assistantship has $1100 per month, is benefits eligible, and includes a waiver for in-state-tuition for out-of-state students. Additional summer salary is likely available. Please note that tuition is the student's responsibility, and is ~$2500/semester. Interested applicants should send to Dr. Heather Alexander ([email protected]) a copy of their CV or resume, GPA and GRE scores, a written statement of graduate research interests, and contact information for two references. Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled. Heather D. Alexander, Ph.D. Post-Doctoral Fellow Department of Biology University of Florida 422A Carr Hall Gainesville, FL 32606 [email protected] http://people.biology.ufl.edu/hdalexander/ (352) 392-1894
