University of Alaska Anchorage: M.S. Assistantship in the Physiological
Ecology of trees at the Arctic treeline. A research assistantship is
available on a project funded by the National Science Foundation to study
the water relations, growth and reproduction of white spruce along a
gradient from west to east in the Brooks Range. Study sites have been
established on the Agashashok and Kugururok Rivers in Noatak National
Preserve, the Dietrich River in the central Brooks Range and on the Wind
River in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Access to three of the four
sites is via bushplane, while the Dietrich site can be reached by road. The
successful candidate will spend the majority of the snow-free season working
at and traveling among the research sites. The fieldwork is based out of
tent camps and the crew size will vary between two and three people. The
project will cover the students tuition, health insurance and will provide
a competitive stipend. The position will begin in April 2013, with
enrollment to follow in the Fall Semester. Applicants should be physically
fit, hold a valid drivers license, have extensive camping experience and be
willing to endure periods of poor weather.
The student will be based in Anchorage during the off-season (mid-September-
late May). Laboratory and desk/office space is available in the Ecosystems
Laboratory on the UAA campus and affordable housing can be found within a
bike ride of campus. Anchorage is a surprisingly diverse city with
outstanding outdoor recreation opportunities, including more than 130 km of
groomed Nordic ski trails within the city limits. Inquiries are welcome.
To apply for the position, please send a resume and two-page cover letter to
Dr. Paddy Sullivan ([email protected]). Applicants should ensure
that they can meet the admission requirements for the M.S. program in the
Department of Biological Sciences prior to the March 15, 2013 deadline:
http://www.uaa.alaska.edu/biology/graduate/index.cfm.
