Several PhD-level graduate fellowship opportunities are available as part of a NSF-funded, multi-year study aimed at understanding water resources sustainability in Utahs urbanizing Wasatch Front (see www.iutahepscor.org for more information). The students will be expected to work in an interdisciplinary, cross-institutional research team that includes researchers from Brigham Young University, the University of Utah, and Utah State University. Faculty from these institutions are likely committee members and potential co-advisors. Potential students should have completed a MS degree in a related science discipline, but candidates with BS degrees and research experience also will be considered.
1. Plant ecophysiology- The College of Life Sciences at Brigham Young University invites applications for a PhD-level graduate research fellowship in plant physiological ecology and water relations in alpine/sub-alpine trees. The doctoral student may earn their PhD through either the Biology or Wildlife and Wildlands Conservation doctoral programs depending on their area of focus. Prospective students should contact Dr. Richard Gill ([email protected]) or Dr. Sam St. Clair ([email protected]) by email for further information about this opportunity and include a current resume and a statement of research interests. Deadlines for applications to the Ph.D. programs are January 15 for Biology and February 1 for Wildlife and Wildlands Conservation. BYU, an equal opportunity employer, requires all students to observe the universitys honor code and dress and grooming standards. 2. Aquatic microbial ecology - The College of Life Sciences at Brigham Young University, seeks two PhD candidates in the areas of river water quality and microbial ecology Potential graduate research themes include: aquatic microbial community ecology in montane and urban systems; microbial diversity effects on water quality, nutrient dynamics and/or pathogen loading, ecological significance of functional redundancy or dormancy across environmental gradients; and/or microbial responses to altered ecohydrology due to climate or land use change. Prospective students should contact Dr. Zachary Aanderud ([email protected]) by email for further information about this opportunity and include a current resume with three references and a statement of research interests. Application deadline is January 15th 2013. BYU, an equal opportunity employer, requires all students to observe the universitys honor code and dress and grooming standards. 3. Climate Modeling The Department of Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Utah invites applications for a Ph.D.-level graduate student fellowship focusing on how climate and land use change impact availability and demand for montane water resources. The successful applicant will use observations and models to improve projections of water quantity and quality under various climate change and urbanization scenarios. Applicants should have experience using existing modeling techniques for driving regional-scale hydrologic processes with large-scale climate projections (e.g., statistical or dynamical downscaling), and the ability to develop and validate new numerical modeling frameworks. Modeling will enable testing of hypotheses about the hydrologic cycles sensitivity to snowmelt dynamics, runoff generation, infiltration, evapotranspiration, and deep percolation as a function of elevation, microclimate, and land cover. Prospective students should contact Dr. Court Strong ([email protected]) for more information; please include a current resume and statement of research interests with your inquiry. Application deadline is January 15, 2013. 4. Ecosystem Ecology/Biogeochemistry - The Department of Biology at Utah State University invites applications for a PhD-level graduate research fellowship in ecosystem ecology/biogeochemistry. Potential graduate research themes include aquatic-terrestrial interactions and influences on nutrient dynamics/solute transport; aquatic ecosystem responses to urbanization, altered ecohydrology, and/or climate change; modeling and interpretation of real-time aquatic sensor data on mountain-to-urban gradients. The incumbent may choose to earn their degree in Biology or in Ecology. Prospective students should contact Dr. Michelle Baker ([email protected]) or Dr. Bethany Neilson ([email protected]) for more information; please include a current resume and statement of research interests with your inquiry. Application deadline is January 15, 2013.
