PhD Position in Stress Ecology and Maternal Stress Effects Department of Ecosystem Science and Management Pennsylvania State University Supervisor: Dr. Michael Sheriff
I am searching for a PhD student to work in the field of stress ecology and, particularly, maternal stress effects. The project is open ended and would be designed by the student within those fields. The position is fully funded for the first three years, including tuition and summer salaries. The starting date is flexible but preference will be for a starting date this coming summer (2014)or September (2014). The research focus of my lab (see michaeljsheriff.weebly.com for further details) addresses one of the fundamental questions in biology: what limits and regulates animals in their natural world? Our approach is to bridge physiology, behavior, and ecology to understand how animals interact with the world around them. As such, we are broadly interested in the underlying physiological mechanisms by which ecological interactions (predation, competition, climate, etc…) alter behavior and cause changes in reproduction, survival, and ultimately population demography and community structure. Projects in my research group are centered on two major themes: 1) How ecological stressors drive changes in free-living animals’ physiology and behavior, how this impacts reproduction and survival and how this drives changes in population dynamics and ultimately community structure. 2) How maternal stress may impact offspring physiology, behavior and fitness. I place a premium on analytical skills, writing ability, research experience, hard work, and enthusiasm. If and when you decide to contact me, please take some time and write a thoughtful letter (because this is more likely to generate a thoughtful response). Please send me your CV, GRE test scores (Canadian students don’t need to send this if they do not have it), and transcripts. Tell me a bit about your interests, and why you’re interested in working with our group. If you are interested in joining our research group please contact me via email at [email protected]. -- Michael J Sheriff Assistant Professor, Mammalogy and Ecology Department of Ecosystem Science and Management Penn State University phone. 814 863-0135 http://michaeljsheriff.weebly.com
