Two Ph.D. assistantships in Avian Physiological Ecology (beginning Sept 2014) on an NSF-funded project that focuses on how dietary fatty acids and antioxidants affect metabolism and exercise performance of migratory songbirds. The primary goals of the research are to experimentally determine how certain essential fatty acids stimulate fat metabolism in exercising birds, how the antioxidant defense system of birds responds to the increased oxidative stress associated with exercise, and how this interaction between fat metabolism and antioxidant defenses depends on changes in seasonal demands during fall and spring migration. The project involves some fieldwork but mostly involves working on a series of captive-bird experiments in which wild-caught songbirds are trained to fly in windtunnels or flight arenas, and then conducting a variety of biochemical laboratory analyses to test mechanistic hypotheses.
Captive animal facilities are on the University of Rhode Island's main campus in Kingston. Windtunnel experiments with flying birds will be conducted at the Advanced Facility for Avian Research (AFAR), Univ Western Ontario, and at the Max Planck Institute for Ornithology (MPIO) in Germany. The PhD candidates will be resident at the AFAR and/or MPIO for 4-8 months while conducting research, and then otherwise at University of Rhode Island conducting other planned lab and field experiments. Only hard-working, motivated, intelligent, good-natured persons interested in birds need apply. Applicants must have at least a 3.2 GPA and must have taken the GRE. Field experience with passerine birds and experience in physiological ecology is required. Experience with captive birds and standard biochemical laboratory analysis techniques are important. Excellent writing and oral communication skills are required. Stipends are approx. $25,000/yr (includes a mix of RA & TA) and tuition is paid. To apply submit the following: a letter stating your qualifications and research interests, resume or CV, college transcripts, GRE scores, and 3 letters of reference by no later than 24 Feb 2014 (early application is encouraged!) to Dr. Scott R. McWilliams, Dept. Natural Resources Science, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881 (401-874-7531; [email protected]). The proposed research builds on the successful collaborative research and teaching programs of Dr. Barbara Pierce at a primarily undergraduate (Sacred Heart University) and of Dr. McWilliams at an R1 research (University of Rhode Island) institution. Graduate students will choose to be trained in the Ecology & Ecosystem Science graduate program (http://web.uri.edu/cels-gradprograms/ees/) or the Integrative & Evolutionary Biology graduate program (http://web.uri.edu/cels-gradprograms/ieb/) at URI. These are interdepartmental graduate groups within our College of the Environment and Life Sciences (http://web.uri.edu/cels/) that are designed to provide students with a strong, interdisciplinary and integrative learning environment.
