The Department of Biology at Texas State University invites applicants for Masters and PhD degrees in the plant sciences, defined broadly from molecular to global scales. Our Biology Department has 35 tenure-track faculty covering all major areas of Biology, with a strong collaborative group in plant biology working across multiple functional, spatial, and temporal scales. Located in the Texas Hill Country near Austin, Texas State University has an enrollment of 36,000 students, with 130 graduate students in the Biology Department, plus post-docs, and 1000 undergraduate majors.
Our research in the plant science addresses population and conservation biology, molecular biology, paleobotany and paleoecology, morphology and anatomy, taxonomy and systematics, evolution, physiology, plant/insect interactions, and plant ecology. Other strengths in the Biology Department include wildlife biology, microbiology, aquatic biology and water resources. Our program emphasizes field experience for students at all levels, with many class field trips, and research projects in terrestrial and aquatic research spanning the gradient from wet East Texas to very dry West Texas. The Texas Hill Country where we are located is known for its natural beauty, high plant diversity and endemism, as well as a seasonally stressful climate and multiple challenges resulting from human population growth. The following faculty members are potentially accepting graduate students for Fall 2015: *Nihal Dharmasiri ([email protected]) Plant developmental biology; We investigate how plant hormones coordinately regulates plant growth and development especially focusing on plant hormone auxin. We use combination of genetic, molecular and biochemical approaches to dissect plant hormone signaling pathways. *Hong-Gu Kang ([email protected]) Molecular plant immunology and population genetics investigating the role of epigenetic factors in regulating chromatin dynamics and stability during the activation of plant immunity. We utilize a wide range of systems biology tools including DNase I seq, ChIP-seq and RNA-seq to gain significant insight into the role of this exciting element of plant defense signaling. Please visit the following website for more information: kang.wp.txstate.edu. *Michael Huston ([email protected]): Biodiversity theory, modeling, and field research; Environmental effects on plant growth and ecosystem process from local to global scales; Implications of variation in Net Primary Productivity for insect communities, ecosystems, human health, and economics. http://scholar.google.com/citations?user=ffqjsp0AAAAJ&hl=en *David E. Lemke ([email protected]) Plant systematics, with an emphasis on the flora and vegetation of Texas, as well as systematic plant anatomy and scent analysis of South African stapeliads. *Noland H. Martin ([email protected]) Evolutionary Ecology, Population Biology, Quantitative Genetics. We use a variety of genetic, genomic, and experimental approaches to examine speciation and natural hybridization in plants. *Susan Schwinning ([email protected]) Plant ecology with emphasis on water use and niche diversification, vegetation modeling, invasive species control, vegetation restoration. Please visit the following website for more information: http://www.susan-schwinning.net/Lab *Garland R. Upchurch ([email protected]) Paleobotany and paleoecology, with an emphasis on the rise of flowering plants, early flowering plant diversity, and the reciprocal interaction between plants and the atmosphere. *Paula Williamson ([email protected]) Conservation biology with emphasis on reproductive biology, population ecology and reintroduction of endangered plant species. Our graduate students are supported by Teaching Assistantships, research grants to their advisors, and competitive fellowships. We are located between Austin and San Antonio, Texas, two exciting and diverse cities with outstanding opportunities for music, dining, and the arts. Our campus includes the unique aquatic resources of the San Marcos Springs and River, as well as the 4000 acre Freeman Ranch a few miles from campus and the 9000+ acre Christmas Mountains in the Chihuahuan desert adjacent to Big Bend National Park. More information on faculty research can be found at individual faculty web sites: http://www.bio.txstate.edu/contacts/faculty.html Completed applications should be received by January 15, 2015 (PhD) or Feb. 1, 2015 (MS) to ensure full consideration for Fall 2015 admission and available fellowships. MS applications will be accepted until June 15, 2015. Prospective applicants are strongly encouraged to contact potential faculty advisors before applying. Complete information about the graduate program, including application instructions, may be found at http://www.bio.txstate.edu/Graduate-Programs.html
