Graduate Assistantships Northern Arizona University: PhD and MS positions in Ecosystem Ecology are available in the Center for Ecosystem Science in Society (Ecoss) at Northern Arizona University. The Ecoss mission is to conduct high-impact, innovative research on ecosystems and how they respond to and shape environmental change, to train next-gen scientists, and to communicate discovery and its relevance to people. Research opportunities are available in the following areas linked to specific Ecoss faculty:
The impact of climate change on Alaskan ecosystems, including effects of changing fire regime and permafrost thaw on vegetation dynamics, plant-soil-microbial interactions, nutrient and carbon cycling, and ecosystem services. M. Mack, T. Schuur The effects of environmental change on soil carbon and nutrient cycling, and the physiological, population and community ecology of soil microorganisms. B. Hungate, P. Dijkstra, E. Schwartz Freshwater ecology, including the science of river restoration and dam removal, terrestrial aquatic interactions and food web ecology. J. Marks Exploring the interaction of water and carbon metabolism in diverse studies ranging from the limits to height growth of the world's tallest trees to drought responses of soil microorganisms. G. Koch. Graduate student benefits include stipend, tuition waiver, health insurance, support for summer fieldwork in a variety of beautiful ecosystems, and winter in the mountains of sunny Flagstaff, AZ. Candidates should explore the Ecoss website (http://nau.edu/Ecoss/People/) and contact the professor whose interests align most closely and include a cover letter describing their background, research interests, and qualifications, as well as a current resume. Program applications can be submitted to the Department of Biological Sciences (due January 15, 2015).
