PhD Graduate Assistantship: University of Nevada, Las Vegas, funded by NSF A PhD research assistantship, funded by the National Science Foundation for approximately three years, is available with the School of Life Sciences at the University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV). The successful student will become part of a vibrant, interdisciplinary research team examining environmental influences of solar energy development in the Mojave Desert. The PhD research project will focus on ecological relationships among solar energy developments, vegetation, and soil properties. Additional description of the project is provided at the end of this advertisement.
This project is a good fit for students with backgrounds and interest in plant ecology, botany, soil science, and ecological restoration. This project component does not focus on wildlife, and students not interested in plants and soil should not apply. The successful student will earn a PhD in Biological Sciences, emphasizing Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. The start date for the position ideally is summer 2015, but August 2015 also is possible. The successful applicant must meet admission requirements to the PhD program of the School of Life Sciences (http://sols.unlv.edu/). Additionally, to be considered for this position, applicants must have: a) completed master’s degree or graduation date by May 2015. b) performed documented, field-based ecological research as part of master’s degree research. In rare cases, other extensive fieldwork experience is substitutable if the master’s did not involve field research. c) have one or more manuscripts or technical reports published, or in preparation, from an ecological project, ideally flowing from master’s degree research. d) the ability to perform data collection and fieldwork on uneven terrain in a hot, desert environment. e) driver’s license providing the ability to legally operate a motor vehicle in Nevada. Candidates should be self-motivated and have an interest in working and living in southern Nevada and being part of UNLV graduate and research programs. Candidates should also have an interest in advancing ecological science while blending practical restoration actions for conserving ecosystems. Examples of some of my past work are available from: https://sites.google.com/site/scottrabella/ Further information on the program and university is accessible via the School of Life Sciences website (http://www.unlv.edu/lifesciences). UNLV is an urban university, but is surrounded by extensive public land. Public lands directly accessible from Las Vegas include Lake Mead National Recreation Area (National Park Service), Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area (Bureau of Land Management), Desert National Wildlife Refuge (Fish and Wildlife Service), and the Spring Mountains National Recreation Area (Forest Service). Plant communities span desert scrub to high-elevation forest. Outdoor recreation opportunities abound year round. Interested candidates should email me ([email protected]) the following: (a) 1-page statement of interest outlining your background, coursework, research and publication experience including fieldwork, and research interests and career goals; (b) CV or resume including undergraduate and masters degrees and GPA, and employment and professional experience; and (c) in your email, please use a subject line of: Assistantship – NSF (your name). With that subject line we will receive your materials, and we will contact applicants directly for further consideration. Please submit the 1-page research interests and CV combined as a single PDF, via email only, to [email protected]. Materials can be addressed to: Dr. Scott R. Abella School of Life Sciences University of Nevada Las Vegas Las Vegas, NV 89154-4004 Overall Project Description of NSF-funded, Nevada Water-Energy-Environment Nexus Project Water and energy are intertwined in that water transport and treatment require energy. Intriguingly, the generation of all forms of energy, except wind, requires water. The potential benefits of renewable sources include energy independence and curbing of greenhouse gases. However, their deployment typically is on a large scale with significant environmental implications, including visual impact, land use alteration, air pollution, impact to flora and fauna, soil disturbance, habitat destruction, and water resources demand. Nevada is among the primary locations for solar energy development because of the abundance of sunlight and land. Ironically, Nevada has little water, and the exponential population growth experienced by the region in the last decades has exhausted its water allocation from the Colorado River. The need for water to develop solar energy constitutes an additional challenge to the water-energy nexus in Nevada because solar energy typically requires water for cooling and washing dust accumulated on solar mirrors and panels. In addition, Nevada lies within the Great Basin and Mojave Desert, both of which are considered fragile ecosystems and easily altered by anthropogenic activities. The Great Basin is considered to be one the most endangered eco-regions in the U.S. , and the Mojave Desert as one of the least fragmented and undisturbed eco-regions in the contiguous U.S. The Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE), which includes the University of Nevada Las Vegas, the University of Nevada Reno, and the Desert Research Institute, is seeking highly qualified candidates for several new Ph.D. or M.S. to meet the research challenges of the Nexus between solar energy-water-and the environment. The assistantships will be funded by a National Science Foundation grant from the EPSCOR (Experimental Program to stimulate Competitive Research) program.
