Master’s Student Opportunity – Microbial Ecology The Department of Biological Sciences at Western Michigan University (WMU) in Kalamazoo, Michigan seeks one Master’s student to conduct research exploring microbial communities in the atmosphere. The main goals of this research are to examine how urban/rural land use, ecosystem type and atmospheric altitude influence airborne microbial communities. Research will involve inter-disciplinary collaborations with faculty and students in WMU’s Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. Funding for this project provides full summer support in 2016 and 2017 and full research assistant support in Spring 2017. Teaching assistantships will be available to support other semesters. Extensive travel and field work in various locations throughout the United States will be required in summer 2016 and spring 2017.
Qualifications: The candidate must have a B.S. degree in biology, environmental science, ecology, microbiology, or a closely related field, and previous research experience. The successful candidate should be able to demonstrate excellent organizational and writing skills. The research project will require coordination with land managers at various research sites throughout the country and will require the student to work independently and with inter-disciplinary team members. A valid driver’s license and passport are required. Desired Experience: The project will require expertise in DNA extraction, use of bioinformatics pipelines to analyze microbial sequence data and use of multivariate statistics. While not required, experience in these research areas is beneficial. Previous teaching or tutoring experience is also desirable. Start Date: May 1, 2016, preferably. About WMU: Western Michigan University is located in Kalamazoo, MI. Currently, 25,000+ students attend WMU across all disciplines. The Biological Sciences department supports diverse research interests through MA, MS and PhD programs, with 70+ students currently enrolled in these graduate programs. Information about the Biological Sciences department can be found here: http://www.wmich.edu/biology/ Kalamazoo is a thriving community located in southwest Michigan. Some of the highlights of the city include 10+ local breweries, numerous natural areas with opportunities for hiking and biking, fantastic restaurants, and weekly local downtown festivals in the summer. For more information on the Kalamazoo area, please visit: http://www.discoverkalamazoo.com/ To Apply: Send a letter of interest, including statement of goals and research interests, a resume or curriculum vitae and contact information for three references to the email below. Electronic versions of all materials are required. Please attach all materials as a single PDF file. Review of potential applicants will begin immediately and a short-list of candidates will be encouraged to apply to WMU’s graduate program for the February 2016 deadline. For more information concerning this position, please contact Dr. Kathryn Docherty ([email protected]) WMU is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. Minorities, women, veterans, individuals with disabilities and all other qualified individuals are encouraged to apply.
