Dr. Kathryn Docherty, Assistant Professor at Western Michigan University, Department of Biological Sciences in Kalamazoo, Michigan is seeking 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 teaching/research assistant support during academic years. Assignment of teaching assistantships is contingent upon the strength of the candidate's application and academic progress while at WMU. Extensive travel and field work in various locations throughout the United States will be required in summer 2016 and spring 2017. In addition to interactions with faculty and students at 8 sample site locations, support for the student to present research results at national professional society meetings is also available. For further info, Dr. Docherty's website is http://kdochert8.wix.com/dochertylab.
About WMU and Kalamazoo: Over 25,000 students attend WMU, and there are over 850 undergraduate students and 60 graduate students in the Biological Sciences department. The department hosts a diverse group of faculty researchers, with MS, MA and PhD programs. Kalamazoo is located in southwest Michigan and is home to 10+ local breweries, numerous public hiking and outdoor areas and activities. For more info: http://www.discoverkalamazoo.com/ Qualifications: The candidate must have a B.S. degree in biology, environmental science, ecology, microbiology, or a closely related field, and previous research experience prior to start of the position. 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: Preferably May 15, 2016. To Apply: Send a 1) letter of interest, including statement of goals and research interests, 2) a resume or curriculum vitae and 3) 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 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. Information on the graduate program is available here: http://www.wmich.edu/biology/academics/master-sciences
