Plant Mortality MS Student Position, Department of Botany, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY
Responsibilities: The successful applicant will conduct research as part of collaborative efforts of Dr. William Lauenroth (http://www.wklauenroth.net/), Dr. John Bradford (https://profile.usgs.gov/jbradford), and Dr. Kyle Palmquist (http://www.kylepalmquist.org) to examine patterns and causes of mortality in big sagebrush plant ecosystems in Wyoming. Big sagebrush ecosystems cover a large portion of western landscapes and provide important ecosystem services, including rangelands, recreation, and habitat for greater sage grouse. The most limiting resource for plant growth in these ecosystems is soil water availability and understanding current and future patterns of soil water is crucial for understanding ecosystem processes in big sagebrush ecosystems. In 2014, large areas of sagebrush experienced very high, locally complete or near-complete landscape scale mortality across parts of Wyoming. Potential focal areas for the MS student include: 1) characterizing the conditions that precipitated the mortality and 2) forecasting the long-term consequences of the mortality. For big sagebrush, two of the most plausible drivers of episodic mortality are severe drought and saturated soil conditions. Importantly, both of these drivers have the potential to be influenced by changing climatic conditions, so understanding their role in sagebrush mortality is essential. Qualifications: Successful applicants will be self-motivated, able to work independently and in a team setting. An undergraduate degree in biology, ecology, soil science, civil engineering, or a related field is preferred. Field work experience will be an asset, but is not required. Start date: May 2015 To apply, please email the following documents with the subject header “MS-Mortality” to Dr. Lauenroth ([email protected]) or Dr. Palmquist ([email protected]): 1) a cover letter explaining your interest and qualifications, 2) a CV including undergraduate GPA and GRE scores, 3) unofficial copies of transcripts, and 4) names and contact information for two academic references. Applications will be reviewed immediately and will continue until the position is filled. Feel free to contact Dr. Lauenroth or Dr. Palmquist with questions.
