The Gabler Lab at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) seeks an outstanding M.S. student for a 2-year Graduate Research Assistantship in plant ecology or a related discipline. Research in our lab emphasizes climate change, restoration ecology, invasive species, and the intersections of these disciplines. We work mostly in coastal and freshwater wetlands, prairies, and forests of the US Gulf Coast, but opportunities exist in other systems and other parts of the world. The student will conduct research under the direction of Dr. Christopher Gabler at the UTRGV Brownsville campus within the School of Earth, Environmental, and Marine Sciences and/or the Department of Biology (depending on the students specific interests).
UTRGV is a new university resulting from the merger of the University of Texas-Brownsville and UT-Pan American. The UTRGV campus in Brownsville, Texas is 45 minutes from South Padre Island National Seashore; 30 minutes from seagrass meadows, salt marshes, mangrove forests and algal flats of the Lower Laguna Madre estuary; and <20 minutes from coastal prairies, forests (hardwood, palm, and thornscrub), and numerous resacas and other freshwater wetlands. The Lower Rio Grande Valleys subtropical climate and location on major migratory pathways make it a global hotspot for bird and butterfly diversity. Brownsville also boasts ample outdoor recreational opportunities, a low cost of living, and all the amenities of a large city. A Bachelor's degree in biology, ecology, environmental science, or a related field with a minimum GPA of 3.0 and GRE scores of verbal 153 and quantitative 144 are required. The student must be able to communicate effectively both in writing and orally, and must be willing and able to work in difficult conditions (e.g., inclement weather, extreme heat, knee-deep mud). Prior laboratory or field research experience is preferred but not required. This position includes a stipend of $1250 per month plus benefits and includes summer salary; however, if the student obtains independent summer support, the stipend will be $1600 per month. The preferred start date is July 1, 2016, but must be no later than August 29, 2016. Interested applicants should email their CV or resume, unofficial copies of their GPA and GRE scores, a statement of graduate research interests (1-2 pages), and two letters of recommendation to Dr. Christopher Gabler ([email protected]). Letters of recommendation can be sent separately by their writers. All application materials must be received by May 27, 2016. The UTRGV application deadline for Fall 2016 admission is July 1, 2016. For more information about the Gabler Lab, visit sites.google.com/site/cagabler. For more information about the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, visit www.utrgv.edu. For information about applying to graduate programs at UTRGV, visit www.utrgv.edu/graduate/index.htm.
