A research assistantship for a masters student is available beginning Fall 2019 working with Laura Gough at Towson University. The student will be supported by an NSF-funded project in collaboration with faculty at Columbia University, University of New Hampshire, University of Texas-El Paso, and the Marine Biological Laboratory. Summer research based at Toolik Field Station, Barrow, and Nome in northern Alaska is examining how small mammals (voles and lemmings) affect tundra carbon and nutrient cycling through a combination of field manipulations of mammal densities; plant, soil, mammal, and gas exchange measurements; and modeling. This MS student will oversee data collection based at Toolik Field Station for the larger project while developing her/his own thesis project in conjunction with our research questions.
Students should be familiar with ecological research through coursework and field-based research experiences. Candidates must be able to accomplish physically demanding fieldwork under difficult conditions (cold, rain, mosquitoes....). The student would ideally spend some of summer 2019 in the field in Alaska and then start the MS program in Maryland in the fall. Students may enroll in the MS program in Biology (http://www.towson.edu/fcsm/departments/biology/gradbiology/) or Environmental Science (http://www.towson.edu/fcsm/departments/environsci/grad/index.html) depending on their interests. Interested students should send a c.v. and short statement of research interests, goals and related experiences to Matt Suchocki ([email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> ). Questions can be addressed to Matt (current MS student on this project) or Laura (more info: https://www.towson.edu/fcsm/departments/biology/facultystaff/lgough.html). Laura Gough, Professor and Chairperson Department of Biological Sciences Towson University Towson, MD 21252 [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>
