Graduate Assistantship in Metacommunity and Ecosystem Ecology of Beaver Ponds
The Howeth Lab of Ecology and Conservation (http://howethlab.ua.edu/) in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Alabama invites applications for a M.S. or Ph.D. student in aquatic community and ecosystem ecology beginning Summer or Fall 2019. Research will address the role of succession in metacommunity and food web structure using replicate successional mosaics of beaver-formed ponds. Projects will focus on fish and invertebrate (e.g., crayfish, odonates, zooplankton) community composition and ecosystem properties among ponds in different stages of succession and located in multiple watersheds. Additionally, projects will address the consequence of beaver dam removal (local disturbance) to multi-scale diversity and ecosystem stability. This work will utilize field-based approaches in the streams and beaver ponds of the Talladega National Forest in Alabama, including the NSF NEON Domain 8 core site. Graduate student projects can additionally involve dendrochronology, GIS/remote sensing, hydrologic modeling, stable isotope analyses, DNA barcoding, and experiments at the UA Tanglewood Biological Station, depending on the research interests of the students. The research program is actively funded by NSF and USGS grants. Information about the University of Alabama Graduate Program is available from the following webpages: Department of Biological Sciences Graduate Program: https://bsc.ua.edu/degree-programs/graduate-program-overview/ University of Alabama: www.ua.edu Applications should be submitted to the Graduate School no later than February 1, but preferably earlier for full consideration of assistantship and fellowship support. Requirements: B.S. or M.S. in Biology and Ecology or related fields. Applicants must be highly motivated and have the ability to: 1) interact and collaborate with a research group that includes graduate and undergraduate researchers; 2) conduct research outdoors in variable climatic conditions and 3) drive University trucks (valid driver’s license and background check required). Students will be funded on a combination of teaching and research assistantships, which include a competitive 12 month stipend, health insurance, and a tuition waiver. Highly competitive applicants can be considered for university and departmental fellowships that offer Graduate Research Assistantships. Review of applications will begin immediately. Interested students should send an e-mail to Dr. Jennifer Howeth (jghow...@ua.edu) with the following attached documents and "Ecology Graduate Assistantship" in the title: (1) cover letter that includes a statement of research interests, research experience, and career goals (2) CV (3) scientific writing sample (e.g., laboratory report, thesis, manuscript) (4) GRE scores, if available (5) unofficial copies of academic transcripts (6) contact information for three references in biology/ecology
