A graduate assistantship in plant ecology is available as part of an interdisciplinary workgroup aimed at developing integrative management approaches for key invasive species in the Mid-South US. Work to date has focused primarily on projects related to the invasive cactus moth (Cactoblastis cactorum, an introduced herbivore of native prickly pear cacti - Opuntia spp.) and the terrestrial invasive cogongrass (Imperata cylindrica). The workgroup includes expertise in remote sensing, invasive plant management, and plant ecology, among others, and is housed in the MSU GeoResources Institute.
The specific research for which applications are being solicited involves habitat modeling for prickly pear or cogongrass, and the student would be expected to contribute directly to data collection in support of USDA- and USGS-funded research. The student would be based in the plant ecology laboratory of Dr. Gary Ervin, in the Department of Biological Sciences. Related expertise in the Department includes plant systematics, evolutionary biology, spatial ecology, ecological modeling, and population genetics. Please see full announcement linked through: http://www.msstate.edu/courses/ge14/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Gary N Ervin, Associate Professor Department of Biological Sciences PO Box GY Mississippi State, MS 39762 USA on the web at: http://www.msstate.edu/courses/ge14/ for parcel delivery: Department of Biological Sciences 130 Harned Biology 295 Lee Boulevard Miss State, MS 39762 Office: Room 223 Harned Biology Bldg. Tel.: (662) 325-1203 lab : (662) 325-7937 FAX : (662) 325-7939 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
