Two PhD Assistantships Available in the Graduate Degree Program in
Ecology (GDPE), Colorado State University
For more information on the Graduate Degree Program in Ecology (GDPE):
http://www.colostate.edu/Depts/GDPE/Homepage.html
Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory:
http://www.nrel.colostate.edu/
Applicant reviews will begin immediately and an appointment will be made
by 1 April 2003.
A Ph.D. assistantship in Physiological Plant Ecology in the Natural
Resource Ecology Lab (NREL) is available to study the Biocomplexity of
High Arctic Ecosystems. This project is part of the NSF Biocomplexity
in the Environment Initiative. The primary study site will be at Kap
Atoll, NW Greenland near the Thule Air Base (76oN, 70oE). Research
associated with this assistantship will examine how the water and carbon
cycles are coupled with physical and chemical processes in polar
deserts, polar semi-deserts and polar fens. The program will also have
a series of field manipulations to test the sensitivity of these
processes to changes in climate, including deeper snow in winter and
warmer summer temperatures. Studies may include quantifying net carbon
exchange, leaf-level photosynthetic processes, and sources of water
studies. Other related venues of research can be considered as part of
developing a dissertation program. These field studies will be carried
out from late May to early September and the student will be expected to
spend the entire time at the research station. Periodic trips to the
study site in winter will also be expected.
Candidates with extensive field experience in remote polar or alpine
locations are of particular interest and individuals should have
experience in plant ecology, environmental sciences, stable isotope
ecology, and or biogeochemistry. A MS degree with experience using
portable gas exchange equipment, elemental analyzers, mass
spectrometers, micrometerological data loggers is preferred.
The appointee will have access to the NREL facilities including office
space, wet and dry laboratories and our stable isotope facility that
includes two mass spectrometers and an upgraded pyrolysis unit for solid
and liquid analyses. Prospective applicants should have demonstrated
background in environmental sciences, plant physiology, isotope ecology,
ecosystem ecology, biogeochemistry, plant ecology, biology, or other
related disciplines.
Starting assistantship salary is $15,600. Tuition expenses will be
covered by the project and funding is available for 3 years for a PhD.
Applicants are required to meet the minimum requirements for GDPE GRE
scores and GPA. Highly motivated and enthusiastic students should send
an application packet to:
Wendy Stranding
Graduate Degree Program in Ecology
NESB Building
Colorado State University
Fort Collins, CO 80523
The applicant packet should include a letter of interest describing
relevant background and training, college transcripts, 3 letters of
recommendation, and GRE results.
Applicant reviews will begin immediately and an appointment
will be made by 1 April 2003. The successful candidate will become a
member of our Physiological Ecology Research Program headed by Dr. J.
Welker, (http://www.nrel.colostate.edu/people/jwelker.html)
For more information on GDPE, NREL and CSU see:
http://www.colostate.edu/Depts/GDPE/Homepage.html
Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory:
http://www.nrel.colostate.edu/