The Department of Biology at the University of South Dakota (http://www.usd.edu/arts-and-sciences/biology/index.cfm) is accepting applications from potential M.S. or Ph.D. students for Fall 2010. Excellent opportunities for research exist on the nearby Missouri River (http://www.usd.edu/missouri-river-institute/index.cfm), although our faculty work in a diversity of other systems within the Great Plains and elsewhere (including Hawaii, California Channel Islands, etc.).
Several faculty members conduct research in areas of aquatic and terrestrial ecology, evolution, animal behavior and conservation biology, and are potentially accepting students for Fall 2010: Dr. Daniel Soluk ([email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>) Dr. Soluk's research involves population, community, and behavioral ecology of aquatic organisms. He is currently conducting research on the conservation of endangered aquatic organisms (dragonflies) and ecosystems (Large Floodplain Rivers). For more information or to contact Dr. Soluk directly see: http://people.usd.edu/~dsoluk/ Dr. Jacob Kerby ([email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>) Dr. Kerby's research focuses on the ecological impacts of both contaminants and disease on amphibians. Recently, he received funding to determine the prevalence of a chytrid fungus (Batrachochytrium dendrobatitis) in amphibians found throughout the Midwest. In addition, he is interested in how pesticides impact amphibians and in particular might alter their susceptibility to disease. For more information or to contact him directly, see his website: http://www.usd.edu/arts-and-sciences/biology/kerby.cfm Dr. Mark Dixon ([email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>) Dr. Dixon is a landscape ecologist who studies the drivers of vegetation and land cover change, with a particular focus on floodplain forests and their biota (songbirds). Current interests/projects include: * Mapping and characterization of calcareous fens in eastern South Dakota * Effects of flow regulation on landscape dynamics, vegetation, and forest songbirds along the Missouri River * Effects of climatic change and river flow management on cottonwood recruitment For more information, contact Dr. Dixon or see: http://www.usd.edu/arts-and-sciences/biology/dixon.cfm. Dr. David Swanson ([email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>) Dr. Swanson's research interests are broadly based in the areas of ecological physiology, the evolution of physiological adaptation in animals (particularly vertebrates), and ornithology. With specific research foci including adaptation to cold in birds, freezing tolerance and overwintering strategies in amphibians, and woodland and wetland habitat use by migrating and breeding birds in the northern prairie region. Research includes ecological (field oriented), organismal, biochemical and molecular approaches. For more information, contact Dr. Swanson or see: http://www.usd.edu/arts-and-sciences/biology/swanson.cfm Dr. Molly Nepokroeff ([email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>) Dr. Nepokroeff's research focuses on phylogeography and systematics of plants, particularly in the Hawaiian Islands, and plant evolutionary ecology. Research includes field based collecting and studies, and molecular approaches to address phylogeography of Hawaiian but would welcome graduate student projects of regional Great Plains plants or other regions or floristics projects. Additionally, she recently funding for a 9-12 month NSF supported research assistantship available for a graduate student to be involved in databasing USD's herbarium collection (SDU). This project is a subaward for a larger multi-institution effort to database the vascular plants of the Missouri River Plateau. For more information, please contact her directly at: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>. Please see website at: http://people.usd.edu/~mnepokro/ Dr. John Swallow ([email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>) Dr. Swallow's research interests are broadly based in the areas of evolutionary physiology, locomotor behavior, and sexual selection. Current research focuses on trade-offs between secondary sexual ornaments, locomotion and fitness in stalk-eyed flies. Research includes ecological, organismal, biomechanical and behavioral approaches. For more information, contact Dr. Swallow or see: http://www.usd.edu/arts-and-sciences/biology/swallow.cfm All of these faculty members are potentially accepting students for Fall 2010. Please contact them individually if interested. For more information on the graduate program, see http://www.usd.edu/arts-and-sciences/biology/graduate.cfm. Applications received by February 15, 2010 will receive first consideration for fall admission, although later applications may also be considered. Mark D. Dixon Assistant Professor Department of Biology University of South Dakota Vermillion, SD 57069 Phone: (605) 677-6567 Fax: (605) 677-6557 Email: [email protected]
