Texas A&M University: A USDA-funded PhD Research Assistantship is available in the Department of Ecosystem Science and Management at Texas A&M University, College Station, TX. The Assistantship includes full stipend, benefits, and tuition for a period of at least three years, contingent on satisfactory progress. The research project will focus on belowground carbon allocation, water use, and the growth of loblolly pine trees under varying levels of management intensity and moisture stress. The student will join the Stable Isotopes for Biosphere Science (SIBS, http://sibs.tamu.edu/) research group, and will learn stable isotope techniques for determining moisture stress and the sources of tree water, as well as radiocarbon approaches for partitioning components of soil respiration. The students research will be part of a larger regional project that is examining how climate change may affect the sustainability of managed pine ecosystems and will include an educational outreach effort to local communities. A student with a masters degree in soil or forest science, ecology, or biology is preferred, although excellent candidates with a bachelors degree in a relevant field will be considered. The start date for the position can be January 2012 or May 2012, with flexibility around these dates. Inquiries about this position can be made to Dr. Jason West ([email protected]) or Dr. Jason Vogel ([email protected]). If interested, please send an application letter describing your research and career interests, a CV or resume that highlights your research experience to date, and contact information for two referees who can comment on your potential as an independent and motivated graduate student.
