The Howeth Lab (http://bama.ua.edu/~jghoweth/index.html) in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Alabama invites applications for two Ph.D. students in community and spatial ecology beginning January, May, or August 2017. Highly motivated and qualified students with a B.S. or M.S. in Biology/Ecology are sought to:
(1) conduct studies to understand the role of succession in metacommunity and food web structure using replicate successional pond mosaics. Projects will focus on fish, macroinvertebrate, and/or zooplankton community composition and ecosystem properties among beaver-formed ponds in different stages of succession. This work will utilize field-based approaches in the streams and beaver ponds of the Talladega National Forest in Alabama, including the NEON Domain 8 core site. The project will also involve dendrochronology, GIS, stable isotope analyses, eDNA, and experiments at the University of Alabama Tanglewood Biological Station. This is a NSF- funded research project. (2) conduct studies addressing the influence of metacommunity and spatial dynamics on community invasibility, species diversity, and ecosystem function across scales using zooplankton as a model system. This research can leverage observational studies of regional reservoirs/ponds and microcosm/mesocosm experiments at the University of Alabama Tanglewood Biological Station. The student will be encouraged to develop independent projects, testing and extending contemporary ecological theory. Applicants with a strong background in related research topics and venues are particularly encouraged to apply. Successful applicants will be dedicated students who are highly motivated to conduct research in the field (in sometimes harsh conditions) and in a laboratory environment. Students will be funded on teaching and research assistantships, which include a competitive stipend, health insurance, and a tuition waiver. Highly qualified applicants will be considered for departmental Aquatic Biology Fellowships, which offer a research assistantship during the student’s first year. Interested students should send an e-mail to Dr. Jennifer Howeth ([email protected]) with "Graduate Assistantship" in the title, and include a (1) cover letter, (2) CV, (3) statement of research interests and experience, (4) scientific writing sample (e.g., laboratory report, thesis, manuscript), (5) GRE scores (if available), (6) unofficial copies of transcripts, and (7) contact information for two references in biology/ecology. Qualified applicants will be invited to apply to the Department of Biological Sciences by the December 5, 2016 departmental deadline for Summer or Fall 2017 admission. Those interested in a January 2017 start date will be invited to apply by mid-fall 2016. Tuscaloosa, Alabama is a vibrant university community with numerous cultural and recreational opportunities available. The Tuscaloosa Amphitheater, located on the banks of the Black Warrior River and just minutes from the UA campus, brings a variety of shows and musicians to the city. Recreational activities such as canoeing and hiking are quite popular in the nearby Black Warrior and Sipsey River natural protected areas, and the Talladega National Forest.
