The Prior lab (http://www.priorecologylab.com) at Binghamton University (SUNY) conducts research on community ecology, antagonistic and mutualistic interactions (especially with insects and plants), environmental change (primarily invasive species), and conservation. I am seeking graduate students (PhD or MS) to join the lab. Students will be based at Binghamton University in NY, with opportunities to travel to field sites in the Pacific Northwest or Southern Ontario. BU also houses a 600-acre Nature Preserve that provides excellent opportunities to conduct research locally (https://www.binghamton.edu/nature-preserve/). I am looking for students to start in August 2017, but there is also potential to start as a graduate student in January 2017 or in the lab as a paid technician (Spring/Summer 2017).
Qualified students with a BS or MS in Biology with background and interests in the ecology and evolution of species interactions, community ecology, and environmental change are encouraged to apply. I am seeking highly motivated students, who are excited about asking ecological questions and conducting research in the field. Research in my lab has a strong basis in experimental field ecology, but I am interested in students who want to integrate complementary approaches to address research questions. Students with substantial field experience who have worked as a part of a field team, are proficient in statistics, have proven scientific writing and communication skills, and are self-motived and independent will be the most competitive. Desirable qualifications also include experience with nutrient and chemical analysis, population genetics, modeling, identifying plants and insects, insect behavioral assays, or GIS/spatial statistics. Please see my website (http://www.priorecologylab.com) for a description of ongoing research projects in the lab and research interests. I am especially interested in students who want to work on projects related to: 1) the role of tri-trophic interactions (host plant susceptibility and parasitoids) in facilitating the success of an invasive insect (field work in the Pacific Northwest), 2) parasitoid community assembly on novel/introduced insect hosts along invasion fronts (also in the PNW and other locations), 3) how traits of seed-dispersing ants (including an invasive ant) influence forest plant communities (fieldwork local and/or in southern Ontario at Koffler Scientific Reserve - http://ksr.utoronto.ca). There is also the potential to develop other project ideas related to species interactions and invasion ecology. Students will be supported by teaching assistantships (including waived tuition) through the Department or Biological Sciences at Binghamton University (SUNY) and be a part of the EEB (Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior) group. BU is located in the beautiful Southern Tier and is one of the four major University Centers in the SUNY system. BU is a nationally ranked, premier public university with approximately 13,500 undergraduates and 3,500 graduate students. The department has an active group of EEB faculty and graduate students (https://www.binghamton.edu/biology/). Please send a cover letter highlighting your qualifications and relevant skills, and stating why you would like the position. Also send a CV, GPA, GRE scores, and PDF reprints (if any) to Dr. Kirsten Prior ([email protected]). Please put “Graduate Assistantship” in the subject line of the email. Review of applicants will begin immediately and be reviewed until positions are filled. Qualified applicants will be invited to send in a formal application to the Graduate School (https://www.binghamton.edu/grad-school/).
