The newly established Christoffersen lab at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is seeking students interested in pursuing an M.S. in Biology, starting in Spring or Summer 2019. Stipend + tuition support is potentially available for top candidates through the competitive Presidential Postgraduate Research Assistantship (see https://www.utrgv.edu/graduate/funding/presidential-graduate-research-assistantship/index.htm). Funding is also pending for a project focused on the use of UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles; i.e., drones) to investigate species differences in leaf phenology (timing of growth over a season).
The Christoffersen lab’s primary focus is local remnant Tamaulipan forests in the RGV. These forests remain scattered throughout the valley, and much remains unknown regarding the physiological mechanisms underpinning plant survival in the hot, dry climate characterized by sporadic intense rainfall. There is unique potential to guide restoration efforts in collaboration with US Fish and Wildlife and Nature Conservancy, as well as explore other areas of plant physiological ecology in other local contexts. Interested applicants should send a letter of interest, unofficial transcripts, CV, and GRE scores (or plans to take the test) to bradley.christoffer...@utrgv.edu.
