We are seeking a PhD student to begin in Fall 2025. The student will be supervised by Dr. Paige Ferguson, Associate Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Alabama.
Research will focus on estimating rates of exposure and infection of Pacific salmonids with infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHNV) and will build upon work such as Ferguson et al. (2018), Paez et al. (2020), and Mattheiss et al. (2023). The PhD student will work with Dr. Ferguson and collaborators to define the dissertation research questions, but potential directions include estimating the influence of juvenile abundance at salmon hatcheries on transmission, estimating the influence of dams on transmission, estimating the susceptibility of different host types to different IHNV lineages, and estimating exposure events in a complex spatial network. This is a great opportunity for a student to learn about disease ecology, Bayesian modeling, and fisheries management while working with a supportive group of collaborators. Applicants should have a background in many of the following: fish and wildlife science, fisheries management, ecological modeling, statistics, computer programming, GIS, and clear written and oral communication. Applicants should be highly motivated, prepared to conduct independent research, and enthusiastic about writing scientific papers for publication. To apply, please email Dr. Ferguson ([email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>) the following: 1. a cover letter describing your interest in the project and prior experiences that have prepared you for graduate work in Dr. Ferguson’s lab 2. your transcript(s) (an unofficial copy is fine), 3. a sample of your scientific writing (for example a manuscript or lab report), and 4. contact information for 3 references. Application are due November 15. Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled. The position comes with a full tuition waiver, a competitive stipend, and health insurance. Funding is available as a Graduate Teaching Assistant through the Department of Biological Sciences. Highly qualified applicants may be considered for Graduate School Fellowships, which offer a Research Assistantship during the student’s first year and a Teaching Assistantship in subsequent years. Additional information: Mattheiss, J., R. Breyta, G. Kurath, S. LaDeau, D. Páez, and P.F.B. Ferguson. 2023. Coproduction prevents bias about infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus transmission for Snake River Basin salmonids. Journal of Environmental Management 334: 117415. Páez, D., S. LaDeau, R. Breyta, G. Kurath, K. Naish, and P.F.B. Ferguson. 2020. Infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus specialization in a multihost salmonid system. Evolutionary Applications, 00: 1-13. Ferguson, P.F.B., R. Breyta, I. Brito, G. Kurath, and S. LaDeau. 2018. An epidemiological model of virus transmission in salmonid fishes of the Columbia River Basin. Ecological Modeling, 377:1-15. Department of Biological Sciences: http://bsc.ua.edu/ Graduate School: http://graduate.ua.edu<http://graduate.ua.edu/> University of Alabama: http://www.ua.edu<http://www.ua.edu/> Tuscaloosa: http://www.tuscaloosa.com/visitor-services Outdoor opportunities in Alabama: http://www.outdooralabama.com<http://www.outdooralabama.com/> Dr. Paige Ferguson Associate Professor, Department of Biological Sciences The University of Alabama<https://www.ua.edu> Shelby 2019A Tuscaloosa, AL 35487 Phone 205-348-1<tel:205-348-1787>807 [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> | https://bsc.ua.edu/paige-ferguson/ [The University of Alabama] <https://www.ua.edu> To unsubscribe from this list please go to https://community.esa.org/confirm/?u=RhPWqPxFwODKvbkiT32nkIqRrsiSgulp
