Ph.D. Assistantship Opportunity in Invasive Species EcologyMississippi = State University, Department of Biological Sciences POSITION: Ph.D. = student position in invasive species ecology as part of an interdisciplinar= y workgroup aimed at developing integrative management approaches for key = invasives in the Mid-South US. Work to date has focused on invasive = aquatic plants, the terrestrial invasive cogongrass (Imperata cylindrica), = and projects related to the invasive cactus moth (Cactoblastis cactorum), = an introduced herbivore of native prickly pear cacti (Opuntia spp.). The = workgroup includes expertise in remote sensing, fisheries ecology, = invasive plant management, and plant ecology, among others, and is housed = in the MSU GeoResources Institute (http://www.gri.msstate.edu/). The = specific dissertation research would fall under the umbrella of this broad = workgroup, and the student would be expected to contribute directly to = data collection in support of existing projects. This position will be = based in the plant ecology laboratory of Dr. Gary Ervin (http://www.msstate= .edu/courses/ge14/), in the Department of Biological Sciences. Related = expertise in the home department includes plant systematics, evolutionary = biology, landscape ecology, and community ecology. QUALIFICATIONS: = Applicants should have experience in taxonomy of vascular plants, analysis = of ecological data, and/or applied GIS methods; preference will be given = to applicants with demonstrated experience in two or more of these = aptitudes. Completion of a M.S. degree is not a requisite for this = position, but it is expected that the successful applicant will possess at = least a basic level of field research experience. BENEFITS: Stipends will = be provided via a combination of Teaching and Research Assistantships, = initially two-thirds RA, one-third TA during the academic year and full RA = support during summers. The annual stipend will be approximately $16,000, = plus a waiver of 100% out-of-state and 71% in-state tuition and fees. = APPLICATION: Interested individuals should send GRE scores & transcripts = (copies are sufficient initially), CV, names and contact information = (including e-mail address) of at least 3 references, and letter of = interest to Dr. Gary Ervin, Department of Biological Sciences, PO Box GY, = Mississippi State, MS, 39762; tel: (662) 325-1203; e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] sstate.edu. CLOSING DATE: none * This position will be open for either = Fall 2006 or Spring 2007 admission. Students interested in Fall 2006 = admission are encouraged to begin the application process immediately. = Well qualified students interested in Spring 2007 entry will be contacted = for submission of full applications including official university graduate = admission forms. Further information on graduate applications and = procedures is available at: http://www.msstate.edu/dept/grad/. Information= on the MSU Department of Biological Sciences can be found at http://www.m= sstate.edu/dept/biosciences/bio.html ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Gary N Ervin, Asst. Prof Biological Sciences PO Box GY Mississippi State, MS 39762 USAon the web at: http://www.msstate.edu/cour= ses/ge14/for parcel delivery: Biological Sciences 130 Harned Biology, Lee Blvd Miss State, MS 39762Tel.: (662) 325-1203 lab : (662) 325-7937 FAX : (662) 325-7939=20 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
