Graduate Research Assistantship in Insect Ecology & Conservation A two-year Graduate Research Assistantship at the M.S. level is available starting January 2007 to participate in research investigating the impact of cattle grazing on an endangered lycaenid butterfly. This project is funded by The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and will focus on the Smith's blue butterfly (Euphilotes enoptes smithi), which is confined to the coastal dunes and grasslands of Monterey County in central California. In brief, the study will use field experiments and comparative studies to assess the impact of cattle grazing on the abundance of different life history stages of the Smith's blue butterfly. The study site is located 2.5 hours south of San Francisco, although the successful applicant will be based in the Department of Biology at Sonoma State University, 1 hour north of the city.
Applicants must have a Bachelor's degree in biology and a strong background in ecology, insect biology and data analysis. The stipend for this graduate assistantship will be $18,000 per year for two years. If interested in the position, email Dr. Hall Cushman ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) at SSU and attach a current CV/resume. Background Hall Cushman can be found at www.sonoma.edu/users/c/cushman. The application deadline for the Spring 2007 semester is October 31, 2006. Details on application procedures can be found at www.sonoma.edu/biology/gradprogram/home.shtml. -- ____________________________________________________ J. Hall Cushman, Professor Director, Galbreath Wildlands Preserve Department of Biology Sonoma State University Rohnert Park, CA 94928 707/664-2142 (-2512, lab; -3012, fax) [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.sonoma.edu/users/c/cushman http://www.sonoma.edu/galbreath
