Please note the contact on the following announcement is: Dr. John Riggins; jrigg...@entomology.msstate.edu http://www.entomology.msstate.edu/people/faculty/riggins.php
The Forest Entomology Laboratory in the Department of Entomologyand Plant Pathology at Mississippi State University announces a M.S.assistantship in forest entomology. Theresearch project will utilize remote sensing and GIS to model potential risk ofspread of an introduced forest pest, the European woodwasp, in southern pine species. Additionally, the student would have opportunityto study another introduced forest pest, the redbay ambrosia beetle, by using remotesensing to detect forest change associated with the beetle and the laurel wilt pathogenit carries. Field studies of thebehavior and ecology of redbay ambrosia beetle, laurel wilt disease, andinteractions with native flora and fauna will also be encouraged. Both of these projects are of interest at thenational level, and will provide the student with great opportunities to workwith scientists across the Southeast Region. Generous stipends (~$22K/yr) and tuition waivers will be awarded tosuccessful applicants. The positionstarts in January, 2011. The forest entomology laboratory at Mississippi State Universityhas four broad researchgoals: 1) broaden applied scientificknowledge regarding the best integrated pest management of native (e.g.southern pine bark beetle guild) and introduced forest insect pests (e.g. redbayambrosia beetle); 2) expand basicscientific knowledge about the biology, behavior, ecological roles, andbiodiversity of non-pest forest insects; 3) broaden scientific understanding ofthe “disturbance ecology” of forest insects (both pests and non-pests) inresponse to various anthropogenic and environmental disturbances (e.g. climaticdisturbances, habitat restoration, pollution, etc…); 4) develop and utilizeGeographic Information Systems (GIS) and Remote Sensing techniques to enhancedetection, monitoring, prediction, and ecological modeling of the forest insectsystems. The successful applicantwill receive training in GIS/Remote Sensing applications, Forest Entomology, andStatistics, as well as gaining experience sampling insects and studying them inthe field. Mississippi State University is the flagship researchinstitution in the state of Mississippi, with long-standing strengths inAgriculture and Natural Resources. Withan enrollment representing all 82 Mississippi counties, 50 states and over 75foreign countries, Mississippi State truly is an outstanding choice fortomorrow's scholars and leaders. Interested individuals should contact Dr. John Riggins andprovide a C.V., including GRE scores, TOEFL scores (If not a citizen of theU.S.), GPA, and a list of references. Dr. John Riggins Assistant Professor of Forest Entomology Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology Mississippi State University Box 9775 Mississippi State, MS 39762 jrigg...@entomology.msstate.edu
