Positions are available for PhD or Masters students who are interested in investigating how acid deposition affects the nutrient dynamics and productivity of deciduous forests in central Appalachia. Students will have the opportunity to conduct research at the Fernow Experimental Forest and contribute to long-term research at this location. Student research will involve field work in the beautiful mountains of West Virginia along with extensive training in the use of analytical instrumentation, experimental design, data analysis, computer modeling, communication skills, and teaching. More about the long-term research at the Fernow can be found at: www.as.wvu.edu/fernow/
Summer support is available for five years from a recent NSF-funded grant and this would supplement the compensation received during the academic year as a teaching assistant in the Department of Biology at West Virginia University. Information about the graduate program in biology, and how to apply, is available at: www.as.wvu.edu/biology/graduate/programs.htm. A successful applicant should have: (1) a bachelors or masters degree in a relevant field of study (ecology, geography, geology, biology, etc.); (2) a strong interest in ecosystem ecology and issues related to environmental change; (3) a willingness to learn techniques used to analyze the chemical composition of soil, water, and plant samples; (4) an interest in learning computer modeling and incorporating it into their research; and (5) strong writing skills and a commitment to the effective communication of science to technical and non-technical audiences. To learn more about these opportunities, please contact: Dr. William Peterjohn Department of Biology West Virginia University b...@wvu.edu 304-293-5201 x 31510.
