We are seeking an outstanding student to pursue a PhD in the agro-ecology lab at Virginia Tech in the School of Plant and Environmental Sciences. The student will join an interdisciplinary team studying a diversity of ecosystem services impacted by land-use on and around farms. The study system focuses on conventional and organic vegetable farms. Entomology will be the emphasis of research, specifically biological control and pollination. The interdisciplinary team includes researchers and students in fish and wildlife biology and agricultural economics who will work in the same system and will examine land-use and habitat management impacts on bats, birds, deer, and agri-tourism opportunities. Project partners include the Nature Conservancy, the Eastern Shore Land Trust, Cooperative Extension, and the Natural Resources Conservation Service.
Required Qualifications: M.S. in entomology, agro-ecology or closely related field; strong statistical abilities and writing skills; ability to work independently; driver’s license; publication track-record strongly preferred. Responsibilities: The successful candidate must be extremely independent and self-motivated. Summer field work will be based out of the Eastern Shore Agricultural Research and Extension Center (ESAREC) while the main campus for classes is located in Blacksburg, VA. Student will be responsible for: 1) managing a network of 20 cooperating farmers and on-farm research sites; 2) establishing and monitoring pollinator conservation habitats on ten farms; and 3) designing and conducting pollination and biological control field experiments. Skills that will be developed include bee and natural enemy identification, GIS, statistical analyses, and scientific writing. Contact: Please direct questions to Megan O’Rourke, megor...@vt.edu, Virginia Tech. Application Process: Please send, as a single file, your cv (including GPA, and GRE scores), copies of university transcripts (unofficial ok), names and contacts of three references, and writing sample showing scientific work to megor...@vt.edu with the title “PhD Agroecology Application.” Applications will be accepted until Sept. 30, 2015 or until a suitable applicant is identified. I (Megan O'Rourke) will also try to meet with prospective students at the ESA meeting in Baltimore, MD August 9-14. Start Date: The student will be expected to enroll at Virginia Tech January, 2016, and commence field work May, 2016.
