Graduate Research Assistantships (M.S. and Ph.D.) Pollinator Ecology and Conservation Texas Tech University, Lubbock _____________________________________________________
Start date: Spring or early Summer 2016 We are seeking graduate students to participate in a multi-disciplinary project focused on insect pollinators including the application of conservation practices on agricultural lands. Our team and their research areas include: Dr. Scott Longing (entomology), Dr. Cynthia McKenney (horticulture), Dr. Nancy McIntyre (landscape ecology and community ecology), Dr. Chuck West (grassland ecology and production), and Dr. Robert Cox (rangeland plant ecology and conservation). Graduate students will have the opportunity to focus on one or more of these areas of research. A main goal of the project is to develop information that assists producers in adopting conservation practices to promote pollinator health, through studies that address habitat resources of pollinators and associated insect communities. Studies will involve both large-scale agricultural crop systems and smaller farms (e.g. apple and pumpkin production). The project will consist of multiple related studies, of which one or more will be the focus of graduate research: * Field and laboratory experimentation to investigate plant attractiveness to pollinators and co-occurrences of managed honey bees and wild bees * Surveys of existing plant communities and non-plant habitats of native bees * Pollinator habitat restoration including implementation of NRCS conservation practices on large and small scale farming systems * Assessment of pollinator communities and relationships with pest occurrences, other beneficial insects and environmental factors Qualifications: B.S. or M.S. degree in plant and soil science, entomology, biology, environmental science, ecology or other related discipline. Strong written and oral communication skills. GRE scores are required. The ability to operate and troubleshoot farm equipment and experience in farming systems is highly desirable for at least one of the positions. Stipend and Benefits: Competitive stipend, with health care benefits and tuition waver. The Ph.D.-level graduate student should have an opportunity to supplement the three-year GRA with a one-year teaching assistantship. Location: Texas Tech University is located in Lubbock and has an enrollment of more than 35,000 students. Lubbock has a population of approximately 240,000 and sits at an elevation of 3,200 ft on the Southern High Plains in western Texas. The region has extensive agricultural land-use, with approximately 3 million acres of cotton produced annually. Other agricultural production in the region includes apples, watermelons, cantaloupes, peanuts, peaches, grass seed, sorghum and corn. As a single PDF, submit a letter of interest, resume, unofficial transcripts and names and contact information for three references to Dr. Scott Longing at scott.long...@ttu.edu<mailto:scott.long...@ttu.edu>. Selected individuals will be requested to submit a formal application to the Department of Plant and Soil Science (http://www.pssc.ttu.edu/) and the Graduate School (https://www.depts.ttu.edu/gradschool/admissions/) at Texas Tech University.
