GRADUATE ASSISTANTSHIP (Ph.D. in Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior) - at Boise State University. A position is available for a Ph.D. student to understand, monitor, and manage mechanisms and consequences of environmental and dietary stress in vertebrate herbivore populations. This multidisciplinary project will identify how physiological responses to environmental stressors (human disturbance, climate, predation risk) and poor diet quality (availability, nutrients, chemical defenses) influence the health and population dynamics of avian and mammalian herbivores in the sagebrush steppe, boreal, and arctic systems. The Ph.D. student will work as part of our collaborative team of universities who work closely with agencies in the US and Scandinavia that includes, but is not limited to, the Bureau of Land Management, the US Geological Survey, US Forest Service, the Peregrine Fund, Norwegian Polar Institute, Icelandic Institute of Natural History. The student will participate in: 1) field work that involves remote sensing of landscapes and wildlife in the field and collection of biological samples across Idaho, Nevada, Alaska, Michigan, Iceland and/or Norway (20-30% of data collection) and 2) laboratory work that involves molecular and chemical assays and working with big data (genomic, proteomic, metabolomic, and geospatial data, 70-80% of data collection) at Boise State University. Training for both field and laboratory activities will be provided by team members who offer expertise in ecology, physiology, bioinformatics, chemistry, and remote sensing.
*Qualifications* Competitive students will have: 1) a Master’s degree; 2) strong writing and quantitative skills; 3) analytical laboratory experience; 4) interest in the molecular and physiological mechanisms driving habitat use and population dynamics of wildlife; and 5) direct experience conducting biochemical and molecular assays or demonstrated excellence in a breadth of chemistry and molecular coursework. Please address your qualification for each of these points in your cover letter. The position starts Fall (August) 2018. *Stipend and tuition and fees* This position includes support in the form of a graduate assistantships (renewable, 12-month at $25,000), tuition and fee waiver, and health insurance. *About the program and Boise* The Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior PhD is a new and modern graduate program at Boise State University. This program brings together faculty from across multiple academic departments including biological sciences, geosciences, anthropology, and the human-environment systems group to offer relevant courses and provide unique mentorship and training opportunities. This particular project will draw on molecular, chemical and bioinformatic resources and expertise available through the Biomolecular Research Center ( https://brc.boisestate.edu/) and affiliated NIH supported INBRE and COBRE programs and remote sensing expertise through the Boise Center Aerospace Laboratory (https://bcal.boisestate.edu/). Further, we have created a network of valuable connections in academia, local relationships with federal and state agencies, nonprofits and NGOs, as well as partnerships with international organizations all dedicated to providing students with transformative research and educational experiences for diverse career opportunities. These centers and established networks help students gain diverse skills sets and collaborators to prepare them for broad career opportunities. To learn more about the EEB program, please visit: <http://eeb.boisestate.edu/>http://eeb.boisestate.edu/. Students in this program enjoy living in the beautiful city of Boise, which strikes a perfect balance with close-by outdoor recreational activities as well as a vibrant downtown life. Nestled in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains and the capital of the State of Idaho, Boise is frequently featured as a top-ranked metropolis. The city has ample opportunities for world-class outdoor activities year round and a thriving arts and entertainment culture. In 2017, US News and World report ranked Boise the 12th best city to live in the United States. To learn more, please view “Visit Boise” link at: *https://www.cityofboise.org/ <https://www.cityofboise.org/>* *To Apply* Please send via email in a *single file attachment* (include your last name in the file name): 1) a cover letter that states qualifications and career goals; 2) a CV with the names and contacts for 3 references (they do not need to provide a letter of recommendation at this time); 3) copies of transcripts (unofficial are okay); and 4) GRE scores and percentiles (not combined) to Dr. Jennifer Forbey (email: jenniferfor...@boisestate.edu). *Please put “PhD Phyioslogy application” in the subject line*. Applications will be reviewed as they are received *until 1st of December 2017*. If you do not have GRE scores by this deadline your application cannot be considered. Top candidates will be interviewed in early December and asked to formally apply to Boise State’s EEB program by 20th of January 2018. All admission decisions must be approved by the Graduate Dean. Boise State University embraces and welcomes diversity in its faculty, student body, and staff. Accordingly, applicants who would add to the diversity and excellence of our academic community are encouraged to apply.
