A PhD position is available at the University of Maryland Baltimore County in the department of Geography and Environmental Systems studying the social dimensions of antibiotics and agriculture. This position would be ideal for a student with an interdisciplinary background in biology and human geography. Students with a background in biology and an interest in the social sciences are also encouraged to apply.
*Graduate Research Assistant (PhD): The Management of AntimicrobialResistant Bacteria in Agriculture* Department of Geography and Environmental Systems, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD. Dr. David Lansing (dlans...@umbc.edu), at the Department of Geography and Environmental Systems at the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC), is seeking a doctoral research assistant (RA) interested in the intersection of agricultural livelihoods, conservation, and science and technology studies. The RA position is for two years, with an additional three years of teaching assistant (TA) support (five years of total support). The project examines how and why different kinds of antimicrobial regulations have emerged across distinct governmental domains, and how this complex matrix of regulations and best practice guidelines become translated into agricultural practices among dairy cow and beef cattle farmers in the United States. We will utilize surveys, interviews, and ethnographic techniques to understand the different ways that farmers encounter bacteria and how they negotiate the twin demands of treating animals as both subjects of medical treatment and agricultural production. The RA is part of a larger multidisciplinary project on antimicrobial resistant bacteria in agriculture. It is being carried out in conjunction with engineers, microbiologists, and extension officers at the University of Maryland College Park, Cornell University, University of Nebraska, Ithaca College, and The U.S Department of Agriculture. The RA position provides an annual stipend of $24,000, a tuition and fees waiver, and health insurance. The RA will work under the direct supervision of Dr. David Lansing at the University of Maryland. RA responsibilities include (but are not limited to): (1) conducting in-depth interviews with dairy farmers across the NE United States (especially Pennsylvania and New York), and cattle farmers in Nebraska; (2) designing and conducting clicker surveys among dairy farmers at regional extension conferences in NE United States and Nebraska; (3) conducting in-depth interviews with non-farming stakeholders such as veterinarians, state regulators, and consumers; (4) conducting in-depth site visits at selected dairy and cattle farms. The RA will be encouraged to develop his/her own dissertation research questions to pursue within the context of the broader project. The ideal candidate: - Has some background in working with, or for, cattle and/or dairy farmers in a North American context, although this is not a requirement. - Is familiar with, or interested in, the discipline(s)/field(s) of Science and Technology Studies, Human Geography, Environmental Psychology, and/or Political Ecology. - Has good oral communication and writing skills, attention to detail, and willingness and ability to follow instructions carefully and work independently. The application deadline is Feb. 1, 2018. Interested applicants should send a brief letter of interest and a copy of their CV (including GPA and GRE scores, if available) via email to Dr. David Lansing (dlans...@umbc.edu) prior to formally applying to the UMBC Graduate School. Please visit ges.umbc.edu for more information about the Geography department at UMBC.
