A competitive Graduate Diversity Research Assistantship (M.S. or Ph.D.) is available beginning Summer/Fall 2018 in the laboratories of Dr. Douglas Richmond and Dr. Laramy Enders in the Department of Entomology at Purdue University. We seek a student to study the seasonal ecology of a complex of grass-feeding weevils in the genus Sphenophorus (billbugs) in the Midwest and Intermountain West regions of the U.S. The student’s research will combine field ecology and molecular techniques to clarify the seasonal life histories of several sympatric species associated with warm- and cool-season grasses across a wide geographic range and provide a foundation for developing sustainable management strategies for these insects. Application of molecular techniques (DNA extraction, PCR, taxonomic identification) and outreach to growers will be an integral part of the student’s training. This research is part of a multi-institutional, USDA-NIFA funded crop protection and pest management, applied research and development project.
The Department of Entomology at Purdue is an integral part of the College of Agriculture, one of the world’s leading colleges of agricultural, food, life, and natural resource sciences, ranked eighth globally in the 2016 QS World University Rankings. The College is deeply committed to the three land-grant missions (teaching, research, and extension), to international activities and perspectives that span all missions. The College has 11 academic departments and includes 325 faculty, 2782 undergraduate students, and 690 graduate students. For more information on the Entomology Graduate Program, Purdue University and West Lafayette, Indiana see: https://www.entm.purdue.edu/prospective- grads/, http://www.purdue.edu/ and http://www.homeofpurdue.com/ Interested candidates should contact Dr. Douglas Richmond (drichm...@purdue.edu), or Dr. Laramy Enders (lend...@purdue.edu) by Nov 30th, 2017. To be considered for this position send a C.V., contact information for 3 references and a 1-page cover letter describing research interests and background (use email subject line: “Grad Fellowship Richmond/Enders”). A description of the Ag Research Graduate Diversity Assistantship Program, application process, and deadlines can be found at: https://ag.purdue.edu/arp/Pages/Diversity- ResearchAssistantship.aspx
