We are seeking highly motivated doctoral students to join our Water Quality research group in the Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management and Department of Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology at Iowa State University, and the USDA-ARS National Laboratory for Agriculture and the Environment in Ames, IA.
Our research group focuses on integrating the fundamental principles in soil and water into watershed systems that lead to improved environmental quality, sustainability, and enhanced agricultural system efficiency. Our newly funded project will focus on denitrification within saturated riparian buffers re-designed to remove nitrate from artificial subsurface drainage. Graduate research projects will be expected to support project objectives to quantify nitrate loss within saturated buffers; quantify rates of denitrification; assess rates of nitrous oxide emissions and net nitrous oxide export in groundwater; and assess the abundance, diversity, and functional gene expression of denitrifier communities. Students will also assist with the establishment and monitoring of saturated buffers within several Targeted Watersheds Demonstration Projects in support of the recently released Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy. Research experience and strong writing skills are desired. Applicants must be highly motivated, demonstrate a strong work ethic, and be willing to work in demanding outdoor conditions. Successful candidates will receive a graduate student stipend, health insurance and full tuition scholarship for the duration of the program. The application deadline for full consideration for competitively awarded fellowships, scholarships, and assistantships for the Fall 2014 term is 15 January 2014. Students can be admitted through the interdepartmental Graduate Program in Environmental Science (http://www.ensci.iastate.edu/grad/homepage.html), Sustainable Agriculture (http://www.sust.ag.iastate.edu/gpsa/), or Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (http://www.grad-college.iastate.edu/EEB/). The departmental home will be in the Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management (http://www.nrem.iastate.edu/). Co-investigators include: Dr. Thomas Isenhart (http://www.ensci.iastate.edu/grad/faculty/isenhart.html) Dr. Dan Jaynes (http://www.ars.usda.gov/pandp/people/people.htm? personid=2789) Dr. Timothy Parkin (http://www.ars.usda.gov/pandp/people/people.htm? personid=47741) Dr. Kirsten Hofmockel (http://kirstenhofmockel.org/) Interested individuals should contact Dr. Thomas Isenhart directly by email (isenh...@iastate.edu). Please include your CV, GRE scores, and a description of your research interests, experience, and goals.
