We are seeking a highly motivated doctoral student to join our Water Quality research group in the Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management, Department of Agronomy, and Department of Animal Science 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 processes controlling the source, movement, and release of soil phosphorus (P) in Midwestern streams from pasture and crop land. Graduate research projects will be expected to support project objectives to quantify the annual flux of sediment-bound P from channel erosion; quantify annual flux of soluble P; determine how adsorption/desorption and precipitation/dissolution processes regulate P mobility; and estimate the net contributions of channel, groundwater, and overland flow sources of P loads. 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. Richard Schultz (http://www.ensci.iastate.edu/grad/faculty/schultz.html) Dr. Keith Schilling (keith.schill...@dnr.iowa.gov) Dr. John Kovar (http://www.ars.usda.gov/pandp/people/people.htm? personid=12189) Dr. Mark Tomer (http://www.ars.usda.gov/pandp/people/people.htm? personid=21399) Dr. Michael Thompson (http://www.agron.iastate.edu/personnel/userspage.aspx?id=227) Dr. James Russell (http://www.ans.iastate.edu/faculty/index.php? id=jrussell) 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.
