The Invasive Plant Ecology Lab at Virginia Tech is looking for a highly motivated PhD student to work in the area of invasiveness of biofuel crops in the Department of Plant Pathology, Physiology, and Weed Science. The student will conduct field, greenhouse, and laboratory research to evaluate the invasive potential of several leading bioenergy crops in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic US. The student will have the option to choose among various components of a large multi-disciplinary program to serve as their dissertation project, but will be expected to assist with other related aspects of the larger project. Topics could include comparisons of population dynamics, propagule biology, dispersal dynamics, or autecology of proposed bioenergy crops (Miscanthus, switchgrass, Arundo, etc) with known invasive and non-invasive taxa, modeling of potentially susceptible habitat of each bioenergy crop with field validation, and ecoregional variation in invasive potential of bioenergy ! crops.
Virginia Tech is located in Blacksburg, VA, which is situated in the Appalachian Mountains. The population of the area is approximately 100,000. The climate is pleasant with four distinct seasons. Numerous recreational opportunities exist in the surrounding area. Blacksburg has been recognized as one of the ?Top 10? places to live in the United States by Outside Magazine. Additional information on Blacksburg can be found at www.blacksburg.gov <http://www.blacksburg.gov> . PhD assistantships will start at approximately $20,000 per year. For students on assistantship, tuition is covered and health services and student health insurance plans are available. Graduate research assistants are actively involved in the departmental teaching program. Interested students should look at the Invasive Plant Ecology Lab website http://www.ppws.vt.edu/people/faculty/jnbarney/ as well as the PPWS website http://www.ppws.vt.edu/prospective/ for application information. Qualifications: B.S. in Weed Science, Invasive Plant Ecology, Plant Ecology, Agronomy, or closely allied field, with excellent grades (GPA >3.0), test scores (GRE >1000) and references. M.S. in related discipline and field experience preferred. Strong written and oral communication skills preferred. Computer modeling experience preferred, but not required. Willingness to work in the field close to Blacksburg, as well as field sites both in Virginia and other states required. Application: Interested students should send a CV, one-page letter of application, transcripts, GRE scores, and three letters of reference to Dr. Jacob Barney (jnbar...@vt.edu). The position will begin in the spring of 2011 unless the successful candidate is not available until the summer. The position will remain open until a successful candidate is found. ______________________________ Jacob Barney, PhD Assistant Professor of Invasive Plant Ecology Department of Plant Pathology, Physiology, & Weed Science 435 Old Glade Road (0330) Virginia Tech Blacksburg, VA 24061 Office: 540-231-6323 Fax: 540-231-5755 Email: jnbar...@vt.edu
