PhD assistantship, Amphibian disease and conservation genomics, Arkansas State University

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Agency

Arkansas State University

Location

Jonesboro, AR

Job Category

Graduate Assistantships

Salary

TBD

Start Date

08/15/2023

Last Date to Apply

01/01/2023

Website

https://www.gustafsonlab.com/

Description

The Gustafson Lab is seeking a candidate for a Doctor of Philosophy assistantship (in Molecular Biosciences or Environmental Sciences) to join the Conservation Genomics and Parasite Biodiversity laboratory in the Department of Biological Sciences at Arkansas State University. This fully funded PhD project arose from a combination of an Arkansas Game and Fish Commission grant and from a National Science Foundation grant. The student will research the effects of parasites and other pathogens on wood frog mass mortality events in the Ozarks of Arkansas, including effects on population genomic diversity. Therefore, this project includes extensive field work, molecular laboratory research, and bioinformatics. The student will have the freedom and support to expand the project based on their interests.

The successful candidate will work under an NSF Research Traineeship called UandI-DEECoDE (pronounced “You and I decode”), which stands for Understanding Invasion and Disease Ecology and Evolution through Computational Data Education. This Research Traineeship aims to address the absence of interdisciplinarity across invasion biology, disease ecology, and data science by effectively bridging these disciplines and improving the pace and magnitude of scientific discovery across these fields (https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2151820&HistoricalAwards=false).

As a funded doctoral trainee in the UandI-DEECoDE program, the successful applicant will have access to funds for travel and research, along with a one-year stipend. This stipend can be used to cover graduate school fees and living expenses. Continuing support for salary and tuition will come from university program funds or other external grants from academic mentors.

Trainees will be able to participate in a student leadership committee to help ensure the program’s longevity and that students’ needs are being met. Additionally, annual winter data bootcamps and summer professional development institutes will be organized. These will be opportunities for funded and non-funded students to collaborate on scientific case studies, hear guest speakers, and present research ideas or findings.

Qualifications

Master of Science in evolution, ecology, wildlife, parasitology, or other relevant discipline. Preference will be given to those with strong backgrounds in: quantitative ecology (e.g., experience with Program R, occupancy analysis), field biology (e.g., handling amphibians, dissections for parasites, camping), and/or population genetics (e.g., DNA extractions, Illumina library prep, qPCR). Applicants must be citizens or permanent residents of the U.S and have a valid driver’s license in the United States.

Contact: To apply, pleased send the following to Kyle Gustafson (kgustafson@astate.edu) with the subject line “NRT AGFC PhD application”: (1) One-page cover letter detailing your interests and qualifications for the position, (2) CV, (3) unofficial transcripts, (4) a writing sample (if possible), and (5) contact information for three professional references. You may also provide (6) any GRE scores, although they are not essential.

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled, but priority will be given to applications received by January 1, 2023. Selected finalists will then be directed to apply for the UandI-DEECoDE program, which has a deadline of January 15, 2023. The position starts August 2023.

Contact Person

Kyle D Gustafson

Contact Phone

870-972-3174

Contact eMail

kgustafson@astate.edu

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