Job Information

PhD Assistantship - forest ecology

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Title
PhD Assistantship - forest ecology
Organization
University of Idaho
Description

Ph.D. Assistantship – Western Larch Root System Architecture Response to Drought
A fully funded Ph.D. research assistantship studying genotype × drought acclimation effects on root
system architecture of western larch seedlings is available in the Center for Forest Nursery and


Seedling Research (CFNSR) at the University of Idaho (https://www.uidaho.edu/cnr/center-for-
forest-nursery-and-seedling-research). The student will be advised by Dr. Andrew Nelson, Assistant


Professor and Director of the CFNSR. Funding is available for four years beginning January 2020
through a USDA AFRI grant in collaboration with Professor Douglass Jacobs at Purdue University.


The assistantship includes a competitive stipend, an out-of-state tuition waiver, full coverage of in-
state tuition, and student health insurance. Additional funds are available for research supplies and


travel.
The student will research western larch genotypic responses to drought acclimation treatments
applied during the first year of growth in the nursery across a broad range of genotypes from
northern Idaho and southeastern Canada. Root system architecture will be evaluated during the
first year of growth in the nursery followed by additional evaluation under controlled
environmental conditions in the lab. The student will be expected to present research results at
scientific conferences and publish results in peer-reviewed journals.
The student will have access to greenhouses and a laboratory at the University of Idaho to conduct
their research. The lab is outfitted with equipment to test seedling quality (e.g., root growth
potential, cold hardiness), an image analysis station, LI-6400s to measure gas exchange and plant
moisture stress meters, growth chambers, and drying oven and precision balances. The student
may also use recently built Controlled Environment Phenotyping Facility at Purdue University
(https://ag.purdue.edu/cepf/) to collect phenotypic data on aboveground and belowground
seedling morphology.
Required qualifications include a M.S. degree in Plant Biology, Ecophysiology, Restoration
Ecology, Horticulture, or a related discipline. The successful candidate will demonstrate an ability
to work both independently and as a team member, and be comfortable traveling and working in
the greenhouse, lab, and field. Applicants must have a valid U.S. driver’s license. The student must
be able to pass a criminal background check and become qualified to drive University of Idaho
vehicles. Desired qualifications include previous research, publication, and presentation
experience.
The student is expected to begin 13 January 2020 and will be based in Moscow, Idaho.

Qualifications
Salary
Job Type
Temporary
Location
Moscow, Idaho United States
Posted on
2019-05-16
Expires on
2019-07-15
Desired Start Date
Not provided
How to Apply
Interested applicants should send a cover letter detailing their interest in the position, a curriculum
vitae, contact information for three professional or academic references, unofficial transcripts,
scores on the Graduate Record Exam, and examples of past research publications (if available) to
Dr. Andrew Nelson (asnelson@uidaho.edu). Applications will be accepted until 1 October 2019.