Anthony's Science Blog

Ph.D. opportunity studying desert ecology in the Southwest

January 20, 2016 – 1:37 pm

Here’s the ad for the Ph.D. positions in my lab. I really think this will be a cool opportunity for a couple of aspiring scientists so please contact me if you’re interested! Please note that though the application date for the UTEP graduate program has technically past, I can still accept applications without issue.

The Darrouzet-Nardi lab at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) is recruiting two Ph.D. students to work on a recently funded NSF grant to study interactions among plants, biocrusts, and fungi in the deserts of the Southwestern United States. Three years of full funding (RA support including summers, project supplies, and travel costs) is available. In addition to joining our growing ecology program at UTEP, students will have the opportunity interact extensively with leading ecologists at both the University of New Mexico and the U.S. Geological Survey in Moab, Utah. The main goal of the project is to test the “fungal loop hypothesis” using isotopic and other biogeochemical techniques. More info on the project goals here. Students will have the opportunity to work at three desert field sites: the Jornada Experimental Range in New Mexico, the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge in New Mexico, and a site on the Colorado Plateau near Moab, Utah. The ideal candidate would have some research experience, a published paper from work in any discipline as an undergraduate or M.S. student, strong performance in science courses, and a desire to do field work. Though initially students will work with our team on grant objectives, they will also have considerable opportunity to springboard into projects of their own design. If you love deserts and science, this is a fantastic Ph.D. opportunity. Contact anthonydn@utep.edu if you are interested or have questions.

Field site near Moab for a similar biocrust project