Description: The Hardwood Tree Improvement and Regeneration Center (HTIRC) at Purdue University is seeking outstanding candidates interested in working toward M.S. or Ph.D. degrees. Areas of research include: development of plant tissue culture and genetic modification technologies for tree improvement; conservation and population genetics; forest tree breeding; forest entomology; nursery, outplanting, and silvicultural stand management.

Fred M. van Eck Foundation for Purdue University: Funding for the van Eck Scholarships is provided by the Fred M. van Eck Foundation for Purdue University whose purpose is to support research in the genetic improvement of high-value North American hardwood tree species.

Qualifications: Candidates should have well developed quantitative skills and knowledge and experience in biological sciences such as forestry, horticulture, botany, plant biology, genetics, physiology, entomology, or pathology. Candidates should have a GPA of at least 3.2 and a top-tier GRE score.

Assistantships will be awarded at $18,000 (M.S.) and $20,500 (Ph.D.) per year. In addition, an annual research budget ($10,000) will be available for research support and a laptop computer will be provided for the duration of the scholarship.

Applications or Additional Information : For fall semester, (August 2012), applications must be received by November 15, 2011 (M.S. and Ph.D). Applicants must mail a short (one page) letter of interest, resume, cumulative GPA, GRE scores, TOEFL scores (international students only) and three letters of reference to one of the principal investigators listed below. Please visit: www.htirc.org and contact Drs. Fei ( sfei@purdue.edu), Ginzel ( mginzel@purdue.edu ), Jacobs ( djacobs@purdue.edu ), Jenkins ( jenkinma@purdue.edu ), Lawson ( sslawson@purdue.edu or shaneka.lawson@gmail.com ), Meilan ( rmeilan@purdue.edu ), Michler ( michler@purdue.edu or cmichler@fs.fed.us ), Pijut ( ppijut@purdue.edu or ppijut@fs.fed.us ), Saunders ( msaunders@purdue.edu ), or Woeste ( woeste@purdue.edu or kwoeste@fs.fed.us ) prior to submitting a formal application and identify one of these principal investigators as your potential adviser. If selected for a van Eck Scholarship, we will notify you to make formal application to Purdue University.

About us: HTIRC is a collaborative regional research organization of industry, state and federal agency and university partners, administratively located in the Department of Forestry and Natural Resources at Purdue University . Its purpose is to improve the genetic quality and regeneration success of North American hardwood tree species.

Matthew D. Ginzel, PhD
Assistant Professor
Departments of Entomology and Forestry & Natural Resources
Hardwood Tree Improvement and Regeneration Center
Purdue University
901 W. State Street
West Lafayette, IN 47907-2089
www.entm.purdue.edu/forest/
765-494-9369
765-494-0535 fax