We are looking for outstanding students to fill 3 MSc positions. All 3

students would work on an NSERC funded project focusing on how mycorrhizal fungi facilitate pine regeneration following mountain pine beetle attack. We are exploring whether needle deposition and overstory tree mortality alters ectomycorrhizal abundance, community composition and networks, and in turn whether these affect seedling regeneration. This project will combine field and greenhouse experiments,  454 Pyrosequencing technology and expertise from ecology, physiology, mycology, entomology, chemical ecology and silviculture to identify management practices to enhance forest sustainability.

Funding is a combination of TA and summer support. There are opportunities for paid positions prior to the commencement of MSc studies in September 2011. This is an interdisciplinary, integrative project drawing on strengths from the labs of James Cahill, Suzanne Simard, Janice Cooke and Nadir Elbilgin. Two MSc positions will be through the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Alberta, and the other through the Department of Renewable Resources at the University of Alberta. Admission general details can be found here:

http://www.gradstudies.ualberta.ca/depts/biosci.htm

http://www.gradstudies.ualberta.ca/depts/renewresources.htm

If you are interested in working on this project please contact:

James F Cahill, jc.cahill@ualberta.ca

http://www.biology.ualberta.ca/cahill_lab/

________________________________

Nadir Erbilgin

Canada Research Chair in Forest Entomology

Assistant Professor

Department of Renewable Resources

442 Earth Sciences Building

University of Alberta, Edmonton

Canada, T6G 2E3

Phone: (780) 492- 8693

Fax: (780) 492-1767

http://www.ualberta.ca/~erbilgin/