Please pass this announcement out to ForEnt listserve members.  Thank you, Melissa Fierke

Ph.D. Assistantship on Emerald Ash Borer at SUNY-ESF, Syracuse NY

A Ph.D. graduate research assistantship is available at State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry. Research will be centered around development, implementation and evaluation of management strategies for emerald ash borer (EAB) in New York State based on four primary objectives 1) Quantification of the ash resource, 2) Delimitation of the infestation 3) Mechanical management of insect densities, 4) Early implementation of biological control.  We will be identifying locally high-value areas and unique ecosystems most susceptible to EAB-induced impacts, determining and evaluating realistic management options that will positively affect these areas/ecosystems, and working with local, regional and state partners to implement management activities in the selected areas/ ecosystems.  Parts of this project have been set in motion enabling the successful candidate to commence research immediately while still having the flexibility of focusing on particular aspects that are of greater interest and developing their own questions related to and stemming from research supporting the project objectives.

This position is open for a January 2011 start date and an M.S. degree in entomology, forestry, biology or a related field is desired. Ph.D. assistantships at SUNY-ESF provide a competitive stipend, with benefits, and tuition is waived for students on assistantships.

Information about SUNY-ESF can be found at the college website (http://www.esf.edu/) and information about our lab (http://www.esf.edu/efb/faculty/fierke.asp).  Questions regarding the position are welcome, just please be sure to include the text "EAB graduate assistantship" in the message subject line.

To apply, please send a CV, cover letter and contact information for three references to:

Melissa K. Fierke
Assistant Professor, Forest Entomology
Department of Environmental & Forest Biology
SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
146 Illick Hall, 1 Forestry Drive
Syracuse, NY 13210

Email: mkfierke@esf.edu
Phone: (315) 470-6809
Fax: (315) 470-6934