*Graduate Student Opportunity in Entomology in the Department of Biological
Sciences, University of Alberta*
*Principal Investigators: Drs Maya Evenden *
http://www.biology.ualberta.ca/faculty/maya_evenden/ * and Allan Carroll*
http://profiles.forestry.ubc.ca/person/allan-carroll/
*Project **title*: *Characterization of the Endemic-Epidemic Population
Threshold in the Mountain Pine Beetle*
Highly qualified potential graduate students are invited to join the
Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Alberta (
http://www.biology.ualberta.ca/) in the lab of Dr. Maya Evenden. Although
based at the University of Alberta, this project will be conducted in
collaboration with Dr. Allan Carroll in the Department of Forest and
Conservation Sciences (
http://www.forestry.ubc.ca/) at the University of
British Columbia.
*Project:* This project is part of a large multi-institutional,
multi-investigator study: “*The NSERC TRIA Network: Turning risk into
action for the Mountain Pine Beetle (MPB) epidemic*” (
http://www.thetriaproject.ca/) with the main goal to fill key knowledge
gaps of the MPB-pine-fungal associate system that limits our ability to
monitor, assess, and predict MPB risk to Canada's forests. Within this
overall objective, the graduate student will *determine potential for
long-term persistence and eruption by MPB in novel pine forests.*
*Objectives*
*(1) *Quantify the endemic niche of MPB in novel habitats east of the Rocky
Mountains.
*(2) *Determine the endemic-epidemic threshold in these novel habitats.
*(3) *Determine the effect of population density on MPB dispersal capacity.
The student will conduct both field and laboratory experiments to achieve
these objectives.
Applicants must have an Honors degree or higher (e.g. MSc) relevant to
biology, training and experience. We seek students with an interest in
ecology and a background in entomology and field work would be an asset.
Applicants should have a high GPA (3.5+ or minimum A-), be highly competent
in quantitative analyses, and possess excellent written and oral
communication skills in English.
The position provides full funding for MSc (2.3 years) or PhD (5 years) to
qualified applicants.
*Application process*: Applicants must first send a cover letter outlining
their relevant background and research interests, their CV, and the names
of 2-3 potential references to mevenden(a)ualberta.ca. Interviews and formal
invitation to apply to the graduate program in Biological Sciences may then
follow for those who meet the criteria.
For Graduate Program Information see:
http://www.biology.ualberta.ca/programs/graduate/
Dr. Maya Evenden
Department of Biological Sciences
CW 405 Biological Sciences Building
University of Alberta
T6H 3M8
phone: 780-492-1873
fax: 780-492-7150