Ph.D. fellowship in Forestry

‘Genotypic/phenotypic shifts in pine species in response to bark beetle mortality

 and climate change’

 

Soliciting qualified applicants for IGERT Fellowships: School of Forestry, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff Arizona.  Ph.D. Fellowships are available for qualified applicants (applicant deadline Jan. 15, 2010) starting Fall 2011.  Project advisors include: Dr. Rich Hofstetter (http://oak.ucc.nau.edu/rh245/), Dr. Tom Kolb (http://www.for.nau.edu/cms/content/view/21/43/), and Dr. Gery Allan (http://www4.nau.edu/enggen/).

 

Project Description: The student would study effects of current climate conditions and recent beetle outbreaks on landscape level changes to pine phenotype/genotype.  For instance, pinion and ponderosa pine exhibit significant local and regional variation in morphological and growth characteristics that have recently been targeted by bark beetles and/or climate change.  Trees susceptible to changes in climate may or may not be those trees that are targeted by bark beetles. Such results could project potential future losses or changes in tree characteristics as climate continues to change and as bark beetle populations fluctuate.

 

Fellowship packages include generous, 12-month stipend ($30,000) support for two years, with continued support at more traditional stipend levels. Applicants must concurrently apply to, or already be accepted in, doctoral programs in the Department of Biological Sciences http://www6.nau.edu/biology/ or the School of Forestry http://www.for.nau.edu/cms/ at Northern Arizona University. Application deadlines for the 2008/09 academic year will be Jan. 15th, 2008. Applications will consist of 1) standard applications required for Biology or Forestry graduate programs (including two letters of reference) and 2) a 1 page essay on how this program would address your educational and career goals. Please e-mail the essay to: Amy.Whipple@nau.edu.

Please go to http://www6.nau.edu/biology/igert/ or contact us by email and phone for more information: Dr. Amy Whipple (IGERT contact): Amy.Whipple@nau.edu, (928)523-8727 or project leaders: Dr. Rich Hofstetter: (928)523-6452, Rich.Hofstetter@nau.edu; Dr. Tom Kolb: Tom.Kolb@nau.edu (928)523-7491.