Texas State University is a public institution that was founded in 1899. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 33,175 (fall 2021), its setting is suburban, and the campus size is 507 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. Texas State University’s ranking in the 2022-2023 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, 331-440.
Description: The Martina Lab in the Department of Biology at Texas State University is seeking applicants for multiple PhD positions. We study global change in wetlands and grasslands and use field, laboratory, and computational modeling techniques to test hypotheses concerning some of the most important drivers of global change, such as biological invasions, nitrogen deposition, and climate change.
Positions are available starting Fall 2023. PhD positions are 12-month positions at $30k/year with tuition reimbursement and $2k/year for research supplies. PhD students will be expected to teach in the first 1.5 years. This is an important and exciting time to study global change in wetlands and grasslands. Biological invasions, nutrient pollution, disturbance, and climate change are dramatically changing the world we live in and it is imperative to gain a better understanding about how these factors influence critical components of wetlands and grasslands, such as biodiversity, nutrient cycling, carbon storage, and productivity.
It is also equally important to use what we learn to better manage and restore these systems. Students will have freedom, with guidance from their committee, to develop their own research questions related to the overall research theme of the lab. The student should expect to incorporate some combination of field, laboratory, greenhouse, and/or computational modeling techniques to answer critical questions in global change biology.
We have access to numerous resources, including NutNet and DRAGNet experiments at the USDA ARS site in Temple, TX., the Freeman Center (field station), the San Marcos River (home to multiple endangered species), and multiple long-term grassland experiments in south Austin, TX.
Qualifications The ideal candidate should have research experience in plant ecology, population ecology, community ecology, ecosystem ecology, or a related field. MS degree is preferred.
To apply, submit a cover letter, CV, and unofficial transcripts (as a single PDF) to: Dr. Jason Martina, Assistant Professor, Dept. of Biology, Texas State University (jpmartina@txstate.edu). Please send materials by December 31, 2022. Reference letters for top candidates will be solicited at a later date. Applications to the graduate school are due January 15, 2023.
The ideal candidate should have research experience in plant ecology, population ecology, community ecology, ecosystem ecology, or a related field. The Department of Biology at Texas State offers a strong environment for training students in ecology and conservation biology. The PhD program in Aquatic Resources and Integrative Biology strongly recommends applicants have a MS degree before the position start date, but exceptional applicants with only a bachelor’s degree will be considered. For program information see: https://www.bio.txst.edu/programs-offered/graduate-programs/phd-aquatic-resources.html
Contact Person Jason Martina Contact eMail jpmartina@txstate.edu
Salary $30,000/year
Start Date 08/15/2023
Last Date to Apply 01/15/2023