Aquatic Ecology M.S. Research Assistantship
Drinking water reservoir ecology – watershed loading and lake water quality
Description: The Halvorson Aquatic Ecology lab group (www.halvorhalvorson.com) is seeking interested and qualified applicants for a 2-year fully funded (12 months/yr) Graduate Research Assistantship in the Biology Department at the University of Central Arkansas. The student will study nutrient loading and internal lake nutrient dynamics in Brewer Lake, the drinking water reservoir for 80,000+ people in the vicinity of Conway, Arkansas. The student will be responsible for baseline, year-round monitoring of watershed inputs and water quality at the lake drinking water intake. Depending on the student’s interest, additional work may entail the study of lake nitrogen and/or phosphorus cycling, phytoplankton dynamics, or an analysis of historical land use change.
Qualifications: B.S. or B.A. in Biology, Environmental Science, or related fields. Minimum GPA of 3.0. The applicant must have the ability to work independently, as well as with a collaborative team. Strong applicants will have prior research experience either with field or laboratory research. Basic GIS skills or experience working with geospatial data would be preferred, but not required.
Expectations: The successful candidate will start classes in Fall 2023 but will have the opportunity to begin work during summer 2023, if available. The student will have grant funding for spring, summer, and fall terms for at least two years (through summer 2025). Students are expected to conduct a thesis research project and complete required course work. Students will receive a stipend (~ $13,500/year), in-state and out-of-state tuition waivers (~ $3000/term), as well as funding for travel for field expenses and funds to offset conference costs. UCA has a strong M.S. graduate program in Biology (~ 30 students), and there are opportunities for additional competitive funding through the university. The student will also benefit from assistance from paid undergraduate workers and collaboration with Dr. Matthew Connolly in the UCA Geography Department.
To Apply: Send a C.V. or resume, cover letter, transcripts (unofficial is OK), and contact information for three references to Dr. Hal Halvorson (hhalvorson@uca.edu) with the email subject line “RA Position (last name)”. Review of applications will begin Friday, January 27th, 2023 until the position is filled.