Dr. Halvor Halvorson, Assistant Professor at the University of Central Arkansas, Conway, AR
Description: The Halvorson Aquatic Ecology lab group is seeking interested and qualified applicants for a 2-year fully funded (12 months/yr) Graduate Research Assistantship at the University of Central Arkansas. The student will study ecological stoichiometry in aquatic ecosystems of Arkansas as part of the NSF EPSCoR-funded Stoichiometric Traits of Organisms In Their Chemical Habitats (STOICH) project. Potential projects are at the discretion of student interest, but will entail research on stoichiometry of food web interactions in urban streams, ponds, or reservoirs in Arkansas. The student will also engage with the wider Ecological Stoichiometry Cooperative (www.stoichproject.org) which includes multidisciplinary investigators and students at five institutions across the United States. The STOICH project includes intensive workforce development including skills building in database construction and analysis, data visualization, diversity/equity/inclusion, and mentorship. The student will have the opportunity to build a research project which grows or uses the STOICH database to answer research questions at large spatial and temporal scales.
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 large collaborative team. Strongest applicants will have prior research experience either with field or laboratory research. Familiarity with ecological stoichiometry theory would be a strength, but is not required.
Expectations: The successful candidate will start in January 2023 (start date negotiable). The student will have grant funding for spring, summer, and fall terms for at least two years. 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 (~ $3,500/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. Students will benefit from participating in this cross-discipline collaboration between faculty in the Biology Department and will join an existing team of students. For more information see the Halvorson Aquatic Ecology Lab website (www.halvorhalvorson.com).
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 August 15, 2022.