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PhD and MS Assistantships in Wetland Nutrient Cycling

Posted: 
02/26/2019
Expiration Date: 
08/01/2019

A PhD and an MS research assistantship are available at Tennessee Tech University to study nutrient cycling and water quality improvement within agricultural wetlands. This work is part of a large multi-university and interdisciplinary project assessing the structural and functional recovery of wetlands transitioning from agricultural fields. Study sites are located in the Lower Mississippi River watershed from Kentucky to Mississippi. This research will focus on nitrogen and phosphorus cycling at scales from core incubations to whole wetland measurements, with understanding the effect of altered wetland hydrology on denitrification comprising a large component of the research.

Qualifications: BS or MS in aquatic or wetland ecology, biogeochemistry, hydrology, environmental science, or closely related field. Experience with biogeochemical cycling methods, MIMS, and nutrient analyses are preferred, but not required and we are willing to train good students.

Salary: 12 month stipend plus tuition and fees.

Interested applicants should send (1) a cover letter describing experience and goals, (2) curriculum vitae, (3) unofficial transcripts and GRE scores, and (4) contact information of two individuals familiar with research/academic performance to Dr. Justin Murdock at jnmurdock@tntech.edu. Preferred position start date is May or August 2019, but start date is flexible. Applications will be reviewed as received.

Tennessee Tech University is located in Cookeville, TN, a town of about 30,000 people. Cookeville is centrally located among three of Tennessee’s largest cities, and the campus is surrounded by state parks, lakes, waterfalls, mountains, caves, and rivers in one of the most ecologically diverse areas in the nation. The surrounding area is known for exceptional outdoor recreation activities, music, and history. More information about the university and community can be found at https://www.tntech.edu/ and https://visitcookevilletn.com/.