Position: PhD assistantship on the effect of benthic and pelagic processes on burrowing mayflies in Maine lakes.
Start date: May/June 2022.
Description: The Greig Lab in the School of Biology and Ecology at the University of Maine has an opening for a PhD student to work on funded research investigating the influence of pelagic and benthic lake processes on the burrowing mayfly, Hexagenia spp., in Maine lakes. The project is a collaboration with co-PI Dr. Jasmine Saros in the Climate Change Institute, UMaine, and a consortium of landowners and managers of the forested watersheds of Northern Maine.
The successful student will work with the co-PIs, a M.S. student, and undergraduate research assistants to sample Hexagenia populations and benthic and pelagic habitat variables, install and monitor water quality sensors, and take sediment cores for paleolimnological analyses. The student will be encouraged to develop complementary field surveys and experiments exploring broader ecological concepts such as benthic-pelagic coupling, environmental controls of interactions between Hexagenia and other community members, and the ecosystem engineering aspects of Hexagenia burrowing behavior.
should have an M.S. degree in ecology and/or evidence of published research, and a strong interest in freshwater science and conceptual ecology. Experience with fieldwork in freshwater habitats (especially lakes), macroinvertebrate sampling and identification, limnological laboratory methods, and operating boats/canoes is desirable but not essential.
The position includes a stipend, tuition, & health insurance at the University of Maine through a combination of research and teaching assistantships. Applicants are encouraged to review the graduate program in Ecology and Environmental Sciences and the School of Biology and Ecology at UMaine.
Applications consisting of a cover letter describing your relevant experience, CV including the names and contact details of three references, and unofficial transcripts should be emailed to Dr. Hamish Greig (hamish.greig@maine.edu ). GRE scores are not required. The review of applications will begin 10th December 2021 and continue until the position is filled.
For more information please email Hamish or see:
- The Greig Lab http://hamishgreig.weebly.com/
- The School of Biology and Ecology, U. Maine http://sbe.umaine.edu/
- Ecology and Environmental Sciences graduate program https://umaine.edu/ecologyandenvironmentalsciences/graduate-programs/