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A PhD Position in Stream Ecology at University of Texas at Arlington, Texas

Posted: 
04/11/2021
Expiration Date: 
09/15/2021

A PhD position to study the ecology of stream communities under global change is available in Dr. Sophia Passy’s laboratory at the University of Texas at Arlington (https://passylab.uta.edu/). The start date will correspond with the start of the Spring 2022 semester. The successful applicant is expected to have expertise in ecology, experience with statistical data analysis, and excellent communication skills. Having a master’s degree in ecology or environmental sciences is preferred. 

Using experimental data and extensive national and international databases of freshwater organisms (algae, macroinvertebrates, and fish), the student will contribute to a new interdisciplinary endeavor merging stream ecology, network science, and global change. The goal of this research is to determine how biodiversity and species co-occurrence networks in streams—one of the most threatened ecosystems on Earth—would respond to increasing nutrient concentrations and climate change under mitigated, stabilizing, and increasing greenhouse gas emissions. The outcomes would have the potential to influence environmental policy and stream management. The project will involve close collaboration with a diverse group of students, postdocs, and scientists from the US, France, Finland, and China. Additionally, the student will actively participate in the UT Arlington Stream Team, a group of students and members of the public, performing citizen science projects on water quality issues in Texas. The student will acquire highly marketable skills, including big data analysis, development and implementation of cutting-edge statistical techniques, leading international collaborations, and organizing citizen science efforts.  

To apply, please e-mail by September 15, 2021, your CV, a statement of research interests, GRE scores, TOEFL scores for international students, and the names and contact information of three references to Dr. Sophia Passy (sophia.passy@uta.edu).  

About University of Texas at Arlington and Department of Biology:  

University of Texas at Arlington is an R1-ranked research university, the second largest institution in the University of Texas system and the third fastest growing university in the nation, with nearly 43,000 students. We are a Hispanic-serving institution and rank #5 in the nation for ethnic diversity. Our doctoral program in Quantitative Biology (https://www.uta.edu/biology) provides training in sophisticated quantitative techniques and gives our graduates a competitive advantage for careers in industry, government, or academia.  

About Arlington: 

Arlington is situated in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, affording access to numerous historical sites and cultural activities, which are open during the COVID-19 pandemic for socially-distanced visits. The city of Arlington alone has 82 public parks, including River Legacy Parks, a 1,300-acre oasis on the Trinity River in the heart of north Arlington. Arlington is the home of the Dallas Cowboys Stadium, the Texas Rangers Ballpark, and Six Flags Over Texas. Cost of living is relatively low for a major metropolitan area. More information on the city of Arlington can be found at www.experiencearlington.org. 

Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled.