PhD research assistantship: Caddisfly diversity on a changing planet
Clemson University College of Agriculture, Forestry, and Life Sciences
Compensation:
- $25,000 per year
- Position includes full tuition waiver, healthcare included in fees, and 5% annual salary raises upon satisfactory performance
Start date: January 2024
Application review: Immediately; position will remain open until filled.
Responsibilities: We are seeking an enthusiastic PhD student to be co-advised by Drs John Morse and Brandon Peoples at Clemson University. This NSF-funded project will investigate how multiple dimensions of caddisfly diversity (taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic) respond to anthropogenic stressors across continents. The student will work as part of a diverse international research team and will collaborate with graduate students and postdocs at the University of São Paulo (Brazil) and Nanjing Agricultural University (China). The project will involve developing creative research questions, sampling adult and juvenile caddisflies from streams across a gradient of human stress, lab-based species identification, developing statistical models, and other duties as needed.
Candidates must have:
- A MS degree in freshwater science, ecology, biology, or equivalent
- Competitive practical experience in freshwater research
- Demonstrated excellence in written, verbal, and quantitative skills
Ideal candidates will have some combination of experience in:
- Working in streams
- Aquatic insect sampling and identification
- Aquatic insect ecology
- Experience or interest in international research
- Analysis using R software, GIS, etc.
- Scientific writing and communication
To apply, please send application packets to Drs John Morse (jmorse@clemson.edu) and Brandon Peoples (peoples@clemson.edu) with the subject indicating “PhD Application”. Packets should include a single PDF containing 1) a cover letter describing your interest in the project and career goals, and 2) your CV, including at least 3 references. The GRE is not required for admission to Clemson or to work with our team.