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PhD - Conservation Genetics UW-Madison
PhD Position Available in Conservation Genetics
I am seeking an outstanding student to pursue a PhD in conservation
genetics and in the
Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology at the University of
Wisconsin, Madison.
Current research in
my lab focuses on characterizing demographic history and understanding
the effects of habitat
fragmentation on threatened species. In doing so, we typically integrate
field, genetic, and population
modeling approaches to identify factors limiting populations,
understand/predict the genetic and
demographic consequences of environmental stressors on wildlife
populations, and provide managers
and policy makers with the information needed to make informed
management decisions.
The doctoral student’s dissertation thesis will involve studying the
spatial population dynamics of
Blanding’s Turtles in Wisconsin using genetic methods. The Blanding’s
Turtle is a semi-aquatic species
that is threatened by habitat fragmentation, collecting for the pet
trade, and vehicle collisions. The
objective of the project is to characterize the spatial distribution of
genetic variation, identify population
bottlenecks, determine the extent to which local population are
connected by dispersal, and characterize
the role of geographic isolation and landscape features (such as
agricultural and urban development) on
dispersal and genetic population structure. Funding is in place for two
and a half years of graduate
student support ($19,000/year + tuition waiver), including a half-year
of funding via teaching
assistantships, and for sample collection and labwork. Additional field
or lab-based research components
can be added depending on shared interests and funding opportunities.
Applicants should possess at minimum a B.Sc., and preferably a M.Sc.,
specializing in
conservation genetics, molecular ecology, or closely related field.
Applicants with a strong background in
molecular laboratory methods (e.g., DNA extraction, PCR, fragment
sizing, and DNA sequencing),
genetic data analysis, population modeling, conservation biology, and
demonstrated ability to publish in
peer-reviewed journals will be given preference. To be considered for
this position, please send a cover
letter outlining your interests and research background, a curriculum
vitae (including GPA and GRE
scores), and contact information for three professional references
(name, email, phone, address) as
either a PDF or MS Word file to mpeery@xxxxxxxx with ‘Conservation
Genetics PhD Application’ in the
subject line. The selected student is expected to enroll in the
Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology
in the Fall 2009 semester
(http://forestandwildlifeecology.wisc.edu/grad.htm) and apply to the UW
Graduate School (http://info.gradsch.wisc.edu/education/admissions/).
Application materials will be accepted until April 1, 2009 or until a
suitable candidate is found.
For more info, contact:
Zach Peery
Assistant Professor
Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology
University of Wisconsin, Madison
Madison, WI 53706
Phone: 608-890-2766
mpeery@xxxxxxxx
http://forestandwildlifeecology.wisc.edu/facstaff/peery.html