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PhD in forest soils and tree nutrition, VA Poly. Inst.



Department of Forest Resources and
Environmental Conservation (0324)
228 Cheatham Hall
Blacksburg, Virginia 24061
(540) 231-8862 Fax: (540) 231-3330
E-mail: trfox@xxxxxx

PhD Graduate Research Assistantship
Forest Soils & Tree Nutrition

A PhD graduate research assistantship is available in the Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University to study
nitrogen dynamics in fertilized southern pine plantations.

This project is supported by the NSFCenter for Advanced Forestry Systems and the Forest Nutrition Cooperative in partnership with Weyerhaeuser Company and other forest industry in the United States and South America. The ultimate goal of the research is to determine the N uptake efficiency and related growth response following nitrogen fertilization in loblolly pine plantation forest ecosystems.

The project will involve the use of 15N fertilizer in both lab and field experiments. A M.S. degree in Forestry, Soil Science, Ecology or related field is required. Previous experience with stable isotope
techniques is desired.

The anticipated starting date for the position is June 2010.

Virginia Tech has a strong program in Forest Soils with excellent lab facilities. Six faculty and over 15 graduate students are actively involved in the Forest Soils program. The Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation at Virginia Tech also has strong programs in all aspects of Forestry including Silviculture, Tree Physiology, Watersheds and Wetlands, Remote Sensing and Geospatial Analysis. Additional information is available at http://www.cnr.vt.edu/forestry. Strong supporting programs in Crop and Soil Science, Horticulture, Botany, and Chemistry exist at Virginia Tech. Additional information on Virginia
Tech is available at http://www.vt.edu.

PhD assistantships in the Department of Forest
Resources and Environmental Conservation at Virginia Tech start at approximately $19,000 per year. Tuition is waived for students on assistantship. Graduate research assistants are actively
involved in the departmental teaching program.

Virginia Tech is located in Blacksburg, VA, which is situated in the Blue Ridge Mountains. The population of the area is approximately 100,000.The climate is pleasant with four distinct seasons. Numerous recreational opportunities exist in the surrounding area. Blacksburg has been recognized as one of the “Top 10” places to live in the United States by Outside Magazine. Additional information on Blacksburg can be found at http://www.blacksburg.gov

Interested students should contact:
Dr. Thomas R. Fox
Professor of Forestry
Co-Director, Forest Nutrition Cooperative
Site Director, NSF Center for Advanced Forestry Systems
Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Blacksburg, VA 24061
(540) 231-8862
trfox@xxxxxx