PhD in stream ecology/water quality available at VT

The Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation in affiliation with the Virginia Water Resources Research Center at Virginia Tech is seeking applicants for a graduate research assistantship position to study stream ecology and water quality at the Ph.D. level. An applicant is sought for research assessing factors within stream ecosystems occurring in Central Appalachian Coalfield watersheds with current and/or past mining activities that have potential to significantly influence aquatic biota, particularly benthic macroinvertebrate communities. This effort will build upon our ongoing research program using more than 30 established study streams, which has evaluated associations between total dissolved solids (TDS) and benthic macroinvertebrate community composition in stream ecosystems located in the Central Appalachian region.

Position is available beginning January 2012. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.

Research assistantships in the Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation at Virginia Tech pay excellent annual stipends and include a full tuition waiver.

Minimum qualifications include: an M.S. degree in watershed science, hydrology, stream ecology, biology, or a related natural resources field; good written and oral communication skills; and willingness to conduct research in the field under a variety of conditions. For more information please contact:

Dr. Stephen H. Schoenholtz
Virginia Water Resources Research Center
Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, VA 24061
e-mail:stephen.schoenholtz@vt.edu
(540) 231-0711
water.vwrrc.vt.edu/

Inquiries by e-mail or telephone are welcomed. For more information about the Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation and the VWRRC at Virginia Tech, please visit our web sites at frec.vt.edu/ and www.vwrrc.vt.edu/ . Virginia Tech is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer.