The University of Georgia’s Savannah River Ecology Laboratory (SREL) is recruiting a cohort of 7 M.S. and 5 Ph.D. level graduate students to work on various topics in the fields of radioecology, toxicology, conservation biology, and restoration ecology.
Specific topic areas and faculty mentors include: Radionuclide and heavy metal contamination in long-lived reptiles (Dr. Tracey Tuberville - 2 M.S.); Scavenging ecology and contaminant uptake (Dr. Jim Beasley -1 M.S/Ph.D. and Dr. Gene Rhodes – 1 M.S.); Spatial ecology of vertebrates in relation to radionuclide exposure (Dr. Jim Beasley – 1 Ph.D.); Genomic biomarkers and genotoxicology in wildlife exposed to chronic low dose irradiation and/or metals (Dr. Stacey Lance – 1 Ph.D.); Amphibian ecotoxicology and evolutionary toxicology (Dr. Stacey Lance – 1 M.S.); Metagenomics of bacterial communities exposed to chronic radionuclide
contamination (Dr. J Vaun McArthur – 1 Ph.D.); Biogeochemical quantification of tritium in living organismal tissues (Dr. John Seaman – 1 Ph.D.); Biogeochemistry, bioavailability and bioaccumulation of heavy metals in constructed wetlands (Dr. Gary Mills – 1 M.S.); Restoration ecology of invertebrate communities in erosion impacted watersheds (Dr. J Vaun Mcarthur – 1 M.S.); Soil restoration and erosion mitigation (Dr. John Seaman – 1 M.S.); and Mitigation of invasive species impacts on threatened and endangered species in the Pacific (Dr. Gene Rhodes – 1 Ph.D.).
It is anticipated that students would start their programs of study in the spring or summer of 2013.
SREL is located on the Savannah River Site in Aiken, South Carolina, approximately 2.5 hours from the main UGA campus. Students will be directly supervised by SREL faculty and will be appointed through various departments on the main UGA campus depending upon their ability to meet the admission requirements of individual academic units and the departmental affiliation of the SREL faculty member with whom they work. Prospective departments include: The Odum School of Ecology (Rhodes, Lance, McArthur); the Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources (Tuberville, Beasley, Mills, Rhodes); and the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences (Seaman).
Graduate Assistantship support for M.S. students ($21,308.00) and Ph.D. students ($23,031.00) will be provided to successful applicants on an annual basis. Students on an annual stipend receive tuition waivers, however student fees of approximately $1,095 per semester, which include the matriculation fee and activity, athletic, health, student facilities, technology and transportation fees will be assessed.
Students should have a B.S. or M.S. degree in a field closely related to their prospective research topic. We are seeking students with a strong work ethic, excellent verbal and written communication skills, excellent quantitative skills, the ability to work independently and as a productive member of a research team, and the ability to perform work in challenging field conditions or in laboratory environments as required. Student must have a minimum 3.0 GPA and competitive GRE scores.
Please see the following links for specific requirements for each school/department:
Savannah River Ecology Laboratory
http://www.srel.edu/
Odum School of Ecology
http://www.ecology.uga.edu/admissions.php?Graduate_Application_Information-3/
Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources
http://www.warnell.uga.edu/grad/prospective-applicants.php
Department of Crop and Soil Sciences
http://www.cropsoil.uga.edu/graduate/admissions.html
Department of Geology
http://www.gly.uga.edu/graduate/applications.html
Please contact the individual SREL faculty member with whom you are interested in working at the email address given below by October 15 for full consideration. With your email, please provide a statement of interest, a current C.V., copies of your most recent GRE scores, and a copy of your transcripts. If selected to compete for these assistantships, you will be encouraged to apply to the appropriate UGA department.
Tracey Tuberville (tuberville@srel.edu); Jim Beasley (beasley@srel.edu); Gary Mills (mills@srel.edu);
J Vaun Mcarthur (mcarthur@srel.edu); Stacey Lance (lance@srel.edu); John Seaman (seaman@srel.edu); Gene Rhodes (rhodes@srel.edu).