We are seeking three graduate students to work on a new NSF EPSCoR project aimed at addressing the ecological and socioeconomic consequences of climate-driven changes to water supply in Wyoming. We are open to candidates seeking either MS or PhD degrees, and all three positions will be based in the Department of Zoology and Physiology at the University of Wyoming.
Drs. Annika Walters, Sarah Collins, and Willie Fetzer will each supervise one student, and all students will collaborate with the Wyoming Anticipating Climate Transitions (WY-ACT) project. WY-ACT is a large, interdisciplinary team that recently received a 5-year $20 million grant from NSF EPSCoR to understand threats to water resources in Wyoming from climate change. Specific projects will focus on how climate change influences: 1) alpine lake ecology, 2) large reservoir limnology and fisheries, and 3) primary production and water quality in linked reservoir-riverine systems. Projects could include field data collection in aquatic ecosystems across Wyoming and/or statistical modeling and data synthesis components.
The start date for the positions can be either January 2023 or Summer 2023. Review of applications will begin on October 1, 2022. To apply, please 1) answer the questions on the following interest form: https://forms.gle/LdvcGZWyohzRbmGW7 and 2) submit the following information combined into a single pdf to wyactaquatics@gmail.com:
- CV
- 1-2 page statement of interest in the position
- Names of 3 professional references
Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in ecology, biology, or a related field. Ideal candidates will have field and/or modeling experience, a strong interest in ecological research, a good work ethic, and solid communication and quantitative skills.
The University of Wyoming has a total enrollment of 12,000 full-time students with active ecological research across multiple departments, including Botany, Zoology and Physiology, Ecosystem Science and Management, and the Program in Ecology. The university is located in Laramie, a mountain town with a relatively low cost of living that is close to multiple mountain ranges, and within easy driving distance of Colorado’s Front Range corridor (Fort Collins, Boulder, and Denver)
The Walters, Collins, and Fetzer labs are committed to increasing the representation of traditionally excluded groups and fostering diverse, equitable, and inclusive research labs. The University of Wyoming values a wide range of cultural perspectives, experiences, and opinions that are important for educational excellence and critical for preparing students for future success (http://www.uwyo.edu/diversity/_files/odei-strategicplan2018-r5.pdf).