Organization
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Description, Responsibilities, and Qualifications
The Illinois Natural History Survey (INHS) and the Department of Entomology at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is seeking a Graduate Research Assistant at the Ph.D. level to work on plants, pollinators, and conservation in Illinois. The student will work with Drs. Mark Davis (INHS) and Dr. Adam Dolezal (Entomology). The focus of this project is to understand how habitat management practices in an agricultural mosaic impacts plant communities and pollinator diversity. This project will merge conventional plant and pollinator monitoring methodologies, with cutting edge environmental DNA and remote sensing approaches.
Expected outcomes include a better understand linkages between landscape-scale impacts of conservation management practices on ecosystem functions and services, inventories of pollinators in managed lands in Illinois, and a robust comparison of innovative monitoring technologies and methodologies with conventional approaches to biodiversity monitoring.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in biology or related field with coursework in genetics and evolution.
- Interest in or experience working with insects and/or insect-born pathogens.
- Interest in or experience with basic molecular laboratory techniques such as DNA extractions, DNA quantifications, and standard or qPCR.
- Strong time management skills and attention to detail.
Other Desired Qualifications
- Experience with field research, with particular emphasis on surveying, measuring, and monitoring plants and pollinators
- Experience with DNA extraction, quantification, and specimen management.
- Experience processing high-throughput next-generation sequencing data.
- Ability to present research findings at conferences and publish in scientific journals.
- Must be committed to a workplace that values different backgrounds and life experience and allows everyone to bring their authentic self to work.
- Proficiency in scripting (e.g. R, Python, bash), programming (e.g. C++), and/or bioinformatics.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Collect, analyze, and interpret eDNA metabarcoding data for plants and pollinators.
- Conduct surveys for native plants and pollinators
- Conduct literature reviews.
- Work with the PIs Davis and Dolezal to develop an individualized research plan that will test hypotheses with laboratory experiments.
- Prepare dissertation focused on the implications of habitat management on plant and pollinator diversity and interactions.
Compensation
This position includes a 50% research assistantship with a tuition waiver through the School of Integrative Biology. The current monthly stipend for this assistantship is $2,930.00 plus tuition waiver.
Start Date: The start date is flexible. Will consider students for start dates in January, May, or August 2025.
Application Procedure
This position is contingent on the selected applicant’s ability to apply and be accepted into one of the following graduate programs offered by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
For additional details, please contact Dr. Mark Davis (davis63@illinois.edu) and/or Dr. Adam Dolezal (adolezal@illinois.edu).
Entomology (https://sib.illinois.edu/admissions/graduate-admissions)
Program in Ecology, Evolution, & Conservation Biology (PEEC) (https://peec.illinois.edu/prospective/criteria)
To Apply: To be considered for this position, please email:
- cover letter (2 page max) that explains how your research interests fit into the broader goals of the research group and/or topics provided above
- detailed curriculum vitae (CV) highlighting your academic achievements and research experience to Dr. Davis @ davis63@illinois.edu reference “Graduate Application” in subject line).
Before submitting your formal application, please contact Dr. Davis (davis63@illinois.edu). Review of applicants will begin immediately and proceed until the position is filled.