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Two NSF funded PhD fellowships are available for Fall 2002 to investigate
cellular, ultrastructural and molecular evolution of invertebrate pathogens.
General- The Department of Entomology and Nematology seeks
applicants for
two doctoral fellowships beginning summer/fall 2002. Funds for these
assistantships, provided by National Science Foundation, will be used to
explore the structure, function and evolution of Helicosporidium, a novel
pathogenic alga. Research assistants will rotate through three labs in
order to integrate aspects of cellular, ultrastructural, and molecular
evolution into their respective programs of study. These labs are under
the direction of Drion Boucias, an insect pathologist, Jimmy Becnel, a
mosquito protozoologist, and Byron Adams, an evolutionary biologist.
Current plans are to train graduate students in state-of-the-art imaging
technology (DIC, fluorescent, confocal, convolution, and electron
microscopy) and in the use of a variety of image analysis software needed
to compile an electronic database on the morphological and
developmental features of the Helicosporidium sp. Graduate RAs will be
trained to carry out PCR and DNA sequencing reactions, database
management (including sequence editing, fragment assembly and
analysis), phylogeny reconstruction, and formal taxonomic proposals.
Requirements- Applicants for these fellowships must apply for
admission to the University of Florida Graduate School. Applications
should include a statement of research interests. Applicants should have
an undergraduate GPA of at least 3.4 on a scale of 4.0, and a combined
GRE (verbal and quantitative tests) of at least 1300, although exceptions
to these standards may be made under special circumstances.
Applicants should have a strong background in biology, microbiology,
biochemistry, or invertebrate zoology and must be able to speak and write
English fluently.
Stipends- The fellowships carry 12-month stipends of $15,000 per year, a
professional travel allowance of $500 per year, and funds to cover short
course training modules in structural and molecular biology. Additionally,
a full tuition waiver may be available to supplement this stipend.
Application/Contact- Interested applicants (doctoral level) are encouraged
to send a letter of introduction and a brief resume to Dr Drion G. Boucias,
Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of Florida, 970
Natural Area Road, Gainesville, Florida 32611 (dgb at gnv.ifas.ufl.edu).
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Susan T. Meiers
Assistant Professor
Department of Biology
Western Illinois University
Macomb, IL 61455
office: (309) 298.2008
FAX: (309) 298.2270
