PhD and MS positions in Ecosystem Ecology are available in the Center for Ecosystem Science and Society (Ecoss) at Northern Arizona University.
The Ecoss mission is to conduct high-impact, innovative research on ecosystems and how they respond to and shape environmental change, to train next-gen scientists, and to communicate discovery and its relevance to people. Much of our work in microbial ecology uses genomics and a technique we developed called quantitative stable isotope probing, ideal for measuring rates of microbial processes in the wild.
Graduate student benefits include stipend (TA or RA), tuition waiver, and health insurance.
Candidates should explore the Ecoss website (ecoss.nau.edu) and contact the professor whose interests align most closely.
Prospective students should directly communicate with an Ecoss faculty member before submitting an application. Although applications are officially due in the Department of Biological Sciences by January 15, 2022, we encourage applicants to submit prior to December 1, 2021 for possible consideration for a prestigious NAU Presidential Fellowship. When contacting an Ecoss faculty member, please include a description of your background, research interests and qualifications, as well as a current resume or curriculum vitae. Please consult the list of faculty to determine who is accepting new students for the 2022-23 academic year.
Ecoss is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace (ecoss.nau.edu/inclusion/). We strongly encourage applications from women and members of underrepresented minority groups.
Data-driven modeling and forecasting to understand carbon and nitrogen cycle response to global change at ecosystem, regional, and global scales. Ecoinformatics focus. Yiqi Luo & Deborah Huntzinger ([email protected], [email protected])
Terrestrial ecosystems and global change: above and below ground processes, plant carbon allocation, biosphere-atmosphere interactions and feedbacks, radiocarbon, and phenology. Mariah Carbone & Andrew Richardson ([email protected], [email protected])
The impact of climate change on Alaskan ecosystems, including effects of changing fire and permafrost on plants, soils, and ecosystem services. Michelle Mack, Ted Schuur, & Xanthe Walker ([email protected], [email protected], [email protected])
Plant and microbial ecophysiology exploring the interaction of water and carbon metabolism in diverse systems, from the world’s tallest trees to soil microorganisms. George Koch ([email protected])
How microorganisms regulate biogeochemical responses of ecosystems to environmental change, using tools in quantitative ecology and molecular biology (next-gen sequencing, bioinformatics, quantitative stable isotope probing). Bruce Hungate, Paul Dijkstra, Ben Koch, & Egbert Schwartz ([email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected])
Freshwater ecology, including the science of river restoration and dam removal, terrestrial aquatic interactions, microbial ecology and bioinformatics, and food web ecology. Jane Marks & Ben Koch ([email protected], [email protected])
Habitat restoration, invasions, and climate change through a number of lenses: plant-soil interactions, drought adaptation, pollinators, and soil microbial communities. Karen Haubensak ([email protected])
Functional diversity of plant communities, including community assembly processes and impacts of diversity on ecosystem structure and function, primarily in dryland biomes. Brad Butterfield ([email protected]). Dr. Butterfield is not accepting new students for the 2022-23 academic year.