Description

PhD position at George Washington University in plant community ecology and physiology

The Gedan Lab at George Washington University is recruiting a full-time PhD student to research the response of maritime forest and coastal agricultural plant communities to saltwater intrusion. The research will take place at field sites on the Delmarva Peninsula: the Virginia Coast Reserve (VCR) Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) site, Monie Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (NERR), and sites within Delaware Bay. The student will be part of National NSF-supported LTER and Critical Zone Network communities, which will provide numerous opportunities for cross-institutional and cross-disciplinary collaborations and networking. The research project will involve investigating the response of trees and forbs to saltwater intrusion using sap flux and other physiological measurements.

The Gedan Lab (www.gedanlab.com) in the Biological Sciences Department at George Washington University investigates the response of coastal plants and ecosystems to global changes in climate, sea level, nutrient availability, and invasive species. We focus on conservation-priority coastal ecosystems, especially tidal marsh.  We are interested in marsh migration and the conversion of natural and human-dominated uplands, as well as the novel ecosystems and interactions occurring in transitioning coastal areas. The lab is located in an interdisciplinary science building with a state-of-the-art greenhouse in downtown Washington, DC, across the street from the Foggy Bottom Metro station. The Department of Biological Sciences provides competitive five-year support packages to graduate students through teaching assistantships and fellowships.

Requirements

Qualified students will have coursework in ecology or environmental science and experience in field research and working with ecological data. Experience with sensor data is preferred but not required. Training will be provided in plant identification and ecological and analytical methods. The Gedan lab is an inclusive environment with people with diverse backgrounds. People of all races, religions, and genders are encouraged to apply. More information on GWU's graduate program can be found at https://biology.columbian.gwu.edu/phd-biology. If interested, please email Keryn Gedan at kgedan@gwu.edu with a CV and letter of interest.