PhD Assistantship, Agroecology, Virginia Tech

We are seeking an outstanding student to pursue a PhD in the agro-ecology
lab at Virginia Tech in the School of Plant and Environmental Sciences.  The
student will join an interdisciplinary team studying a diversity of
ecosystem services impacted by land-use on and around farms.  The study
system focuses on conventional and organic vegetable farms.  Entomology will
be the emphasis of research, specifically biological control and
pollination.  The interdisciplinary team includes researchers and students
in fish and wildlife biology and agricultural economics who will work in the
same system and will examine land-use and habitat management impacts on
bats, birds, deer, and agri-tourism opportunities.  Project partners include
the Nature Conservancy, the Eastern Shore Land Trust, Cooperative Extension,
and the Natural Resources Conservation Service.

Required Qualifications:  M.S. in entomology, agro-ecology or closely
related field; strong statistical abilities and writing skills; ability to
work independently; driver’s license; publication track-record strongly
preferred.

Responsibilities:  The successful candidate must be extremely independent
and self-motivated.  Summer field work will be based out of the Eastern
Shore Agricultural Research and Extension Center (ESAREC) while the main
campus for classes is located in Blacksburg, VA.  Student will be
responsible for: 1) managing a network of 20 cooperating farmers and on-farm
research sites; 2) establishing and monitoring pollinator conservation
habitats on ten farms; and 3) designing and conducting pollination and
biological control field experiments.  Skills that will be developed include
bee and natural enemy identification, GIS, statistical analyses, and
scientific writing.

Contact:  Please direct questions to Megan O’Rourke, megorust@vt.edu,
Virginia Tech.

Application Process:  Please send, as a single file, your cv (including GPA,
and GRE scores), copies of university transcripts (unofficial ok), names and
contacts of three references, and writing sample showing scientific work to
megorust@vt.edu with the title “PhD Agroecology Application.”  Applications
will be accepted until Sept. 30, 2015 or until a suitable applicant is
identified.  I (Megan O’Rourke) will also try to meet with prospective
students at the ESA meeting in Baltimore, MD August 9-14.

Start Date:  The student will be expected to enroll at Virginia Tech
January, 2016, and commence field work May, 2016.