Training/Employment Opportunities
Undergraduate Opportunities
Hourly positions: Undergraduate students are employed to assist with laboratory, greenhouse, and field research projects. Students typically work 8-12 hours/week during the academic year and full-time during the summer (late May through August).
Independent research projects: Undergraduate students interested in conducting guided independent research projects may be funded through any of a variety of UW fellowship programs (e.g., Hilldale, Holstrom) or through the NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program. These are competitive programs, with annual application deadlines typically in January. Inquire early!
Graduate Opportunities
Graduate students may pursue advanced degrees in Entomology, Zoology, Molecular and Environmental Toxicology, or the Intstitute of Environmental Studies. Graduate positions in this lab are highly competitive; many inquiries are received each year. Contact Dr. Lindroth for information about the status of funding for additional graduate students in 2010. Potential research areas include:
1) Evolutionary Ecology of Plant-Herbivore Interactions. Funded by a new, five-year NSF grant, this research addresses genetic, ontogenetic and environmental factors that influence aspen defense (chemical resistance, tolerance, escape) against mammalian herbivores (e.g., deer). Primary objectives of the work are to: 1) determine the degree to which secondary metabolites confer defense against browsing mammals, 2) assess the costs and benefits of, and potential tradeoffs among, resistance, tolerance and escape, and 3) evaluate the selective impact of browsing on the genetic structure of defense traits in an experimental aspen population. Applicants must be interested in investigating both the chemical and population genetics aspects of plant-herbivore interactions. Project directors include Rick Lindroth and Eric Kruger. We seek pre-Ph.D. (only) applicants with excellent academic records and strong communication skills for research beginning summer or fall 2010. Applicants for this position should pursue admission to the graduate program in Zoology or Forest and Wildlife Ecology.
2) Global Change Ecology. This research addresses the consequences of enriched atmospheric carbon dioxide and ozone on northern deciduous forest communities. Support for additional students on this project is unlikely for 2010.
3) Bioenergy Fuels and Plant-Insect Interactions. This new line of research will evaluate how genetic modifications of poplar - to enhance its potential as a biofuel feedstock - alter its susceptibility to insect pests. The work will be conducted in collaboration with tree geneticists, and will focus on how specific modifications of tree architecture and chemical content (lignin) influence the expression of chemical defense traits, thereby altering susceptibility to insect attack. The University of Wisconsin - Madison is the home institution of the DOE-funded Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center.
4) Miscellaneous projects. We currently have research projects covering a wide variety of areas, including effects of carbon dioxide, ozone and tree genetic variation on leaf litter decomposition and litter arthropod communities, costs of plant chemical defense in relation to plant competition, quantification of genetic variation in defense via controlled breeding and molecular markers, and multi-trophic level studies. Although current grant funds do not provide graduate student stipends for these projects, other funding opportunities for highly qualified students (e.g., UW, NSF or EPA fellowships) may be available.
Qualifications: Highly motivated individuals with superior academic credentials are encouraged to apply. Well-developed interpersonal skills are essential.
Stipend/benefits: 50% Research Assistantships currently provide a $20,184 stipend, tuition waiver, and excellent medical/dental health plan.
Inquiry/application procedure: Send e-mail describing academic background, research experience, and research interests to Dr. Lindroth (lindroth@entomology.wisc.edu). Applications/placement are seasonal, typically with exchanges of correspondence occurring during October-January, submission of application by January, and notification of acceptance/placement by March-April. Funding to support campus visits may be available. Link to the UW Graduate School electronic application website.
Postdoctoral Opportunities
No funded positions are available at this time.
.For more information about the Lindroth research group see the Lindroth home page.
