PhD position in rodent disease ecology:

The newly established lab of Dr Kristian Forbes at the Department of Biological Sciences, University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, is searching for a graduate student to investigate rodent population and disease ecology. The student will capitalize on the close proximity of the U of A to diverse natural habitats and rodent fauna in the area. Research in the Forbes lab is diverse and multidisciplinary, ranging from within-host dynamics such as immunity, to infection spread within wildlife populations and across landscapes, and the impacts of disease on host fitness. This is a new project and the successful applicant will play a lead role in defining the research focus.

Applicants should have wide interests in biological sciences, including wildlife biology, zoonotic infections, and anthropogenic environmental changes. Previous fieldwork experience of some type is essential. Experience in laboratory diagnostics and statistical analyses will be highly regarded.

The successful applicant will be supported by a graduate teaching assistantship and opportunities may also be available for fellowships, such as U of A DDF and DAF programs (https://graduate-and-international.uark.edu/graduate/costs-and-funding/doctoral-fellowships.php). The desired start time is fall, 2019, but is flexible. The student will be supervised by Dr Forbes (https://kristianforbes.wordpress.com/) and be part of the new EEOB program at the U of A (https://eeob.uark.edu/). Fayetteville is located in a beautiful natural area amongst the Ozark Mountains, with a wide range of recreational activities in close proximity such as hiking, cycling, kayaking, fishing and hunting; it regularly ranks amongst top US cities to live (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fayetteville,_Arkansas).

For more information, please contact Dr Forbes at kmforbes@uark.edu. To apply, please send: 1) a cover letter of maximum one page outlining your research interests and career goals, 2) your CV and academic transcripts, and 3) contact information for three referees to the above email address. Applications will be reviewed as they are received.