PhD Opening | Agriculture, Forestry, and Life Sciences | Clemson University | Clemson, South Carolina, USA | Fall 2024

Dr. John Morse and Brandon Peoples

We are seeking an enthusiastic Ph.D. student to be co-advised by Drs John Morse and Brandon Peoples at Clemson University. This NSF-funded project will investigate how multiple dimensions of caddisfly diversity (taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic) respond to anthropogenic stressors across continents. The student will work as part of a diverse international research team and will collaborate with graduate students and postdocs at the University of São Paulo (Brazil) and Nanjing Agricultural University (China). The project will involve developing creative research questions, sampling adult and juvenile caddisflies from streams across a gradient of human stress, lab-based species identification, developing statistical models, and other duties as needed

Qualification

  • A MS degree in freshwater science, ecology, biology, or equivalent
  • Competitive practical experience in freshwater research
  • Demonstrated excellence in written, verbal, and quantitative skills

Ideal candidates will have some combination of experience in:

  • Working in streams
  • Aquatic insect sampling and caddisfly larval and adult identification
  • Aquatic insect ecology
  • Experience or interest in international research
  • Analysis using R software, GIS, etc.
  • Scientific writing and communication

Compensation

  • US $25,000 per year
  • Competitive salary supplements available
  • Position includes full tuition waiver, healthcare included in fees, and 5% annual salary raises upon satisfactory performance

Start date: Summer/Fall 2024
Application review: 15 February 2024.

Contact

To apply, please send application packets to Dr. John Morse (jmorse@clemson.edu) and Brandon Peoples (peoples@clemson.edu) with the subject indicating “PhD Application”. Packets should include a single PDF containing 1) a cover letter describing your interest in the project and career goals, and 2) your CV, including at least 3 references. The GRE is not required for admission to Clemson or to work with our team.