The Shartau Lab is moving to the School of Biological Sciences at the Washington State University Pullman campus for Fall 2025 and recruiting for a PhD student to start in Fall 2025.
Research: The Shartau Lab investigates the physiological responses of animals to environmental change and stressors, and is particularly interested in the role of acid-base regulation in these responses. The lab integrates approaches at the molecular, cellular, and whole animal level, as well as field-based research and modeling to gain mechanistic insights into physiological function at the organismal level and how organisms function within the context of their environment.
The expected focus of the PhD project would be to characterize the response of fish to severe hypercapnia (high CO2). Avenues of investigation could include investigating the acid-base regulatory responses of fish in different osmotic environments (marine, brackish, and freshwater) to severe hypercapnia and examine changes in acid-base regulation throughout during development enabling fishes to tolerate hypercapnia. This work will make use of various experimental techniques including molecular and cellular biology, whole animal work, microscopy, bioinformatics, and field work.
Research Facilities: The Shartau Lab will be in the newly renovated Abelson building and we have space in the Aquatic Phenomics Facility (sbs.wsu.edu/aquaticslab/) that houses a wide variety of respirometry systems, swim tunnels, and behavioral equipment, as well as environmental chambers and aquatics space, and the Carver Fish Hatchery. The student will also have access to the Franceschi Microscopy and Imaging Center (FMIC) (mic.wsu.edu) and the Stable Isotope Core Laboratory (labs.wsu.edu/isotopecore/). Projects incorporating marine work can take advantage of facilities along the Puget Sound, such as Meyer’s Point Environmental Field Station (meyerspoint.wsu.edu) and Puyallup Research and Extension Center (puyallup.wsu.edu) that are a 5-7 h drive from Pullman.
Salary and Benefits: The graduate student would be supported by a mix of research assistantships and teaching assistantships which will provide 12 months of support of approximately $30,000. Benefits include tuition and health insurance.
Washington State University and Pullman: Washington State University (WSU) is a public land-grant research university in Pullman, Washington. Founded in 1890, WSU is one of the oldest land-grant universities in the American West. Pullman is located in SE Washington within the Palouse region and has a population of ~33,000 and is approximately 8 miles from Moscow Idaho; the regional population of these cities is ~88,000. The Pullman-Moscow Regional Airport serves this region and is approximately 90 minutes from Spokane Washington, which is part of the Spokane–Coeur d’Alene combined statistical area that has a population ~785,000 and is served by the Spokane International Airport. Pullman offers a high quality of life with abundant year-round outdoor opportunities. Major cities within driving distance include Seattle (~4.5 h), Portland Oregon (~5.5 h), and Vancouver Canada (~7 h).
Qualifications: Applicants must have: (1) a B.S &/or M.S. in biology or a related field, (2) a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0, (3) possess excellent written and oral communication skills in English, (4) some experience with laboratory work and/or aquatics research, (5) a strong interest in animal physiology, (6) be comfortable conducting lab and field work with live animals.
The Shartau Lab is committed to creating and maintaining an inclusive research environment. Applications from all qualified applicants are encouraged, including from members of historically underrepresented racial/ethnic groups, women, individuals with disabilities, veterans, LGBTQ community members, and others.
How to Apply: Potential students should email Dr. Ryan Shartau (rshartau@gmail.com) and provide the following (Do not submit an application to the university without first contacting Dr. Shartau):
- Short statement (half to one page) on your motivation, qualifications, and future goals,
- Unofficial transcript(s), and CV/resume,
- Names and contact information for 2-3 references
For full consideration, please contact Dr. Shartau by March 15th
