A graduate research assistantship for a masters student is available beginning Fall 2022 working with Dr. Jacqueline Doyle, through the Department of Biological Sciences at Towson University. The student’s research project will include some combination of field, wet lab and bioinformatic research with mammalian or avian species. Projects may emphasize high throughput sequencing, SNP genotyping, metabarcoding, whole genome assembly and population genetics analyses, depending on the student’s interests and experience. All projects will require problem-solving and critical thinking as students develop his/her/their thesis project. Financial support (stipend and full tuition waiver) will be provided through teaching and research assistantships and will be renewable annually contingent upon satisfactory performance.
The Department of Biological Sciences (https://www.towson.edu/fcsm/departments/biology/) supports research spanning multiple disciplines, with an emphasis on collaborative, interdisciplinary work in cell and molecular biology, organismal biology and ecology, physiology, and science education. The department is committed to inclusive, excellent undergraduate and graduate student education. In January 2021 the Department moved into a new science building which will create additional opportunities for collaboration and data collection.
Students should be self-motivated and able to work both independently and collaboratively. Students should have a degree in biology or a closely related field, with an undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0. The successful candidate should demonstrate an interest in conservation of threatened species. Preference will be given to candidates with experience working in a molecular laboratory and/or with bash/command line tools and a programming language (R, python). Students will have the opportunity to author at least one paper to be submitted for peer review in the scientific literature. More information on the MS program in Biology can be found at http://www.towson.edu/fcsm/departments/biology/gradbiology/.
Interested students should contact Dr. Jacqueline Doyle (jdoyle@towson.edu) with a short description of your academic background and interests, relevant coursework and/or research experience, your CV and the names and contact information for three references who have knowledge of your academic and/or research background and potential, attached as a single PDF. Virtual interviews will be scheduled as applications are received, up until 31 January 2022. Following the initial screening process, successful applicants will be asked to apply to the graduate program itself.
