One PhD student position with full financial support as RA and TA-ships is available in Spring 2022 in the Hochberg Lab, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Massachusetts Lowell (UML), USA. At present, the position is limited to US only applicants due to Covid concerns.
I am looking for a highly motivated student who is interested in studying the biology and evolution of microscopic animals called rotifers. Our team (Dr. Elizabeth Walsh and Dr. Jon Mohl, U. Texas El Paso; Dr. Robert Wallace, Ripon College, WI) is investigating the evolution of sexuality and life cycle dynamics in the largest lineage of rotifers, Monogononta. Each team member is directing different forms of research (molecular, taxonomic, morphological) to achieve a comprehensive understanding of rotifer biodiversity, systematics, and reproductive evolution in this lineage. Students will have opportunities to interact with all four team members through site visits, training, and conferences.
The role of the Hochberg lab in this research will be to describe the diversity of reproductive morphologies among rotifers and use this information to answer pertinent questions including: 1) Are maternal care and internal brooding ancestral or derived? 2) Are egg-shell characteristics (structure, mechanics, chemistry) correlated with life history strategies? 3) Have male genital and sperm diversity been driven by sexual selection? 4) Has male dwarfism evolved more than once? These questions and a host of others will be answered using advanced microscopical techniques including AFM, CLSM, SEM, TEM, and FIB-SEM. Most research will be conducted at UML, but some may take place at the U. Massachusetts Medical School, which houses state-of-the art facilities. Opportunities to learn molecular techniques may also be available through collaborations with team members.
The student will have opportunities to present research at university and national conferences and publish their research in respected zoological journals.
Minimum Requirements
B.S. or M.S. in Biology or related fields.
US Citizens only (due to Covid concerns) – vaccination is mandatory
Driver’s license and transportation. Importantly, public transportation is not very good in Massachusetts, which is why this is a requirement.
Desirable Qualifications (preferred but not required)
• Experience with microscopy (SEM, TEM, CLSM, AFM) is preferable
• Experience working with microscopic animals (or at least a lot of patience and dexterity)
Successful applicants will enroll in the PhD in Applied Biology program (Developmental and Evolutionary Biology tract), which is a minimum 4-year commitment. TA and RA assistantships are available for each academic year (including summers).
Please contact me (rick_hochberg@uml.edu) with any questions. If you are interested in applying, please send me the following information as single pdf file: (1) CV, (2) unofficial transcripts if available, (3) a cover letter outlining research interest and experience, and (4) contact information for 2-3 references. Please write “PhD applicant” in the Subject line.
For more information on the Department and its graduate programs, please see the links below:
• Department of Biological Sciences
https://www.uml.edu/Sciences/biology/
• PhD in Applied Biology
https://www.uml.edu/sciences/biology/programs-of-study/doctoral.aspx
• Graduate School
https://www.uml.edu/Grad/Process/requirements.aspx
