The Dowd laboratory in the School of Biological Sciences (SBS) at Washington State University (WSU) seeks curious, creative, and motivated candidates for a PhD student position. We are broadly interested in the interactions between environmental variation and physiological variation. Current marine animal models include rocky intertidal zone mussels (in the genus Mytilus, currently funded by a 4-year National Science Foundation grant) and tidepool copepods (Tigriopus californicus). We focus on spatial and temporal environmental variation and its relationship to inter-individual and inter-species differences in protein expression patterns and physiological phenomena such as thermal tolerance, antioxidant capacity, and measures of performance (growth/fecundity). We also address the interactions between multiple, covarying environmental parameters. We couple measurements at the organismal level with assessment of the underlying physiological/biochemical processes that are influenced by these patterns of variation. More information about our past and current work can be found at http://labs.wsu.edu/dowd/. The School of Biological Sciences has a strong research presence in organismal biology, evolution, and ecology (https://sbs.wsu.edu/research). Facilities in the department include the Aquatics Phenomics Research Center, Franceschi Microscopy and Imaging Center, and stable isotope core. There are many opportunities for interaction and collaboration across WSU and at the University of Idaho (just across the border in Moscow). Students will be based at the WSU campus in Pullman, WA, but fieldwork is often a part of our approach.
Funding will most likely consist of a mixture of Teaching Assistantships and Research Assistantships, both of which are covered by a union contract that includes tuition waiver and health insurance. There are numerous internal SBS and WSU fellowships available to support graduate student research, and all students will be encouraged to apply for external funding as part of their training.
The Pullman-Moscow community enjoys the educational and cultural benefits of having two land-grant universities in a small-town setting. The surrounding area offers a variety of outdoor activities with mountains, wilderness, and tributaries of the Snake/Clearwater Rivers.
The priority deadline for applications to the School of Biological Sciences is January 10 for a position in the Fall graduate class. In advance of applying, interested candidates should send the following via email as a SINGLE PDF document: 1) one-page cover letter including a brief statement of research experiences, research interests, and career goals, briefly explaining how they align with the focus of the lab, 2) unofficial academic transcripts, 3) names of 2 potential academic references, 4) if available, a scientific writing sample (such as Honors thesis or previous publication).
Questions regarding this opportunity can be directed to:
Wes Dowd
Associate Professor
School of Biological Sciences
(office) 1-509-335-8122; email: wes_dowd@wsu_edu (replace underscore _ with a . )
