Scholarship in the Tropical Conservation Biology and Environmental Science (TCBES)
M.S. Program at the University of Hawai‘i

Join a team of researchers examining the diversity and dynamics of fungal community structure in native Hawaiian forests across both elevational and successional gradients. Building upon previous work done on the Hawaiian Islands documenting the diversity of fleshy macrofungi using traditional sampling methods, this project is adding a molecular component through the collection of environmental isolates, construction of cloning libraries, and metagenomic analysis. Results of this project will provide a much broader picture of both the taxonomic and genetic fungal diversity present in native Hawaiian forests, including both macro- and microscopic taxa. Additionally, the span of this project across both spatial and temporal gradients will allow the investigation of not only changes in species composition and function, but also how such changes may play a role in fungal speciation and that of any associated plant species. The graduate scholar will receive training in field and molecular methods, and will contribute to the overall project while conducting thesis research.

The successful applicant will receive $22,000 annual salary, will enroll in the TCBES Program, and will join a vibrant research community in evolutionary genetics at UH Hilo, comprising faculty, postdocs, and graduate and undergraduate students.

Students of Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, or other under-represented ancestries are especially encouraged to apply. For information on the TCBES Program and application procedures, visit: www2.hawaii.edu/~tcbes/.

Contact: Dr. Brian A. Perry (baperry@hawaii.edu).

Apr 6th, 2010 by Webmaster