Recruitment announcement

We want to recruit 5 PhD students from relevant disciplines (mathematics, statistics, geography, computer sciences, and appropriate biological fields), intending to enter the University of Florida graduate program in August 2009, to participate in an NSF IGERT (integrative graduate education, research and training) program in quantitative spatial ecology, evolution, and environment. We seek broadly integrative, highly motivated students with an interest in quantitative approaches to spatial ecology and evolution. Ecologists/biologists/geographers with interests in using quantitative tools (math, stats, computer science) to understand biological systems and statisticians/mathematicians with interests in biological (ecological, epidemiological, evolutionary, environmental) and spatial applications are invited to apply. While prior evidence of cross-disciplinary interests will be advantageous, previous cross-disciplinary training is not required.

The fellowship will provide a $30,000/year stipend plus tuition and fees, during years 2 and 3 of IGERT participation (typically years 2 and 3 of the PhD program). Although only US citizens and permanent residents are eligible for NSF funding, we welcome participation as IGERT affiliates by non-US students (or those who have other sources of support) in IGERT courses and activities.

This IGERT cohort will start in year 1 of the program, and matriculate in their home department's graduate program, in August 2009. See the list of program requirements, benefits, and expectations.

Applying for an IGERT fellowship involves separate applications to the University of Florida and to an intended home department. All IGERT students must be accepted into a home department, and (regardless of departmental requirements) should identify a graduate mentor/supervisor in their home department as well as a coadvisor in another discipline. Please note that home departments have varied requirements for application and admission, and some have deadlines that precede the QSE³ deadline.

Review of QSE³ application materials will begin January 15, 2009; applicants are strongly encouraged to apply by this date.

A basic outline of IGERT activities follows:

YEAR 1: disciplinary courses; seminar in spatial dynamics (a 1-credit course covering topics in spatial ecology, evolution, and environment as well as broader impacts, communication, ethics, etc.; continues throughout the program). Standard departmental/fellowship support.
YEAR 2: gateway courses (math, stats, and ecology/evolution, geared toward getting students up to speed). NSF support.
YEAR 3: workshop in spatial dynamics. A one-year, intensive course based on an applied project. Projects to be determined; some examples in the proposal included spatial dynamics of rabies, study of marine protected areas, algal blooms, invasive species research, etc.. NSF support.
YEAR 4-5: Funding available by competitive awards to continue research work in teams, or engage in undergraduate or graduate teaching, consistent with the IGERT goals.

The program also includes cross-disciplinary rotations outside of the home discipline and modular courses on special topics in spatial math/stats/ecology & evolution. Please see the training plan for details.

For more information, go to qse3.centers.ufl.edu or contact a member of the IGERT council:

Ben Bolker (Botany and Zoology, bolker@ufl.edu)
Emilio Bruna (Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, embruna@ufl.edu
Craig Osenberg (Botany and Zoology, osenberg@ufl.edu)
Maia Martcheva (Mathematics, maia@math.ufl.edu)
Mary Christman (Statistics, mcxman@ufl.edu)
Jane Southworth (Geography, jsouthwo@geog.ufl.edu)
Kaoru Kitajima (Botany and Zoology, kitajima@botany.ufl.edu)