MASTER’S STUDENT POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT May 10, 2007

An opening with a three year stipend in pollination biology of rare is available in the lab of Dr. James Pitts (Department of Biology, Utah State University, Logan, UT; http://www.biology.usu.edu/). The successful applicant will work towards a Master of Science in Biology or Ecology on project objectives and will be expected to develop a related thesis topic on insect- interactions of one or more of the12 rare plants endemic to Ash Meadows National Wildlife Reserve. Plants include several which may have specialized pollinator associations (e.g., Ash Meadows Blazingstar ( leucophylla), Ash Meadows Lady’s Tresses orchid (Spiranthes infernalis), White Bearpoppy (Arctomecon merriamii), others). The successful applicant will interact with other students, a postdoc, faculty in the Department of Biology, and current and retired members of the USDA-ARS Bee Biology and Systematics Laboratory who are working on desert biogeography, insect systematics and behavior, conservation, and non-Apis pollination biology.

UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY (USU): The USU campus (http://www.usu.edu/) is located in northern Utah, 80 miles northeast of Salt Lake City, and is within a day's driving distance of six national parks. The surrounding area, including ski resorts, lakes, rivers and mountains, makes Utah State one of the finest recreational environments in the nation. Utah State University provides a unique living-learning community and is the oldest and largest public residential campus in Utah.

FIELD SITE: Fieldwork will be based at Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge (http://www.fws.gov/desertcomplex/ashmeadows/). This refuge is located approximately 90 miles northwest of Las Vegas, Nevada, and was established in 1984 to protect the native plants and animals of this unique ecosystem. The refuge currently encompasses ~22,000 acres dominated by alkaline desert uplands, and possesses several large springs and a spring-fed habitat. This area is inhabited by 24 endemic plants and animals, including four species of endangered desert pupfish.

START DATE: The position is available starting in Fall of 2007. The research includes a monthly stipend equivalent to a research assistantship that will last for three years. The position could possibly be postponed to a start date of Spring 2008.

QUALIFICATIONS: B.S. in a biological science, such as entomology, botany, or general biology. See Department of Biology website for graduate application information (http://www.biology.usu.edu/graduate/graduate.htm).

SUBMISSION DEADLINE: July 1, 2007. Send a letter of intent, CV/Resume, GRE scores and transcripts (unofficial are fine for now) to:

James Pitts, Ph.D. Department of Biology, Utah State University 5305 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322-5305 Ph# (435) 797-8872 [email protected]