- Agency
- Utah State University
- Location
- Logan, UT
- Job Category
- Full Time Positions, Graduate Assistanships
- Salary
- $21,000 annual salary plus benefits (tuition, fees, and insurance; a package worth an additional $7,463 for Utah residents and $18,125 for non-residents annually)
- Start Date
- Flexible, January to May, 2020 preferable
- Website
- https://entojobs.tamu.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/79/2019/07/USU-BMSB-MS-Student-Ad-2019.pdf
- Description
- Master’s of Science Position Opening: Department of Biology, Utah State University Discipline Area: Entomology Research Topic: Biological Control of Brown Marmorated Stink Bug Start Date: Flexible, January to May, 2020 preferable Compensation: $21,000 annual salary plus benefits (tuition, fees, and insurance; a package worth an additional $7,463 for Utah residents and $18,125 for non-residents annually) We seek a MS student to expand upon research in the Alston and Spears Labs on biological control of brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB), Halymorpha halys (Stal), with emphasis on egg parasitoids. BMSB was first detected in urban/suburban areas of Salt Lake City, UT, in 2012. Economic damage was first confirmed in fruit and vegetable crops in 2017. The natural parasitoid for BMSB, Trissolcus japonicus (Ashmead) was first discovered attacking BMSB egg masses in Salt Lake City in 2019. We seek a graduate student to investigate the impacts and efficiency of T. japonicus and native parasitoids on BMSB and other stink bug species. This position will provide opportunities to learn skills in field insect monitoring, rearing, and parasitoid identification and efficiency testing. Engagement in outreach education is expected. This position will participate in the national USDA NIFA SCRI BMSB project (https://www.stopbmsb.org/). The graduate position is based on the Utah State University (USU) campus in Logan, UT. Logan is located in a mountain valley about 1.5 hr drive north of Salt Lake City with abundant outdoor recreation opportunities. USU has approximately 25,000 undergraduate and 3,000 graduate students on its main and regional campuses. USU has a strong tradition of commitment to high quality education, research, and extension. Funding support includes research assistantship (1 semester and summer per year) and teaching assistantship (1 semester per year) for up to 3 years. The opportunity to gain teaching experience while pursuing a MS degree will be highly valuable to career preparation. Degree options in Insect Biology and Pest Management, and Ecology are available. Visit the Department of Biology website for more information for prospective students, and about our faculty, students, staff, and research resources (http://www.biology.usu.edu/). Contact Diane Alston (diane.alston@usu.edu) or Lori Spears (lori.spears@usu.edu) for more information. Submit a cover letter with statement of interest, resume, unofficial copy of undergraduate transcripts, and names and contact information of three references to Diane and Lori.
- Job Number
- 116
- Contact Person
- Diane Alston
- Contact eMail
- diane.alston@usu.edu