Two MS (or one PhD) research assistant positions are available (Jan. 2018) in the Latvis Lab of the Department of Natural Resource Management (South Dakota State University) for students interested in botany, biodiversity, phylogenetics, or plant conservation in the Great Plains. Students will participate on a USDA Hatch project examining plant community assembly and phylogenetic biodiversity across plots with different land use histories, combining molecular phylogenetics, bioinformatics, and floristics. Research will be based at several SDSU Agricultural Experiment Field Stations in South Dakota, and on the SDSU campus. Successful applicants will have a degree in Biology, Botany, or related field and a strong background natural history and plant evolution. Experience with plant identification, phylogenetic analyses, and data manipulation/analysis using R is desired. A willingness to learn new techniques is required. The MS assistantships include a competitive stipend and tuition waiver.

The Department of Natural Resource Management at South Dakota State University combines Range, Wildlife, Fisheries, and Ecology within the College of Agriculture and Biological Sciences. The department is committed to quality mentoring and professional development opportunities for their students. SDSU is the Land Grant University for the state and has approximately 13,000 students. SDSU is located in Brookings, SD ca. one hour north of Sioux Falls and four hours east of the Twin Cities, and offers a low cost-of-living in a small college-town atmosphere.

To apply, send a single PDF with CV; unofficial transcripts; a letter describing your experience, research interests, and career goals; and contact information for three professional references to Maribeth Latvis (Maribeth.Latvis@sdstate.edu) by October 16, 2017.