Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Algae as Biofuel: Graduate Research Assistantship

I am seeking a motivated student to fill a graduate research assistantship at the M.S. or Ph.D. level in the Department of Oceanography at Florida State University (www.ocean.fsu.edu). The position is available beginning in Spring, 2009. The research project will focus on the growth of marine algae as a feedstock for biofuels production. The student in this position will be expected to work closely with other scientists in the newly established Institute for Energy Systems, Economics, and Sustainability (http://www.ieses.fsu.edu/) at FSU.

Interested students should have a background in marine biology, cell biology and/or microbiology, and should have strong quantitative skills. Mechanical skills and/or experience in aquaculture would be viewed positively. The assistantship will have an excellent stipend relative to the cost-of-living, and will also include a full tuition remission along with research expenses.

Florida State University is located in the city of Tallahassee, where cost-of-living is inexpensive and ample opportunities exist for cultural/artistic and outdoor activities. The University has a distinguished and rapidly expanding marine laboratory located about 45 minutes to the south of Tallahassee, and the Apalachicola Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve is located about 1 hour west.

For more information, or to be considered for the position, please email Dr. Mike Wetz at wetz@email.unc.edu. Letters of interest will be accepted until December 31st, though particularly strong candidates may be encouraged to apply in full to FSU earlier.