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Assistantship Opportunities

Posted by entomology.office | August 25, 2011

PhD Assistantship for Integrated Pest Management on Hops

Posted 11/25/2014

The Department of Entomology at Washington State University is offering a new graduate research assistantships for candidates interested in pursuing a PhD in Entomology starting as soon as January 1, 2015. This assistantship will offer full support for 4 years based upon a recently awarded grant from the USDA Specialty Crops Research Initiative, and will provide a tremendous opportunity for the chosen student to interact and engage with the primary producers and merchants of hops and conventional and rapidly expanding craft brewing industries.

The student will be co-mentored by Professor Doug Walsh and Associate Professor Laura Lavine. Expectations are that the student will spend summers at the Irrigated Agriculture Research and ExtensionCenter in the Yakima Valley of Washington State and at least one academic year on the main WSU campus in Pullman, WA. The location of the work site in subsequent years will depend on the student’s project type and progress. The successful candidate will integrate environmental effects on the phenological response of spider mite populations inhabiting hopyards with advanced molecular biology techniques.

For further information contact Drs. Walsh and Lavine at dwalsh@wsu.edu and lavine@wsu.edu

 

MS Assistantship in Pollinator Protection and Enhancement (Leafhopper)

Posted 12/05/2014

The Department of Entomology at Washington State University is offering a new graduate research assistantship for candidates interested in pursuing an MS in Entomology starting as soon as May 1, 2015. This assistantship will offer full support for 2 years based upon a recently awarded grant from the Washington State Grape and Wine Research Program. This assistantship will provide the chosen student to work closely with the producers of wine grapes in the Columbia Valley of Washington State. The student will be mentored by Professor Doug Walsh. Expectations are that the student will spend summers at the Irrigated Agriculture Research and ExtensionCenter in the Yakima Valley of Washington State and at least one academic year on the main WSU campus in Pullman, WA. The successful candidate will investigate unconventional treatments for leafhopper control in organically certified or LIVE (Low Input Viticulture and Enology) certified vineyards. Projects will include landscape-level assessments of the lethal and sub lethal effects of exposure to candidate biopesticides on pest leafhoppers and the endemic predator and parasitoid guild. The program will also involve a rigorous laboratory bioassay program to document the lethal and sublethal impacts of candidate biopesticides on relevant pests and beneficials within the vineyard agoecosystem.  Funding has been secured for two years, but continuation towards a PhD could be a likely option provided additional support for the project is secured. For further information contact Dr. Doug Walsh at dwalsh@wsu.edu or 509-786-9287

 

MS Assistantship in Pollinator Protection and Enhancement (Alfalfa Seed)

Posted 12/05/2014

The Department of Entomology at Washington State University is offering a new graduate research assistantship for candidates interested in pursuing an MS in Entomology starting as soon as May 1, 2015. This assistantship will offer full support for 2 years based upon a recently awarded grant from the USDA Alfalfa Pollinator Research Initiative. This assistantship will provide the chosen student to work closely with the producers of alfalfa seed in the Walla Walla Valley of Washington State. The student will be co-mentored by Professor Doug Walsh and Extension Irrigation Engineer Troy Peters. Expectations are that the student will spend summers at the Irrigated Agriculture Research and ExtensionCenter in the Yakima Valley of Washington State and at least one academic year on the main WSU campus in Pullman, WA. The successful candidate will investigate the optimal water balance for brood development in commercially managed alkali bee beds. Additional projects will include landscape-level assessments of the sub lethal effects of exposure to candidate pesticides on adult bee behaviors and brood development. Funding has been secured for two years, but continuation towards a PhD could be a likely option provided additional support for the project is secured. For further information contact Dr. Doug Walsh at dwalsh@wsu.edu or 509-786-9287

Dr. Doug Walsh
WSU Irrigated Agriculture Research and Extension Center
Prosser, WA 99350
509-786-9287, dwalsh@wsu.edu