Graduate Assistantship/Invasive quagga mussels in the Lower Colorado River

An assistantship towards a Master degree of Public Health (MPH) is available in the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV). The incumbent will work with state government agencies and, as well as other research teams on projects such as impacts of quagga mussels (Dreissena bugensis) on fisheries, how to find solutions to control this invasive pest in the arid southwest. Invasive quagga mussels were discovered in Lake Mead on January 6, 2007. It is the first known occurrence of the dreissenid species in the western United States. Now it has been found in many ecosystems in the Southwest United States.
The incumbent needs to do field work to collect water and sediment samples in Lake Mohave, summarize water quality data, enumerate quagga mussel veligers and adults, identify and count benthic samples, present research results in interagency meetings, and draft report to funding agencies. The funding is available for 2 years. Minimum requirements include 1) a Bachelor’s degree in Ecology, Biology, Limnology, Chemistry, Environmental Sciences, or related field; 2) good physical condition; 3) safe driving history; 4) self-motivated personality; 5) working independently and interactively with a multidisciplinary team.
The position starts from September 2010 depending on the availability of qualified applicant. Interested students should send CV, letter describing their qualifications, contact list of two references, and unofficial transcripts to Dr. David Wong (david.wong@unlv.edu), Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, University of Nevada at Las Vegas, 4505 Maryland Parkway Box 453064, Las Vegas NV 89154 (Tel: 702-895-2446/Fax: 702-895-5166). Electronic submission is preferred. The due date for application is December 15, 2009. More information about graduate studies at UNLV can be found at http://graduatecollege.unlv.edu/.