Aquatic Ecology Laboratory
Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology
The Ohio State University
Columbus, OH

Research opportunities:  Dr. Stuart Ludsin (https://u.osu.edu/ludsinlab/) has openings available for up to three M.S. and Ph.D. students to conduct basic and applied research in aquatic ecology. Research topics include: 1) the ecology of Lake Erie yellow perch (e.g., Are invasive species affecting yellow perch foraging, movement, and vulnerability to anglers?); and 2) the impact of harmful algal blooms (HABs) on western Lake Erie’s food web (e.g., How do HABs affect habitat use, feeding interactions, energy flow, and (or) cyanotoxin accumulation in the food web?). Students would help design their projects, with each project potentially allowing for the opportunity to do fieldwork (e.g., telemetry), modeling, and experiments.

Location: Successful candidates will join a dynamic, interactive group of students, post-docs, and faculty at The Ohio State University’s Aquatic Ecology Laboratory (http://ael.osu.edu/) within the Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology (http://eeob.osu.edu/). 

Qualifications: Successful applicants will be creative, motivated, and capable of working effectively both independently and in collaborative groups. A Bachelor’s degree and (or) M.S. degree in biology, ecology, fisheries, general aquatic sciences, or a related field is required. Strong writing, quantitative, and people-management skills are essential.

Stipend: ~$2,389/month plus full tuition waiver and health benefits. Graduate Research Assistantship support exists for the Lake Erie yellow perch project, whereas Graduate Teaching Assistantship support exists for the Lake Erie HABs project.

Start date: Fall 2022.

How to apply: Application review will begin on November 15, 2021, with applications accepted until suitable candidates are found. If interested, please email Dr. Stuart Ludsin (ludsin.1@osu.edu): 1) a letter of interest that briefly describes your educational and research background, as well as  your research interests/goals; 2) a curriculum vitae (or resume); 3) an unofficial copy of your transcript(s); 4) contact information for at least three professional references; and 5) your GRE scores (although they are not mandatory for admission), and if applicable, TOEFL/TSE scores. Please put “Ludsin Graduate Positions” in the subject line.

Additional information: For additional information about application procedures and requirements, visit https://eeob.osu.edu/grad/program-admissions. For more information about the Aquatic Ecology Laboratory or Dr. Ludsin, please visit the websites above or contact me at ludsin.1@osu.edu.