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Integrative Graduate Education and Research Training
NSF-IGERT PhD Program:
Traineeships in Geobiological Systems
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Welcome message
Research and training
Admission requirements
Application procedures
Traineeship awards
Faculty contacts
IGERT brochure (PDF:
3MB)
Program
overview
(PDF: 2 MB)
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Colleagues and Interested PhD Students,
We are excited to announce a new NSF IGERT Program in Geobiological
Systems at Montana State University and encourage interested students to
contact us regarding upcoming traineeship opportunities.
This Integrative Graduate Education and Research Training (IGERT) Program
is focused on the geomicrobiology of complex microbiological systems and
brings together expertise in hydrodynamics, geochemistry, microbial
ecology, biochemistry. and genomics. The primary goal of this research and
education program is to train students to use consistent and coherent
interdisciplinary approaches in the study of microbial communities that
lead to a more comprehensive understanding of the important interface
between the biosphere and geosphere. The novel training program
encompasses research scientists focused on the microbiology of extreme
thermal, psychrophilic, or industrial biofilm communities.
Feel free to forward and or circulate the IGERT Program Announcement (pdf
file) and we appreciate your help in spreading the word about this
opportunity for interdisciplinary Ph.D. training.
Please contact us if you have any questions,
Sincerely,
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Bill
Inskeep
Director, IGERT
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John
Peters
Director, Thermal Biology Institute
www.tbi.montana.edu
Director, Center for Biofilm Engineering
www.biofilm.montana.edu |
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The IGERT program in Geobiological Systems is both inter-and
multi-disciplinary and involves faculty and PhD students from the
Colleges of Agriculture, Engineering, and Letters and Science. The primary
research areas supported by and integrated within the IGERT program
include the geomicrobiology of thermal, psychrophilic, or anthropogenic
systems. Graduates from this IGERT program will be well-prepared to
address the complexity of microbial processes in any system while
maintaining significant disciplinary depth. The broader impacts of this
graduate training program are extensive and include partnerships with
existing centers of excellence in Thermal Biology, Cold Regions Research,
and Biofilm Engineering. Outreach is an integral part of the educational
experience, and graduate students in this program will participate and
assist with important outreach activities including a formal K-12
science-teacher course, scientific workshops, industrial partner programs,
training for Yellowstone National Park (YNP) interpretive staff, field
trips for K-12 students, educational exhibits at the Museum of the Rockies
and the Old Faithful Visitor Museum, mentoring Native American high school
and undergraduate students, and development of digital libraries and web
content in collaboration with the YNP Research Coordination Network. These
broader impacts are synergistic in supporting the diverse educational
goals of an IGERT program and in further developing literacy in the geobiological sciences.
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Interested students must be admitted to the College of Graduate Studies at
Montana State University and one of several potential participating
academic departments. Current participating departments include: Chemistry
and Biochemistry, Chemical and Biological Engineering, Civil Engineering,
Earth Sciences, Land Resources and Environmental Sciences, Mechanical
Engineering, and Microbiology. Application to the IGERT program is a
separate process (see below), but is contingent on successful admission to
the College of Graduate Studies. For application to the IGERT program,
students will be asked to write a one-page description of their scientific
interests and long-term goals and how these relate to the goals of the
IGERT program (interested applicants must refer to the full description of
application processes, see below). The IGERT traineeship awards are
limited to U.S. citizens; however, international students may also
consider applying to the program as IGERT Student Associates.
Complete applications and supporting materials must be received by
February 15 for applicants to be considered for admission to graduate
study beginning the following summer or fall semester. Applicants will be
generally notified of a formal decision form the College of Graduate
Studies by April 15.
It is strongly recommended that you contact (either by letter or email)
faculty at MSU directly and indicate your interest in the IGERT program.
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Interested students must send (1) a curriculum vita, and (2) a one-page
document (12 pt font, 1-inch margins) containing the following
information: name, status at MSU (applied versus enrolled; if already
enrolled, provide home department, current advisor), prior degrees and
universities attended, and a detailed description of why the student would
like to participate in this IGERT program. For example, this should
include coverage of research and disciplinary interests, rationale for
choosing to pursue to a PhD program, short- and long-term academic goals,
and a discussion of opportunities available within the IGERT program that
are consistent with student career goals. If not already submitted to the
College of Graduate Studies at MSU as part of admission requirements, the
IGERT program will need full copies of academic transcripts, GRE scores,
and three letters of reference. Send application materials (as pdf files)
to Dr. Bill Inskeep, IGERT Director (binskeep@montana.edu). Receipt of
application will be acknowledged, and decisions regarding fellowship
applications made as soon as possible.
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Students applying to the IGERT program may receive a traineeship award for
approximately 2 to 2.5 years, after which research support must be provided
by a faculty member or other source. The traineeship awards are $30,000
per year including a cost of education allowance of $10,500 per year to
offset any tuition, fees, and or other related educational expenses.
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The interdisciplinary IGERT program in Geobiological Systems Science
involves over 25 faculty at MSU in 7 different departments and 3 colleges,
as well as additional national and international collaborators. The
following individuals can serve as initial contacts for questions, advice
and additional information.
Dr. Bill
Inskeep
IGERT Director, Thermal Biology Institute and Department of Land Resources
and Environmental Sciences
Research Interests: Geomicrobiology, environmental genomics
Dr.
Anne Camper
Associate Dean, College of Engineering
Center for Biofilm Engineering
Research Interests: Waste-water treatment, biofilms
Dr. John
Peters
Director, Thermal Biology Institute
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Research Interests: Enzyme structure-function
john.peters@chemistry.montana.edu
Dr.
Brent Peyton
Associate Director, Thermal Biology Institute
Center for Biofilm Engineering
Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering
Research Interests: Bioremediation, bioenergy
Dr.
John Priscu
Cold Regions Research
Department of Land Resources and Environmental Sciences
Research Interests: Polar microbiology
Dr.
Mark Skidmore
Cold Regions Research, Department of Earth Sciences
Research Interests: Geomicrobiology, ice habitats
Dr. Phil
Stewart
Director, Center for Biofilm Engineering
Research Interests: Biofilms
Dr.
Mark Young
Director, NSF EPSCoR Program
Research Interests: Virology, Nanomaterials
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