G eomicrobiology
&

E nvironmental

M icrobiology

S tudies   

NEW STUDENT OPPORTUNITY: Houston Energy Fellow and Flagship Graduate Research Assistantship in Isotope Biogeochemistry and Geomicrobiology

A four-year PhD assistantship is available in the Department of Geology and Geophysics, Louisiana State University. The research project will utilize multiple stable isotopes to study denitrifying and sulfate-reducing microorganisms to understand modern and ancient metabolic processes. The applicant should have a strong academic background in geology, aqueous geochemistry, and/or microbiology. Excellent oral/written communication skills and teamwork spirit are essential. The assistantship includes a stipend of $25,000, summer support, and $3000 for additional research expenses. Funding is in place to begin work as early as January, 2009. Please contact Dr. Annette Engel (aengel[AT]lsu.edu) or Dr. Huiming Bao (bao[AT]lsu.edu) for more information.

Visit http://www.geol.lsu.edu/ for details about our department.

Apply online to LSU.

See Additional Information for Prospective Students

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Why should you consider Louisiana State University?

In the 2009 edition of U.S. News & World Report's America's Best Colleges, LSU is ranked in the first tier for "Best National Universities" for the first time. This recent ranking is attributed to improvements that have been made to the national reputation of LSU as part of the Flagship Agenda. The Flagship Agenda will continue to foster excellence for the LSU, its faculty, and the students at all levels.

As the Flagship institution for the State of Louisiana, LSU is the largest academic institution in the State. The LSU system is critical to the state's economic, social, and educational growth. LSU has >30,000 undergraduates, >5000 graduate students, >1200 full-time faculty, and >3000 staff. LSU is also one of only 21 universities nationwide holding land-grant, sea-grant and space-grant status. LSU has been designated a Doctoral granting institution with very high research activity by the prestigious Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. An overview of research excellence is outlined on the Research and Development website.

At LSU there are diverse opportunities for study, including research and coursework, within the broad field of Microbial Sciences through the Initiative in Integrative Microbial Biology. Faculty associated with this Initiative are within the College of Basic Sciences (Biology, Geology, Chemistry, etc.), the College of Engineering, and the College of the Coast and the Environment (e.g., Oceanography), to name a few. Other departments and units also participate. To see a listing of some relevant courses, see Courses Webpage. This Initiative also makes funding opportunities plentiful for students and researchers, as well a offers unique collaborations among faculty who have state-of-the-art molecular, physical, chemical, and field facilities and equipment.

Baton Rouge is a mid-size city in the south, and in addition to having all of the modern cultural, retail, and social opportunities of a city, there is still a warm and friendly atmosphere. Pleasant weather nearly year-round makes the campus and state a wonderful place to live and enjoy outdoor activities. LSU, with >1000 majestic live oak trees, azalea groves, and beautiful flower beds, was named among the 20 best campuses in America according to Thomas Gaines's The Campus as a Work of Art.

And, how can we forget the great people?!? Here are just some of the other great faces (faculty, students, staff, families) in Geology & Geophysics! Everyone here
is enjoying crawfish and veggies at the annual departmental Crawfish Boil, 2008.

Please COME! Be part of something fantastic!
 

Our research is currently funded through:

Some of the available equipment and facilities in Dr. Bao's OASIC lab: IRMS (Finnigan MAT 253) system with TC-EA and conflo-III interface.

 

Dr. Engel's "Geomicreaux Lab" and some of the available facilities.

Dr. Bao working hard in the Dry Valleys of Antarctica.

Dr. Engel sampling in the Frasassi Caves, Italy.