March 5 2012 - seeking two graduate students in the Koopman/Westgate lab at UNCW PhD student - nitrogen solubility in tissues of vertebrates We are seeking a PhD student to work on a project which will be funded by ONR to examine nitrogen solubility and vascular density in the adipose tissues of vertebrates, from a comparative perspective. Our preliminary work has shown that in marine mammals, species with high wax ester content in their blubber tend to exhibit higher nitrogen solubility. This project will examine tissue from other divers (seabirds, turtles) as well as animals used as diving models (pigs, sheep - and humans). This student will need to be proficient with delicate lab instruments, tissue sampling and gas chromatography; in addition this project will have a significant histological component. UNCW's PhD program in Marine Biology is described here: http://uncw.edu/bio/grad-phd.html. Completion of a M.Sc. (or equivalent) in biology or chemistry, and a strong background in chemistry (major, minor) are required. MSc student - nitrogen solubility in the acoustic tissues of toothed whales This project will build on the preliminary data described above, examining how nitrogen solubility and vascular density in the specialized acoustic fats (melon and mandibular fats) of dolphins and porpoises compare with that of their blubber. This will be a lab-based study, involving lipid extraction, gas measurements and histology. UNCW's MSc programs in Biology/Marine Biology are described here: http://uncw.edu/bio/grad-ms.html Experience with marine mammals and tissue sampling strongly preferred. Completion of a B.Sc. in Biology or Chemistry, and a strong background in chemistry, are required. Please contact Dr. Heather Koopman koopmanh@uncw.edu<mailto:koopmanh@uncw.edu> if you are interested - and attach a CV to your email. Be sure that you understand that both of these will be almost exclusively lab-based projects, with little to no field work. We will consider applications until June 1st 2012. Heather Koopman, Ph.D. Associate Professor Biology & Marine Biology University of North Carolina Wilmington 601 S. College Road Wilmington, NC U.S.A. 28403 Telephone: (910) 962-7199 Fax: 910-962-4066 Email: koopmanh@uncw.edu<mailto:koopmanh@uncw.edu> NOTICE: Emails sent and received in the course of university business are subject to the North Carolina Public Records Act (N.C.G.S. §132-1 et seq.) and may be released to the public unless an exception applies.