Graduate Funding Opportunities
LRES Environmental Analytical Laboratory Graduate Research Assistantships
The Environmental Analytical Lab (EAL) has funds to support two Graduate Research Assistants during the academic year. Information about the EAL can be found at www.montana.edu/eal-lres.
General Requirements: This award is made to graduate students within LRES who are engaged in analytical work involving instrumentation available in the EAL. Preference is givent to Ph.D. students advised by the EAL advisory board and director.
Stipend: $12,500
Specific Requirements:
- Completion of a research credit with current analyst
- ~10 hours per week commitment, mutually beneficial to EAL and student goals
- Interest in and developing skill on at least one EAL instrument
- Willing to run diverse samples for multiple users in order to master an instrument
- Contribute to lab function
Interested students should provide a CV and breif letter summarizing any relevant lab experience, value of analytical experience to the student's research and professional goals, and what the student would hope to contribute as part of the EAL.
Please send letters to the EAL Director (Dr. Stephanie Ewing, stephanie.ewing@montana.edu) by August 1st.
Current Awardees
FY22
Zane Ashford
Advisor: Cathy Zabinski
M.S. Land Resources & Environmental Sciences
My research focuses on the impacts of cropping systems on soil health in the Northern Great Plains, specifically looking at the effects of cereal-legume rotations in high and low organic matter soils, both in dryland and irrigated systems, compared to uncultivated systems. My work in the EAL centers on measuring soil health indicators sensitive to management practices, such as nutrient cycling capacity and soil organic matter dynamics.
Skye Keeshin
Advisor: Stephanie Ewing
M.S. Land Resources & Environmental Sciences
My research focuses on groundwater-surface water interaction dynamics using isotope chemistry of precipitation, streams, and groundwater. As a research assistant in the EAL, I will be working to run samples on the water isotope analyzer, automating processing of the data, and adding a ‘memory correction’ to account for lingering water from previous samples. Additionally, I look forward to becoming familiar with more instruments in the EAL and helping others with their research.
Past Awardees
FY20
Elizabeth Mohr
Advisor: Geoff Poole
Meryl Storb
Advisor: Rob Payn
FY19
Justin Gay
Advisor: Jack Brookshire
R. Sasha Lowen
Advisor: Bruce Maxwell
FY18
Ethan Wologo
Advisor: Stephanie Ewing
Justin Gay
Advisor: Jack Brookshire
Bryce Currey
Advisor: Jack Brookshire
FY17
Ethan Wologo
Advisor: Stephanie Ewing
Bryce Currey
Advisor: Jack Brookshire
FY16
Erika Sturn
Advisor: Stephanie Ewing
Aaron Scott Klingborg
Advisor: Jack Brookshire
FY15
Aaron Scott Klingborg
Advisor: Jack Brookshire
Meryl Storb
Advisor: Robert Payn
FY14
Aaron Scott Klingborg
Advisor: Jack Brookshire
Hailey Buberl
Advisor: Stephanie Ewing
FY13
Christine Miller
Advisor: Stephanie Ewing
Jordan Holsinger
Advisor: Jack Brookshire
FY12
Krista Ehlert
Advisor: Rick Engel
Kelly Mildenberger
Advisor: Jack Brookshire
Evelyn Konigsberg
Advisor: Jeff Littlefield
Christine Miller
Advisor: Stephanie Ewing