We are seeking an enthusiastic Ph.D. student to assess Hurricane
Helene's impacts on terrestrial arthropod communities in the southern
Appalachian Mountains, and to develop ongoing monitoring protocols that
may be implemented by management agencies. Specific target taxa for
this project will include arachnids and hexapods, with special focus
on those with special status (e.g. Spruce-fir moss spider and others),
and those occurring in leaf litter habitats.

The student will design and conduct field sampling and laboratory
analysis, aiming to quantify differences between available 'before'
data and those found through new, post-Hurricane sampling. Studies
may incorporate abiotic data layers as potential explanatory
variables. Potential for recovery may implement phylogenetic and
historical biogeographic perspectives. Prior work in PI's lab emphasized
litter-inhabiting Coleoptera, though full arthropod community samples
are available, as are barcoding sequences of most species. Arthropod
studies will be coordinated with parallel studies on potentially impacted
vertebrates and abiotic surveys of forest structure.

Candidates must have:
- MS degree in entomology, biology, wildlife studies, or a closely
  related field.
- Sufficient qualifications to be accepted for enrollment into Clemson's
  Ph.D. program in Entomology.
- Experience with arthropod field sampling, identification, and data
  analysis (taxonomic and/or ecological).
- Strong background in statistical analysis/environmental modelling
  preferred.

Start date: 
Summer (preferred) or Fall, 2026

Application instructions:
Prior to application, interested candidates should contact the
PI, Dr. Michael Caterino (mcateri@clemson.edu) to indicate
interest and summarize qualifications. Applications must
then be submitted through the Clemson Graduate School portal
(https://gradapply.clemson.edu/apply/). To qualify for supplemental
fellowship funding, applications must include a one-page research
prospectus (what the applicant envisions doing as a dissertation
project) and be submitted by January 15, 2026. For more details see:
https://www.clemson.edu/cafls/academics/graduate/entomology-awards.html.
Non-fellowship applications may be submitted through April 1, 2026.

Full announcement here:
https://sites.google.com/site/caterinolab/opportunities

Michael S. Caterino
John and Suzanne Morse Chair of Arthropod Biodiversity
Director, Clemson University Arthropod Collection
Dept. of Plant & Environmental Sciences
Office: E254 Poole Agricultural Center
Mail: 277 Poole Agricultural Center
Clemson University
Clemson, SC 29634-0310
mcateri@clemson.edu
https://sites.google.com/site/caterinolab/