Graduate students
Dr. Nelson advises M.S. and Ph.D. students. M.S. students enroll through the MEES program at the University of Maryland College Park or the Department of Biology at Frostburg State University. Ph.D. students enroll through the MEES program.
Positions for which extramural funding is available to hire students as graduate research assistants in Dr. Nelson’s lab will be posted here when they are available.
Prospective M.S. students interested in teaching assistantships through Frostburg State University should contact Dr. Nelson.
Students interested in applying for external fellowships should contact Dr. Nelson to discuss possible projects and funding sources. Potential opportunities include:
NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP)
Fulbright Foreign Student Program
Ford Foundation Fellowship Program
Postdoctoral opportunities
No extramural funding is currently available to hire postdocs. Applicants willing to apply for fellowships should contact Dr. Nelson to discuss possible projects and funding sources. Potential opportunities include:
List of various postdoc fellowships
NSF Postdoctoral Research Fellowships in Biology
NSF Earth Sciences Postdoc Fellowships
Undergraduate opportunities
Internships are available at the Central Appalachians Stable Isotope Facility at the Appalachian Laboratory, Frostburg, Maryland for students interested in learning how state-of-the-art stable isotope instruments work and are used to investigate diverse questions in fields such as ecology, biogeochemistry, hydrology, and paleoecology. Applicants must have a background in Biology, Chemistry, Geology, Ecology, or similar field, data processing skills, strong organizational skills and attention to detail, ability to work closely with others in a lab environment, and eagerness to learn the methods and applications of stable isotope analyses. To apply please email rpaulman@umces.edu with your GPA, major, and interest in this position.
Community college and K-12 educators, undergraduates, and high school students
Science faculty at community colleges, predominantly undergraduate institutions and K-12 schools, as well as undergraduate and high school students, who are interested in actively participating in ongoing NSF-funded research in Dr. Nelson’s lab are encouraged to contact Dr. Nelson. Support may be available through various opportunities at NSF.