March 16, 2015
A national team of scientists working to encourage use of alternative water resources by the nation’s billion-dollar nursery and floriculture industry has been awarded funds for the first year of an $8.7 million, five-year, USDA, National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Specialty Crop Research Initiative competitive grant. The team will develop and apply systems-based solutions to assist grower decision-making by providing science-based information to increase use of recycled water. This Initiative will be managed by Project Director Sarah White of Clemson University with Dr. Dan Hitchcock as a co-P.I. The team will assist the grower decision-making process by providing information on nutrient, pathogen, and pesticide fate in recycled water both before and after treatment; average cost and ROI of technologies examined; and model-derived, site-specific recommendations for water management.
Two Graduate Research Assistantships Available in Plant-Based Remediation Systems Research and Extension for Nutrients and Pathogens!
Summer 2015 and Fall 2015
These students will join research efforts with direct interactions with nursery and greenhouse growers in South Carolina and nationally. An assistantship including a competitive stipend and tuition waiver is available. Possible dissertation topics include: floating treatment wetlands for nutrient and/or pathogen remediation; vegetative buffers- plant selection for pathogen remediation or modeling nursery operations and water use/re-use.
Prospective applicants should contact Dr. Dan Hitchcock at dhitchc@clemson.edu directly with “prospective PhD student” in the subject line with the following information: 1. statement of interest, 2. resume/CV, 3. GRE score (plus TOEFL if applicable), 4. unofficial transcripts, 5. names of 2 references. You must contact Dr. Hitchcock before submission of official on-line application.
Official applications must be submitted by April 1, 2015 at