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<TITLE>Graduate Student Research Opportunity: IMB/NRC, Halifax, NS, Canada</TITLE>
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<P><FONT FACE="Arial">Apologies for cross postings.</FONT>
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<P><FONT FACE="Arial">GRADUATE STUDENT RESEARCH OPPORTUNITY:</FONT>
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<P><FONT FACE="Arial">HARMFUL / TOXIC MICROALGAE AND BIVALVE MOLLUSK INTERACTIONS</FONT>
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<P><FONT FACE="Arial">Funding is available for 3 to 4 years for an MS or PhD student (starting in 2005) to participate in a research project on the accumulation and depuration of the natural toxin, domoic acid, produced by the toxic marine diatom<I> Pseudo-nitzschia multiseries</I>, by commercially important bivalve molluscs. The main goal is to determine the capacity of bivalves to graze on toxic cells and to accumulate and depurate this algal toxin at low seasonal temperatures. The information generated will be used to evaluate the potential for species-specific closures of shellfish harvesting grounds during toxic blooms in Atlantic Canada. The project is a collaboration among V.M. Bricelj (shellfish biologist/ecologist at the Institute for Marine Biosciences IMB/NRC and Adjunct Professor at Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia), Stephen Bates (phytoplankton biologist at Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Moncton, New Brunswick), and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT FACE="Arial">This interdisciplinary research will involve: a) algal ecophysiology and optimization of mass cultures of diatoms (Pseudo-nitzschia multiseries) to maximize cell densities and specific toxicities for bivalve contamination studies; b) feeding physiology/behaviour and toxin uptake studies of commercially important bivalves, the Eastern oyster</FONT><I> <FONT FACE="Arial">Crassostrea virginica</FONT></I><FONT FACE="Arial">, and blue mussel</FONT><I> <FONT FACE="Arial">Mytilus edulis</FONT></I><FONT FACE="Arial">; and c) toxin extraction and analysis of domoic acid from algae and animal tissues to determine size-specific toxin kinetics at a range of low temperatures. Most of the experimental work will be conducted at the National Research Council's Marine Research Station (MRS), equipped with running seawater shellfish facilities and state-of-the-art instrumentation, and located ~20 min driving distance from the Dalhousie University campus. Additional work will be conducted at the Oxford St. NRC laboratories on the Dalhousie campus.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT FACE="Arial">Minimum requirements: BSc in biology, marine biology, aquaculture or related field, and driver's license. Prior research experience on phytoplankton and/or bivalve biology is desirable. Will require admission in a graduate (Ph.D. or M.S.) program at Dalhousie University. Please send a CV or contact by e-mail or phone:</FONT></P>
<P><FONT FACE="Arial">V. Monica Bricelj, Senior Researcher</FONT>
<BR><FONT FACE="Arial">Shellfish Biology and Aquaculture</FONT>
<BR><FONT FACE="Arial">Institute for Marine Biosciences</FONT>
<BR><FONT FACE="Arial">National Research Council</FONT>
<BR><FONT FACE="Arial">1411 Oxford St.</FONT>
<BR><FONT FACE="Arial">Halifax, NS B3H 3Z1</FONT>
<BR><FONT FACE="Arial">Canada</FONT>
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<P><FONT FACE="Arial">Ph. (902) 426-8005</FONT>
<BR><FONT FACE="Arial">Fax: (902) 426-9413</FONT>
<BR><FONT FACE="Arial">e-mail: Monica.Bricelj@nrc.ca</FONT>
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<P><FONT FACE="Arial">Adjunct Professor, Biology and</FONT>
<BR><FONT FACE="Arial">Oceanography Departments, Dalhousie University</FONT>
<BR><FONT FACE="Arial">Web site: </FONT><A HREF="http://www.imb.nrc.ca/"><U><FONT COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial">http://www.imb.nrc.ca/</FONT></U></A>
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<P><FONT FACE="Arial">This announcement also appears on the ISSHA website: </FONT><A HREF="http://www.issha.org"><U><FONT COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial">http://www.issha.org</FONT></U></A>
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<P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Tahoma">**************************************************************</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Tahoma">Stephen S. Bates, PhD</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Tahoma">Research Scientist - Phytoplankton / Chercheur Scientifique - Phytoplancton</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Tahoma">Fisheries and Oceans Canada / Pêches et Océans Canada</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Tahoma">Gulf Fisheries Centre / Centre des pêches du Golfe</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Tahoma">P.O. Box 5030 / C.P. 5030</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Tahoma">343 Université Ave. / 343, avenue de l'Université</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Tahoma">Moncton, New Brunswick / Nouveau-Brunswick, Canada E1C 9B6</FONT>
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<P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Tahoma">Tel / Tél.: 1-506-851-3982</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Tahoma">Fax / Télécopieur: 1-506-851-2079</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Tahoma">E-mail / Courriel: BatesS@dfo-mpo.gc.ca</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Tahoma">Pseudo-nitzschia and domoic acid references:</FONT>
<BR><A HREF="http://www.glf.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/sci-sci/dapr-radp"><U><FONT COLOR="#0000FF" SIZE=2 FACE="Tahoma">http://www.glf.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/sci-sci/dapr-radp</FONT></U></A>
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