Graduate Research Assistantship
- Biomass Conversion/Biofuels

A Graduate Research Assistantship (MS or PhD) is available in the Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering at North Dakota State University in the area of cellulosic ethanol production.  The Assistantship will be available beginning Sept 2009 and applicants should be available to begin no later than Jan 2010.

The student will work on compositional analysis and conversion of perennial bioenergy crops and agricultural residues common in the northern Great Plains. The student will work to identify the appropriate pretreatment and fermentation technologies as well as optimum operating parameters to obtain maximum conversion efficiency for ethanol production.   A variety of enzymes and microorganisms will be used for cellulose hydrolysis and fermentation of resulting pentoses and hexoses. 

Interested students should have a B.S. degree in biological engineering, agricultural engineering, chemical engineering or a related field.  Laboratory experience with enzyme and fermentation systems and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) is highly desirable but not required. 

Benefits include a stipend and full tuition waver.  Applications should include a resume, a statement of motivations for graduate school and research interests, undergraduate transcripts, GRE scores, and TOEFL scores for international applicants. Applications must be made on-line through the NDSU Graduate School at http://www.ndsu.edu/gradschool/.

For more information, please contact:
Dr. Scott Pryor, Assistant Professor
Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering
North Dakota State University
NDSU Dept. 7620
PO Box 6050
Fargo ND 58108-7620 USA
E-mail: scott.pryor@ndsu.edu
Phone: 701-231-7274
Fax: 701-231-1008
http://www.ageng.ndsu.nodak.edu/personnel/pryor.htm