IGERT Graduate Training Grant for Risk Analysis for Introduced Species and Genotypes

Example practicum problems

Example practicum problems identified by our partners for each research theme. Listed partners have also agreed to host individual student visits for dissertation research.

Research Theme Problem (Examples of Interested Partner)

A. Patterns of invasion: retrospective analysis to improve present regulation
  1. Retrospective regulatory process changes (General Mills)
  2. Deficiencies in national / international frameworks to manage biological stressors (CSIRO, MISAC)
  3. Deficiencies in public policy to prevent unintentional transboundary ISG movement (IA CRC, SANBI)
  4. Risk assessment for ‘injurious species’ under the Lacey Act (FWS)

B. Improving theory & models for ecological risk assessment
  1. Improving models for risk assessment (CSIRO, NIOO, USGS)
  2. Genetic strategies to minimize ecological impacts (IA CRC, FWS)
  3. Analysis of commodity transport paths (CHS, General Mills)
  4. Modeling transgene introgression process from GEOs to wild relatives (UT, Embrapa)
  5. Socioeconomic consequences of ISGs (YU)
  6. Decision support models to balance economic benefits and negative impacts of ISGs (WFC,ACERA)

C. Uncertainty in risk assessments
  1. Uncertainty in risks of using GEOs (FWS, CSIRO)
  2. Fitness effects of transgenes in crop relatives (Embrapa, SANBI)
  3. Food security (CHS, General Mills)
  4. Predicting ecosystem vulnerability (BU, NIOO)

D. Management of ISGs and post-removal strategies
  1. Comparative risk assessment processes in developing countries (WFC, SANBI)
  2. Management of ISG range expansion (UT, FAMU, BU, USFS)
  3. Evolutionary ecology of host selection for biocontrol (MISAC, FWS)