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| Program | Location | Requirements |
| M.S. Degree | Ph.D. Degree | Facilities |
| Faculty | Research | Financial Support |
| Additional Info | ||
Radioecology is a multidisciplinary field that addresses issues of radioactivity in the environment. Radioecology includes research on: 1) the movement and accumulation of radionuclides in ecosystems; 2) the effects of radiation on individuals, populations, communities and ecosystems; and, 3) the use of radionuclides as tracers of ecological processes. Radioecology is relevant to issues of nuclear power generation and operation (licensing), decommissioning of the Department of Energy weapons complex (clean-up) and quantification of ecological processes.
Current research in the Department of Radiological Health Sciences includes studies of the fate of radionuclides in aquatic ecosystems, movement of Pu isotopes in terrestrial ecosystems, radiation effects on long-lived organisms (turtles), fish bioenergetics using 137Cs as a tracer, and the use of 137Cs as a tracer of NH4+ uptake by mycorrhizal fungi and plants.
Radioecologists, with their unique multidisciplinary training, can make important contributions to the science of ecology, which presently suffers from a lack of quantitative rigor. Radioecologists also can aid in remediation decisions, preserving wildlife habitat at minimally contaminated sites. Although nuclear power generation is now viewed unfavorably by many, limits on greenhouse gas emissions may revive the industry and lead to future demand for radioecologists.
The Department of Radiological Health Sciences offers a comprehensive program leading to the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees with a specialization in radioecology. Radioecology is highly relevant to the human health and ecological risk assessments for the many nuclear sites and excellent career opportunities exist for qualified persons.
Colorado State University is a multi-purpose land-grant institution with an enrollment of over 20,000 regular, on-campus students. It is a recognized center of excellence for most of the sciences which form the foundation for radioecology. The campus is located in Fort Collins, a moderate-sized city which lies at the foot of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains. The location affords a pleasant yet seasonal climate, outstanding recreational opportunities, and access opportunities to a diversity of radioecological research areas throughout the U.S. and abroad.
Applicants must have received the B.S. or equivalent degree from an accredited institution with a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or above (A = 4.0). To insure a reasonable probability of success, a student preparing to enroll in this program should have completed courses in each of the following areas: classical physics, general chemistry, general biology, ecology, and mathematics through integral calculus. the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is required for admission to the program.
A minimum of 30 semester credits in course work and formal research culminating in a thesis is required for the plan A M.S. degree. the plan B program, which does not require a thesis or participation in a funded research project, can be completed by self-supported students in one calender year (3 semesters). The plan B program does require 30 semester credits and a departmental report. Students who recieve financial compensation through graduate research assistantships can expect the master's program to take up to two years for completion. Such students ordinarily take the plan A program and prepare a theses based on original research.
Minimum Course Requirements and Semester Credits |
|
| Radiological Physics and Dosimetry | 7 |
| Nuclear Instruments and Measurements | 2 |
| Radiochemistry | 3 |
| Radiation Biology | 5 |
| Radioecology | 3 |
| Seminar | 2 |
| Statistics | 3 |
| Thesis (Plan A) | variable |
A minimum of 72 semester credits in formal course work and research is required. appropriate M.S. degree credits may be applied toward this requirement. A dissertation, describing the results of original research and the submission of one or more appropriate manuscripts to refereed journals are required.
Minimum Course Requirements of Semester Credits |
|
| All Required M.S. Courses | 26-30 |
| Environmental Contaminant Modeling | 2 |
| Supervised Teaching | 2 |
| Seminar | 2 |
| Dissertation | variable |
Facilities include radiochemical laboratories, state of the art nuclear counting instrumentation, a variety of PC's and mainframe terminals, whole body counter, x-ray generator, 137Cs and 60Co irradiation sources, greenhouse, thermoluminescent dosimetry laboratory, radon test chamber, secured natural areas for filed investigations, boats, field trailer.
The department has 17 full-time faculty members and numerous
affiliate faculty who serve special needs. The faculty most directly involved
in the radioecology program include:
I. Lehr
Brisbin, Jr., Radioecologist, affiliate, Savannah
River Ecology Laboratory.
Jess Cleveland,
Radiochemist, affiliate, UlSl Geological Survey.
Shawki
A. Ibrahim, Ph.D, Radiochemist, Full-time faculty.
David C. Kocher,
Health Physicist, affiliate, Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
Craig A. Little,
Radioecologist, affiliate, Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
O. D. Markham.,
Ph.D. Radioecologist, affiliate, Idaho National Engineering Laboratory.
David
J. Rowan, Assistant Professor; Ph.D. McGill University 1991.
Radioecology; Fate of radionuclides and contaminants in aquatic ecosystems
and the use of these substances as tracers of ecological processes.
R. Schreckhise,
Ph.D., Radioecologist, affiliate, Battelle Northwest Laboratory.
S. L. Simon,
Ph.D., Radioecologist, affiliate, Republic of the Marshall Islands.
F.
Ward Whicker, Professor; Ph.D., Colorado State.
Radioecology; behavior of radioneuclides in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems;
transport simulation models for radionuclides.
The radioecology program is involved with a wide spectrum
of funded research projects in which graduate students participate. The
specific nature of these changes periodically in response to the needs
of the funding agencies and private firms. The following projects are representative
of current research activities:
Graduate research assistantships are available on a competitive basis to qualified students. The number of assistantships varies from year to year, depending on research funding. Stipends start at $806/month (1994-95), but may vary depending on circumstances.
For additional information about the radioecology programs, contact:
F. Ward Whicker
Department of Radiological Health Sciences
Colorado State University
Fort Collins, Colorado
80523 (970) 491-5343
or the Department Chairman
(970) 491-5222
email: Julie Asmus
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