PhD in Plant Ecology and Restoration in Grand Teton National Park The Laughlin Research Lab is seeking applicants for a PhD position in the Program of Ecology and Evolution at the University of Wyoming. This project is in collaboration with Laura Jones, Branch Chief of Vegetation Management at Grand Teton National Park. Summer fieldwork will take place in the spectacular landscape of Grand Teton National Park, where majestic mountains rise above sagebrush plains within the heart of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Funding includes four full years of Research Assistantships.
Grand Teton National Park (GRTE) contains large swaths of intact sagebrush steppe used by bison, elk, pronghorn, and the greater sage-grouse for migration corridors, breeding, and overwintering habitat. Conservation, management, and restoration of sagebrush steppe is one of the park’s highest priorities. The Park manages sagebrush and adjacent habitats using a suite of tools including grazing management, invasive species control, and restoration. The Park is currently restoring 4,500 ac of non-native pastures to sagebrush steppe. Recent projects identified drivers of restoration outcomes leading to development of modified adaptive management techniques for seed mix composition, rates and timing, and soil treatments. These results provide the groundwork for additional projects to understand the functionality of the restored habitats at multiple trophic levels and their importance to adjacent intact sagebrush habitat. The overall goal of the project will be to evaluate plant community responses to ecological restoration, invasive species management, grazing practices, and climate change. The research will focus on how biotic and abiotic factors such as herbivory, microorganisms, inter-species competition, soils, and climate influence management outcomes. Topics include, but are not limited to, the biotic and abiotic components of soils and the impacts of soil conditions and communities on sagebrush restoration; the impacts of temperature, precipitation, and fire on sagebrush habitat resilience; the effects and use of restored and adjacent sagebrush habitat by native ungulate grazers and greater sage-grouse including extent and effects of herbivory; and the effectiveness of invasive plant treatments in rangeland habitats including livestock grazing allotments. Preferred qualifications: 1) undergraduate degree in Biology, Ecology, Botany, or related degree; 2) passion for plants and Rocky Mountain ecosystems; 3) motivation to use scientific knowledge to make informed management decisions; 4) research experience in ecology; 5) an interest in learning quantitative modeling skills. Review of applications will begin January 20, 2025. Start date is August 2025. To apply: To register your interest in being considered for this project, please email the following to Professor Daniel Laughlin ([email protected]): (1) a one-page statement of research interests that addresses the listed preferred qualifications, (2) unofficial transcripts, (3) Curriculum Vitae, and (4) contact information for three professional/academic references. Helpful links: Laughlin Research Lab (https://www.plant-traits.net) Program in Ecology and Evolution (https://www.uwyo.edu/pie/) Department of Botany (https://www.uwyo.edu/botany/index.html) Graduate Program at UW (https://www.uwyo.edu/uwgrad/prospective/applying/index.html) UW-NPS research station (https://www.uwyo.edu/research/centers-and-institutes/uw-research-institute-amk-ranch/index.html) Sagebrush restoration in Grand Teton (https://www.nps.gov/grte/learn/nature/sagebrush-restoration.htm) The Program in Ecology and Evolution is an interdisciplinary doctoral program focusing on the scientific study of the relations between organisms and their environments that provides students with advanced, integrated training in the science of ecology. The University of Wyoming is located in Laramie (https://www.visitlaramie.org/) in a high prairie nestled between the beautiful Snowy Range and Laramie Range. We are blessed with ample outdoor recreational opportunities including hiking, biking, skiing, climbing, boating, and much more. Laramie is a classic western town with a supportive local community. Grand Teton National Park (https://www.nps.gov/grte/index.htm) is renowned for its world-class scenery and offers a wide range of outdoor activities, including hiking, camping, climbing, backpacking, horseback riding, boating, biking, and fishing. Park headquarters is located in Moose, Wyoming, approximately 12 miles north of Jackson. Jackson is a vibrant community of 10,000 year-round residents, celebrated for its lively, small-town atmosphere, thriving arts scene, and engaging community events. best wishes, Daniel -- Daniel C. Laughlin Professor, Botany Department Director, Global Vegetation Project<https://gveg.wygisc.org/> University of Wyoming | Lab Website<https://www.plant-traits.net/> New Book: Plant Strategies: The Demographic Consequences of Functional Traits in Changing Environments<https://global.oup.com/academic/product/plant-strategies-9780192867957?lang=en&cc=fm> Oxford University Press, 2023 To unsubscribe from this list please go to https://community.esa.org/confirm/?u=RhPWqPxFwODKvbkiT32nkIqRrsiSgulp
