GRADUATE AND POSTDOCTORAL POSITIONS AVAILABLE As a team of collaborating academic and government scientists, we are seeking 6 Ph. D. students and a post-doctoral research associate to work as a part of a multidisciplinary team conducting manipulative experiments designed to examine the effects of multiple stressors in small wetland ecosystems. The focus of this NSERC funded research program will be on the potential effects of the herbicide glyphosate on amphibians and other aquatic organisms when this chemical stressor co-occurs with eutrophication or predation stress in agricultural or forest wetlands. We envision these experiments as being the first in a series of studies to be conducted at the Long-term Experimental Wetlands Area (LEWA), on Canadian Forces Base Gagetown in New Brunswick Canada.
1 Post Doctoral and 1 Ph. D. position at the University of Ottawa A post-doctoral associate and 1 Ph. D student will be examining multiple stress effects on gene expression, sexual development and metamorphosis in amphibians. They will be supervised by Dr. Vance Trudeau (University of Ottawa; see www.teamendo.ca) and work out of The University of Ottawa Centre for Advanced Research in Environmental Genomics. Qualifications: Candidates should have a background in comparative physiology or vertebrate endocrinology, and have demonstrated experience with basic molecular biology methods (PCR, gene cloning, etc). A keen interest in aquatic ecosystems and the effects of pollutants and endocrine disruptors on development would be an asset to the team. 5 Ph. D. positions with the Biology Department and The Canadian Rivers Institute, University of New Brunswick Saint John (UNB Saint John) 1. One Ph. D student will be examining multiple stress effects on amphibian reproduction, growth and survival. The student will be supervised by Dr. Dean Thompson (Adjunct Professor UNB Saint John; Canadian Forest Service, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario) and will work out of the University of New Brunswick Saint John. Qualifications: Students with scholastic training in wetland or aquatic ecology, herpetology or ecotoxicology will be considered. Highly motivated students with strong quantitative skills and the ability to work both independently and within a team environment or who have experience in field research and aspirations for a career in scientific research will be considered as priorities. 2. One Ph. D. student will be examining multiple stress effects on amphibian abundance and species richness. The student will be supervised by Dr. Jeff Houlahan (UNB Saint John). Qualifications: An M. Sc. in ecology, conservation biology, herpetology or a related discipline is preferred. We would consider a statistics, math or computer modelling graduate if there is a strong natural history interest and background. All candidates should have good statistical skills (i.e. are comfortable with traditional analyses such as ANOVA and regression as well as randomization and GLM techniques). Experience in amphibian identification (and particularly larval amphibians) is an asset. It would also be an asset to have experience in population genetics, molecular techniques, modelling, toxicology and/or computer programming 3. One Ph.D. student will examine the effects of multiple stressors on food web structure and planktonic and benthic invertebrate communities in these experimental ponds. The student will be supervised by Dr. Karen Kidd (UNB Saint John). Qualifications: An M.Sc. in ecotoxicology or a related discipline. The student should have experience conducting field work on aquatic systems and good statistical skills. Experience in macroinvertebrate identifications is an asset. 4. One Ph. D student will be examining the effects of multiple stressors on amphibian disease prevalence and developmental abnormalities. This student will be co-supervised by Dr. Jeff Houlahan and Bruce Pauli (Environment Canada, Ottawa). Qualifications: An M. Sc. in ecology, conservation biology, herpetology or a related discipline is preferred. We would consider a statistics, math or computer modelling graduate if there is a strong natural history interest and background. All candidates should have good statistical skills (i.e. are comfortable with traditional analyses such as ANOVA and regression as well as randomization and GLM techniques). Experience in amphibian identification (and particularly larval amphibians) is an asset. 5. One Ph. D student will be examining the effects of multiple stressors on primary production and plant abundance and diversity. The student will be supervised by Dr. Jeff Houlahan. Qualifications: An M. Sc. in ecology, conservation biology, botany or a related discipline is preferred. We would consider a statistics, math or computer modelling graduate if there is a strong natural history interest and background. All candidates should have good statistical skills (i.e. are comfortable with traditional analyses such as ANOVA and regression as well as randomization and GLM techniques). Experience in aquatic plant identification is an asset. It would also be an asset to have experience in population genetics, molecular techniques, modelling, toxicology and/or computer programming All 5 of these Ph. D. students will be based at UNB Saint John. Additional qualifications: The importance of candidates being effective team players cannot be overstated. Excellent verbal and written communication skills as well as interpersonal relation skills are considered vital personal attributes. This project will involve many students and senior researchers (as well as, a number of field technicians) working on the same set of 36 ponds for at least the next 3 years and therefore the ability to collaborate effectively will be a critical, perhaps the most critical, attribute determining the success of this project. We are looking for that rare combination - the ability to think and work independently while also being a collegial, collaborative and cooperative team member. Terms for Placement: The post-doctoral associate will be located at the University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario with funding for up to 3 years. All Ph.D. students have guaranteed funding of $18-20,000 annually for 3 years with a fourth year of funding likely. Students working on field research aspects will fulfill their academic residency requirements at UNB, Saint John New Brunswick and will conduct extensive field research at the LEWA site at CFB Gagetown near Fredericton, New Brunswick. Duties: Successful candidates will work as a team to establish 36 experimental ponds on CFB Gagetown. They will be responsible for establishment of testable hypotheses, study design, experimental installation, data collection, analyses and lead-authoring peer-reviewed publications in international journals as well as a thesis dissertation pertaining to their subproject. In addition all students will be required to work with other team members to integrate results across subprojects which will enhance their multi-disciplinary learning experience. Successful applicants will have access to state-of-the art laboratory facilities at the Canadian Rivers Institute, UNB Saint John, the Great Lakes Forestry Centre, Sault Ste. Marie, and at the University of Ottawa. Students who have a keen interest in this unique opportunity to work with our team should send applications (i.e. CV, graduate and undergraduate academic transcripts, cover letter and full contact information for a minimum of three academic/research references) to Jeff Houlahan at [EMAIL PROTECTED] Please clearly identify by supervisor(s) the position(s) for which you are applying. Applications will be accepted until all positions have been filled. After selection the candidates will also have to apply for acceptance into the graduate programs of the host universities. For more information about specific subprojects contact the supervisor Jeff Houlahan: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Karen Kidd: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Bruce Pauli: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dean Thompson: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Vance Trudeau: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Jeff Houlahan Dept of Biology University of New Brunswick Saint John PO Box 5050 Saint John New Brunswick E2L 4L5 Canada telephone (office): (506) 648-5967 telephone (department): (506) 648 -5565 fax: (506) 648-5811 email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
