There are two graduate positions available through Wilfrid Laurier University and the Taiga Plains Research Network (www.taigaplains.ca) as part of an ongoing partnership with the Government of the Northwest Territories (www.nwtwlu.com) and new partnerships within British Columbia. We are rapidly expanding our integrative research program to better understand coupled ecological and hydrological responses of permafrost-impacted systems to warming. Our region of focus is the Taiga Plains Ecoregion, which spans the length of the Mackenzie River Valley in the Northwest Territories, Canada and into northeastern BC. This ecoregion covers a wide latitudinal range and therefore a wide range of permafrost ecosystem characteristics, including boreal, taiga and tundra systems. Students will be part of a highly interdisciplinary team. Details of each position follow.
1) Changes in plant community composition, structure and function in response to permafrost thaw Field Locations: Scotty Creek, Northwest Territories and Dilly and Wildboy Creeks, NE British Columbia Details: Multi-year funding is available for a project aimed at quantifying the plant community composition, structure and function across gradients of ground thaw and disturbance with a view to improved understanding and predicting ecological change in response to cumulative impacts in these rapidly changing environments. Funding includes a stipend for the graduate student and funds for field assistants, travel expenses, and field supplies. The ideal candidate will be well versed in plant identification and/or functional trait measurement and have strong writing and organizational skills. The ability to lead and implement field-sampling logistics is important. Fieldwork will involve extended periods in remote field locations in the Northwest Territories and British Columbia. 2) Changes in plant water use with changing permafrost conditions Field Locations: Scotty Creek, Northwest Territories and Dilly and Wildboy Creeks, NE British Columbia Details: Multi-year funding is available for a project aimed at examining changes in plant water use with changing permafrost conditions. This project will involve some combination of sap flux and chamber-based measurements of dominant vegetation types in different land cover types. Funding includes a stipend for the graduate student and funds for field assistants, travel expenses, and field supplies. The ideal candidate will have experience in plant water relations and/or gas-flux measurement. Further, the candidate should have strong writing and organizational skills. The ability to lead and implement field-sampling logistics is important. Fieldwork will involve extended periods in remote field locations in the Northwest Territories and British Columbia. Students will enroll in the graduate program of the Department of Biology at the Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, ON (http://www.wlu.ca/science.biology) in Dr. Jennifer Baltzers research group (www.forestecology.ca) Student must be able to begin work in May 2016, and enroll in the university for the Fall 2016 semester OR enroll in January 2016 initiating fieldwork in May 2016. Interested students should contact me directly (jbaltzer at wlu dot ca) with a resume, transcript (unofficial is fine) and, if possible, a piece of your own written work. Jennifer Baltzer Associate Professor and Canada Research Chair in Forests and Global Change Cold Regions Research Center and Department of Biology 75 University Ave., Waterloo, ON, N2L 3C5, Canada Phone: (519) 884-0710 ext 4188 Email: jbaltzer at wlu dot ca
