[ECOLOG-L] Ph.D. Assistantship: Plant-Insect Interactions and Aspen Genomics, Univ Wisconsin-Madison
Graduate Research Assistantship Plant-insect interactions and aspen genomics University of Wisconsin, Madison A Graduate Research Assistantship (M.S.-Ph.D. or Ph.D.) is anticipated for work with Rick Lindroth and Liza Holeski at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The Research Assistant will pursue research at the intersection of plant-insect interactions, genomics, and chemical ecology, using aspen (Populus tremuloides) as an experimental system. Primary objectives of this research include: 1) identification of the genetic basis of aspen traits, including those related to the sustainable production of aspen as a biofuel crop, 2) evaluation of genetic correlations between aspen productivity and susceptibility to herbivores, and 3) characterization of environmental effects on the expression of traits influencing productivity and susceptibility. Genomics work will be conducted in collaboration with scientists in Umeå, Sweden. The Research Assistant will also be encouraged to develop and pursue her/his own novel research interests. Applicants must be interested in investigating both genetic and chemical aspects of plant-herbivore interactions, and may pursue admission to UW graduate programs in either Entomology (Jan. 31, 2012 deadline) or Zoology (Dec. 31, 2011 deadline). For more information about the Lindroth Group, and Rick or Lizas research interests, visit: http://entomology.wisc.edu/~lindroth/ http://entomology.wisc.edu/~holeski/ The University of Wisconsin-Madison is a premier institution for research in ecology and evolution, and has ranked among the top five research universities in the United States for each of the past 20 years. Graduate students have the opportunity to participate in the thriving Ecology (http:// http://ecology.wisc.edu/) and Evolutionary Biology (http://www.evolution.wisc.edu/) communities at UW-Madison. Qualifications: Highly motivated individuals with superior academic credentials and strong communication skills are encouraged to apply. Well-developed interpersonal skills are essential. Candidates must be able to work independently as well as part of a collaborative research team. Stipend/benefits: 50% Research Assistantships currently provide a stipend of $20,400 (12 mo.), tuition waiver, and excellent medical/dental health plans at minimal cost. Position available beginning in summer or fall of 2012. Inquiries: Send preliminary e-mail letter of inquiry, describing research interests and academic qualifications, to: Dr. Rick Lindroth (lindroth@ wisc.edu) and/or Dr. Liza Holeski (hole...@wisc.edu) Dept. of Entomology 237 Russell Labs 1630 Linden Drive University of Wisconsin Madison, WI 53706 U.S.A. ___ Richard L. Lindroth, Ph.D. Professor of Ecology, Associate Dean for Research, and Associate Director of the Agricultural Experiment Station 146 Agriculture Hall Dean's office phone: 608-262-6792 1450 Linden Dr. Faculty office phone: 608-263-6277 University of Wisconsin-Madison Fax: 608-262-4556 Madison, WI 53706 E-mail: lindr...@wisc.edu U.S.A. http://entomology.wisc.edu/~lindroth/ ___
[ECOLOG-L] SERCAL 2012 Conference Call for Abstracts
The California Society for Ecological Restoration (SERCAL) is now accepting abstracts for the 2012 SERCAL Conference at the University of California-Davis from May 15-17. Please see http://www.sercal.org for details. SERCAL is a non-profit membership based organization dedicated to the purpose of bringing about the recovery of damaged California ecosystems. To this end, the organization's activities are focused on the presentation of conferences, symposia, workshops, field trips and other educational activities dealing with the many different aspects involved in restoration of California native habitats. The focus of the 2012 SERCAL Conference will focus on a cross-section of Central Valley restoration activities, with a focus on Delta/water issues, grasslands, and riparian areas. The plenary session will feature state senator Lois Welk, and field trips will be organized in support of technical sessions.
[ECOLOG-L] Job announcement (soils) - Jr. Specialist at UC-Davis
College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences University of California-Davis We are seeking an individual with a M.S. (preferable) or B.S. degree in Soil Science, Entomology, Ecology or Environmental Science. The project involves investigation of soil ecosystem services within a variety of rangeland restoration sites in the Sacramento Valley. The research supported by this position is field- and lab-based. The specialist should have experience or demonstrated capability to learn the following activities: soil sampling, collection of soil dwelling fauna (insects and arthropods), identification of adult and immature fauna to the family level, basic soil characterization (bulk density, infiltration, and soil description). The Jr. Specialist responsibilities include participation in designing the experimental plan, organizing and setup of the overall field experiment, installation and maintenance of field equipment, assisting in regular collection of field data and laboratory analysis, faunal extractions from soil and identification and data analysis, and coordination with other UC-Davis research labs involved in the project. MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES: RESEARCH IN SPECIALIZED AREAS (85%) 1. Field sampling of soil dwelling fauna 2. Support with installation and maintenance of study plots 3. Field characterization of soils via regular visits to the field year round to measure bulk density, soil organic carbon, pH, infiltration and aggregate stability. 4. Faunal identification 5. Nitrate resin bag deployment and collection 6. Data entry, organization, processing and analysis PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE AND ACTIVITY (15%) 1. Participation and presentation of research at laboratory meetings and select professional meetings. 2. Synthesis of data for publication and/or outreach efforts (written and internet formats) This is a 2-year position with a annual salary of $33,672/yr + benefits. The University of California is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer. To apply for this position, please send a CV and a short written description of your qualifications to Toby O'Geen at atog...@ucdavis.edu.
[ECOLOG-L] Job Announcement: Research Technician in the Harte Lab at UC Berkeley
The Harte lab at the University of California, Berkeley, is seeking a lab technician to contribute to several exciting new projects involving the testing of ecological theory and the development of scientific and conservation-oriented software. The position will be part of a collaborative effort based at UC Berkeley to continue the development of a maximum entropy-based theory of ecology (see Harte 2011, Oxford University Press, for more information) and apply this theory to outstanding problems in ecology and conservation biology. The technician will have primary responsibility for (1) creating and managing a centralized repository of data sets used for theory testing, (2) developing scripts/software to test theories of species richness, spatial scaling, and energetics using these data, and (3) contributing to the release of scientific software for public use in research and conservation. There may also be opportunities to contribute to the development of new theory. Requirements include (1) an ability and willingness to quickly learn new ecological, mathematical, and computational approaches, (2) an undergraduate or graduate background in ecology, computer science, mathematics, and/or physics, and (3) previous experience with some or all of R, Matlab, Python, C/C++, SQL and Git (or other version control systems). This position is available starting immediately and will be funded for an initial term of one year, with a possible extension for a second year. Salary commensurate with experience. To apply, please send a cover letter, CV, contact information for three references, and a representative publication or writing sample to hartelab...@gmail.com, including the phrase “Lab Tech Position” in the subject line. The position is open until filled.
[ECOLOG-L] 2011 Central California Invasive Weed Symposium
The Santa Cruz and Monterey County Weed Management Area Partners invite you to attend the 2011 Central California Invasive Weed Symposium. "Movin' on UP! Stages and Strategies for Weed Control" Date: November 10th, 2011 Time: 8:30am- 4:30pm PLace: Laguna Seca Recreation Area, Trackview Pavilion Registration: $35 student/ $50 regular/ $65 late (lunch and field trip included) This event will provide ample information on weed control through exciting speakers, interactive field expeditions, tool demonstrations, up to 7.5 DPR continuing education credits, networking opportunities, and lots of delicious food! Keynote Speaker: Ramona A. Robison, California Department of Parks and recreation, "Invasive Plant Management in California State Parks" For more information and to register please visit www.cciws2011-eorg.eventbrite.com
[ECOLOG-L] Job opportunity in food system and land use mapping and research
The Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future is seeking a Data Specialist to support the Maryland Food System Mapping Project team. We are looking for someone with a background and interest in food systems, geography, agriculture and land use research to help us collect and map data about environmental impacts of agriculture in Maryland, processing and distribution of local food, and to help expand a new interactive mapping website. Full-time position. Masters degree preferred. You can find the complete job listing on our website - http://www.jhsph.edu/clf/about_clf_new/job_opportunities/staff_position.html __ Jared Margulies, MSc Program Officer Center for a Livable Future Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health 615 N. Wolfe Street, W7010 Baltimore, MD 21205 410.502.7578
[ECOLOG-L] Postdoc: Consequences of urban and global warming for plant-arthropod interactions
One postdoctoral position will be available beginning as soon as January 2012 to work in the lab of Steve Frank in the Department of Entomology at North Carolina State University. Candidate will examine the consequences of urban heat islands and global climate change for arthropods of societal or economic importance. The study design will include both large observational studies and controlled experimental manipulation to uncover ecological phenomena and the mechanisms behind them. The project may include work to compare arthropod responses in urban environments to those in large experimental warming chambers in the forest understory of Duke Forest. Study organisms can be selected to accommodate goals of the project and expertise of the successful candidate. Expertise in arthropods, urban ecology, or climate change is of particular interest. The applicants CV should indicate evidence of strong scholarship, including peer-reviewed publications, particularly in high ranked journals and show evidence of the ability to finish projects. The successful candidate must be able to interact with a diverse group of researchers and students. Job opens January 1, 2012. Review of applications will begin November 10, 2011 though applications will be accepted until a suitable candidate is found. Position appointment will last for one year from starting date, with possibility of renewal based on performance and funding. Application instructions available by emailing sdfr...@ncsu.edu.
[ECOLOG-L] 2 jobs in Lake Baikal research: postdoc and information manager
Ecolog colleagues: These two positions are available at UC-Santa Barbara for a newly funded Lake Baikal Dimensions of Biodiversity research project. More postdoc and student positions soon will be advertised at the collaborating institutions listed below... Postdoctoral Fellow We seek a postdoctoral research associate to primarily focus on identifying the biotic and abiotic drivers of temporally shifting community dynamics in plankton assemblages, through the analysis of long-term data from Lake Baikal. The postdoc also will collaborate more generally on multiple themes of biodiversity research at the lake. The postdoc will be based at the National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis (http://nceas.ucsb.edu) at the University of California, Santa Barbara, working under the supervision of Stephanie Hampton (http://nceas.ucsb.edu/~hampton), and collaborating with faculty and students at Wellesley College, Michigan State University, University of Texas, and East Tennessee State University. The successful candidate ideally will have (or soon have) a Ph.D. in ecology or a related discipline, a strong background in freshwater ecology, a record of peer-reviewed publication, a solid background in statistics, and a willingness to learn Russian and to spend two weeks each summer at Lake Baikal with colleagues. Start date is negotiable, ideally 1 January 2012. Please feel free to ask questions about your fit to the position before applying (hamp...@nceas.ucsb.edu). To apply, attach your CV to an email that describes your interest in the position and gives the name and contact information for three references; send this email to hamp...@nceas.ucsb.edu with the subject line: Baikal postdoc application. Review of applicants will begin 14 November 2011. Information Manager We seek an environmental Information Manager for a 3-yr project focused on biodiversity in Lake Baikal. The Information Manager will interact with environmental informatics experts at UCSB and distributed project personnel to ensure that data are managed in accordance with best practices, training all project personnel in quality assurance and quality control protocols for data and metadata entry and management. The Information Manager will be based at the National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis (http://nceas.ucsb.edu) at the University of California, Santa Barbara. The Information Manager will work under the supervision of Dr. Stephanie Hampton (http://nceas.ucsb.edu/~hampton), in close collaboration with researchers at Wellesley College, Michigan State University, University of Texas, and East Tennessee State University. While the focus of the position is on data management and maintaining excellent communication among data users, ideally the Information Manager also will be meaningfully engaged with the science and logistics of working on Lake Baikal in Siberia. The successful candidate likely will have at least a bachelor's degree, willingness to learn some basic Russian, excellent interpersonal communication skills, and experience working with large environmental data sets. Ideally the Information Manager would also have a background in aquatic ecology, experience managing scientific logistics (field or lab), and proficiency in Plone web site maintenance. Start date is negotiable, but ideally 1 January 2012. Salary and benefits are expected to be consistent with appointment at the level of Junior Specialist 1 at UCSB: http://ap.ucsb.edu/compensation.and.benefits/ucsb.salary.scales To apply, attach your CV to an email that describes your interest in the position and gives the name and contact information for three references; send this email to hamp...@nceas.ucsb.edu with the subject line: Baikal information manager application. Review of applicants will begin 14 November 2011. Lake Baikal - Spanning more than 4 degrees of latitude and obtaining a maximum depth greater than 1.6 km, Siberia's Lake Baikal is the world's deepest and most ancient lake. Biological diversity of this ancient lake is extraordinary, strongly influencing UNESCO's 1996 decision to designate Lake Baikal a World Heritage Site. Many of these species are endemic and adapted to Lake Baikal's unique environment, a comparatively cold and extreme lake. The unusual endemic fauna include the world's only exclusively freshwater pinniped species (the Baikal seal Phoca sibirica), 344 species of amphipods, and 33 species of sculpin fishes, including the deep-dwelling translucent golomyanka (Comephorus baicalensis and C. dybowskii). For a project abstract, see: http://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward.do?AwardNumber=1136637 For more information about the history of this Russian-American collaboration, see: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/06/science/earth/06lake.html Several papers describing work to date on one of the primary Baikal data sets can be found here: http://www.nceas.ucs
[ECOLOG-L] Graduate Student Positions in Amphibian Evolutionary Ecology & Conservation Biology
Graduate students positions for Fall 2012 are available in my laboratory for highly motivated individuals interested in evolutionary ecology and conservation biology. Current research in my laboratory includes capture-mark-recapture studies of dispersal patterns in wood frogs, mesocosm and laboratory studies of how genetic variation affects ecological processes, and large-scale surveys to test hypotheses about local and landscape effects. Additionally, funding is now available for a graduate student to conduct research investigating how habitat destruction impacts Ambystoma salamander demography. Case Western Reserve University is located in Cleveland, Ohio. Research areas in the Department of Biology at CWRU include Neurobiology and Behavior, Cell and Developmental Biology, and Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. In addition to on-campus facilities, CWRU owns and operates University Farms, a 389-acre property that includes field research, laboratory and greenhouse facilities. Additionally, CWRU participates in cooperative programs with the Holden Arboretum, Cleveland Museum of Natural History and Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. More information on my laboratory and links with information on applying to graduate school at Case Western Reserve University can be found here: http://filer.case.edu/mfb38/lab/benardlab.html Interested students should email me (Mike Benard mf...@case.edu) to introduce themselves. Attach a copy of your CV, and be sure to let me know why you are interested in working with me, and what type of research you are interested in doing. Dr. Mike Benard George B. Mayer Assistant Professor 126 Millis Science Center Department of Biology Case Western Reserve University Cleveland, OH 44106-7080 Email: mf...@case.edu Phone: (216) 368-1080
[ECOLOG-L] Graduate Research Assistantship Available - Ecohydrology/Ecosystem Sciences
Funding is available for a graduate research assistantship in ecohydrology and ecosystem sciences in the Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management (NREM) at Oklahoma State University. The current research in the lab focuses on the ecohydrological interactions among the anthropogenic-induced changes and the hydrologic processes at different spatial and temporal scales in the mixed and tallgrass prairie and grassland-forest ecotone. Student is welcome to develop his/her own research idea around this research theme. This position can be filled at M.S or Ph.D. level. Applicants should have completed at least one degree in soil and water, plant ecology, hydrology, natural resources, environmental sciences or a related field. Experience in soil water and carbon, isotope technology, instream flow analysis, GIS, or modeling are a plus. Strong verbal, written, and computational skills are essential. The student will enroll in an M.S. or Ph.D program at OSU starting 2012 spring semester. The stipend will be $15,500/year at M.S. level and $17,500/year at the Ph.D. level and will be renewed after each year based on satisfactory progress. Benefits include tuition waiver and health insurance. For more information, please contact: Dr. Chris Zou at chris@okstate.edu or visit the lab website: http://nrem.okstate.edu/Ecohydrology. A complete application includes the following: personal statement, three letters of reference, curriculum vitae, official transcripts of all college level study, GRE scores and a completed OSU Graduate College application.