[ECOLOG-L] POST-DOC - UC DAVIS - ECOLOGY-ENERGY NEXUS POSTDOCTORAL SCHOLAR OPPORTUNITY

[Rebecca R. Hernandez]

Ecology-Energy Nexus Postdoctoral Scholar, UC Davis

Ranked #3 in World for Ecology and Environmental Science 
Department of Land, Air, and Water Resources 

URL to the full PDF: https://goo.gl/kNkAtr

Background | The postdoctoral scholar will engage in exciting, cutting edge 
research addressing both 
fundamental and applied questions in ecology and the interactions between 
species and renewable 
energy development at a university ranked #3 in the world for Ecology and 
Environmental Science. The 
aim is to 1) produce high-impact ecological data and research, 2) coordinate 
with and produce effective, 
high-quality reports for the California Energy Commission to address policy and 
management questions 
related to the siting and management of renewable energy infrastructure, and 3) 
develop a competitive, 
interdisciplinary research program at the vanguard of the energy-ecology nexus. 

The postdoctoral researcher will be based at the University of California, 
Davis in the Land, Air, and 
Water (LAWR) Resources Department (see: http://lawr.ucdavis.edu/). The 
researcher will be advised by 
Dr. Rebecca R. Hernandez (Assistant Professor, LAWR, UC Davis). The scholar 
will have additional 
opportunities to interact with the world-class cadre of ecology, climate 
change, and energy science 
researchers and faculty at UC Davis, decision- and policy makers at the 
California capital city of 
Sacramento, and engineers with industry partners. 

Research | The postdoctoral researcher will use traditional field experiments, 
advanced environmental 
technologies (e.g., environmental sensors, drones, remote cameras), and 
ecological and statistical 
modeling to assess how plants and animals respond to habitat modification 
within and adjacent to solar 
energy facilities across California Deserts. This research will quantify 
effects on rare plants (annual and 
perennial), an invasive plant and sensitive animals across a gradient of solar 
energy configurations, 
including sites within solar fields, mitigation areas, sites on the margin of a 
solar fields, and similar 
undisturbed locations. Concurrent monitoring of focal plant species and habitat 
conditions will provide 
information on how species spread or decline across this gradient of energy 
configuration. The 
postdoctoral researcher will also quantify variation in a set of essential 
species interactions between a 
rare, perennial plant (i.e., Asclepias nyctaginifolia, Mojave milkweed) and a 
sensitive insect (i.e., Danaus 
plexippus, monarch) across this gradient, including herbivory, parasitism, and 
predation (e.g., birds and 
bats). Analyses will project long-term outcomes for species through the 
integration of pre-existing data 
sets and data collected from new experiments. 

Travel | The postdoctoral researcher will be required to travel (up to 8 weeks 
per year) to conduct and 
manage fieldwork at solar energy power plants and the Mojave, Sonoran, and 
Colorado desert 
ecosystems across southern California, notable for Joshua trees, bighorn sheep, 
700 species of native 
bees, and 2,000 plant species. 

Terms | The position should begin no later than 31 August 2016. Initial 
appointment is one year with 
funding for two additional years, contingent on performance and progress. 
Competitive applicants will 
be committed to the entire project duration of three years. UCD offers 
competitive salary and excellent 
benefits.

Desired Expertise and Interests | aridland ecosystem science, coupled human and 
natural systems, 
data-intensive science, ecological modeling, global environmental change, 
entomology, land-energy-
ecology nexus, plant ecology, renewable energy, sustainability

Qualifications | Desired candidate will:
•   demonstrate strong quantitative and coding (e.g., R) skills and have 
prior field-work experience 
(management of ecological field teams is a plus)
•   show a competitive record of peer-reviewed journal publications, data 
products, and commitment 
to scholarship
•   embody independence, leadership, honesty, motivation, critical 
thinking, and problem-solving skills
•   publish high-impact papers, prepare reports ahead of deadlines, present 
research at conferences, 
and mentor lab technicians and students 
•   create novel and engaging tools, applications, stories, photographs, 
outreach, and/or programs to 
connect their work to broader communities
•   have earned a PhD in Ecology, Environmental Science, Entomology, or 
related field no later than 31 
August 2016

How to Apply | Applicants should send application materials including: 
1) cover letter (two page maximum, 12 size font, single space) describing their 
qualifications, research 
interests, career goals, and vision for their postdoctoral training; 
2) a curriculum vitae (including ResearchGate, LinkedIn, and/or Google Scholar 
profile link); 
3) two letters of recommendations from recent employer, advisor, mentor, or 
colleague; sent directly 

[ECOLOG-L] Brachyptery vs. macroptery

[Jorge A. Santiago-Blay]

Dear Colleagues:

A colleague of mine and I have a difference of opinion on the meaning of
brachyptery (vs. macroptery). These trait, of course, could have ecological
implications.

To me, these terms refer to *anatomy*, *not to physiology*, namely the
actual ability of the organism to fly or how fast/slow) it flies.

If you wish to provide constructive feedback, please email me directly:

blayjo...@gmail.com

Apologies for potential duplicate emails.

Sincerely,

Jorge

Jorge A. Santiago-Blay, PhD
blaypublishers.com

1. Positive experiences for authors of papers published in *LEB*
http://blaypublishers.com/testimonials/

2. Free examples of papers published in *LEB*:
http://blaypublishers.com/category/previous-issues/.

3. *Guidelines for Authors* and page charges of *LEB*:
http://blaypublishers.com/archives/ *.*

4. Want to subscribe to *LEB*? http://blaypublishers.com/subscriptions/


http://blayjorge.wordpress.com/
http://paleobiology.si.edu/staff/individuals/santiagoblay.cfm

[ECOLOG-L] JOB: Orangutan Conservation Program Director, Borneo

[Cassie Freund]

The Gunung Palung Orangutan Conservation Program (
http://savegporangutans.org) is a multi-faceted, community based orangutan
conservation working in the highly biodiverse Gunung Palung National Park
landscape of West Kalimantan, Indonesian Borneo. We are currently seeking a
highly-motivated and committed individual to oversee our programs in
Indonesia and our fundraising efforts.  The Program Director is a senior
position on the ground, working with the Research Manager and Operations
Manager, and reporting directly to Dr. Cheryl Knott (Executive Director).
The ideal candidate will have previous experience in conservation or
community development in Indonesia, and working proficiency in Bahasa
Indonesia.

To see the full job posting, visit:
http://careers.conbio.org/job/304171/program-director/. Applications should
be sent to kn...@bu.edu, cc: savegporangut...@gmail.com

-- 
Cassie Freund
Program Director
Gunung Palung Orangutan Conservation Program / Yayasan Palung
hp: +62 82250693917
www.saveGPorangutans.org

[ECOLOG-L] M.S. or Ph.D. - Human dimensions of fire management

[Dirac Twidwell]

Human dimensions of fire
A graduate research position is available at the M.S. or Ph.D. level to study 
human dimensions of fire 
management. The position will be located within the Institute of Agriculture 
and Natural Resources at 
the University of Nebraska – Lincoln in the labs of Dirac Twidwell and Craig 
Allen.

Project description:
The goal of this project is to understand private landowner’s attitudes, 
knowledge, and behaviors 
related to juniper invasions in grasslands and the adoption of fire. A recent 
history of natural resource 
agency investments (via cost-share programs with private landowners) in 
Nebraska has led to a natural 
experiment that will compare the following cost-share approaches:
•   Cost-sharing mechanical removal without active attempts to increase 
fire adoption (Traditional 
cost-share model)
•   Cost-sharing mechanical removal with priority for voluntary agreement 
of cost-share recipients 
to use prescribed fire following initial agency investment 
•   Cost-sharing mechanical removal with the specific intent of increasing 
prescribed fire capabilities 
within a neighbor-help-neighbor prescribed burn association 
The student will use these cost-share approaches to develop and conduct surveys 
with previous cost-
share recipients to determine the reasons landowners have, or have not, 
followed up with control of 
juniper after initial agency investment. Surveys will also be sent to 
landowners within priority 
landscapes that did not receive cost-share support to determine if cost-share 
funding is having a 
broader impact and leading to adoption beyond a single individual recipient.

Qualifications:
The successful candidate will be highly motivated, passionate about scientific 
inquiry, possess 
excellent writing and communication skills, and publish research in refereed 
scientific journals. 
Prospective M.S. students and Ph.D. students are encouraged to apply. 
Applicants must have a 
minimum of a 3.0 GPA and competitive GRE scores.

Contact and application information:
Students interested in this position should send a statement of interest with 
research qualifications 
and career goals, GPA and GRE scores, your most recent transcript (unofficial 
is fine) and a CV that 
includes contact information for three references (email preferred). Please 
send applications to Dirac 
Twidwell (dirac.twidw...@unl.edu). Funding is available to start immediately. 
Full funding is available 
at a stipend rate for $25,980 for Ph.D. students and $24,120 for M.S. students. 
Full tuition waiver and 
graduate student health benefits are provided at a reduced rate. Review of 
applications will begin June 
8, 2016, and continue until a qualified candidate is identified.

[ECOLOG-L] Ph.D. position in Restoration and Landscape Ecology

[Dirac Twidwell]

Restoration and Landscape Ecology - Ph.D. position available
A Ph.D. position in Restoration and Landscape Ecology is available at the 
University of Nebraska. The 
Ph.D. student will have the opportunity to build on existing research efforts 
in the labs of Dirac 
Twidwell (Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources) and Craig R Allen 
(Nebraska Cooperative Fish 
and Wildlife Research Unit) and advance our understanding of species invasions, 
their social-ecological 
impacts, and how to prioritize restoration actions.

The focus of the project is to develop local to sub-continental assessments for 
understanding the 
vulnerability of grasslands to woody invasions and to establish relative 
measures of restoration 
potential following transition to woodland dominance. Landscape-level 
restoration actions have been 
implemented for years in various priority landscapes within Nebraska, but the 
success of those 
restoration investments have not been assessed. These locations provide the 
foundation for 
determining the temporal and spatial efficacy of interventions across the 
state. Efficacy will be 
measured using remote sensing technology to assess whether interventions are 
having a lasting and 
desired impact, or if juniper woodlands are rapidly recovering following 
intervention. A student with a 
strong background in geospatial analysis is therefore highly preferred. Data 
output will allow 
comparisons across priority landscapes and across scales, in order to elucidate 
interventions that may 
be suitable for control at localized scales but inadequate at a larger scale 
(and vice versa).

Additional information:
In 2014, the Nebraska Conservation Roundtable, a panel consisting of state, 
federal and private 
conservation groups, identified Juniperus virginiana invasion as the biggest 
threat to conservation 
values in Nebraska. Those groups are anticipating the findings from this 
research project will shape 
future conservation actions and provide innovative solutions that reprioritize 
existing programs. The 
successful candidate will therefore be expected to build relationships with a 
diverse group of agency 
personnel and communicate results in a manner that enhances learning and 
adaptive management in 
this landscape.

Successful candidates will be joining a collaborative group of graduate 
students conducting unique 
experiments studying fire-invasion dynamics throughout the Great Plains. 
Students are given 
opportunities for cross-project collaborations and to pursue independent 
research interests.

Qualifications:
The successful candidate will be highly motivated, passionate about scientific 
inquiry, possess 
excellent writing and communication skills, and publish research in refereed 
scientific journals. The 
student will be expected to lead a team of undergraduate technicians to conduct 
field sampling in 
remote areas in stressful environments. Excellent GIS skills are desired. 
Familiarity with spatial 
modeling and other quantitative statistical or mathematical techniques are also 
preferred.

Contact and application information:
Students interested in this position should send a statement of interest with 
research qualifications 
and career goals, GPA and GRE scores, your most recent transcript (unofficial 
is fine) and a CV that 
includes contact information for three references (email preferred). Please 
send applications to Dirac 
Twidwell (dirac.twidw...@unl.edu). Funding is available to start immediately. 
Full funding is available 
for 4 years. The stipend rate for 2016 is $25,200. Full tuition waiver and 
graduate student health 
benefits are provided at a reduced rate. Review of applications will begin June 
8, 2016, and continue 
until a qualified candidate is identified.

[ECOLOG-L] M.S. Graduate Research Assistantship - Florida bonneted bat foraging ecology

[Ober,Holly Karina]

I am seeking a highly motivated M.S. student to join the Department of Wildlife 
Ecology and Conservation at the University of Florida, starting EITHER fall 
2016 (August) or spring 2017 (January). This student will join an existing 
research team working with Dr. Holly Ober to conduct research on the enigmatic 
Florida bonneted bat, Eumops floridanus.  This endangered species is endemic to 
south Florida, believed to have the most limited geographic distribution of any 
bat in the U.S., and virtually nothing is currently known about its foraging 
ecology. The student will examine foraging habitat use of bonneted bats, and 
characterize diet using molecular techniques.  The candidate must have an avid 
interest in genetic laboratory methods, and must be willing to work unusual 
hours in the field as the biology of the species demands.


Applicants must have a B.S. in wildlife, ecology, natural resource 
conservation, environmental studies, or a related field; strong quantitative 
skills and demonstrated writing ability; and competitive GPA and GRE scores. 
Applicants should be willing to work independently and as part of a team. 
Preferred applicants will be highly motivated, have experience using molecular 
techniques, experience with GIS, field experience handling bats and extracting 
them from mist nets, strong quantitative skills, and competitive GPA/GRE scores.


If interested, send (1) a cover letter briefly describing your research 
interests, career goals, an explanation of why you would like to pursue a 
graduate degree, and your preferred start date (Aug 2016 or Jan 2017); (2) your 
CV; (3) unofficial copies of GRE scores and academic transcripts; and (4) a 
list of the name, phone number and email address of 3 references.  There is no 
need to pursue the official application process through the university until 
candidate selection is complete.



Benefits include full coverage of tuition, stipend, health insurance, and field 
expenses for two years from the date of hire. The start date will be either 
August 2016 or January 2017. Review of applications will begin immediately. For 
more information, contact Dr. Holly Ober, 
holly.o...@ufl.edu.