[ECOLOG-L] Freshwater invasions fully funded PhD in NZ

[Philip Hulme]

The Bio-Protection Research Centre, Lincoln University, New Zealand is 
offering a fully funded PhD fellowship. These are truly fantastic 
opportunities for a student wanting to learn cutting-edge modelling 
techniques with real world applications. The student will become an 
integral member of a national research team undertaking an integrated 
project.

The PhDs aim to develop network models for plant pests in the freshwater 
recreational user network in New Zealand and then use these models to 
evaluate opportunities for mitigation. This will be achieved by mapping 
the likely pathways on a map of the resources at risk and the 
suitability for pest establishment. 
Further details can be found here:

http://bioprotection.org.nz/vacancies/phd-studentship-biosecurity-risks-
recreational-lake-user-network

The scholarships provide an annual stipend of NZD$28,000 a year tax-
free, covers full university fees and includes up to approximately 
NZD$5,000 additional support a year towards operating expenses. The 
duration of the scholarship is three years.  It is expected the 
successful candidates will be based at Lincoln University, Canterbury, 
New Zealand. 

Applicants for this project should hold a first class or high 2A honours 
degree, or equivalent, in a relevant area, preferably with interest in 
spatial ecology, modelling and/or plant biosecurity. The position is 
open to applicants of any nationality, provided they are fluent in 
English, able to obtain a student visa and eligible for admission to the 
PhD program at Lincoln University.

Applications should include evidence of qualifications and research 
experience, together with a curriculum vitae and contact details of two 
academic referees.  Applications should be supported by a cover letter 
that states why the candidate is interested in the PhD (applicants are 
welcome to choose one or more) and how their qualifications would map 
onto the proposed research. Please email complete applications to 
philip.hu...@lincoln.ac.nz. Closing date for applications is 10th 
October 2016.

[ECOLOG-L] Postdoctoral position - trace gas and isotope biogeochemistry - University of Arizona

[Laura Meredith]

Please see ad for postdoctoral position below and circulate to those who
may be interested.


*Postdoctoral Position at the University of Arizona*
https://uacareers.com/postings/12745


We are looking for a creative post-doctoral scientist with a strong
background in instrumentation, isotope biogeochemistry, and/or modeling to
join an interdisciplinary “ecosystem genomics” team seeking to discover how
microbial community composition and metabolism scale to the ecosystem
biogeochemistry of carbon, focusing on a carbon-rich biome critical for
understanding feedbacks to climate change. The position will focus on
methane cycling across land use types in the Amazon of Brazil.

The candidate will manage cutting edge field instrumentation, lead
interpretation of resultant data on isotopic composition of fluxes and
concentrations of carbon cycle gases, and work as part of an international
team studying the molecular microbial ecology of carbon cycling using
multiple methods (from metagenomics of microbial communities to ecosystem
fluxes). Facility with using a mathematical modeling framework to interpret
field observations is desirable, as are original ideas for complementary
investigations of microbial community ecology.

The position is based at University Arizona, but will involve significant
time commitments at international research sites and collaborator
institutions. These are exceptional opportunities to learn new techniques
and to make major scientific contributions to problems of both scientific
and societal interest using cutting-edge technology.

The position requires excellent communication skills and also an ability to
take a leadership role for specific project components and collaborate with
members of a broad international and interdisciplinary team. Fluency in (or
a desire to learn) Portuguese is strongly desired. This is an
interdisciplinary research program, and the candidate need not to be
familiar with all of the relevant methods, but a strong science background
relevant to isotope biogeochemistry, including field instrumentation, and
interpretation of data within a mathematical modeling framework, is desired.

For more details, see: www.saleskalab.org/ (Saleska research group)
Please send inquiries to Dr. Scott Saleska (sale...@email.arizona.edu) or
Dr Laura Meredith (lauramered...@email.arizona.edu)

https://uacareers.com/postings/12745  
https://uacareers.com/ posting number P20239​


The University of Arizona seeks people with diverse perspectives and
experiences and is a committed Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action
organization. Women, minorities, veterans and individuals with disabilities
are encouraged to apply. As an Employer of National Service, we also
welcome alumni of AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, and other national service
programs.

[ECOLOG-L] Graduate student positions: Ecological, behavioral genetics and genomics

[Kimberly Hughes]

Graduate positions in ecological, evolutionary, and behavioral genetics and 
genomics

The Hughes lab at Florida State University 
(http://www.bio.fsu.edu/kahughes/Hughes_Lab_Home_Page.html 
) is recruiting new 
graduate students in Fall 2017. The lab is broadly interested in evolutionary, 
ecological and behavioral genetics and genomics. Our goal is to understand how 
natural selection, mediated by the physical, biological, and social 
environment, interacts with other evolutionary processes to maintain genetic 
diversity in ecologically important traits. We want to know how much of the 
ubiquitous genetic diversity in natural populations is adaptive and how much is 
non-adaptive, and we are interested in the consequences of both kinds of 
variation for individuals, populations, and species. We work mainly with 
natural populations of poeciliid fish and fruit flies, but are open to students 
who wish to study other organisms. We use techniques that include field 
studies, lab and field experiments, and genetic, genomic and behavioral 
analysis. Students are encouraged to develop their own projects within this 
broad framework. Current student projects include investigating the interaction 
of inheritance and social environment in determining alternative male life 
histories in mollies, the genetic and genomic consequences of sexual selection 
and mate preference in guppies; genetic, social, and physiological modifiers of 
aggression and dominance in mosquitofish, and the genetics and evolution of 
immunity and aging in fruit flies.

The Ecology and Evolution Graduate Program at FSU has a long history of 
excellence in student training and research 
(http://www.bio.fsu.edu/ee/eealumni.php 
), and includes many faculty with 
overlapping interests at the interface of ecology, evolution, and genetics 
(http://www.bio.fsu.edu/ee/ ). Graduate students 
are provided with teaching or research assistantships which supply a stipend, 
and with tuition waivers and health insurance. FSU also offers competitive 
graduate Fellowships, which have an early deadline for application. The 
Tallahassee area is a hotspot for biodiversity and offers access to diverse 
habitats including terrestrial, freshwater, and marine ecosystems. Interested 
students should contact Kim Hughes (kahug...@bio.fsu.edu 
) prior to applying to the graduate program and to 
discuss application procedures.  FSU is an equal opportunity employer.

Kim Hughes
Professor
Department of Biological Science
Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL 32306
850-645-8553
kahug...@bio.fsu.edu 

[ECOLOG-L] Advice on using AFLPs in plants?

[David Inouye]

Cheers All,

I'm studying the genetic diversity of a rare plant using AFLPs as the 
molecular marker. I'm planning to use the scanAFLP method as a 
semi-automated means to score my data. My goal is to bring as much 
objectivity into the scoring process as possible.


The authors of this method used GeneMapper to produce a "sum of signal". 
Thisis a normalization option in GeneMapper that "sums up the signals 
within the analyzed range for each sample and calculates the average 
over all samples." I don't have access to GeneMapper, but I do have the 
option to use GeneMarker.


Unfortunately, manipulating GeneMarker is not entirely straightforward 
and I've struggled trying to interpret portions of the user's manual. 
I'm wondering if anyone has experience with this program and may be able 
to give advice on two things:


1) Is there an option in GeneMarker to produce a sum of signal as is 
available in GeneMapper?


2) I have also struggled to calibrate the Run Wizard settings in 
GeneMarker in such a way that the automatic scoring function accurately 
scores alleles based off of a manual panel that I create. This program 
seems to dismiss (or score as 0 / not present) alleles that appear 
obviously present to me.


If anyone might be able to provide further insight about any of this, 
I'm very interested and appreciative!


Many thanks,

Wendy McBride
wm...@nau.edu 

[ECOLOG-L] Assistant Professor in Conservation Genetics

[Allison H. Roy]

Assistant Professor in Conservation Genetics
University of Massachusetts Amherst

The Department of Environmental Conservation at the University of 
Massachusetts Amherst (http://eco.umass.edu/) seeks talented applicants 
for a 9-month academic year, tenure-track appointment as Assistant 
Professor in Conservation Genetics. The focus of this position is 
conservation genetics and genomics with emphasis on genetic and 
evolutionary applications to problems of conservation biology, landscape 
ecology, and resource management. The candidate is expected to develop 
independent and collaborative research programs, supervise graduate 
students at the Master’s and Ph.D. level, build departmental and 
interdisciplinary collaborations at UMass-Amherst, and develop an 
innovative teaching program. We are specifically interested in 
applicants who can develop an aquatic research program that employs 
multi-agency collaborations and utilizes the UMass marine facility in 
Gloucester, MA and freshwater Cronin facility in Sunderland, MA.  
Teaching responsibilities include: 1) undergraduate course in evolution 
and conservation, 2) upper-level undergraduate/graduate course in 
conservation genetics, and 3) graduate-level course in candidate’s area 
of expertise. The full position description is available at: 
http://eco.umass.edu/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/Conservation-
Genetics.pdf

Applicants should apply by the priority deadline of October 14, 2016 to 
ensure consideration. To apply, please visit: 
http://umass.interviewexchange.com/jobofferdetails.jsp?JOBID=75872

[ECOLOG-L] Three tenure-track positions at Univ of Hawaii, Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology: marine ecology and marine mammal biology)

[MJD]

As advertised in Science Careers 
 
& Nature Jobs 
:  
Application review begins September 7.



The Hawai‘i Institute of Marine Biology 
(HIMB) within the School of Ocean and Earth 
Science and Technology  (SOEST) at the 
University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa , invites 
applications for three full-time, 11-month, tenure-track faculty 
positions: one in marine mammal biology and two in marine ecology. The 
positions are 75% research and 25% instruction, with rank of Assistant 
Research Professor. Exceptional candidates may be considered at the 
level of Associate Research Professor.   The successful candidates will 
be expected to develop an extramurally funded research program that 
complements the expertise of our existing faculty, mentor graduate 
students, and contribute to instructional initiatives.  The level of 
state support will be equivalent to nine (9) months per year.  For the 
marine mammal position, areas of interest include, but are not limited 
to, life history, behavior, sensory biology, physiology, ecology, 
evolution, and conservation.  For the ecology positions, we invite 
excellent applicants from any area of marine ecology, from organismal to 
ecosystem scales, with a vision for integrative and collaborative 
research. It is essential that applicants have a strong field component 
to their research that takes advantage of HIMB’s unique location. The 
instructional component of the position should be viewed broadly and 
creatively; we encourage integrative and transformative contributions 
that expand the educational role of HIMB and leverage its exceptional 
setting and resources.Individual qualifications, academic excellence, 
and collegiality, rather than specific research area, will be the 
primary criteria in selecting the successful candidate.  Minimum 
qualifications: a PhD in biology, oceanography, zoology, ecology, or 
related biological discipline, and a demonstrated capability for 
creative, high-quality research and teaching. To apply, send a single 
pdf that includes (1) cover letter describing your interest in and 
qualifications for this position; (2) statement of research interests 
and vision for research at HIMB; (3) statement of teaching philosophy 
and plan to develop a novel program at HIMB; (4) a detailed curriculum 
vitae; (5) three key publications; (6) names and contact information of 
three persons from whom recommendations may be sought.


Applications should be sent to h...@hawaii.edu 
.Inquiries may be directed to the search 
committee chairs: for marine mammal biology: Dr. Brian Bowen 
(bbo...@hawaii.edu , _808-236-7426_), for 
ecology: Dr. Megan Donahue (donah...@hawaii.edu, 808-236-7417).  Review 
of applications will begin on September 7, 2016 and continue until the 
positions are filled. The complete vacancy announcement is available at 
workatuh.hawaii.edu 
.

[ECOLOG-L] Position: Teaching Assistant, six-week field course in Ecuador, winter 2017

[Geoff Gallice]

Position: Teaching Assistant, six-week ecology/conservation field course in
Ecuador, winter 2017

Overview

A Teaching Assistant (TA) is needed for a six-week field course in
ecosystem conservation in Ecuador during January 18-March 3, 2017. The
course is offered through Wildlands Studies, LLC, a California-based
company; the course, however, is taught entirely in the field in Ecuador.
Throughout the field course students will explore the ecology of several of
Ecuador’s major terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, the natural history of
key plant and animal taxa, and some of the leading conservation challenges
facing the region.

The course begins in Ecuador’s Andean highlands, from where we will descend
towards the lowland Amazon and then on to the remote Galapagos Islands.
Students will learn first-hand about topics ranging from elevational and
latitudinal gradients in biodiversity, island biogeography, wildlife
biology, and historical and current conservation challenges in Ecuador and
South America. Field sites include several sites in the Andes (paramo and
cloud forest), Yasuni National Park (Amazon), and San Cristobal Island
(Galapagos).

Position description

The TA will provide academic and logistical support to the course Lead
Instructor. Duties may include, but are not limited to, co-leading
interpretive group hikes and supervising other group activities,
record-keeping, and general group oversight. Group activities may include
lectures and group discussions led by Wildlands Studies faculty and
visiting researchers, group field research projects such as insect
diversity and sampling, estimation of aboveground carbon storage, and
wildlife monitoring studies. The TA will also assist students in data
collection for independent research projects on topics spanning wildlife
ecology and biology, botany, entomology, and natural history.

The TA is an integral part of the course Risk Management Plan, and thus the
applicant should also be prepared to work with the Lead Instructor to
manage a variety of potential emergency situations while in the field.

Qualifications

Current certification in CPR/first aid is required. Applicants should have
a bachelor’s degree in ecology, conservation biology, or a related field.
Applicants with research or teaching experience in the tropics, especially
in Ecuador or South America, and/or knowledge of Neotropical natural
history will be preferred. Applicants should also work well with others in
an intimate field setting under intense physical and emotional pressure and
be mature and detail-oriented. In general, the TA will be responsible for
contributing to a positive learning environment throughout the duration of
the field course.

Compensation

This is an unpaid position. However, all course-related expenses will be
covered, including all room, board, local transportation, and international
round-trip airfare (int’l airfare reimbursed upon course completion).

How to apply

To apply send a *single document* containing a cover letter and a current
CV to Dr. Geoff Gallice (course Lead Instructor): geoff.gallice [at]
gmail.com

Deadline to apply: September 15, 2016

[ECOLOG-L] Remote Sensing/Spatial Ecology Internship starting October

[Peter Leimgruber]

The Conservation GIS Lab (
https://nationalzoo.si.edu/conservation-ecology-center) at the Smithsonian
Conservation Biology Institute (SCBI) is seeking interns, to start October
1st.  We focus on conservation applications of GIS and satellite remote
sensing for research and management of endangered species. Most of our
projects focus on charismatic endangered species that are managed at our
facilities and for which we have field ecological and conservation programs
in the wild.  Examples are Asian elephants, Przewalski’s horse, Asian wild
dog, and giant panda.





 *The role:  *

· Analyze dense time-series remotely sensed vegetation data in
global grassland ecosystem.

· Streamline the computation process through high performance
servers and automate data processing and analysis.

· Construct statistical model to associate climate and
anthropogenic drivers to long term changes of grassland ecosystems.

· Analyzing spatial data derived from satellite imagery, remotely
sensed data, and GPS-tracked animal movement data;

· Integration and analysis of data in GIS;Statistical analysis of
species and habitat data and the development of automated data processing
and analysis tools;





Interns will be involved in a few research projects and be advised directly
by spatial ecologists at the Conservation GIS Lab. Interns are also
expected to assist with everyday lab management and help with short GIS
training courses.



*Required Skills & Experience:*

·  Strong background in programming (R/Matlab/Python/JavaScript/IDL etc.).

·  Experience in processing dense time series remote sensing data using
programming tools

·  A good knowledge ecology and statistics.

·  Basic knowledge of GIS (preferably ArcGIS or QGIS), remote sensing.



The internship includes a modest stipend ($ 600) and free dormitory-style
housing. Please send letter of interest and resume to scbi@gmail.com.
Resume should include contact information for 3 references. Include *potential
start date* and the *time period you are available* for the internship in
your letter.



Positions are open until filled, and are minimum *4 month*. Priority will
be given to candidates who can commit for longer periods.



The Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute is located at the north
entrance of the Shenandoah National Park about 60 miles west of Washington,
D.C., in Front Royal, VA.



SCBI’s mission is to advance conservation of biological diversity. In
meeting the Smithsonian Institution's mandate, SCBI increases knowledge
through investigations of threatened species, habitats, and communities,
and disseminates knowledge through advanced studies, professional training,
and public outreach.

[ECOLOG-L] Training Course in Statistical Downscaling approaches for researchers and managers: Scholarships Available!

[NZP-SCBI Training]

PROFESSIONAL TRAINING COURSE
Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation

STATISTICAL DOWNSCALING of GLOBAL CLIMATE MODELS in SDSM 5.2
December 12-16, 2016
The Statistical DownScaling Model (SDSM) is a freely available software tool 
that facilitates the rapid development of multiple, low-cost, single-site 
scenarios of daily surface weather variables under present and future climate 
forcing. This course trains on the use and application of this decision support 
tool for assessing local climate change impacts, and is taught by professionals 
currently using this technique in their own research. The course progresses 
from download and management of site-specific climate data, to development of 
future scenarios of climate change based on global models, and finally to 
downscaling techniques including quality control and data transformation; 
screening of downscaling predictor variables; model calibration; weather 
generators; analysis and graphing of observed and downscaled data; frequency 
analysis; scenario generation; and time series analysis. The course will be led 
by Dr. Adam Fenech, Director of the Climate Lab at the University of Prince 
Edward Island; Dr. Christian Dawson, Department of Computer Science, 
Loughborough University; and Dr. Robert Wilby, Professor of Hydroclimatic 
Modelling at Loughborough University. Drs. Dawson and Wilby are co-developers 
of SDSM.

Additional Upcoming Courses:
   
. Non-Invasive Techniques in Wildlife Endocrinology (March 13-24, 2017)
. Practical Zoo Nutrition Management (June 5-9, 2017)

A number of full scholarships are available for all qualified applicants to 
this course, and reduced fees are available to applicants from less-developed 
nations. The application deadline is October 3, 2016. Visit our website 
(http://SMConservation.gmu.edu) or email us at scbitrain...@si.edu for more 
details about each course, course costs, and credits earned.

[ECOLOG-L] faculty vacancy in landscape genomics

[Mcintyre, Nancy]

Texas Tech University has a faculty vacancy in landscape genomics.  More 
information may be found at http://goo.gl/29PEbN.  Please spread the word to 
folks who may be interested in applying!


Nancy E. McIntyre, Ph.D.
Professor and Curator of Birds
Department of Biological Sciences
Texas Tech University
Lubbock, TX 79409-3131 USA
Tel. 806-834-7977
Fax 806-742-2963
nancy.mcint...@ttu.edu
http://myweb.ttu.edu/nmcintyr/index.html

[ECOLOG-L] AGU Wikipedia edit-a-thon

[Shane M Hanlon]

Are you a DC-area AGU member? Then you’re invited to participate in a 
Wikipedia edit-a-thon at AGU headquarters in Washington, D.C. 2016 is the 
Wikipedia Year of Science. As part of that effort, Wiki Edu, an 
organization seeking to expand and improve content on Wikipedia, is 
sponsoring science-related edit-a-thons nationwide. This is an opportunity 
to create and improve content on Wikipedia to make it an accurate venue 
for science learning. 

Join your colleagues to help improve Wikipedia content:

Saturday, 24 September
1:00 - 4:00 P.M.
America Geophysical Union (AGU) headquarters, 2000 Florida Avenue NW, 
Washington, D.C.
Lunch will be provided.

Space is limited. Please sign up here (http://tinyurl.com/j6msjrz) to 
attend and learn more about the event.