[ECOLOG-L] Postdoctoral position, vegetation phenology, Las Cruces, NM

[Brandon Bestelmeyer]

A two-year post-doc Research Ecologist position (GS-11/12) is now open at 
the Jornada Experimental Range USDA-ARS research unit in Las Cruces, NM. 
Work with Dawn Browning in a productive team environment at the interface of 
remote sensing, land surface modeling, and phenology to investigate the use 
of vegetation phenology to predict ecosystem responses to changes in climate 
and soil health in western U.S. landscapes. The research entails 
collaborative work involving data and individuals from LTAR, LTER, and 
Phenocam networks.

Details and resources to apply now at 
https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/510874600

Send questions or letters of interest to Dawn Browning at dawn.browning (at) 
ars.usda.gov.

[ECOLOG-L] Web/Data Manager position, USDA-ARS, Las Cruces, NM

[Brandon Bestelmeyer]

Web/Data Manager, USDA-ARS Jornada Experimental Range

Join our team and work with the US Long-Term Agroecosystem Network and US 
Long-Term Ecological Research Network to communicate insights from over a 
century of long-term ecological and agricultural data and make our data 
widely available. In addition, we build web and mobile tools to help 
organize and deliver science information and data from agricultural systems 
across the US and the globe.

See https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/511185200

Note that announcement closes 2 October 2018.

[ECOLOG-L] Upcoming Information/Data Manager position

[Brandon Bestelmeyer]

The Jornada Experimental Range in collaboration with the Jornada Basin LTER 
Program will soon be advertising for an Information/Data Manager.  Major 
responsibilities will include building, enhancing, and, where possible, 
automating processes to compile, organize, error-check, update, and make 
available data from a variety of short- and long-term ecological studies, 
alongside assistance with development of websites and associated 
tools/applications. Experience with setting up and administering relational 
databases like Microsoft SQL Server or PostgreSQL is desired, as well as 
familiarity with XML and/or Ecological Metadata Language (EML).  Knowledge 
of web content management systems and expertise with R, Matlab, and/or 
Python programming languages will be preferred. Successful candidates will 
have a demonstrated track record of successfully delivering real-world data 
products to a diverse community of users. For more information about this 
position or to be contacted when the advertisement is formally posted, 
please contact Dr. Debra Peters (deb.pet...@ars.usda.gov) or Brandon 
Bestelmeyer (brandon.bestelme...@ars.usda.gov).

[ECOLOG-L] Upcoming postdoc position in Disease Ecology Modeling

[Brandon Bestelmeyer]

The Jornada Experimental Range in Las Cruces, NM will soon be advertising 
for a highly motivated and creative postdoctoral scientist to join a 
trans-disciplinary team that is studying how an integration of processes 
at the interface between ecology, epidemiology, and virology can improve 
predictions of disease occurrence and spread. The postdoc will contribute 
to the Grand Challenge project on “Multi-Scale Big Data-Model Integration 
for Predictive Disease Ecology”.  We are using Vesicular Stomatitis (VS), 
a vector-borne livestock disease spread by an RNA virus that occurs 
throughout the western US, as a model system for integrating local and 
landscape-scale processes of disease with multi-scale patterns in diverse 
environmental datasets in order to explain patterns in disease. The major 
duties of this position will focus on modeling the relationships among VS 
hosts, vectors, and their environment, including translating the 
conceptual model of disease spread into a computational disease ecology 
model, and executing the model under alternative scenarios to predict 
future spatio-temporal patterns of disease. Minimum qualifications include 
experience in numerical modeling of vector-borne diseases, and a track 
record of scientific publications in disease ecology; Doctoral degree in-
hand in Biology, Environmental Science, or a related field with a focus on 
systems modeling and/or disease ecology. Preferred qualifications include 
experience with probabilistic modeling, strong statistical background, 
working knowledge of a systems approach, and handling large geospatial 
data sets.  For more information about this position or to be notified 
when the position is formally advertised, please contact Dr. Debra Peters  
(deb.pet...@ars.usda.gov).

[ECOLOG-L] Postdoctoral position, vegetation/soil/landscape ecology

[Brandon Bestelmeyer]

Term position to work with the Jornada Experimental Range and New Mexico 
State University to develop and apply novel approaches for analysis of large 
vegetation monitoring datasets using spatial databases of soil properties, 
climate, and other ecosystem characteristics and using techniques such as 
spatial autoregressive models, data mining approaches, machine learning, and 
time series analysis. Goal is to explain differences in ecosystem change 
trajectories as function of spatiotemporal variation in key drivers to 
inform land management, especially in rangelands.

https://jobs.nmsu.edu/postings/30551

[ECOLOG-L] Job Announcement: GIS Specialist/Landscape Ecology

[Brandon Bestelmeyer]

GIS Specialist/Landscape Ecology

New Mexico State University/USDA-ARS Jornada Experimental Range
Las Cruces, New Mexico.

RESPONSIBILITIES
1) Assist in development of potential-based land classification and 
modeling systems for rangelands.
2) Process and analyze satellite imagery and aerial photography to map 
soils and vegetation. Current projects are in rangeland areas of the 
western U.S. and Mongolia.
3) Develop/maintain databases relating climate/soil/vegetation maps to GIS 
and field based data.
4) Training clients (natural resources managers) in the uses of maps and 
databases. 
5) Field validation of maps and field measurements of vegetation and 
soils. 

EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS/QUALIFICATIONS
Bachelor’s degree in Ecology, Geography, Remote Sensing, Natural 
Resources, or Environmental Science. Coursework/training in Landscape 
Ecology, GIS, Remote Sensing. Master’s degree preferred. Three years job 
related experience required, including remote-sensed data processing and 
geodatabase development. Experience with GIS and image processing 
software, including Erdas Imagine, Leica Photogrammetric Suite, ESRI 
suite, ENVI, eCognition, Feature Analyst. Experience with soils, climate, 
geomorphology, and/or vegetation classification and mapping. Familiarity 
with databases, including Access and ArcGIS. 

SALARY/BENEFITS
$36,000-39,000/year depending on experience and contingent on continued 
funding. New Mexico Educational Retirement, Social Security, Unemployment 
and Workers’ Compensation, Annual and Sick Leave, Group Medical, Dental 
and Hospital Insurance and Life Insurance.

Offer of employment contingent upon verification of individual's 
eligibility for employment in the United States.  All offers of 
employment, oral and written, are contingent on the university’s 
verification of credentials and other information required by federal law, 
state law, and NMSU policies/procedures, and may include the completion of 
a criminal history check.
NMSU IS AN EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY/AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER. 
To apply, send letter of interest, resume/curriculum vita, unofficial 
transcripts, and names, addresses, email, and phone numbers of three 
references to:

Brandon Bestelmeyer
USDA-ARS Jornada Experimental Range
MSC 3JER Box 30003
New Mexico State University
Las Cruces, NM  88003
575-646-5139 (phone)
575-646-5889 (fax)
[EMAIL PROTECTED]

Review of applications will begin on October 1, 2008 until the position is 
filled.

Graduate Assistantships in Desert/Landscape Ecology, NM

[Brandon Bestelmeyer]

Four graduate research assistantships will be available starting in 
January 2007 (Ph. D level preferred). Students will work on projects 
examining the linkages between spatial patterning and ecosystem 
processes at the Jornada Basin LTER site 
(http://jornada-www.nmsu.edu) in 
southern New Mexico. The linkages may involve vegetation/soils, 
human/natural systems, and biodiversity/ecosystem functions. Students 
will define an independent thesis project related to these topics and 
collaborate with a team of LTER researchers and with other 
LTER-associated graduate students. This is an excellent opportunity 
for students interested in landscape ecology, desert ecology, 
transdisciplinary collaboration, the interface of human and natural 
systems, and the Long-Term Ecological Research Program.

The positions are based at New Mexico State University in Las Cruces 
(Biology, Agronomy, Agricultural Economics departments). Las Cruces 
(population 80,000) is located in the Rio Grande valley, adjacent to 
several Chihuahuan Desert basins and within sight of seven desert- to 
forest-dominated mountain ranges. These unpopulated settings provide 
unparalleled science and recreation opportunities in the rapidly 
urbanizing western U.S. The city and region have a strong cultural 
identity of Hispanic, Anglo, and Native American origins.

New Mexico State University and the USDA Jornada Experimental Range 
offer an expanding array of transdisciplinary research and education 
opportunities. The Jornada LTER group features true collaboration 
among social scientists, organismal and community ecologists, 
rangeland and ecosystem scientists, land managers, soil and climate 
scientists, and physical scientists from several universities in the 
U.S. and United Kingdom. The Jornada Basin has been studied for over 
125 years and is among the oldest and most influential research areas 
in the U.S. With its disciplinary breadth, integration, and strong 
links to local and national policymaking, NMSU/Jornada is a leader in 
the application of basic ecology and ecosystem science.

Applications will be accepted until 31 October 2006. Applicants 
should include 1) a statement of goals, 2) a CV with copies of 
transcripts and GRE scores, and 3) names and contact information for 
3-5 recommenders. Applications and information requests should be 
directed to Debra Peters 
([EMAIL PROTECTED]), Jornada Basin LTER, 
MSC 3JER, Box 30003, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM, 88003.