[ECOLOG-L] Full-time permanent Research Specialist opening: Rangeland ecology & management at North Dakota State University
The affable crew in North Dakota State University's Range Science program seek to fill a full-time, permanent Research Specialist position. Competitive candidates will have at least a Master's degree in a field relevant to rangeland ecology and management; an interest in participating in a diversity of projects mostly related to disturbance ecology of plant, wildlife, and soil communities in northern mixed-grass prairie; and a deep longing for--or at least a willingness to make the best of--Fargo, North Dakota. And fire. Lots of prescribed fire. Learn more about the position and apply here: https://jobs.ndsu.edu/postings/9939 Learn more about the NDSU Range Science program here: https://www.ndsu.edu/range/
[ECOLOG-L] MS or PhD GRA: Forage quality & livestock GPS collars in North Dakota
Funding is available for a Graduate Research Assistant (GRA) at either the MSc or PhD level in the Range Science Program at North Dakota State University. The GRA will study spatial-temporal patterns of forage quality and livestock use at the Central Grassland Research Extension Center near Streeter, North Dakota, using forage quality data and GPS collars to study livestock behavior under grazing management schemes. The primary mentor will be Dr. Devan McGranahan (devan.mcgrana...@ndsu.edu), although the GRA will work closely with Dr. Kevin Sedivec and other researchers at CGREC and other faculty and graduate students on the NDSU main campus in Fargo. The project will involve both field and lab components. In the field, the GRA will clip vegetation and measure vegetation structure. In the lab, the GRA will prepare and analyze forage samples with Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (NIR), and build, maintain, and program DIY, Arduino-based GPS units. The GRA must either be already familiar with soldering and programming in C++ and the R statistical environment, or be willing to gain proficiency in these skills quickly. Ideally the GRA will be able to move to Fargo, North Dakota to enroll at NDSU by early January 2019 for the spring semester, ahead of the summer field season. Outstanding candidates unable to start until May 2019 will also be considered. Compensation includes a full 12-month stipend and tuition waiver. More information about my research program, generally, and this specific position are available on my faculty website: https://www.ndsu.edu/range/faculty_and_staff/devan_mcgranahan/
[ECOLOG-L] Research Associate (9-month): Grassland management in Midwestern National Parks
I'm excited to announce that funding is available for a temporary (nine-month) full-time Research Associate in the Range Science Program at North Dakota State University. The employee will be responsible for conducting a study of grassland ecosystem management at National Park Service properties in the Midwest, primarily through surveys and interviews with NPS staff. Expected products include a final report to the NPS and a peer-reviewed paper. While the data tend towards the social sciences side of natural resource management, a robust understanding of grassland ecology and grazing management is required. Terms of employment are flexible to accommodate a broad range of potential applicants. The ideal candidate will have at least a Master’s degree and commensurate experience in a field relevant to natural resources management or ecology and conservation. Applications from recent doctoral graduates seeking a short-term post-doc are encouraged. Applications from outstanding candidates with a Bachelor’s degree and relevant experience will be considered. Compensation begins at $16/hour for a maximum of nine months of full-time employment; negotiations for higher pay based on experience are welcome. The position is available 10 January 2018 although outstanding candidates could begin earlier or later depending on availability. There are more details and contact information on my website: https://www.ndsu.edu/range/faculty_and_staff/devan_mcgranahan/
[ECOLOG-L] MS GRA in grassland fuel ecology/fire behavior available now at North Dakota State University
A Master’s-level Graduate Research Assistantship in is available immediately in the School of Natural Resource Sciences at North Dakota State University (Fargo, ND), advised by Devan McGranahan, Assistant Professor of Range Science. The GRA will collect vegetation data and measure fire behavior as part of a team effort to understand grazing, invasive species, and disturbance dynamics in mixed-grass prairie. A .pdf of the announcement is available here: https://www.ndsu.edu/fileadmin/range/pdfs/fuelbed_ecology_GRA.pdf Requirements: Completed Bachelor’s degree in a related field of natural science, with plant biology, physiology, or ecology preferred. Given the nature of data collection, applications from those with experience and interest weighted towards electronics, electrical engineering, and other technical aspects of microcontrollers, dataloggers, and environmental sensors are encouraged, even if plant ecology has not been the applicant's primary focus. Applicants will demonstrate evidence of independence, reliability, and creativity in prior work, school, or research experience. Well-developed writing skills are required. At a minimum, basic knowledge of data handling and analysis is required. Desirable qualifications: Because work will be technology-heavy, with data collection via passive in-field samplers, hand-held sensors, and wired sensors connected to Arduino microcontrollers programmed as dataloggers, applicants must at least be enthusiastic about learning and applying these tools; demonstrated evidence of their use, or relevant programming experience (e.g., C/C++), is highly preferred. Experience with prescribed fire (interest and willingness to participate expected). Scholastic and research experience with plant and/or fire ecology is highly preferred. Familiarity with data management and analytical software is preferred; experience with the R statistical environment is preferred and students lacking a functional knowledge of an alternative (SAS, Matlab, etc) will be expected to receive mentorship in R. The Graduate Research Assistant will be compensated with a full stipend and full tuition waiver. Professional development is a key objective of the NDSU Range Science Program, and the student will receive mentorship in all areas of scientific practice. Interested applicants should contact Dr. Devan McGranahan via email ( devan.mcgrana...@ndsu.edu) and are requested to include a brief statement of interest and CV/resume in the initial message. Selected applicants will be invited to interview via phone and provide e-mail and telephone information for 2-3 references, unofficial transcripts from all post-secondary schooling, and GRE scores, if available. Only after telephone interviews will an official application to the University be required. This position is available immediately, and will remain open until filled, with preference given to applicants able to be on campus for the start of the spring semester in mid-January 2017.
[ECOLOG-L] MS GRA in plant ecology available now at North Dakota State University
A Master’s-level Graduate Research Assistantship in plant ecology is available immediately in the School of Natural Resource Sciences at North Dakota State University (Fargo, ND), advised by Devan McGranahan, Assistant Professor of Range Science. The student will have the opportunity to study perennial grass disturbance ecology under manipulated environmental conditions (drought stress and atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration) in the greenhouse and a growth chamber. Foci will include comparing responses to fire and grazing across native and exotic species, determining how these responses vary under predicted climate change scenarios, and using and developing methods to measure functional trait responses. A central research question will address how fungal endophyte infection of an exotic forage species, tall fescue, modulates this species’ response to disturbance and climate change. The student will apply and develop methods to maintain endophyte-infected and endophyte-free populations in an experimental setting. Opportunities for field components are also available. Requirements: Completed Bachelor’s degree in a related field of natural science, with plant biology, physiology, or ecology preferred. Applicants will demonstrate evidence of independence, reliability, and creativity in prior work, school, or research experience. Well-developed writing skills are required. At a minimum, basic knowledge of data handling and analysis is required. Desirable qualifications: Because work will be technology-heavy, with data collection via several handheld sensors, environmental control of greenhouse and growth chamber, and additional applications such as Campbell Scientific and Decagon dataloggers and Arduino micro-controllers, applicants must at least be enthusiastic about learning and applying these tools; demonstrated evidence of their use, or relevant programming experience, is highly preferred. Scholastic and research experience with plant biology or physiology is highly preferred. Familiarity with data management and analytical software is preferred; experience with the R statistical environment is preferred and students lacking a functional knowledge of an alternative (SAS, Matlab, etc) will be expected to receive mentorship in R. The Graduate Research Assistant will be compensated with a full stipend and full tuition waiver. Professional development is a key objective of the NDSU Range Science Program, and the student will receive mentorship in all areas of scientific practice. Interested applicants should contact Dr. Devan McGranahan via email ( devan.mcgrana...@ndsu.edu) and are requested to include a brief statement of interest and CV/resume in the initial message. Selected applicants will be invited to interview via phone and provide e-mail and telephone information for 2-3 references, unofficial transcripts from all post-secondary schooling, and GRE scores, if available. Only after telephone interviews will an official application to the University be required. This position is available immediately, and will remain open until filled, with preference given to applicants able to be on campus in the fall semester of 2016. <http://www.devanmcgranahan.info>
[ECOLOG-L] PhD GRA: Grassland diversity and disturbance ecology
Description: We are offering a Graduate Research Assistantship at the PhD level to study aboveground and belowground responses to disturbance in experimental grassland. The project will focus on two sets of plots – in eastern and western North Dakota – originally established with varying species richness and crossed with fertilizer and clipping treatments. We seek to introduce a prescribed fire treatment and the student will be responsible for measuring aboveground and belowground responses to fire. Potential measurements include stand- and species-level productivity, post-fire physiology, and fine root dynamics via mini-rhizotron (scanning tubes already established), but the specifics of the study can be tailored to the student’s background and interests. The study also includes the opportunity to compare these long-term datasets to similar trials abroad. We seek a PhD student with a background in grassland community ecology, rangeland science, plant biology, or fire ecology/fire effects on plant physiology. The student will be responsible for fieldwork, lab-based analysis, and data analysis. Experience with prescribed fire is an asset and experience with mini-rhizotron operation and/or data analysis is especially valued. Students with experience in GIS software who have an interest in adapting these skills to mini-rhizotron data analysis are welcome. The student will be advised by Dr. Devan McGranahan in the Range Science Program at North Dakota State University in Fargo, North Dakota. The student will pursue their degree in the Range Science Program in the NDSU School of Natural Resource Sciences. Requirements: The student will be expected to demonstrate or develop proficiency in field sampling and analytical techniques. Successful applicants will have a strong academic background, show evidence of independent work in the field and/or lab, and demonstrate a capacity to contribute to a collaborative research environment. Minimum qualifications: - Bachelor’s degree in relevant field of biological or environmental science. - Strong communication skills as evidenced by publications and public presentations. - Demonstrated ability to work both independently and as part of a team. - Ability to conduct field work. - Valid driver’s license. - Authorization to study and work in the United States. Preferred qualifications: - Research-based master’s degree in relevant field of biological or environmental science. - Experience with statistical computing and geographical information systems. - Knowledge and experience in sampling grassland communities. - Prescribed fire experience. - Experience with mini-rhizotron operation and/or data analysis. Start date: Flexible, but January 2015 preferred. Compensation: Minimum annual GRA stipend of $16,000 + full tuition waiver. Application process: Interested applicants should submit the following preliminary materials by email to devan.mcgrana...@ndsu.edu: Cover letter/statement of intent, CV or resume including e-mail and telephone information for 2-3 references, unofficial transcripts from all post-secondary schooling, and GRE scores. Selected applicants will be invited to interview via phone and prepare official application materials for the University. About graduate research at NDSU: North Dakota State University is a leading research university in the region. The Carnegie Commission on Higher Education ranks NDSU in its top Doctoral Research University Very High Research Activity category. Not only is NDSU in the top quarter of U.S. universities in research expenditures, it is one of the top 108 universities in the country. Located in the Fargo, ND/Moorhead, MN metropolitan area, NDSU has enjoyed vigorous growth and has an enrollment of about 14,400 students, with approximately 2,200 graduate students. Stable link: http://www.ndsu.edu/range/faculty_and_staff/devan_allen_mcgranahan_phd/researchemployment_opportunities/
[ECOLOG-L] Graduate Research Assistantship: Terrestrial Laser Scanning + grassland fire ecology
Description: We are offering a Graduate Research Assistantship to apply terrestrial laser scanning (TLS, or ground-based lidar) in the study of grassland fuel composition and structure. The student will be co-advised by Drs. Devan McGranahan and Stephanie Day, in the Range Science and Geosciences departments, respectively, at North Dakota State University in Fargo, North Dakota. The student will pursue a degree in the Range Science Program in the NDSU School of Natural Resource Sciences. The student can enter at either Master of Science or PhD levels based on qualifications and academic background. The student will conduct field experiments to develop TLS technology to determine grassland biomass and structure, data that will inform spatially-explicit fuel and fire behavior models. Field work will consist of developing and conducting TLS sampling schemes, performing conventional field sampling techniques for calibration, and applying the developed TLS method to conduct ecological research on grassland fuelbeds in the region. Requirements: The student will be expected to develop proficiency in working with TLS equipment and programming post-processing software; therefore, successful candidates for this position will demonstrate experience in computer programming, preferably in the R and/or MATLAB environments. Experience with geographical information systems is preferred. Previous experience with TLS or lidar technology is beneficial but not required. Minimum qualifications: - Bachelor’s degree in relevant field of biological, environmental, and/or computer sciences. - Proficiency with computers and computer programming. - Demonstrated ability to work both independently and as part of a team. - Ability to conduct field work. - Interest in developing and applying technological solutions for ecological research. - Valid driver’s license. - Authorization to study and work in the United States. Preferred qualifications: - Experience with statistical computing and geographical information systems. - Experience with TLS or lidar technology and/or data processing. - Knowledge of sampling and modeling grassland fuels and fire behavior. Start date: Flexible, but August 2014 preferred. Compensation: Annual GRA stipend of $14,000 – 16,000 depending on level of academic study. Full tuition waiver for both MS and PhD students. Application process: Interested applicants should submit the following preliminary materials by email to devan.mcgrana...@ndsu.edu: Cover letter/statement of intent, CV or resume including e-mail and telephone information for 2-3 references, unofficial transcripts from all post-secondary schooling, and GRE scores. Selected applicants will be invited to interview via phone and prepare official application materials for the University. About graduate research at NDSU: North Dakota State University is a leading research university in the region. The Carnegie Commission on Higher Education ranks NDSU in its top Doctoral Research University Very High Research Activity category. Not only is NDSU in the top quarter of U.S. universities in research expenditures, it is one of the top 108 universities in the country. Located in the Fargo, ND/Moorhead, MN metropolitan area, NDSU has enjoyed vigorous growth and has an enrollment of about 14,400 students, with approximately 2,200 graduate students. Stable link: http://www.ndsu.edu/range/faculty_and_staff/devan_allen_mcgranahan_phd/researchemployment_opportunities/
Re: [ECOLOG-L] correlation v. causation
Hi Shelley, others, Slate recently had a great article on correlation and causation with a historical perspective. My favorite line: 'No, correlation does not imply causation, but it sure as hell provides a hint. http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/science/2012/10/correlation_does_not_imply_causation_how_the_internet_fell_in_love_with_a_stats_class_clich_.html Having nothing better to do, I set fire to the prairie. -- Francis Chadron, 1839, Fort Clark, North Dakota http://www.devanmcgranahan.info
