[ECOLOG-L] Ph.D. in Population & Community Dynamics / Climate Change
Announcing an opening for a Ph.D. student in the Department of Biology at Penn State University (www.bio.psu.edu) beginning Fall 2009 to study population and community dynamics of plants and vertebrate herbivores in relation to climate change. The student will have the opportunity to develop an independent research project building upon existing multi-annual data on ecological responses to observed climate change at multiple trophic levels from two arctic field sites in Greenland: a low-Arctic site at Kangerlussuaq, on the west coast; and a high-Arctic site on the east coast, Zackenberg. The student will have the opportunity to conduct fieldwork at either or both remote sites, as well as to interact with colleagues within the Department of Biology at Penn State and the Department of Arctic Environment at the University of Aarhus, Denmark. A major emphasis of this research is to understand how responses to climate change at one trophic level in simple arctic ecosystems influence responses to climate change at the adjacent trophic level, with focus on muskoxen and their forage plants. Please visit the PI's websites for publications and information on related research: http://www.bio.psu.edu/people/faculty/post/homepage.htm http://www2.dmu.dk/1_Om_DMU/2_Medarbejdere/cv/employee2_NH.asp?PersonID=MCF A Master's degree is desired, but not required. Please contact Dr. Eric Post ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) to express interest or for additional information.
Ph.D. opening in climate change & plant-herbivore interactions
Plant-herbivore interactions, trophic mismatch, and climate change Applications are being solicited for a Ph.D. student in the Department of Biology at Penn State University, to begin fall 2008. The student will conduct research under the direction of Dr. Eric Post as part of a long-term project on the influences of climate change on plant-herbivore interactions in a low-Arctic community in West Greenland. A major focus of this research will include investigating the role of recent warming in the development of trophic mismatch between the timing of offspring production by an herbivore, caribou, and plant phenology. Additionally, the contribution of trophic mismatch to herbivore population dynamics will be modeled. There is considerable room for expansion of the research beyond these themes under the PIs general research on ecological consequences of climate change (see www.bio.psu.edu/people/faculty/post/homepage.htm). The project requires a combination of experience with, and interest in, remote field work, as well as strong quantitative and analytical skills. The student will be supported in part by a three-year NSF grant that includes a full-time research assistantship during one semester each year, and field and travel expenses. Contact Dr. Eric Post for further details or with questions. Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
