Could you please post for the positions described below. Thanks.
Jeff Houlahan
GRADUATE POSITIONS AVAILABLE
As a collaborating group of academic and government scientists, we are
seeking 5 Ph. D. students to work as a part of a multidisciplinary
team conducting manipulative experiments designed to examine the
effects of multiple stressors in small wetland ecosystems. The focus
of this NSERC funded research program will be on the potential effects
of climate change on amphibians and other aquatic organisms alone and
in combination with herbicide use. This would be the 3rd in a series
of experiments conducted at the ?Long-term Experimental Wetlands Area
(LEWA),? on Canadian Forces Base Gagetown in New Brunswick Canada.
All positions are contingent on funding ? we will know funding
decision by October 2010.
1 Ph. D. position at the University of Ottawa
A Ph. D student will be examining climate change/herbicide effects on
gene expression, sexual development and metamorphosis in amphibians.
They will be supervised by Dr. Vance Trudeau (University of Ottawa;
see www.teamendo.ca) and Dr. Vince Palace (DFO, Winnipeg, Manitoba)
and work out of The University of Ottawa Centre for Advanced Research
in Environmental Genomics. Qualifications: Candidates should have a
background in comparative physiology or vertebrate endocrinology, and
have demonstrated experience with basic molecular biology methods
(PCR, gene cloning, etc). A keen interest in climate change effects on
aquatic ecosystems would be an asset to the team.
3 Ph. D. positions with the Biology Department and The Canadian Rivers
Institute at the University of New Brunswick Saint John (UNB Saint John)
1. One Ph. D. student will be examining climate change/herbicide
effects on DOC and UV radiation attenuation. The student will be
supervised by Drs. Nelson O?Driscoll and Jeff Houlahan (UNB Saint
John). Qualifications: An M. Sc. in chemistry, biology, environmental
science or a related discipline is preferred. Exceptional B. Sc.
students will be considered. All candidates should have good
statistical skills (i.e. are comfortable with traditional analyses
such as ANOVA and regression) and be comfortable with independent
laboratory and field work.
2. One Ph.D. student will examine the effects of climate
change/herbicide use on planktonic and benthic invertebrate
communities in these experimental ponds. The student will be
supervised by Dr. Karen Kidd (UNB Saint John). Qualifications: An
M.Sc. in ecotoxicology, aquatic ecology or a related discipline. The
student should have experience conducting field work on aquatic
systems and good statistical skills. Experience in macroinvertebrate
identifications is an asset.
3. One Ph. D student will be examining the effects of climate
change/herbicide stressors on primary production and plant abundance
and diversity. The student will be supervised by Dr. Jeff Houlahan.
Qualifications: An M. Sc. in ecology, conservation biology, botany or
a related discipline is preferred. We would consider a statistics,
math or computer modelling graduate if there is a strong natural
history interest and background. Exceptional B. Sc. students will be
considered. All candidates should have good statistical skills (i.e.
are comfortable with traditional analyses such as ANOVA and
regression). Experience in aquatic plant identification is an asset.
1 Ph. D. position with the Department of Physical and Environmental
Sciences at the University of Toronto
One Ph. D student will be using the output from 24 Global Climate
Models and four Regional Climate Models applied to Canada in
conjunction with a common regression-based stochastic weather
generator software to develop realistic regional climate projections
under different future scenarios of climate change. The student will
be supervised by Dr. Adam Fenech. Qualifications: A Masters degree
in physical geography or physics with specific courses in climatology
and/or meteorology. All candidates should have numerical skills, and
enjoy database development and manipulation. Geographic information
system experience is an asset.
Additional qualifications: The importance of candidates being
effective team players cannot be overstated. Excellent verbal and
written communication skills as well as interpersonal relation skills
are considered vital personal attributes. This project will involve
many students and senior researchers (as well as, a number of field
technicians) working on the same set of 24 ponds for at least the next
3 years and therefore the ability to collaborate effectively will be a
critical, perhaps the most critical, attribute determining the success
of this project. We are looking for that rare combination - the
ability to think and work independently while also being a collegial,
collaborative and cooperative team member.
Terms for Placement: All Ph.D. students have guaranteed funding of
$20-22,000 annually for 3 years with a fourth year of funding likely.
Duties: Successful candidates will work as a team to establish 24
experimental ponds on CFB Gagetown. They will be responsible for
establishment of testable hypotheses, study design, experimental
installation, data collection, analyses and lead-authoring
peer-reviewed publications in international journals as well as a
thesis dissertation pertaining to their subproject. In addition all
students will be required to work with other team members to integrate
results across subprojects which will enhance their multi-disciplinary
learning experience. Successful applicants will have access to
state-of-the art laboratory facilities at the Canadian Rivers
Institute, UNB Saint John,and at the University of Ottawa.
Start Date: We would prefer students to start in January, 2011 but
have some flexibility on start dates.
Students who have a keen interest in this unique opportunity to work
with our team should send applications (i.e. CV, graduate and
undergraduate academic transcripts, cover letter and full contact
information for a minimum of three academic/research references) to
Jeff Houlahan at jeffh...@unbsj.ca. Please clearly identify the
position(s) for which you are applying. Applications will be accepted
until all positions have been filled. After selection the candidates
will also have to apply for acceptance into the graduate programs of
the host universities.
For more information about specific subprojects contact the supervisor
