PhD Assistantship, Forest Ecology, University of Wisconsin-Madison We invite applications for a graduate research assistantship focused on the impacts of forest biomass harvesting on soil carbon and nutrient cycling. The student will join a team of collaborators from UW-Madison, University of Minnesota, University of Missouri, and USFS to provide a regional assessment of the environmental sustainability of intensive biomass removal from regionally important forest types (aspen and northern hardwoods) within the Lake States. We have proposed to use a series of field experiments throughout the region combined with modeling to assess the effects of intensive utilization and removal of woody biomass on forest biodiversity (plant, microbe, and wood decay fungi) and productivity. The graduate research assistant will be based at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Dept. of Forest & Wildlife Ecology, and supervised by Dr. David Mladenoff and Dr. Jodi Forrester. For more information on the lab see: http://landscape.forest.wisc.edu.
Within the larger project, the student will be responsible for developing a PhD study in the area of how biomass removal in the short- and medium-term affects soil nutrient cycling, carbon, and microbial diversity. This involves conducting both field and lab work in support of the project goals, supervising field and lab assistants, analyzing data and preparing peer-reviewed publications. The start date is somewhat flexible, but preferably the student will begin classes in Spring 2010. Position is funded for four years from DOE/USDA. Salary is $20,184 plus health insurance. Qualifications: M.S. Biology, Forestry, or related field. Student is expected to have strong interests in ecology, forestry, soils and biogeochemistry. Applicants should be able to work independently, but also cooperatively with other researchers in the lab and on the project. Application materials: Please send a statement of interests and goals, CV, and names and contact information for at least 3 references to: Dr. David Mladenoff, djmla...@wisc.edu. Apply by October 31, 2009 for full consideration, but open until filled.
