The University of Nevada's Global Water Center: Solutions for Sustainability (www.unr.edu/water)<http://www.unr.edu/water)> seeks dedicated and talented early career, postdoctoral researchers to engage in projects that are collaborative and multi-institutional in nature.
To apply, please send the following: 1) a cover letter (no more than 2 pages) articulating your qualifications for each position, a copy of peer-reviewed papers that are drafted, accepted or in review, and contact information for references; and 2) a CV Applicants that have demonstrated the ability to publish in peer-reviewed journals and work in a collaborative setting will receive beneficial consideration. Postdoctoral researcher positions require the completion of a PhD by the start date for the position. Applicants with more than 5 years from the date of receiving your PhD are not eligible to apply and will not be considered. The salary rate for postdoctoral research positions is $47,500 per year. Material should be sent to Sudeep Chandra (sud...@unr.edu<mailto:sud...@unr.edu>). Positions are open until filled. Postdoctoral Position #1: Invasion Ecology and Ecosystem Change in Lake Tahoe Location: Reno, NV and Lake Tahoe (CA-NV) Start Date: April 1, 2019 or open until filled. Duration: 2.5 years Project Summary Lake Tahoe has a number of invasive species affecting ecosystem dynamics resulting in altered native biodiversity, nutrient cycling, and the loss of water clarity. Invasive, signal crayfish have increased in density over time and may play a significant role in controlling invertebrate food web structure, periphyton community dynamics, and nutrient cycling within the nearshore ecosystem. Through experiments and modelling, the goal of this project is to understand the relationship between invasive crayfish, changes in benthic food web structure, and nearshore periphyton productivity and community dynamics. Position Principal Responsibilities * Conduct field and laboratory experiments, comprehensive literature reviews, data synthesis and analysis, statistical analysis, * Coordinate writing papers for submission to peer reviewed scientific journals as both lead and co-author * Represent the Center on multi-stakeholder committees involving scientists and managers that seek to restore the nearshore of Lake Tahoe, * Prepare and give oral presentations, * Participate in outreach to landowners, decision makers, funders, and the general public, * Coordinate field and laboratory undergraduate assistants. Desired Qualifications for this Position We seek an experienced, organized individual with a background in aquatic ecology, invasion biology with an interest in restoration ecology and engaging with management agencies by attending meetings related to the development of environmental policy. Ability to dive and snorkel is a plus. Postdoctoral Position #2: Direct and indirect effects of climate on mountain lakes Location: Reno, NV and Mt. Shasta, CA Start Date: April 1, 2019 or open until filled. Duration: 1.5 year with subsequent years dependent on funding. Project Summary Climate change in the Western United States has resulted in increased stressors to mountain lake ecosystems. Direct and indirect effects of climate include altered precipitation patterns, increased drought stress, altered watershed hydrological dynamics, increased tree mortality, and increased disturbance effects associated with fire. This project seeks to quantify direct and indirect effects of climate on the productivity and ecosystem function of littoral and pelagic habitats within Castle Lake, a long term study site in the Siskiyou mountains of Northern California. Through a long-term, lake monitoring program, experiments, and analysis of a 59 year data set including physical, chemical, and biological data, our goal is to quantify the interactions of these disturbances to lake function. . In addition, opportunities are available to conduct micro- and mesocosm experiments at the site and utilize measurements that can be collected from watersheds and lakes around Castle Lake station. Mentorship will be in close collaboration with Dr. Steven Sadro at UC Davis. Principal Responsibilities * Conduct research, including literature reviews, field based data collection, laboratory and computer based data synthesis and analysis, statistical analysis, * Author science-based written documents related to research, planning, and monitoring efforts for peer reviewed scientific journals, * Lead and participate in ongoing monitoring activities at Castle Lake station, * Prepare and give oral presentations, * Coordinate field and laboratory activities of graduate students and undergraduate assistants, * Willingness to work in a remote, field setting for extended periods (3-4 months), Desired Qualifications for this Position We seek an experienced, organized individual with a background in limnology, aquatic ecology, or ecosystem ecology with experience working in remote locations for extended period of time. Position #3: Community Ecology and Natural Resource Assessment Location: Reno, NV. Start Date: February 1, 2019 or open until filled. Duration: 1 year with subsequent years dependent on funding. Project Summary The Great Basin Institute, in partnership with the University of Nevada, Reno's Global Water Center, seeks a postdoctoral researcher to support the implementation of the National Aquatic Monitoring Framework (NAMF) for Assessment, Inventory, Monitoring (AIM) of lotic and lentic ecosystems in multiple western states. The AIM program is part of the Bureau of Land Management's national science strategy, an initiative which seeks to acquire consistent, landscape-scale monitoring data to support standardized resource monitoring. More information on AIM initiatives can be found at www.aim.landscapetoolbox.org. Some key questions and ideas that could be addressed in this position include: 1) Quantification of disturbance from invertebrate and riparian community characteristics, 2) Understanding causal relationship between surface disturbances, permitted activities, and instream conditions (e.g., are BLM permitted activities contributing to observed conditions or are conditions a reflection of mixed land-use and ownership?) 3) Developing tools to predict the background chemical, physical, or biological conditions at a site in the absence of anthropogenic impacts, 4) Developing analytical frameworks for the integration of targeted and probabilistic sample designs to increase the precision and geographic representativeness of condition estimates. In collaboration with the Institute's Ecological Monitoring Program Director, this position will coordinate multiple field crews (10+) across the western United States. The researcher will oversee the aquatic sampling effort, including planning, recruitment, training, and deployment of monitoring crews. The researcher, in collaboration with the Aquatic Monitoring Program Manager, will support key administrative tasks, and is responsible for the fiscal management of project budgets, totaling approximately $800,000. This position also requires the building and maintaining of agency relationships while ensuring data quality and accuracy. Principal Responsibilities * Proactively maintain regular communication with agency partners to coordinate and promote adaptive management, development and budgeting, and compliance with agreement terms, * Oversee and coordinate recruitment, management, training, and deployment of multiple field crews and personnel, * Develop project plans, budgets, and ensure completion of project deliverables and objectives, * Oversee equipment organization and maintenance, vehicle coordination, and team deployment, * Oversee data management and delivery, which includes executing quality-assurance measures, performing quality-control data checks periodically throughout the field season, and using GIS to provide spatial analysis for reports and other mapping products, * Travel to perform remote field site visits, to federal land management districts/offices in the western states, * Collaborate with other Institute staff to ensure compliance with contract. * Use ArcGIS to create maps that facilitate the interpretation of AIM and other data, maintain geodatabases, and perform spatial analyses, * Prepare and conduct formal and informal trainings remotely and in-person on data management, QA/QC procedures, GIS basics, and navigation using a GPS, * Provide technical advice to crews on sampling protocols, database use, equipment (i.e., field tablet computers, GPS devices, software use), and implementation of the field season, * Oversee data analyses and outputs. Desired Qualifications We seek an experienced, organized individual with a background in community ecology, aquatic invertebrate ecology, limnology, aquatic ecology, and with experience working in remote locations for extended period of time. Additional qualifications include: * Strong analytical and writing skills, * Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, * Initiative and self-management, * Willingness to work independently, * Experience working with federal land management agencies, members of the public, and/or non-profit organizations is a plus, * Ability to lead and manage the collection of field data according to protocol guidelines followed by a detailed QA/QC process; preference for those possessing experience and confidence analyzing geospatial data, creating map products, and working with relational databases, * Possess a clean, valid, state-issued driver's license and the ability to safely operate a 4WD vehicle on and off paved roads, * Meet requirements of federal agency security background checks (e.g., FBI criminal and National Sex Offender Public Registry, Department of Interior Security Screening).
