Graduate student opportunities in Climate Change Ecology at the
University of California, Davis
The Post lab in the Department of Wildlife, Fish, & Conservation
Biology at the University of California, Davis seeks two graduate
students prepared to conduct original research on climate change
ecology, preferably at the doctoral level. The candidate(s) will join a
collegial, interactive, and intellectually stimulating department and
university environment. Research in the Post lab focuses generally on
ecological dynamics in relation to climate change, including life
history variation, population dynamics, species interactions, and
community dynamics.
The specific research project to be undertaken is open to
the interests and goals of the applicant. However, preference will be
given to candidates interested in – and with prior experience related to
– empirical investigations of 1) the consequences of climate change for
phenological dynamics of plants, animals, or both, in time and space; or
2) implications of climate change for wildlife conservation.
Candidates will have the opportunity to continue work on spatio-temporal
dynamics of plant phenology, population dynamics of large herbivores
(caribou and muskoxen), and interactions between climate change and
herbivory in plant community composition and dynamics currently underway
in the Post lab. Ongoing research in the Post lab has resulted in a
16-year detailed set of observational and experimental field data from
low-Arctic Greenland that the candidate may expand upon in developing an
original dissertation project. Further details about research in the
lab can be found at https://sites.google.com/site/ericpostlab/home.
The Department of Wildlife, Fish, & Conservation Biology at UC Davis
is ranked #1 in the U.S. among wildlife and fisheries programs, and UC
Davis is the top-ranked university in the U.S. for ecology and
environmental science
(http://wfcb.ucdavis.edu/news-events/news-archive/uc-davis-wildlife-and-fish-program-ranked-1-nation/).
Qualifications:
· M.S. in Ecology or a related field such as Wildlife Biology is
preferred but not required.
· Strong interpersonal and communication skills, and the ability to work
both independently and collaboratively with students, postdoctoral
researchers, and faculty.
· Interest in (or experience with) remote field work, field
experimentation, meticulous data collection, and statistical analysis is
strongly preferred. More important than prior experience with these are
a desire to learn and self-motivation.
· Some proficiency with R and/or another statistical program such as SPSS.
· Technical, analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
Support:
Potential support includes two quarters annually. UC Davis is on a
quarter academic system, with the academic year comprising three
quarters. It is expected that field-based research will be conducted
primarily during the summer months.
To Apply:
For more information and to indicate interest in applying, please
contact Professor Eric Post, p...@ucdavis.edu. You may send 1) a cover
letter discussing your k! ! ey interests, qualifications, and
motivations for this position; and ! 2)! a CV, including publications or
honors and awards, and names and contact information for three
references. Information about applying formally through the Graduate
Group in Ecology at UC Davis can be found at
http://ecology.ucdavis.edu/admissions/theapplication.html.
-----------------------------
Eric Post
Department of Biology
Penn State University
208 Mueller Lab
University Park, PA 16802 USA
http://www.bio.psu.edu/people/faculty/post/homepage.htm
