Month: October 2017

Graduate position: TexasAMU.EvolutionaryGenomics

The Blackmon lab at Texas A&M University is recruiting PhD graduate
students interested in evolutionary genomics and genetics. My lab studies a
variety of questions including genome structure, sex chromosomes, and trait
evolution. We use both theoretical and empirical approaches.  In our
empirical work, we often focus on beetles and other invertebrates.

While the Blackmon lab is in the Department of Biology, graduate students
can earn a PhD in Genetics, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, or Biology
through the labขs participation in two interdepartmental programs at Texas
A&M.  These programs allow students to take courses and interact with
faculty from over 19 other departments that share interests in Genetics and
EEB.

With approximately 60,000 students Texas A&M is one of the largest
universities in the country.  It is located in Bryan/College Station which
has a population of about 250k.  It is within easy reach of Houston and
Austin.  This part of Southeast Texas is situated close to many distinct
biomes and provides excellent opportunities for fieldwork and outdoor
recreation.  Support for graduate students is provided for five years by a
combination of teaching and research assistantships.

Please contact Heath Blackmon directly at coleoguy@gmail.com for more
information regarding opportunities and application information.
Additional information about the Blackmon lab can be found at
http://coleoguy.github.io/

Heath Blackmon <coleoguy@gmail.com>

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Graduate Position: ClarkU.EvolutionaryMorphology

Dr. Philip Bergmann’s Evolutionary Functional Morphology Lab at Clark
University is recruiting a Ph.D. student to begin in Fall 2018. The
Bergmann lab studies form-function relationships in an evolutionary and
ecological context, primarily using reptile and amphibian locomotion as
a study system. The main research foci are (1) how form-function
relationships work and are affected by such as ontogeny and substrate,
and (2) the evolution of snake-like body shapes from phenotypic,
functional, and ecological perspectives. Tools used by the lab to
address these questions include high-speed video and X-ray video, force
plates, EMG, dissection, behavioral observations, field work, and
computational statistics.

Graduate students should be self-motivated and have prior research
experience. They will be encouraged to develop their own projects
within the context of the lab research. Interested students should
contact Dr. Bergmann (pbergmann@clarku.edu) prior to applying with any
questions they may have, a cover letter that includes their research
interests, CV, and names and e-mail addresses for two references. The
Biology Department at Clark University is small but vibrant, providing
students the opportunity to gain experience in research, teaching,
mentoring, and outreach. Support by way of Teaching Assistantship is
guaranteed for five years, and includes tuition waiver.  The
application deadline is January 15, 2018.

For more information, visit:

Bergmann Lab: http://www2.clarku.edu/faculty/pbergmann/

Biology Department: http://www2.clarku.edu/departments/biology/

Graduate Admissions:
http://www.clarku.edu/admissions/graduate-admissions

Philip J. Bergmann

Associate Professor

Biology Department

Clark University

950 Main Street

Worcester, MA 01610

United States

Phone: 508-793-7553

E-mail: pbergmann@clarku.edu

Philip Bergmann <PBergmann@clarku.edu>

Graduate student position in plant-mycorrhizal interactions

The Cheeke Lab (www.tanyacheeke.com) at Washington State University is recruiting 1-2 graduate students to join our Soil Microbial Ecology lab on the WSU Tri-Cities campus for the Fall of 2018 (with possibility of starting as soon as January 2018). Our research is broadly focused on the ecology and evolution of plant-mycorrhizal interactions within the context of environmental change (e.g. disturbance, invasions, climate). Current projects integrate genomics with manipulative experiments to 1) understand the role of plant-soil feedbacks in improving, maintaining, or limiting plant community diversity in disturbed ecosystems; and 2) evaluate the efficacy of soil microbial transplants in facilitating the establishment of native plants in disturbed landscapes (e.g. invaded grasslands, former mining sites, agroecosystems). New lines of research are being developed to examine the role of microbiomes in maintaining the health and productivity of important crop plants in the Pacific Northwest, such as hops and grapes.

If interested in joining our lab, please send a CV with GPA and relevant coursework and a short statement explaining your interest in the position to Tanya Cheeke (tanya.cheeke@wsu.edu) by November 20th, 2017. Acceptance for this position is contingent upon acceptance to the graduate program in the School of Biological Sciences at Washington State University (deadline January 10, 2018; https://sbs.wsu.edu/graduate-studies/apply/)

PhD in community assembly, food web structure, and ecosystem metabolism in riverine rock pools

Dr. James Vonesh (Aquatic Community Ecology;https://wp.vcu.edu/voneshlab) and Dr. Paul Bukaveckas (Aquatic Ecosystem Ecology; http://wp.vcu.edu/pabukaveckas/) are interested in recruiting a PhD student through Virginia Commonwealth University=92s Integrative Life Science PhD Program (https://lifesciences.vcu.edu/academic-programs/phd in-integrative-life-sciences/) to collaborate on research aimed at understanding  processes that shape community assembly and food web structure and how these, in turn, influence ecosystem metabolism.  Our study system is a population (>500) of riverine rock pools along the James River which vary in community composition and their dependence on allochthonous and autochthonous inputs (http://www.jamesriverpark.org/science-in-the-park/rock-pools.php). This student will also participate in K12 educational outreach activities focused around the rock pools (https://vcu.exposure.co/natural-wonders). The ILS PhD program offers 5 years of support in total, including 2 years RA support. VCU is a premier urban, public research university located in Richmond, Virginia along the James River (https://www.vcu.edu/about/index.html). Richmond is a vibrant city with an excellent balance of urban and outdoor life (https://www.vcu.edu/about/richmond.html). Preference will be given to applicants that already have a Masters degree in a relevant field. For more information contact James Vonesh at jrvonesh@vcu.edu.

Black Rail ecology graduate research assistantship (PhD) opportunity

We are looking for an enthusiastic, determined, and self-starting Ph.D.

student to work on a project involving Black Rails at St. Johns National

Wildlife Refuge in Florida. Field components of the project will involve

performing population surveys and radiotracking adults to assess survival

and productivity. Modeling components will include estimation of Black Rail

vital rates, population viability modeling, and assessment of adequacy of

current survey methods for estimating Black Rail abundance and occupancy.

The project will primarily be based at the St. Johns NWR near Titusville,

FL, but the student will be required to spend time in other Gulf Coast

refuges and in Athens for coursework and dissertation writing. The student

will be co-advised by Dr. Robert Cooper (Professor, Warnell School of

Forestry and Natural Resources) and Dr. Clint Moore (Assistant Leader,

Georgia Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit) and possibly Dr. Adam

Smith (US Fish and Wildlife Service ecologist).Candidates should

possess a Master=E2=80=99s

degree conferred by January 1, 2018 in wildlife management, ecology, or a

related discipline. The candidate must be able to work under challenging

field conditions that include wet marshes, hot temperatures, humidity, etc.

Also, the candidate must have a working knowledge of the programming

language R, plus the capacity to learn quantitative techniques such as

survival analysis and movement models, and programming in formats such as

Python and Matlab. As this project will involve significant

hardware/software development, preference will be given to applicants with

a familiarity with electronics such as circuit board assembly and

customization. The student should also be personable and a team player. To

apply, send cover letter, CV, GRE scores, and unofficial transcripts

to Dr. Robert

Cooper (bcooper AT uga.edu; 706-542-6066). Please send a list of at least 3

references to contact as well.

Funded PhD positions in Ecology

I am looking for enthusiastic and talented students for up to 3 PhD positions to start in September 2018. The projects are flexible, with the students expected to help develop the conceptual background and the research methods, but will be roughly along these lines:

1) Plant-animal interactions in Gabon. Will use existing camera trap and plant phenology data, potentially combined with new field- and drone-

based data collection, to assess how primates, ungulates, and other mammals respond to shifting patterns of fruit production in a pristine tropical rainforest. Substantial experience in international field work required. French language skills highly desired.  2) Climate change in Alaska. High latitude regions are changing rapidly, and not always in predictable ways. The project will likely include some or all of the following factors: (i) experiments to assess the impacts of animal herbivores on tree- and shrub-line change, (ii) drone-based surveys of plant and animal community changes, (iii) modelling of large mammal responses to climate and habitat changes using existing data from federal collaborators, and (iv) resurveys of an old small mammal trapping study. Substantial field work and camping experience (ideally from Alaska or other northern sites) is required for this position.  3) Pan-tropical assessment of bushmeat hunting and forest carbon. A handful of new studies have suggested that widespread, unsustainable hunting in tropical forests could be inducing shifts in tree species composition that lead to lower overall forest biomass. This could, in turn, be a major (and hitherto unappreciated) source of human carbon emissions. This project will use large-scale meta-analysis, potentially combined with field work, to address the ecological mechanisms (species interactions), geographic scope, and climatic implications of this issue.  These positions will be based in the Division of Biological Sciences (DBS; http://hs.umt.edu/dbs/) and affiliated with the Wildlife Biology Program (http://www.cfc.umt.edu/wbio/). The positions include 5 years of guaranteed TA support. TA salaries in DBS are nationally competitive, while the cost of living in Missoula is relatively low.

Other requirements for the positions

1) Exceptional self-motivation

2) Master=92s degree strongly desired

3) Familiarity with the concepts of ecology

4) Field work experience (for positions 1 & 2)

5) Quantitative skills (potentially including statistics, GIS, or computer modeling)

6) Excellent writing skills

How to apply

Send an email to jedediah [dot] brodie [at] mso [dot] umt [dot] edu, with =93PhD position application=94 (no quotes) in the subject line, by 10 November 2017. Include as attachments: (1) A 1-2 page cover letter stating which project you=92re interested in, explaining why you=92re interested in and prepared for that position, and listing the names & contact info for 3 references, (2) your GRE scores and GPA from your MSc or undergrad institution, and your TOEFL score if applicable, and (3) your CV. Do not send transcripts, reference letters, or other materials at this time.  About the program

The University of Montana (UM) is a top research university set amidst the wilderness and wildlife of the Northern Rocky Mountains. Both the Organismal Biolog, Ecology, and Evolution Program (within the Division of Biological Sciences) and the Wildlife Biology Program have been recognized as Programs of National Distinction. The Wildlife Biology Program was recently ranked the Number 1 wildlife program in North America by Academic Analytics. When normalized for faculty size, UM was ranked Number 1 in the field of Ecology out of 300 North American research universities last year. UM has an extremely collegial and collaborative research atmosphere. Students at UM are also exposed to collaborations with numerous federal and state resource agencies, NGOs, and other researchers across the region and around the world.

Thanks!

Jedediah Brodie

Science Outreach Intern

Ecological Society of America

1990 M Street NW, Suite 700

Washington, DC 20036

Title:=09=09=09Science Outreach Intern

Department:=09=09Office of Science Programs

Supervisor:=09=09Director, Office of Science Programs

Classification:=09=09Part-time, Temporary, Non-Exempt

About ESA:

The Ecological Society of America, founded in 1915, is the world=92s largest community of professional ecologists and a trusted source of ecological knowledge, committed to advancing the understanding of life on Earth. The 9,000 member Society publishes five journals and a membership bulletin and broadly shares ecological information through policy, media outreach, and education initiatives. The Society=92s Annual Meeting attracts 4,000 attendees and features the most recent advances in ecological science.

About ESA=92s Office of Science Programs:

The ESA Science Office envisions an ecological science that effectively meets the challenges of a changing world. We connect the research and management communities, support the use of science to inform decision making, and build capacity among scientists.

Purpose & Responsibilities:

ESA seeks an energetic recent graduate or graduate student with strong communication and organizational skills to 1) help enhance our communication and outreach endeavors, and 2) to help manage special ESA meetings, workshops, and training events. A basic background in and appreciation for ecology, biology, and/or environmental sciences is desired.=20

The science outreach intern will work with Cliff Duke, Science Programs Director, and Jill Parsons, Science Programs Manager, to create outreach materials and strategies that will enhance our existing programs (such as our Sustaining Biological Infrastructure Training Initiative). The intern will also assist with logistical arrangements and communications for events that will bring scientists together on a wide range of topics, such as the sustainability of scientific data repositories. Additional duties may include taking notes, webpage upkeep, and tracking budget information. There may be opportunities to network with important scientists in a wide range of disciplines and contribute to important workshop reports.

Specific Activities for the Science Outreach Intern:

Outreach and marketing: create and refine outreach materials for Science Office programs; this will include email campaigns, flyers, website updates, liaising with ESA=92s Public Affairs office regarding social media updates, and creating/editing videos.

Communications and writing: contribute to workshop and meeting reports and presentations; liaise with workshop and meeting participants as needed.

Organization and planning: manage onsite logistical details for events, including a/v, room setup, printed materials, timekeeping, and taking effective notes.

Data entry: act as the point of contact for travel reimbursements; monitor and report on travel budgets.

Qualifications:

Graduate student or recent graduate with a strong background in communications and/or marketing

Experience and interest in ecological, biological, and/or environmental sciences and research

Strong organizational and prioritization skills

Familiar with WordPress; basic HTML skills a plus

Familiar with Microsoft Publisher a plus

Willing to perform data-entry and other basic tasks

Willing to learn as needed and follow directions

Must enjoy working effectively as part of a team

Ability to maintain confidentiality

Hours are flexible, but you must be available to work a regular schedule of 8-16 hours per week in ESA=92s downtown Washington, DC office during business hours (8am-6pm; M-F)

This is a paid, part-time internship based in ESA=92s downtown Washington, DC office, with occasional travel to events in the greater DC area. The position is funded from December 1 – May 31, 2018 and pays $15 per hour. Please email a cover letter, and resume to Jill Parsons, jill@esa.org. Please put =93Science Outreach Intern=94 in the subject line. Applications are due Friday, November 3rd. The position is open until filled.

ESA is an Equal Opportunity employer.

Technical Position in Aquatic Ecology

The Ohio State University

Aquatic Ecology Laboratory

Columbus, OH

Responsibilities:

1 position available to provide technical assistance on field- and

laboratory-based research projects focused on Lake Erie=92s walleye population.

Lake Erie walleye recruitment: Duties include extensive field sampling for

larval fish, eggs, zooplankton, and phytoplankton during February through

May/June. When not sampling, duties will include sample processing (e.g.,

larval fish identification and diets, zooplankton identification), data

entry and analysis, and assisting with experiments. Lake Erie walleye stock discrimination: Duties include preparing otoliths

for and conducting mircrochemical analysis, data entry and analysis, and

assisting with growth rate analyses.  Qualifications:

Applicants must have completed a bachelor=92s degree, and further experience

is preferred.  Candidates must be self-motivated and able to work with a

variety of people. Successful candidates must have a background or interest

in aquatic ecology, be able to conduct field sampling from a boat in rough

conditions, be flexible enough to spend extended periods (multiple days) at

research sites on Lake Erie, be willing to use a microscope for extended

periods, and capable of performing standard laboratory procedures. Prior

field and laboratory experience is preferred, but not mandatory.=20=20=20

Start Date: Late February/early March 2018

End Date: 8 months after starting

Salary: $10 – $12/hr dependent upon experience

Closing: January 15, 2018 however, application review will begin immediately

How to apply:  Send cover letter, resume (or CV), unofficial copies of

college transcript(s), and names and contact information for three

references electronically to Zoe Almeida (almeida.25@osu.edu) and David

Dippold (dippold.14@osu.edu).

Web Link: http://ael.osu.edu/aelopportunities.html (Under =93Research

Technician Positions=94)

Graduate positions in ecology, evolution & behavior

Interested in a PhD in Ecology, Evolutionary Biology and Behavior? The EEB subprogram at the City University of New York is recruiting doctoral students!

EEB faculty research spans diverse topics across ecology, behavior, evolution and systematics to understand the relationships of organisms, populations and communities to their historic and contemporary environments, with particular strengths in using molecular and computational approaches to solving evolutionary questions. Doctoral students conduct research with faculty mentors across eight campuses of the City University of New York and the American Museum of Natural History.  Applications are due January 1, 2018. Please see instructions on our website (gc.cuny.edu/biology/eeb) and contact Subprogram Chair Dr. Elizabeth Alter (ealter@york.cuny.edu) with any questions. NB: Students applying to work with a faculty mentor at the AMNH must also submit a fellowship application by December 15, 2017.=20

Please see our website for a full list of faculty (gc.cuny.edu/biology). Faculty recruiting in Fall 2018 include: Lorenzo Prendini (AMNH): Systematics, evolution and biogeography of arachnids. scorpion.amnh.org

Eunsoo Kim (AMNH): Evolution, diversity, and symbioses of microbial eukaryotes. https://www.amnh.org/our-research/staff-directory/eunsoo-kim/

Mark Siddall (AMNH): Protistan parasites. http://research.amnh.org/users/siddall/

Mande Holford (Hunter): Discovering novel peptides from venomous marine snails. http://www.holfordlab.com/

Christopher Blair (City Tech): Phylogenetics, phylogeography and demographic history of amphibians and reptiles. http://www.citytech.cuny.edu/faculty/CBlair

David Gruber (Baruch): Fluorescence in marine organisms. http://www.baruch.cuny.edu/wsas/academics/natural_science/dgruber.htm

Stefano Ghirlanda (Brooklyn). Computational models of learning and decision making, e.g. http://rsos.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/3/11/160734.

Jeffery Bird (Queens): Belowground C and N cycling in terrestrial and estuarine ecosystems. http://qcpages.qc.cuny.edu/~jbird/Index.html Paul Forlano (Brooklyn): Evolutionary/systems neuroscience of fishes. http://forlanolab.com/

Jeremy Draghi (Brooklyn): Eco-evolutionary feedbacks in host shifts in viruses and fitness

landscapes in bacterial metabolism. https://jeremydraghi.com/

Lisa Manne (CSI): Terrestrial ecology, biogeography and conservation. https://csivc.csi.cuny.edu/Lisa.Manne/files/

Richard Veit (CSI): Ecology of birds, including foraging behavior. https://www.csi.cuny.edu/campus-directory/richard-veit

Tony Wilson (Brooklyn): Evolution of reproductive complexity in aquatic environments. http://evolution.brooklyn.cuny.edu

Mike Hickerson (CCNY): Population genetics, community ecology and biogeography. Determinants of community assembly. https://hickerlab.wordpress.com/

Ana Carnaval (CCNY): Spatial patterns of biodiversity and their underlying evolutionary and ecological processes. www.carnavallab.org

Rob Anderson (CCNY): Biogeography, spatial configuration of environmental suitability for species, and  its ecological, evolutionary and practical consequences.  http://www.andersonlab.ccny.cuny.edu/

Kyle McDonald (CCNY): Water and carbon cycling. https://www.ccny.cuny.edu/profiles/kyle-

mcdonald

MS and PhD Opportunities in Biology Education Research at the University of New Hampshire

The Aikens lab (https://mypages.unh.edu/mla1011) at the University of New Hampshire is recruiting students interested in obtaining an MS or a PhD in Biology with a research focus in undergraduate biology education. Current research in the lab is primarily focused on addressing questions related to the development of undergraduate biology students=92 self-

efficacy and values for quantitative skills, particularly in the context of coursework related to ecology and evolutionary biology. Graduate students are expected to develop expertise in the field of ecology and evolutionary biology through coursework while developing a research project that complements ongoing education research in the lab. There are also opportunities to conduct both biology research and education research through co-

advisement with faculty in the Department of Biological Sciences who are involved in ecology and evolutionary biology research projects.

Interested students should apply to the Integrative and Organismal Biology option within the Department of Biological Sciences. Teaching assistantships are available to support graduate students. Applications for Fall 2018 are due December 15th. However, applicants are strongly encouraged to contact Dr. Melissa Aikens (melissa.aikens@unh.edu) before applying to discuss research interests and the program.

More information about graduate studies in the Department of Biological Sciences can be found at https://colsa.unh.edu/dbs/biological-sciences-graduate-program, and the application can be accessed at this website: http://gradschool.unh.edu/apply.php

The University of New Hampshire is located in the Seacoast region of New Hampshire and offers a high quality of life. Portsmouth, located only 10 minutes away, is a small, vibrant city with outstanding restaurants and a lively arts and entertainment scene. Boston is an hour drive and accessible by Amtrak from campus. UNH=92s close proximity to both beaches (30 minutes) and the White Mountains (1.5 hours) offers numerous opportunities for both summer and winter outdoor adventures.