PhD POSITION IN SPATIAL ECOLOGY AND LANDSCAPE PLANNING

The Spatial Community Ecology Laboratory at Utah State University
(http://www.eddhammill.com/) is seeking PhD applicants to undertake research in the field of spatial ecology and conservation planning.
Current areas of interest include – 1) Can we inform the design of road, rail and pipelines to minimize their impacts on biodiveristy 2) Should conservation actions be undertaken in areas experiencing armed conflict.
3) How should local and global threats be incorporated into marine conservation planning 4) Balancing conservation and restoration to most effectively reach management goal. Candidates with other specific research interests are encouraged to suggest projects in their application.

Initial funding for tuition and salary will be through a Quinney PhD Scholarship, which covers the first two years. Candidates contact myself initially and then we apply together for the fellowship. Candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for external fellowships through the NSF and other sources. Candidates will be provided extensive support with the application process. Starting salaries are $18,700 for a PhD. In addition, successful candidates will have the opportunity to work as teaching assistants to supplement their starting salaries.
The successful candidate will have access to a well-equipped laboratory, and be provided with access to a high performance desktop computer.  The research group has strong ties to collaborators Canada and Australia and extended visits are encouraged. A knowledge of the statistical programming package R, Marxan, and/or ArcGIS be looked upon favorably.
Candidates with experience in spatial optimization and/or simulated annealing are especially encouraged.

Utah State University (http://www.usu.edu) is a Research I (Extensive
Doctoral) land-grant institution with a student body of over 24,000, 42 departments, 8 academic colleges, a school of Graduate Studies, and diverse research programs. The main campus is located in Logan, a community of 100,000 people. Logan is 85 miles north of Salt Lake City in scenic Cache Valley, a semi-rural mountain basin with nearby ski resorts, lakes, rivers, and mountains providing many recreational opportunities. The area has a low cost of living and provides a high quality of life.  For more information on Logan see http://www.tourcachevalley.com.

Please contact Edd Hammill (edd.hammill@usu.edu, 435 265 5964) for more information or to submit application materials (CV, cover letter, any publications, details of their research interests). Initial review of applications will begin 30th Jan 2018.

Edd Hammill’s google scholar page –
https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=THOE6q0AAAAJ&hl=en

Recent paper on conservation and armed conflict –
https://www.nature.com/articles/ncomms11042

The Integrative Wildlife Conservation (Murray) lab at Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, is offering a PhD project to assess responses to climate change among native species in Canada’s boreal forest. The boreal forest comprises Canada’s largest biome but its state is rapidly deteriorating, including due to climate change. Our recent findings (Row et al. 2012 Glob. Chan. Biol doi:10.1111/gcb.12526; Murray et al. 2017 PLoS
(ONE) 12(5) e0176706) forecast dire consequences to the boreal forest especially in the boundary region between Ontario-Quebec where disjunct east-west populations of native plants, birds, and mammals, and extensive loss of native biodiversity, likely will arise. Through field sampling, species distribution modeling, population viability analysis, and/or landscape genetics and adaptive genomics, the PhD student will determine: 1) the current and potential future extent of change in boreal species in the Ontario-Quebec region relative to less-impacted areas; 2) how boreal breakdown may affect population processes and viability of native species in the region; 3) whether invasives are colonizing the region disproportionately quickly compared to other regions; and 4) if native or invasive species in the region demonstrate genome-level evidence of stress or adaptation to environmental change. The PhD student will have the opportunity to develop specific research questions within the scope of the larger project.

The funding package includes a competitive stipend, foreign tuition waiver (if the student is not a Canadian citizen or permanent resident) as well coverage of all research expenses. Successful candidates will have an MSc in Ecology, Conservation Biology, or related field, demonstrated evidence of peer-reviewed publications, strong quantitative, genetics, and/or field skills, and an interest in working collaboratively as part of a larger group. The PhD student will join the Integrative Wildlife Conservation laboratory at Trent University (www.dennismurray.ca) and be part of an interdisciplinary team addressing innovative solutions to environmental change (www.create-enviro.ca).

To apply, please send a cover letter, curriculum vitae, unofficial academic transcript, and contact information for 3 references, to: Dennis Murray (dennislmurray@gmail.com). Application deadline is Feb 16th, but review of applications will begin immediately and continue until a suitable candidate is found. Applicants are strongly encouraged to apply early.

The Wilds is one of the largest and most innovative conservation centers in the world, offering diverse training programs for early career professionals.  The Wilds has nearly 10,000 acres of reclaimed mineland and remnant forest patches which present opportunities for ecological restoration and research. Six month positions available starting February 2018.

Apprentices gain hands-on experience, participate vegetation and wildlife studies and receive field training on a variety of ecological studies in wetland, forest, stream & grassland habitats.  Apprentices will have the opportunity to develop their own independent research project involving field, lab, and/or computer modeling components.

For more information and to apply, please visit:
https://columbuszoo.org/job-results/wilds/internship

Please include in your cover letter what you would hope to gain from the position, why you want to learn about restoration ecology, and how your past experience makes you an ideal candidate.

Doctoral Fellowships available for entering Ph.D. students in
Environmental and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Louisiana

We will be awarding University of Louisiana and Board of Regents
Fellowships to qualified applicants entering the doctoral program in Fall
2018. UL Fellowships are awarded for 3-4 year terms and no teaching is
required in the first or last years, while BoR Fellows are funded for 4
years and have no formal teaching duties; fellows may qualify for Teaching
Assistantships following the completion of the fellowship term. Stipends
are up to $30,000 per year (plus a tuition waiver). Eligibility
requirements include US citizenship (or permanent residency) or a
prior degree from a US institution. Potential applicants are strongly
encouraged to directly contact prospective advisors. Faculty contact
information and research interests can be found at our departmental web
site (http://biology.louisiana.edu/). More information about the graduate
program can be found at http://biology.louisiana.edu/programs/graduate.

Scott C. France france@louisiana.edu
Graduate Admissions Coordinator
Department of Biology
University of Louisiana at Lafayette

Graduate Research Assistant (PhD) – Marine Molecular Ecology at Old
Dominion University

The Department of Biological Sciences at Old Dominion University, a
“Doctoral Research – Extensive” state university, has an opening for
a PhD Graduate Research Assistant in marine molecular ecology. The
appointment will begin in the summer or fall semester of 2018. This
position involves participation in an NSF-funded PIRE (Partnerships for
International Research and Education) Project to examine genetic and
species-level changes in marine biodiversity over the past century
of intense fisheries exploitation and habitat degradation in the
Philippines. The successful candidate will be expected to live in the
Philippines during summer sessions to conduct research in the field and
laboratory in a collaborative, multinational setting. Applicants must
have a bachelor???s or master???s degree at the time of employment,
and demonstrate interest or experience in molecular ecology, population
genomics, marine phylogeography, or a closely related field. Competitive
applicants will have some experience conducting molecular ecology research
in the field and/or laboratory; AAUS Scientific Diver certification is
desired. Underrepresented minorities are particularly encouraged to apply.

Interested applicants should send an email to Kristene Parsons
(kparsons@odu.edu) that includes (1) a cover letter describing your
interest in the position, prior research, and future career goals, (2)
your curriculum vitae, (3) a copy of your college transcript(s), and (4)
the names, telephone numbers, and addresses (postal and email) of three
references. Review of applications will begin in February, 2018 and will
continue until a suitable candidate is found. For more information about
the department, other faculty and students, please see the websites of the
Department of Biological Sciences (http://www.odu.edu/biosci) and Kent
Carpenter (http://www.odu.edu/directory/people/k/kcarpent). Additional
information on the Philippine PIRE Project can be found at
https://sites.wp.odu.edu/PIRE/. AA/EOE/M/F/Disability/VETS/Drug Free.

Kristene T. Parsons
NSF PIRE Project Administrator
Department of Biological Sciences
Old Dominion University
Norfolk, VA 23529-0266 USA

kparsons@odu.edu | 757-683-3481

“Parsons, Kristene” <kparsons@odu.edu>

Graduate positions (M.Sc. and Ph.D.) are available in the Atallah Lab (https://sites.google.com/view/atallahlab) in the Biological Sciences Department at the University of New Orleans (UNO). We are currently looking for students interested in working on the evolution of the early embryonic transcriptome in Drosophila species. Embryonic transcriptomes from diverse species can be readily compared due to similarities in embryonic stages. We are analyzing transcriptomes from different stages of early embryogenesis in flies. Students interested in this project should be prepared for molecular lab work, bioinformatic analysis and field collection of samples.
Interested students should send an email to jatallah@uno.edu<mailto:jatallah@uno.edu>. Please include a brief description of your background (or a CV or resume), and mention why you’re excited about this project.
The University of New Orleans is a public research university and part of the University of Louisiana system. New Orleans is a diverse and historic city with a vibrant culture.

Joel Atallah, Ph.D.
Assistant professor
202 Biology Building
Department of Biological Sciences
University of New Orleans
New Orleans, LA 70148
(504) 280-7057
https://sites.google.com/view/atallahlab

2018 SEASONAL VEGETATION MONITORING TECHNICIANS – Ely, NV

The Eastern Nevada Landscape Coalition (ENLC) is currently seeking vegetation monitoring technicians for our upcoming 2018 field season.
Located in Ely, Nevada, the ENLC is a non-profit conservation organization comprised of public, private, and non-profit partners dedicated to the restoration of Western ecosystems through collaborative teamwork. The ENLC conducts a variety of vegetation/wildlife monitoring projects throughout Nevada and surrounding states. We are requesting applications for a minimum of two to three (2-3) vegetation monitoring technicians to work out of our main office in Ely, NV.

VEGETATION MONITORING TECHNICIAN DUTIES: Field technicians’ primary responsibility will be to collect post-fire vegetation response data in burned areas on public lands managed by the BLM as part of the Emergency Stabilization and Rehabilitation (ES&R) program. Data collected will be used to evaluate the effectiveness of post wildfire rehabilitation treatments.
Technicians will be responsible for driving (in company vehicles) and hiking to sampling locations, following rigorous sampling protocols for data collection, data quality control and data entry.

Field work will involve driving on and navigating backcountry dirt roads, hiking and navigating potentially long distances off trail, establishing and monitoring plots using the BLM’s Assessment, Inventory, and Monitoring (AIM) strategy, all while camping in the backcountry for 4-8 days at a time, sometimes in adverse weather conditions.

Other duties include data entry using the Database for Inventory, Monitoring, and Assessment (DIMA), collecting herbarium quality plant specimens, identifying plants to species in both a field and office setting, operating 4WD vehicles, communicating effectively in a small crew setting, and operating safely in sometimes harsh and stressful field conditions.

LOCATION: Ely is centrally located in the Great Basin and offers numerous outdoor recreation opportunities. Hiking, backpacking, rock climbing, bouldering, backcountry skiing, mountain biking, disc golf, fishing and hunting opportunities abound near the town of 4,200 people. Over 20 separate BLM and USFS designated wilderness areas occur within three hours of Ely, and several national parks, including Great Basin (60 miles), Zion, Bryce Canyon, Yosemite, and Grand Canyon National Parks, are located within a six hour drive. In addition to outdoor opportunities, urban centers such as Salt Lake City and Las Vegas are only a four hour drive. For outdoor enthusiasts and adventure seekers, Ely is a perfect place to experience.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE: Applicants should have graduated from a program in biological sciences, ecology, natural resources or a related field. The ideal applicant will have experience in plant identification and a general knowledge of plant taxonomy.

Applicants should be able to hike 2-10 miles a day while carrying a pack with field equipment, and be comfortable with truck camping in the backcountry for up to 8 days at a time in sometimes harsh weather conditions. Preferred applicants will be experienced with 4WD vehicles, GPS navigation, have had a clean driving record for the past 3 years, and are passionate about the outdoors.

COMPENSATION: $15-$16/hour depending on experience (plus $34/day per diem when camping)

SCHEDULE:  Positions will begin in late April and continue through late August to September as needed. Work will occur on an 8-days-on/6-days-off schedule (10-hour days).

Applicants should email a cover letter, resume, and the contact information for at least three references to Patrick Hellmann at phellmann@envlc.org.
All materials should be emailed by February 9th, 2018.

For more information, please visit our website (http://www.envlc.org) or email any questions to Patrick Hellmann at phellmann@envlc.org.

A PhD position is available in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Toronto to study lake food webs in Algonquin Park, Ontario beginning in September 2018. The project aims to apply stable isotopes, fatty acids, netting survey data and hydroacoustic assessment to quantify the niche diversity of lake whitefish in lakes with either Mysis diluviana or Chaoborus punctipennis as diel vertical migrators.

The student will be co-supervised by Bailey McMeans (University of Toronto,
Mississauga) and Mark Ridgway (OMNRF, Harkness Laboratory of Fisheries Research). Previous aquatic field experience, successful completion of an MSc in Ecology and Canadian PR or citizenship status is preferred, but not required to apply. Please send a cover letter detailing your research background and interests, unofficial transcript and CV with reference contacts to bailey.mcmeans@utoronto.ca before January 31, 2018.

2018 Field Research Technician: Climate Change and Herbivore Effects on Plant Communities

Position description: The Field Technician will directly manage a long-term climate warming experiment on early successional plant communities in Michigan, USA. The goal of the experiment is to quantify the single and interactive effects of climate warming and insect herbivory on plant communities through time. The Field Technician would oversee two experimental sites, to ensure their proper functioning and record long-term ecological data on plants, insects, and climate. The two sites are located at: Kellogg Biological Station Long-Term Ecological Research site (KBS LTER), in Hickory Corners, Michigan, and the University of Michigan Biological Station (UMBS) in Pellston, Michigan. The individual will work directly under Dr. Phoebe Zarnetske to determine the experiment’s management needs, and will be based at one or both of the sites throughout the summer.
Responsibilities include field data collection, data entry, applying insecticide treatments twice monthly during the growing season, and maintaining the experiment infrastructure.
Preference will be given to individuals with experience in ecological field work with plants and/or insects. Position is available for 1 field season (March – early October 2018) with potential for extension, based on performance and funding.
​
For the full position description including eligibility and application see:
http://communityecologylab.weebly.com/opportunities.html.

Deadline: Applications will be considered until February 1, 2018, or until the position has been filled. Applicants are encouraged to apply as early as possible.