Marine Ecology and Ocean Acidification Research Technician opening

CSUN position – #7782
Apply at – https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2F2P6qD55&data=02%7C01%7Cmiranda.l.davis%40uconn.edu%7C75be08bf3a8a4c51170108d602c43f60%7C17f1a87e2a254eaab9df9d439034b080%7C0%7C1%7C636699439233732239&sdata=FynsRjXTSRj3kaIPom1dUeJJpvQ4C1LC9a645zlmk4Y%3D&reserved=0
Start Date: October 1, 2018
Apply by: August 26, 2018
Salary: $3103- $3300/mo, dependent upon qualifications and experience.

Applications are invited for a full-time, 12-month, technician position based at California State University, Northridge (CSUN) to support research in coral reef and rocky intertidal ecology. The successful candidate will work under the supervision of Dr. Nyssa Silbiger
(nyssa.silbiger@csun.edu) and will support research conducted mostly in California, but also possibly in Hawaii, Bermuda, and/or Moorea, French Polynesia. The primary responsibilities will be supporting all aspects of the logistics required for maintaining ocean acidification mesocosm experiments and near-shore marine research in the field. A Bachelor’s degree in marine ecology, biology, oceanography, or a related-field is required. The ideal candidate will have a Master’s degree in a field- based marine biology topic, experience maintaining mesocosm facilities for ocean acidification research, a background in seawater chemistry, an understanding of the biology/ecology of marine organisms, and strong experience with fieldwork (e.g., SCUBA diving, operating small boats, AAUS training, etc.). Candidates will be expected to pay attention to detail, problem solve, work both independently and with a diverse team of students and faculty, and have a strong work ethic. Additional preferred, but not required, qualifications include experience coding in R and writing peer-reviewed publications.

The salary includes benefits. Applicants should submit a cover letter in which they describe their research training and interests, a C.V. , and list two references on the CSUN website (see, above).

Applicants underrepresented in the sciences are highly encouraged to apply.

See nyssasilbiger.com for more information about research the Silbiger Lab.

I am seeking two graduate students (PhD preferred, MS also considered) to participate in multiple funded projects (NSF, US Fish and Wildlife, and US Forest Service) on the evolutionary ecology, and conservation of freshwater fishes. Students will develop a thesis/dissertation that builds on existing  datasets and ongoing projects involving hybrid zone dynamics in the Fundulus notatus species complex, freshwater fish assemblages in MS, and the distribution and ecology of the Pearl and Bayou Darters. In addition to traditional lab facilities, students will have access to a large ichthyological collection (>55,000 lots), 3,000 sq ft wetlab facility, an array of experimental streams, and a new high performance computing cluster for genomics work. Depending on the student’s interests and background, additional related studies will be developed, taking full advantage of the numerous opportunities available. A start date of January 2019 is anticipated, but a summer
2019 start may also be acceptable.

Applicants must have a BS or MS in ecology/environmental biology, zoology, wildlife biology, or other relevant areas. GPA and GRE scores must be competitive for admission to the graduate program. Prior experience sampling and identifying freshwater fishes is required.
Willingness and ability to work independently under potentially challenging field conditions is a must.

Review of applications will begin immediately, and continue until the position is filled. For additional information about the position, contact Jake Schaefer (jake.schaefer@usm.edu).

Available at Portland State University, Portland, Oregon: We are
seeking a highly motivated and enthusiastic MS or PhD student to work
on a National Science Foundation-funded project that uses experimental
genomics in C. elegans nematodes to study mitonuclear evolution and the
impact of sexual system on mitonuclear adaptation.

Planned start date: September 2019. Earlier, off-cycle admission will
be considered.

Project Description: Energy metabolism in nearly all eukaryotic life
forms relies on coordinated interactions among gene products encoded by
both mitochondrial and nuclear genomes, and thus depends upon
inter-genomic coevolution. Neither the processes maintaining this
coevolution nor its downstream evolutionary consequences are well
understood. These consequences were recently hypothesized to include
the evolution and maintenance of sexual reproduction. This project
leverages the expertise and resources of three research groups to
provide the direct, non-retrospective tests of major hypotheses to
explain mitonuclear genome coevolution. These hypotheses predict that
integration of the two genomes is achieved primarily by fixation of
nuclear mutations that compensate for the deleterious effects of
previously acquired mitochondrial mutations, and that this process will
favor sexual recombination among nuclear chromosomes. We will apply
experimental genomics with Caenorhabditis elegans nematodes to study
evolutionary process within the context of the mitochondrial electron
transport chain (ETC), the proper functioning of which relies on the
maintenance of favorable mitonuclear epistatic interactions. The
project will take full advantage of the powerful C. elegans system to:
1) Determine the impact of sexual system on the tempo and patterns of
mitonuclear adaptation. C. elegans strains containing deleterious
mitochondrial- and nuclear-encoded ETC mutations will undergo
laboratory adaptation in replicate populations experiencing obligate
selfing, facultative outcrossing, or obligate outcrossing. This design
also permits examination of how rates of sexual outcrossing evolve in
response to these conditions. 2) Determine the evolutionary dynamics,
functional characteristics and sex-specific effects of individual
mitonuclear mutations. Genomic, bioinformatic and phenotypic analyses
will determine the molecular bases and functional underpinnings of
mitochondrial and nuclear mutations available to mask the effects of
deleterious ETC mutations, and reveal the relationship between rates of
outcrossing and mitonuclear adaptation.

Location: This project will be conducted under the direct supervision
of Dr. Suzanne Estes with co-supervision from Drs. Vaishali Katju and
Ulfar Bergthorsson (Texas A&M University) and based at the Department
of Biology at Portland State University, located in the heart of
downtown Portland, Oregon. The PSU Biology Department, which houses the
Center for Life in Extreme Environments (CLEE), has 21 research faculty
and over 65 graduate students. Our faculty strive to take an
integrative approach to biology, encompassing all levels of biological
organization from molecules to ecosystems. We collaborate and share
facilities with other science departments and with research faculty at
Oregon Health & Science University, a medical school and teaching
hospital located adjacent to PSU. This close proximity helps to foster
interdisciplinary research and creates a vibrant research culture that
ensures support and training for the next generation of evolutionary
biologist.

Requirements: We are looking for a biology graduate who has a strong
interest in evolutionary and molecular biology. Some practical
experience in molecular, bioinformatic and/or C. elegans husbandry
techniques is highly desired, but additional training will be provided.
The successful candidate will be enthusiastic, highly motivated,
independent, and have a relevant bachelor’s degree. The applicant
must meet standard Portland State University graduate admissions and
language requirements, details of which can be found here:
https://www.pdx.edu/graduate-admissions/apply. Note: ONLY US citizen or
permanent resident applicants are eligible for this studentship.

Funding Notes: The successful candidate will receive a full studentship
including tuition, fees and an annual living stipend of $24,000 for up
to 4 years for PhD students. Funds will also be available for research
expenses and conference travel. Support beyond this time period may be
available through a PSU departmental Teaching Assistantship.

Deadlines and Contact: The deadline for application is *February 1,
2019*; however, earlier admission may be possible. Please contact Dr.
Suzanne Estes at estess@pdx.edu with informal enquiries.

Suzanne Estes, PhD
LSAMP Program Director
Associate Professor of Biology
Portland State University
Portland, OR 97201
LSAMP phone: 503.725.2422
Biology phone: 503.725.8782

Suzanne Estes <estess@pdx.edu>

A position is open for a graduate student (Master’s or PhD level) to join Dr. Allie Gardner’s lab in the School of Biology and Ecology at the University of Maine (Orono, ME) in January or June 2019. Our lab studies the ecology and dynamics of infectious diseases that are transmitted by arthropod vectors. Supported by a new USDA Resilient Agroecosystems in a Changing Climate grant, the research topic will address the impacts of forest management practices on wildlife communities, blacklegged tick abundance, and tick-borne disease transmission dynamics. The project will use an integrated lab/field research approach, providing opportunities to develop scientific skills that may include but are not limited to experimental design, GIS and spatial analysis, mathematical modeling, and molecular techniques. The student will interact closely with a diverse team of natural and social scientists in the UMaine College of Natural Sciences, Forestry, and Agriculture and the U.S. Forest Service, and students and faculty in a growing One Health and the Environment group at UMaine.
Members of the lab also regularly engage in scientific outreach and research partnerships with private landowners, citizen scientists, and conservation organizations.

The student will be supported by a combination of Research Assistant and Teaching Assistant positions, both of which include a 12-month stipend, tuition waiver, and 50% health insurance coverage. The student may be admitted through the program in 1) Ecology and Environmental Science, 2) Entomology, or 3) Zoology depending upon her/his interests and professional goals. Prior to submitting an application to the UMaine Graduate School, please send inquiries to Dr. Allie Gardner (allison.gardner@maine.edu) with a cover letter discussing your interest in graduate study in ecology and relevant coursework and research experience; a CV including GPA and GRE scores (if available); and names and email contacts for three references. I look forward to hearing from you!

Allison M. Gardner, PhD
School of Biology and Ecology
University of Maine
5722 Deering Hall
Orono, ME 04469

Graduate Assistant Position at the University of Maryland, College Park

The EspíndoLab has an opening for a Graduate Assistant position, with a potential start date in the Fall semester 2019. The lab is interested in understanding the effect of the environment on inter-species interactions and communities. To do so, we combine geospatial, phylogenetic and phylogeographic, and ecological approaches. One of the current foci in our work is seeking to understand how changes in the biotic and abiotic environments affect and have affected through historical and geological times the gain, loss, and maintenance of specialized pollination interactions, and the structure of communities.
Work in our lab has spanned many taxa (from plants, to insects, to snails, and millipedes) and large spatial scales (with field sites in South America, Europe, and North America).

The Department of Entomology at the University of Maryland, College Park
(https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=www.entomology.umd.edu&amp;data=02%7C01%7Cmiranda.l.davis%40uconn.edu%7Cc85084c32b384c8ace2608d6024b5546%7C17f1a87e2a254eaab9df9d439034b080%7C0%7C0%7C636698919909746039&amp;sdata=E7DPwnY8RWGkyXpCP60ZkppA7A7pHo8Q7Kv6mdiH6ZA%3D&amp;reserved=0) is housed in the Colleges of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences (CMNS) and Agriculture and Natural Resources (AGNR). The Department stands out for its state-of-the-art science, its collegiality, diversity, and inclusiveness. The Department is in suburban Maryland, in the Washington D.C. area, offering opportunities of collaborations with many of the research and teaching institutions present in the region. The location gives unique access to cultural and recreational activities available both in the city and the surrounding region. The University of Maryland, College Park is considered a “Public Ivy-League”, ranked among the 50 top Universities in the world, and offers an excellent educational, cultural, and recreational environment to work, study, and live.

We are seeking a motivated, independent, and creative Graduate Assistant to join our lab. The ideal candidate holds a Master’s degree (or equivalent), has experience in independent research, and is interested in joining a dynamic and collaborative working environment. Women and members of minority groups are encouraged to apply. If interested, email a motivation letter, your CV, and contact information of two references to Prof. Anahí Espíndola (anahiesp[at]umd.edu). Applications received before September 28th, 2018 will be fully considered, and the selected candidates will be invited to apply to the Department’s Graduate program. Application and acceptance by the University of Maryland Graduate program is required. For questions, email Prof. Espíndola (anahiesp[at]umd.edu).

The University of Maryland, College Park, an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action; all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, physical or mental disability, protected veteran status, age, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, creed, marital status, political affiliation, personal appearance, or on the basis of rights secured by the First Amendment, in all aspects of employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.

Learn about the lab: https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fanahiespindola.github.io&amp;data=02%7C01%7Cmiranda.l.davis%40uconn.edu%7Cc85084c32b384c8ace2608d6024b5546%7C17f1a87e2a254eaab9df9d439034b080%7C0%7C0%7C636698919909756047&amp;sdata=5OdhRRoXikHZN6wt6CpIqdd2tfgF8Op%2Fy%2F9eGPcKvfA%3D&amp;reserved=0

Contact: Prof. Anahí Espíndola, anahiesp[at]umd.edu

he Kettenring Wetland Ecology Lab in the Department of Watershed Sciences and the Ecology Center at Utah State University has openings for 1-2 M.S. graduate students starting fall 2018 or spring 2019.
Projects will focus on techniques for seed-based wetland restoration; variation in functional traits among seed sources; and predictive modeling for wetland revegetation.  All projects will focus on Great Salt Lake wetlands and will be under the guidance of Dr. Karin Kettenring (https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fkarinkettenring.weebly.com%2F&amp;data=02%7C01%7Cmiranda.l.davis%40uconn.edu%7C9ce4f39fa3774e7208df08d6024b5a0f%7C17f1a87e2a254eaab9df9d439034b080%7C0%7C0%7C636698919992077708&amp;sdata=ormfyI9xWKt5BhgZsOlSKKcVjq94AbASxLb9pfa7AaY%3D&amp;reserved=0), whose research focuses on plant ecology and genetics, wetland restoration, and invasive species ecology and management.  Students with a background and interest in seed ecology, plant propagation, climate change and wetlands, genetic diversity, or predictive modeling for restoration are particularly encouraged to apply.  Interested candidates should email Dr. Kettenring
(karin.kettenring@usu.edu) with their transcripts (unofficial okay), GRE scores, a statement of research interests, and a resume or CV.  Review of applicants will begin August 27, 2018, and continue until the position is filled.  Utah State University is located in picturesque Logan, UT, a community of 100,000 people situated 85 miles north of Salt Lake City.  Logan has a low cost of living and is located in a semi- rural mountain basin with nearby ski resorts, wetlands, lakes, rivers, and mountains that provide unparalleled recreational opportunities.

Subject: field/lab tech at Kellogg Biological Station, MI

We are looking for a technician to help with field and laboratory work at Kellogg Biological Station (Hickory Corners, MI, https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=www.kbs.msu.edu&amp;data=02%7C01%7Cmiranda.l.davis%40uconn.edu%7Cd643ca839a5d4da2e1a708d5fb01f0e3%7C17f1a87e2a254eaab9df9d439034b080%7C0%7C0%7C636690908111741378&amp;sdata=on9yHBjnpdgUUHK1QpfePiU5rC9p23cVPyYRNieDaeg%3D&amp;reserved=0). The position is in the Evans Lab, where research is focused on soil and plant microbial ecology. The position would start immediately and last through October, with a minimum of 15 hours/week and ideally 30. This position also could be extended to a full-time position for up to 9 months. Activities through October consist of about 1 day of the week sampling outside in agricultural plots, collecting plant and soil samples, and at least one other day helping weigh and process samples in a scientific laboratory. Pay is $11/hour, with opportunities for raises. The best candidate would have some experience doing field work or laboratory work (especially using soils, biogeochemistry, or molecular techniques), and a degree in a relevant field, but those with an interest in ecology or biology, hard work ethic, and solid references will be considered. If you are interested in this
position: please send an email to vande591@msu.edu (Subject: “KBS hourly tech”) with a brief paragraph about why you are interested in the position and a CV or resume with two listed references. If you are considered, we will follow up with a brief phone or in person interview, and start the position as soon as possible. We are reviewing applicants now, so please contact us as soon as possible.