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&data=02%7C01%7Cmiranda.l.davis%40uconn.edu%7C9ce4f39fa3774e7208df08d6024b5a0f%7C17f1a87e2a254eaab9df9d439034b080%7C0%7C0%7C636698919992077708&sdata=ormfyI9xWKt5BhgZsOlSKKcVjq94AbASxLb9pfa7AaY%3D&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.
Graduate Assistantship in Forest Ecology, Univ. of Maine.
Graduate Assistantship (Forest Ecology) Available, University of Maine: The School of Forest Resources, University of Maine, is seeking highly motivated doctoral student to participate in research addressing one or more of the following: (1) Identify the factors ‒ including climate metrics ‒ that best explain temporal variability in stand-level productivity; (2) Examine forest stand dynamics using long-term permanent plots and dendrochronology methods; (3) Characterize carbon and nitrogen dynamics of decaying wood in field decomposition experiments; (4) Improve forest carbon accounting methods, particularly regarding CO2 fluxes from dead wood. Much of this work will take place at the Howland Research Forest in central Maine. Howland Forest has the second longest running eddy-flux tower in the U.S., and it provides long-term data and a well-established research infrastructure.
This assistantship provides funding at approximately $20,000/year, 50% of health insurance paid, and a tuition waiver for 19 credits/year. Operating support is also available.
Qualifications: The ideal candidate would have solid quantitative skills, strong field and laboratory skills, and a demonstrated ability to conduct independent research. High levels of intellectual curiosity and self-motivation are essential. Position open until filled; however, an ideal start date would be January, 2019. If interested, please send a CV attached to a message briefly explaining your background and research interests to shawn.fraver@maine.edu.
PhD student and post-doc positions in parasite ecology
PHD STUDENT AND POST-DOC POSTDOC POSITIONS IN PARASITE ECOLOGY:
Decomposing the effects of diversity on the abundance of marine parasites
Decomposing the effects of diversity on the abundance of marine parasites
As Earth’s ecosystems experience rapid biodiversity change, disease ecologists have turned to an urgent question: how might reductions in biodiversity affect the transmission of parasites? In other words, does biodiversity loss increase the abundance of parasites by eroding natural checks and balances on transmission? Or does it decrease parasite abundance by removing the free-living biodiversity on which parasites depend?
In a new project funded by NSF’s Biological Oceanography Program (NSF/GEO/OCE), the Wood Lab at the University of Washington is addressing this question by quantifying the relationship between fish biodiversity and parasite abundance across 18 replicate coral reef ecosystems of the central equatorial Pacific (Northern Line Islands, Southern Line Islands, French Polynesia). Not only will we explore whether reductions in fish biodiversity are associated with increases or decreases in parasite burdens, but we will also assess whether particular parasite and host traits and the spatial scale of the study influence the direction and strength of this relationship. The theories we propose to test are among the most important and controversial in the rapidly growing field of disease ecology and our lab is new and growing fast – read about this and other ongoing projects on our website and check out our recent publications for more details.
We seek to hire two creative, accomplished, driven parasite ecologists:
1. PhD Student – The PhD Student will join a vibrant community of aquatic scientists at the UW School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences in Seattle, WA, with a start date of September 2019. The research goals of this position will include assessing the direction and shape of the relationship between biodiversity and parasite abundance across dozens of parasite taxa and assessing how spatial scale interacts with parasite dispersal capacity to moderate the effects of biodiversity on parasite abundance. The PhD Student will primarily work with fish specimens that will have already been collected, though there may be opportunities for field work. Applicants must have a background or demonstrated interest in disease ecology, parasite ecology, or host-parasite interactions. Prior experience identifying parasites of fishes is not required, but would be advantageous. To be considered for this position, prospective PhD students must apply to the graduate program of the UW School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences. Prospective students should make contact with Chelsea well ahead of the formal graduate program application deadline of 15 December 2018. Please send an e-mail to chelwood@uw.edu summarizing your research experience and professional goals and attach a CV.
2. Postdoctoral Scholar – The Postdoctoral Scholar will join a vibrant community of aquatic scientists at the UW School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences in Seattle, WA, with a negotiable start date between September 2019 and January 2020.The research goals of this position will include determining what factors (e.g., parasite traits like transmission strategy and host specificity, host traits like body size) influence the direction and shape of the relationship between biodiversity and parasite abundance. The Postdoctoral Scholar will primarily work with specimens that will have already been collected, though there may be opportunities for field work. Applicants must have a background in disease ecology, parasite ecology, or host-parasite interactions. Prior experience identifying parasites of fishes is not required, but would be advantageous. Applicants should expect to have a PhD in hand before the start date. This position is funded for one year, with possibility of extension to a second year given satisfactory progress. Interested applicants should send the following as a single pdf: (1) CV, (2) contact information for three references, and (3) a brief (< 2 pages) statement of research interests, as they relate to this position.
All applications will be evaluated based on past research productivity, alignment of applicant’s research interests with the objectives of the Wood Lab, and the individual’s potential to excel as an independent researcher. Questions about these positions may be addressed to Dr. Chelsea Wood (chelwood@uw.edu).
—
Chelsea L. Wood, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
University of Washington
School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences
Box 355020
Seattle, WA 98195-5020
cell: +1-831-324-3076
chelwood@uw.edu
www.chelsealwood.com
Chelsea L. Wood, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
University of Washington
School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences
Box 355020
Seattle, WA 98195-5020
cell: +1-831-324-3076
chelwood@uw.edu
www.chelsealwood.com
field/lab tech at Kellogg Biological Station, MI
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&data=02%7C01%7Cmiranda.l.davis%40uconn.edu%7Cd643ca839a5d4da2e1a708d5fb01f0e3%7C17f1a87e2a254eaab9df9d439034b080%7C0%7C0%7C636690908111741378&sdata=on9yHBjnpdgUUHK1QpfePiU5rC9p23cVPyYRNieDaeg%3D&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.
LavalU.2.VolResAssist.MothBehaviour
From: <evoldir@evol.biology.mcmaster.ca>
Subject: Other: LavalU.2.VolResAssist.MothBehaviour
Date: August 4, 2018 at 2:01:47 AM EDT
To: <diggle@spot.colorado.edu>
Reply-To: <brian@helix.biology.mcmaster.ca>
VOLUNTEER RESEARCH ASSISTANT: FLIGHT BEHAVIOR AND EVOLUTION OF GYPSY
MOTHS
Two short-term volunteer research assistant opportunities (September
5-25, 2018) are available under the direction of Dr. Ilga Porth (Laval
University), representing the chance to work with regulated invasive
gypsy moths (Lymantria dispar spp.) in a USDA quarantine facility in
Connecticut (USA)*. The assistants will live in a dormitory at the
quarantine facility, and will perform moth maintenance and collection
of female flight behavior data under laboratory conditions. Following
data collection, they will have the option to participate in subsequent
data analyses geared towards gypsy moth behavior, morphometrics,
population genetics, or evolution. Travel to the quarantine facility
(from Canada or USA), living expenses, and a daily stipend will be
provided.
To apply, please email Gwylim Blackburn (gwylim.blackburn@gmail.com)
with a brief message outlining your interest in the project and an
attached CV that lists 2 references. Review of applications will occur
as they arrive. The successful candidate for this position will require
a passport valid for travel in the USA.
*PROJECT DETAILS:
Gypsy moths (Lymantria) are a group of plant defoliators adapted to a
wide variety of deciduous and coniferous hosts. During population
outbreaks, gypsy moth larvae can cause widespread forest damage. Adult
female flight capacity represents a key dispersal limitation and
therefore a crucial trait determining our ability to monitor and
regulate the spread of gypsy moth populations. Currently, a single
introduced species featuring limited female flight capacity (L. dispar
dispar) is established throughout eastern USA and Canada. The
persistent arrival of female-flight-capable gypsy moth species on ships
and cargo at North American trading ports represents an important
invasion threat, in terms of their potential for successful
establishment or hybridization with local moths. The present research
aims to develop genetic markers capable of identifying the species,
origin, and female flight capacity of gypsy moths, and to explore the
genetic architecture and evolution of flight in this group.
Gwylim Blackburn <gwylim.blackburn@gmail.com>
MS position (prairie restoration and environmental education) to start September 2018
Funded Masters Student position in prairie restoration and environmental education
Eastern Washington University, Biology Department
We are recruiting a M.S. student to work on a funded project on prairie restoration at Eastern Washington University beginning in September 2018 (this fall). The position is to work on EWU’s Palouse Prairie Region Restoration, in which 150 acres of University land will be converted from wheat production to native Palouse prairie vegetation. The position is funded for one year through an environmental education grant. Duties of this position include assisting and coordinating environmental education and community outreach activities, including field trips to Palouse remnants and the restoration site, collecting background data on the restoration site, cultivating native plants for the restoration, and drafting interpretative signs about the project. Community participants will range in age from pre-school to seniors. Planting of the restoration will begin in fall 2019.
Current funding for the position includes a stipend for one year, including summer, and tuition waiver for Washington State residents (out-of-state tuition would be about $5000 per quarter after the waiver). Health insurance and benefits are included. Students would be encouraged to apply for Graduate Service Appointments for a second year of funding.
Eastern Washington University is located ~15 minutes from Spokane, WA in the beautiful Inland Northwest, with a diversity of nearby natural habitats and outdoor recreational opportunities, including the Selkirk Range of the Rocky Mountains. EWU’s Biology M.S. students have a broad range of interests, but many focus on ecology or natural resource management. Many of our graduates work in natural resource management or continue to Ph.D. programs.
Those interested in the position should send a letter of interest and CV or resume to Justin Bastow (jbastow@ewu.edu) or Robin O’Quinn (roquinn@ewu.edu) ASAP (no later than August 17, 2018).
More information about the Biology M.S. program, including faculty, current students, curriculum, and application procedures can be found at:
http://www.ewu.edu/CSHE/Programs/Biology/Biology-Degrees/MS-Biology.xml
http://www.ewu.edu/CSHE/Programs/Biology/Biology-Degrees/MS-Biology.xml
More information about EWU Biology faculty, including research interests, can be found at:http://www.ewu.edu/cstem/programs/biology/biology-faculty-and-staff
PhD position: Biodiversity and community ecology of coastal marine ecosystems (Univ. of Virginia)
PhD opportunity: Biodiversity and community ecology of coastal marine ecosystems (University of Virginia)
The Castorani Lab at the University of Virginia is recruiting
one
Ph
D
student to study
the biodiversity and community ecology of shallow marine ecosystems in coastal Virginia. The s
tudent will be advised by
professor
Max Castorani (https://castorani.evsc.virginia.edu/)
, and
join UVA’s highly interdisciplinary Department of Environmental Sciences (http://www.evsc.virginia.edu/)
and collaborative
Virginia Coast Reserve Long-Term Ecological Research program (https://www.vcrlter.virginia.edu/)
.
The student will undertake observational and experimental field studies of benthic invertebrate and fish assemblages in temperate coastal ecosystems
, as well as analyze existing long-term community data
. Focal study habitats include
seagrass meadows, oyster reefs,
and
salt marshes
within the
c
oastal lagoon
–barrier island system of Virginia’s Eastern Shore. The student will have opportunities to contribute to highly collaborative long-term studies in the Virginia Coast Reserve and Santa Barbara Coastal (http://sbc.lternet.edu/) LTER programs.
Although research in the Castorani Lab is primarily motivated by fundamental ecological questions, there are opportunities for applied research related to coastal habitat restoration (seagrass
, kelp, oysters
) and commercial aquaculture (oysters
,
clams).
At the time of enrollment, highly-qualified applicants will have an undergraduate or master’s degree in biology, ecology, fisheries, or a related field.
Ideal
candidates
will have
e
xperience in
field ecology, ideally
having carried out experiments with
in
marine or aquatic
ecosystems
; knowledge of the biology of marine organisms; strong quantitative
skills
; and data
analysis experience
using
R.
UVA has a highly interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Environmental Sciences (http://www.evsc.virginia.edu/academics/graduate/), offering training and conducting research in ecology, geosciences, hydrology, and atmospheric sciences. Graduate students accepted into the program are typically supported through a mixture of teaching assistantships and research assistantships that
provide
a competitive
stipend
,
tuition,
and
health insurance
.
Those interested should send
(
1
) a brief description of their background, career goals, motivations for pursuing a graduate degree, research ideas, and why they are specifically interested in joining the Castorani Lab; (
2
) a CV with academic and professional experience (including GPA
);
(3
) contact information for 2–3 references; and (4) a writing sample.
The
application deadline is January 15, 201
9
for enrollment in Fall 201
9
, however
serious
applicants should express their interest as soon as possible.
Fall internship with the Center for Conservation Innovation at Defenders of Wildlife
Subject: Fall internship with the Center for Conservation Innovation at Defenders of Wildlife
Defenders of Wildlife welcomes applicants to intern with the Center for Conservation Innovation this fall! Applicants are encouraged to apply by August 15 (extended deadline) for best consideration. The internship is unpaid, but we encourage students to seek funding or course credit opportunities through their schools or outside sources.
CENTER FOR CONSERVATION INNOVATION INTERN
The internship is an opportunity for an advanced college, graduate, or post-graduate student to work with CCI and other Defenders staff at the interface of science and national conservation policy. In this position, the intern may help collect and analyze large spatial and non-spatial datasets, create published reports, scientific articles, web applications, and maps related to the conservation of species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Skill development will vary with the specific project, but the intern will generally have the opportunity to gain a deep understanding of how the ESA is implemented in practice and experience in programming, conservation data and policy science, statistical analyses, GIS, remote sensing, scientific writing and creating interactive data visualizations.
Two internship tracks are available:
Policy and species conservation status – This track will involve projects that focus on ESA regulations and their effectiveness in recovering threatened and endangered species. The intern will learn to assess and analyze ESA documents (e.g., species listings, species status assessments, species 5-year reviews, biological opinions), evaluate species biological needs and conservation status, conduct statistical analyses and create online tools for visualizing data. Projects will aim to measure policy effectiveness and develop recommendations to improve species conservation.
Geospatial analysis and conservation tool development – This track will involve projects that focus on technical advances to creating, analyzing, and presenting spatial conservation data. The intern will learn and refine their geospatial and programming skills by assisting with the development of new approaches, algorithms and tools to quantify and map the status and distribution of species and their habitats.
Projects aim to measure and evaluate policy effectiveness and compliance in conserving species and their habitat on-the-ground.
Graduate student opening (Ph.D./M.S.) – Population and Community Ecology
Subject: Graduate student opening (Ph.D./M.S.) – Population and Community Ecology
Graduate student opening (Ph.D./M.S.) – Population and Community Ecology
The Kramer laboratory in the Department of Integrative Biology at the University of South Florida is seeking motivated graduate students (Ph.D. or
M.S.) to study the dynamics of extinction, species invasions, and/or species coexistence. The lab uses a combination of laboratory and field experiments, quantitative models, and computational analysis of big datasets to address basic and applied questions about population dynamics and persistence.
Potential study systems range from zooplankton to microbes to emerging wildlife diseases. Successful candidates can build on past studies and develop independent projects. Examples of potential project areas include experimental tests of Allee effects (positive density dependence), eco-evolutionary dynamics of mate finding or competition, macroscale spread on networks, species coexistence in freshwater zooplankton communities, or forecasting aquatic invasive species.
Competitive applicants will have research experience, quantitative skills and strong oral and written communication abilities. Applicants with previous experience in statistics, computer code, data visualization, and/or freshwater ecology will be preferred.
Positions will be competitively funded through a combination of teaching and research assistantship support. Tuition (not including fees), medical insurance, and travel to professional meetings are covered. Students are also encouraged to apply for external fellowships such as the National Science Foundation Pre-doctoral Fellowship (https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nsfgrfp.org&data=02%7C01%7Cmiranda.l.davis%40uconn.edu%7C5c3759c07b9c4f6d366c08d5fa49704a%7C17f1a87e2a254eaab9df9d439034b080%7C0%7C0%7C636690115683289952&sdata=2yP3VLK1UzDo4fqRsLUtMm5T6zr3P8OO4o4qWWjH51s%3D&reserved=0).
*To Apply*
For consideration please email a cover letter stating your research interests and qualifications, your CV with names and contact information for
3 references, unofficial transcripts, and GRE scores to Dr. Drew Kramer by October 31st. This will allow time to discuss your research interests before the preferred deadline for application to the department of November 30th.
Please contact me with any inquiries for additional information or to arrange a phone call.
To learn more about the Department of Integrative Biology please visit https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fbiology.usf.edu%2Fib%2F&data=02%7C01%7Cmiranda.l.davis%40uconn.edu%7C5c3759c07b9c4f6d366c08d5fa49704a%7C17f1a87e2a254eaab9df9d439034b080%7C0%7C0%7C636690115683289952&sdata=URcldKobe0DbkyV3GRSld4TWQIfdHAeYVd9WuBFQ6V4%3D&reserved=0. The University of South Florida is a diverse research university located in Tampa, FL https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.usf.edu%2F&data=02%7C01%7Cmiranda.l.davis%40uconn.edu%7C5c3759c07b9c4f6d366c08d5fa49704a%7C17f1a87e2a254eaab9df9d439034b080%7C0%7C0%7C636690115683289952&sdata=00oVHF%2Fp9TGBApTLUK9pyI1aUSlOUfSWbcg6CVpwJtw%3D&reserved=0. USF is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, marital status, sex, religion, national origin, disability, age, genetic information, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, or veteran status.
Graduate assistantships in quantitative eco-evolutionary dynamics at the University of Wyoming
Subject: Graduate assistantships in quantitative eco-evolutionary dynamics at the University of Wyoming
The Weiss-Lehman lab is looking for 1-2 graduate students to start in the Program in Ecology at the University of Wyoming for the fall of 2019. Lab research focuses on the eco-evolutionary dynamics of populations responding to global change, including the spatial dynamics of invasive species spread and populations moving in response to climate change. Our research links quantitative models to empirical data through the use of targeted experiments and laboratory microcosms. The lab currently uses microcosms of the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum, as they can be manipulated in a number of important ways, operate on tractable timelines for graduate projects (~10 generations in a year), and have a high-quality reference genome available. However, I am happy for students to work in other systems as well, so long as the overall questions fit within the scope of the lab’s research. I am looking for students with a strong quantitative background and a demonstrated ability to work independently and in group settings as they develop their own dissertation projects.
If you are interested in joining the lab, please send me an email with a brief statement detailing your interest in the lab and a current CV including your previous research experience, relevant coursework, and GPA. I will also be at the ESA meeting in New Orleans and the ESEB meeting in Montpellier this year to meet in person and discuss research interests and possible projects.
University and Local Environment: The University of Wyoming has a total enrollment of
12,000 full-time students. Students will be housed in the Botany department, with PhD students partaking in the cross-departmental program in ecology. The university is located in Laramie, a small mountain town close to several different mountain ranges providing plenty of opportunities for outdoor recreation. It is also within a day’s drive of three national parks (Yellowstone, Grand Tetons, and Rocky Mountain National Park). Laramie has a relatively low cost of living and is within easy driving distance of Colorado’s Front Range corridor (Fort Collins, Boulder, and Denver).