I am seeking a PhD student to apply trait-based approaches to phytoplankton or other microbial communities, working either in marine or freshwater systems. Trait-based approaches provide a mechanistic framework for understanding the organization and functioning of ecological communities.
Possible research topics include comparing intraspecific and interspecific variation in key functional traits, experimental trait evolution, trait biogeography, community assembly and responses to global environmental change. The research may include field work on local lakes or at different marine locations, laboratory experiments, analyses of diverse datasets and mathematical modeling. The exact project will be developed based on student’s research interests.

The PhD student will be based at the Kellogg Biological Station (KBS) of Michigan State University working under the supervision of Elena Litchman (goo.gl/VwKWgk).

The deadline for applications is December 1, 2017 but late applications may be considered. The applications should be made through the Department of Integrative Biology (https://integrativebiology.natsci.msu.edu/graduate-program/admission-requirements/). Contact Elena Litchman (litchman@msu.edu) for more information on the position and the application process.

The Ernakovich lab (https://mypages.unh.edu/jernakovich) in the Department of Natural Resources and the Environment at the University of New Hampshire is seeking a graduate student at the M.S. level to research relationships between microbial communities and soil health in agricultural and natural systems in New England. The student will use genomics and functional analysis (such as nitrogen mineralization and substrate use efficiency), and possibly stable isotope probing depending on the interests of the student. The student will test the power of various ecological frameworks (e.g. biodiversity-ecosystem function, keystone species) in predicting the role of microbial communities in soil health.

This work is inherently interdisciplinary. The ideal candidate will be passionately curious and have a degree and research experience in ecology, microbiology, chemistry, soil science or related field.

The student will earn an education at a highly respected research institution equipped with state-of-
the-art facilities. The student will matriculate through the Department of Natural Resources and the
Environment (https://colsa.unh.edu/nren), which has multiple tracks to tailor student needs. The student
will live in beautiful Durham, New Hampshire for the duration of the degree. Two years of support is
currently available through a research assistantship.

The preferred starting date is Spring semester 2018, and no later than Fall semester 2018.

To discuss the opportunity, please email Jessica Ernakovich with a single pdf containing a statement of
interest and your CV. Please include “soil health microbiome” in the subject line.

The University of New Hampshire is a public institution with a long-standing commitment to equal
opportunity for all. The University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age,
national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disability, veterans status, or marital
status, in admission or access to, or treatment or employment in, its programs, activities or services.
Inquiries regarding discriminatory harassment (including sexual harassment) should be directed to: The
Director & Title IX Coordinator, Affirmative Action and Equity, Thompson Hall 305, 105 Main Street,
Durham, NH 03824-3547, Telephone (603)-862-2930, TTY (603) 862-1527, Fax (603) 862-2936 or
Email dms@unh.edu; or to the Boston Office, Office for Civil Rights (OCR), U.S. Department of
Education, 5 Post Office Square, 8th Floor, Boston, MA 02109-3921, Telephone (617) 289-0111, Fax
(617) 289-0150, TDD 800-877-8339. Email OCR.Boston@ed.gov; or to the Executive Director, State of
New Hampshire Commission for Human Rights (NHCHR), 2 Chenell Drive Unit 2, Concord, NH 03301-
8501, Telephone (603) 271-2767, Fax (603) 271-6339, or Email humanrights@nhsa.state.nh.us.

Cetacean Research & Marine Biology Internships in Spain

The Bottlenose Dolphin Research Institute (BDRI) <http://www.thebdri.com/>, a marine science and education centre, offers unique hands-on research experiences designed to foster success in both undergraduate and postgraduate fields.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION – This internships program enables aspiring marine scientists to work in conjunction with leading marine biologists as they undertake ground-breaking research on the charismatic marine mega-fauna in one of the most productive oceanic regions on the world (Galicia, North-western coast of Spain). No fewer than 22 cetacean species have been recorded in these waters over the years. Some, such as common bottlenose dolphins, short-beaked common dolphins, harbour porpoises, minke whales, Risso’s dolphins, long-finned pilot whales, humpback whales, beaked whales, sei whales, fin whales, and blue whales have been recorded by the BDRI team in 2017.

BDRI scientists conduct research across a wide range of subject areas that link marine top predators (cetaceans and marine birds) ecology with their physical environment, society and population dynamics; explore their interactions with human activities (such as fisheries, aquaculture and marine traffic); and investigate their behaviour and acoustic communication.

With state-of-the-art facilities and equipment, students will be trained to participate with multiple research projects involving a combination of boat-based surveys onboard research vessels, land-based observations, laboratory work (photo-identification, GIS, bioacoustics, diet analysis, diving behaviour, video analysis, database work, etc), and strandings (response, rescue, necropsy, and data collection).

The BDRI is a very international environment, and the everyday working language is English. Laboratory work days typically last six hours and field days typically exceed seven hours and occur several times per week (weather dependent). There will be two days off per week.

HOW TO APPLY – The internship is open to all applicants 18 years of age or older. An academic background in biology, veterinary or natural science, coupled with motivation and interest in marine research make the most qualified individuals. Internship start and end dates are flexible but the position requires a minimum of 30 days continuous commitment sometime between 8th January 2018 through to end November 2018.

The BDRI is a private and self-funded centre, hence, this internship requires a monetary contribution which is used to off-set the cost of accommodation in an apartment, training, use of research equipment, facilities and research vessels, and other expenses (access to wifi in the apartment, kitchen utensils, electricity, taxes, etc). Successful applicants will be responsible for their own transportation expenses to and from the research centre (O Grove, Galicia, Spain).

Interested candidates should submit an application with the following:
– A cover letter including your availability;
– A resume describing training, experience and relevant skills;
– BDRI’s application form, you can download from <http://www.thebdri.com/resources/downloads/applicationinternships.doc>

Please send these items as e-mail attachments to: severine@thebdri.com

Approved applications are accepted on a first-come, first serve basis. Positions are open until filled.

For more information about BDRI’s research projects, please visit <https://www.thebdri.com> or our Facebook page.

The Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Connecticut (UConn) invites applications from prospective graduate students (M.S. and Ph.D.) to begin in Fall 2017. Research in the department includes a wide range of topics in ecology, evolutionary biology, systematics, computational biology, global change biology and conservation biology in a highly collaborative environment at a leading public research university. Applicants should demonstrate a strong commitment to and potential for academic work in ecology and evolutionary biology. Applications from individuals of groups historically underrepresented in STEM fields are particularly encouraged with scholarships available from the university to promote a diverse and inclusive academic community.

Expected Qualifications and Application Process

A Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in any facet of biology is expected although students with unusual backgrounds are also encouraged to apply if they can demonstrate aptitude and commitment to ecology or evolutionary biology. Because acceptance to the program depends on a good match between the interests of faculty members and students, applicants should communicate about project ideas with potential advisers (see
http://eeb.uconn.edu/faculty/) before initiating the on-line application.
Applicants are also encouraged to visit UConn to meet faculty members and current graduate students.

We will start reviewing applications on December 15th 2017. The on-line application process requires submission of the formal graduate school application, transcripts, GRE scores (general test required, biology GRE recommended), three letters of reference, a personal essay, and, for non- native speakers of English, TOEFL or IELTS scores.

Funding
Financial support is available through research assistantships, teaching assistantships and university fellowships. Applicants are also encouraged to seek external funding. The UConn Graduate School has funding opportunities for outstanding applicants and groups that are historically under-represented in science (e.g. the NextGenCT Scholarships, Giolas- Harriott and Crandall Cordero Fellowships and Outstanding Scholars Program).

Inquiries
For general inquiries about the application procedure, please contact the admissions coordinator, Madeline Hennessey madeline.hennessey@uconn.edu .
For more specific questions about research directions, please contact potential advisers directly using the contact information on their webpages (http://eeb.uconn.edu/faculty/).

Multiple opportunities for graduate study in plant ecology and evolutionary biology are available for Fall 2018 in the Department of Plant Biology, Ecology and Evolution at Oklahoma State University.
Teaching assistantships are available for study towards an MS in Plant Biology or a PhD in Plant Science.  Potential areas of research could
include:
*       Trade-offs in drought tolerance among tree species at the
forest-prairie ecotone
*       The roles of drought stress, fungal pathogens, and insects in
tree mortality
*       Tree-ring growth response to climate among species at the
forest-prairie ecotone
*       The role of anthropogenic change in shaping plant-pollinator
interactions and plant reproductive output
*       The role of ecological interactions in plant mating system
evolution
*       Comparative plant genomics, evolution, and systematics
*       Evolution of milkweed-insect interactions
*       Plant taxonomy and biogeography

Assistantships include tuition waivers and health insurance.
Learn more about the OSU Department of Plant Biology, Ecology, and Evolution at http://plantbio.okstate.edu/.  Contact Dr. Henry Adams (henry.adams@okstate.edu, www.henrydadams.com), Dr. Janette Steets (janette.steets@okstate.edu), or Dr. Mark Fishbein
(mark.fishbein@okstate.edu) for more information.
In your email, please include brief description of your research interests, experience, and career goals, and attach a CV or resume.
Applications are due to the OSU graduate college by 2/28/18, but early application is strongly advised for full consideration and support.

Northern Arizona University: PhD positions in Ecological Informatics are available in the School of Informatics, Computing and Cyber Systems (SICCS) at Northern Arizona University. The SICCS mission is to conduct high-impact, innovative research in environmental and ecological informatics with an emphasis on understanding problems and engineering solutions that lead to benefits in human and environmental health.
Research opportunities are available in the following areas linked to specific SICCS faculty:

Chris Doughty: The impact of animal extinctions on ecosystem services, tropical forest carbon cycling, spectroscopy remote sensing and astrobiology.

Scott Goetz: Remote sensing & geospatial analysis of bio-geophysical processes at regional to global scales, with focus on boreal and tropical forests.

Joe Mihaljevic: Infectious disease dynamics in wildlife and human hosts, sequencing multi- pathogen communities, building and parameterizing epidemiological models, fitting models to data, and Bayesian inference.

Kiona Ogle: Plant and ecosystem functioning in arid and semi-arid systems (carbon and water relations in woodlands and deserts) and temperate forests (tree functional traits, tree growth), and applications of Bayesian methods to synthesize data in the context of ecological process models.

Andrew Richardson: Terrestrial ecosystems and global change, biosphere-atmosphere interactions, model-data fusion, sensor networks, near-surface remote sensing, and “big data” in ecology (e.g. PhenoCam, FLUXNET).

Ben Ruddell: Ecology of Complex & Coupled Natural-Human Systems, including cities, Food-Energy-Water (http://fewsion.us), networks, critical infrastructure, health, sustainability, and resilience.

Temuulen “Teki” Sankey: Remote sensing and geo-informatics in the southwest with UAV and lidar applications.

Graduate student benefits include stipends (TA or RA), tuition waiver, health insurance, support for summer fieldwork in a variety of beautiful ecosystems, and winter in the peaks of sunny Flagstaff, AZ. Candidates should explore the SICCS website (www.nau.edu/siccs) and contact the professor whose interests align most closely. Please include a cover letter describing background, research interests, and qualifications, as well as a current resume.
Program applications can be submitted to the School of Informatics, Computing & Cyber Systems OR the Graduate College and are due January 15, 2018 after communicating with a faculty member. Applications received early may be considered for a prestigious NAU Presidential Fellowship.

I am recruiting PhD students to work with me, Dr. Meghan Avolio (https://meghanavolio.weebly.com/), in Johns Hopkins’ Earth & Planetary Sciences Department (http://eps.jhu.edu/). Broadly, I am a plant ecologist and study population, community, and ecosystem responses to global change. I work in cities and grasslands; I will be developing a local urban research program in Baltimore and continuing on-going grassland research at Konza Prairie in Manhattan Kansas.

Possible topics with include: adaptation to novel climates and environments; urban biodiversity patterns and drivers; and community responses to global change. I expect that the PhD student will develop their own research project in an area of shared interest.

Enrollment is for Fall 2018. Applications are due January 15 (http://eps.jhu.edu/graduate/admissions/). If admitted, the 12-month stipend is competitive and health care benefits and tuition are covered.
Preference is for students with research experience or a Master’s degree.

If you are interested, please contact me: meghan.avolio@jhu.edu. We can discuss research interests and determine if it is a good fit.

Dr. Meghan Avolio
Assistant Professor
Earth & Planetary Sciences
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD 21218

Multiple PhD Fellowship Opportunities – Watershed Sciences – Utah State University

Doctoral Fellows – Three four-year fellowships, including stipend, tuition, and fees, are available for PhD students in any discipline within Watershed Sciences.

Colorado River Scholarship – One or two four-year scholarships, including stipend, tuition, fees, and research support, are available for a PhD student whose focus is the application of science to the management of the Colorado River.
(https://qcnr.usu.edu/wats/colorado_river_studies/)

Climate Adaptation Science – For students admitted to the graduate program, one-year fellowships are available to support participation in the Climate Adaptation Science program, a traineeship that combines interdisciplinary research, work-place experience, instruction, and collaboration among scientists, land and resource managers, policy- makers, trainees, and citizen stakeholders.
(https://climateadaptation.usu.edu/admission/program-description/)

Where to start: contact a faculty member with whom you would like to study. Graduate admissions in the Department of Watershed Sciences requires faculty sponsorship and funding
(http://qcnr.usu.edu/wats/people/faculty)

Watershed Sciences is a multidisciplinary department in the Quinney College of Natural Resources.  Our faculty conduct research in geomorphology, hydrology, aquatic ecology, limnology, fish ecology, wetland ecology, water quality, biogeochemistry, and paleoecology. We find collaborative opportunities in addressing problems of management and restoration of aquatic ecosystems. Utah State University is Utah’s land-grant university with a student body of over 24,000 in 42 departments and 8 academic colleges. USU is well situated for research on streams, rivers, lakes, reservoirs, wetlands, and their catchments, which span desert to alpine environments. The main campus is located in Logan, nestled against the Bear River Range in scenic Cache Valley. This is a semi-rural mountain basin with a population of 120,000 and nearby ski resorts, lakes, rivers, and mountains providing many recreational opportunities.

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Late-breaking, funded Ph.D. opportunities in our beautiful new UCSC coastal-campus lab. Please share widely! Link to tweet: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-QgtBdIhr8kimBPyP3u6oUa2qu60fcpgWADDrIthwHY
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The Zavaleta lab in the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Department at UC Santa Cruz has two funded openings for Ph.D. students to begin in summer or fall 2018. Our lab, department and campus (an R-1, Hispanic-Serving Institution) value inclusion and diversity, and we encourage prospective students from backgrounds underrepresented in our field to apply.

One Ph.D. position will be funded for 4-5 years through a half-time position to launch and coordinate the Center to Advance Mentored, INquiry-Based Opportunities (CAMINO) in Ecology and Conservation. Accordingly, the ideal candidate has significant experience in and demonstrated commitment to mentoring students from diverse backgrounds; excellent outreach, communication and networking skills; and familiarity with programming to advance participation, equity and inclusion in STEM. Research topic is flexible, with interest in candidates who would like to focus part of the dissertation on strengthening outcomes in our field for undergraduates from underrepresented backgrounds.

The other Ph.D. position will be funded through a combination of teaching and research fellowships to participate in a project linking climate and other environmental changes to the ecology and conservation of alpine migratory songbirds. Successful applicants will have avian research experience including bird capture and banding, experience supervising undergraduates and field crews in remote settings, excellent quantitative and writing skills, and a desire to combine conservation research with field-based mentoring of students from diverse backgrounds.

Applications to the UCSC Graduate Division are due 12/15. To inquire directly about your potential fit or to find out more, please send Erika a cover letter with resume/CV, transcripts (screenshot/ unofficial fine), a writing sample (paper, statement, proposal, report, etc. with you as sole or lead author), and GRE scores if you have them. Zavaleta@ucsc.edu. Erika will contact strong candidates for a video interview.

Thank you.

Erika

Erika Zavaleta
Professor
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology 
University of California
Santa Cruz, CA
People.ucsc.edu/~zavaleta
Conservationscholars.ucsc.edu

4-Year Ph.D. Assistantship in Herbivore Foraging and Movement Ecology Anticipated Start Date: Summer 2018

PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The Quantitative Ecology and Spatial Technologies Laboratory at Mississippi State University, in collaboration with the Department of Animal and Dairy Science and the Noble Research Institute, is seeking a highly motivated student for a 4-year Ph.D. assistantship in herbivore foraging and movement ecology with a specific focus on beef cattle as an experimental system. The student will investigate how foraging behavior and movement influence energy budgets of grazing cattle, and how these budgets relate to animal production and individual fitness. This is a federally funded project through USDA-NIFA with emphases on metabolic theory, space utilization, and Bayesian hierarchical modeling. The successful candidate will gain substantial experience in (1) managing and leading data collection efforts across multiple field sites; (2) construction of movement trajectories from accelerometry (“dead reckoning”); (3) supervised and unsupervised classification algorithms;
(4) analysis and interpretation of GPS-based and dead-reckoned relocation data, and accommodation of error in relocation data; and, (5) hierarchical modeling in both frequentist and Bayesian frameworks. The candidate also will be expected to develop multiple peer-reviewed manuscripts.

COMPENSATION
A stipend for living expenses will be provided ($23,500 per year), as well as complete tuition remission and health insurance, for a total of
4 years. The selected candidate also will be strongly encouraged to apply for stipend support through the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station (MAFES) and federal initiatives (e.g., NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program).

QUALIFICATIONS
Minimum: An MSc in ecology, wildlife management, animal science, agroecology, precision agriculture, statistics, or a related discipline.
Capable of working under strenuous conditions for extended periods (i.e., hot and humid conditions, exposure to biting and stinging insects, etc.). Minimum GPA = 3.25 and GRE = 150.

Preferred: Demonstrable experience in Bayesian statistics and/or hierarchical modeling, managing and manipulating “big data”, and writing technical documents and journal articles is strongly desired. Additional qualifications include field experience in animal handling, GPS collaring, domestic livestock husbandry, and forage quality and quantity measurements; and familiarity with Program R, GIS software, and Gibbs and/or NUTS samplers (e.g., JAGS, WinBUGS, Stan). Minimum GPA = 3.5, GRE Quantitative = 160, and GRE Analytical Writing = 4.

APPLICATIONS
To apply, please send the following items: (1) Cover letter describing credentials and professional goals; (2) an up-to-date curriculum vitae;
(3) a list of references (3 at minimum); and (4) unofficial copies of all university transcripts and GRE\TOELF scores. Formal application to Mississippi State University, including official transcripts and GRE/TOEFL scores, is required subsequent to selection of a successful candidate.

Please send all application materials to Dr. Garrett M. Street (gms246@msstate.edu).