The Russo Lab (www.russolab.unl.edu) at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln

is seeking masters or PhD students interested in conducting research on

plant-microbe-soil interactions.

Graduate positions are available as part of a multi-PI NSF-funded project

(crri.unl.edu/about-crri) investigating plant-microbe rhizosphere

interactions in natural grassland and agricultural systems.  A variety of

approaches (field, greenhouse, genomic, and experimental) are being used to

address questions ranging from identifying patterns of soil and rhizosphere

microbial diversity, to investigations of mechanisms involved in plant-soil

feedbacks, especially under stress.

Graduate students will work in multi-disciplinary collaborative teams and

have the opportunity to gain skills in areas such as microbial ecology,

bioinformatics, genomics, and modeling, in addition to plant physiology and

ecology.

Members of the Russo lab work broadly in plant ecology and diversity,

linking ecophysiology with demography and species distributions.  Potential

applicants should email Sabrina Russo (srusso2@unl.edu) with the subject

line, =93Plant-microbe Graduate Position=94, and with a description of their

research interests and experience and resume summarizing previous coursework

and listing any publications.  See www.russolab.unl.edu/links and

www.biosci.unl.edu/prospective-graduate-students and

www.unl.edu/gradstudies/prospective/programs/BiologicalSciences#apply for

information on how to apply (deadline December 1, 2017).

The Russo Lab (russolab.unl.edu) at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln is

seeking masters or PhD students interested in conducting research in the

following areas of forest ecology.

Nebraska Forest Dynamics and Management  =96 This project involves

establishing permanent forest monitoring plots in Nebraskan forests as part

of the Smithsonian ForestGEO plot network (www.forestgeo.si.edu) in order to

investigate changes in growth, survival, and recruitment rates of trees in

response to environmental drivers.  Ultimately, this information will be

used to describe and forecast changes in forest composition and function to

aid in developing adaptive management plans for forest conservation.

Functional Traits of Bornean Tree Species =96 This project involves

quantification of leaf, stem, and root functional traits of tree species in

Borneo at the Lambir ForestGEO plot (www.ctfs.si.edu/site/Lambir) to predict

tree growth and survival using tree physiological models to scale up to

forest demographic and community dynamics.

These projects involve multi-disciplinary collaborative teams and offer the

opportunity to gain skills in areas such as geographic information systems

and modeling, in addition to forest ecology, ecophysiology, and demography.

Members of the Russo lab work broadly in plant ecology and diversity,

linking ecophysiology with demography and species distributions.  Potential

applicants should email Sabrina Russo (srusso2@unl.edu) with the subject

line, =93Forest Ecology Graduate Position=94 and with a description of research

interests and experience, and a resume summarizing previous coursework and

listing any publications.  See www.russolab.unl.edu/links and

www.biosci.unl.edu/prospective-graduate-students and

www.unl.edu/gradstudies/prospective/programs/BiologicalSciences#apply for

information on how to apply (deadline December 1, 2017).

Sabrina E. Russo

Associate Professor

School of Biological Sciences

University of Nebraska, Lincoln USA 68588-0118

402-472-8387 (ph), 402-472-2083 (fax)

www.russolab.unl.edu srusso2@unl.edu

Dr. Kerry Nickols is recruiting two M.S. students starting in Summer 2018 in the Department of Biology at California State University Northridge. California State University Northridge was recognized in 2016 by Nature as one of the top 25 rising star institutions for research in North America. For more information about the graduate program visit https://www.csun.edu/science-mathematics/biology/master-science-biology-program <https://www.csun.edu/science-mathematics/biology/master-science-biology-program>

The Nickols Lab conducts interdisciplinary research on coastal ecosystems related to marine protected areas and climate change (http://kerrynickols.weebly.com <http://kerrynickols.weebly.com/>). Students will participate in interdisciplinary research examining the contributions of oceanographic and biological mechanisms to variability in water column chemistry in kelp forests. One position is funded through a grant from NSF and field work will be conducted in Monterey, California. An additional position is funded through USC Sea Grant (subject to federal funding for Sea Grant) and field work will take place in Los Angeles, California.

The successful candidates must have a strong background in marine science and experience with coastal marine field work. Experience in scuba diving with AAUS training (or equivalent) and boat driving with MOCC training (or equivalent) is preferred.

Interested candidates should contact Dr. Nickols (kerry.nickols@csun.edu <mailto:kerry.nickols@csun.edu>) well before the application deadline of February 15, 2018 with the following information: 1) research experience and interests, 2) motivation to pursue a graduate degree and career goals, and 3) current CV, academic transcript, and GRE scores (if available).

I am seeking applicants for a Ph.D. position at UMBC in the Department

of Geography & Environmental Systems. Starting date is Fall 2018.

In general, we focus on community ecology and the factors that promote

species coexistence in space and time, both in aquatic and urban

ecosystems. I am interesting is a student to join our efforts to

understand the role of native plant biodiversity in enhancing ecosystem

services on urban vacant land.  Experiments on campus and in Baltimore

City are underway whereby plant functional diversity has been

manipulated in light of different regional species dispersal pressures

to understand urban community assembly. The successful applicant will

work closely with members of the lab on these projects, and develop

research questions independently, yet aligned with the overall goals of

the work.  The focus can include or combine any number of the project’s

elements: fieldwork, experimentation, and/or meta-analysis/synthesis.

Ideally, the student will have earned a Master’s degree before starting

here at UMBC.

The student will have the opportunity to interact with researchers

associated with the Baltimore Ecosystem Study Urban Long Term Ecological

Research Site.  Quarterly and Annual meetings will serve as main venues

to dissemnitate their findings as well as network within and outside the

academic community. The student may also have the chance to be involved

in group synthesis efforts I am involved with here in the US and abroad.

Ultimately applicants will need to apply to the graduate program at UMBC.

http://gradschool.umbc.edu/admissions/apply/

However, I will only consider applications who contact me directly via

email (chris.swan@umbc.edu <mailto:chris.swan@umbc.edu>), indicating

your intention to apply. In your inquiry  please include: 1) a brief

introduction; 2) an academic CV;  3) GRE scores if available; and 4) a

description of your career goals and how you feel working on this

project will further those ambitions.

UMBC is a culturally diverse campus situated near Baltimore, and within

close proximity to Washington DC. Access to transportation is quite

convenent, making visiting the mid-Atlantic and Northeast region easy.

In terms of natural surroundings, Maryland is often considered “America

in miniature” given the large range in ecosystem types ranging from

wetlands, swamps and bogs, tidal flats and beaches, to upland forests.

My lab takes seriously this excerpt from the UMBC vision statement: “Our

UMBC community redefines excellence in higher education through an

inclusive culture that connects innovative teaching and learning,

research across disciplines, and civic engagement. We will advance

knowledge, economic prosperity, and social justice by welcoming and

inspiring inquisitive minds from all backgrounds.”

Description

Graduate assistantship focused on space-use and movement ecology of large mammals- We are seeking a highly motivated person to pursue a PhD degree in the Environmental and Life Sciences Program at Trent University in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada. The graduate project will focus on using extensive existing GPS and VHF radio collar datasets from large mammals (wolves, coyotes, elk and white-tailed deer) to examine space-use and movement behaviour. The successful applicant will have considerable responsibility and freedom to formulate and address basic and applied research questions grounded in ecological theory. The student will have ample opportunity to assist in ongoing large mammal fieldwork, including capturing and collaring efforts, deployment and maintenance of remotely triggered trail cameras, aerial monitoring of collared animals, and conducting aerial population surveys. The study systems are all based in Ontario, Canada and the research will have direct applied relevance to the province. The student will be co-advised by Dr. Joe Northrup and Dr. Brent Patterson both of the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry & Trent University.

Requirements

M.S. degree in ecology, wildlife, biology or related field is required but exceptional past experience may be considered in place of a M.S. degree. Desired qualifications include a GPA >3.5 (4.0 scale) and strong GRE scores. A strong background in ecology, demonstrated analytical capabilities, and passion for wildlife research are required. Strong quantitative, writing, and oral communication skills are also required. The strongest applicants will have demonstrated experience with programming languages commonly used for statistical and scientific applications (e.g., R and Python), and familiarity with geospatial software (e.g., ArcMap, QGIS).

Application instructions

Please email a cover letter with an explicit statement of analytical/quantitative experience and abilities, current CV, unofficial transcripts, copy of GRE scores, scientific writing sample and contact info for ≥3 references as a single attachment to Joe Northrup at joseph.northrup@ontario.ca. At least one of these references must have direct knowledge of the applicant=92s analytical capabilities. The successful applicant is expected to begin in January, 2018. Application deadline is November 5, 2017 but review of applications will begin immediately.

To:  Prospective PhD Students

From:  Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (EEB) Doctoral Program, Texas A&amp;M

University

Re:  Travel Grants to visit EEB at Texas A&M

The Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Doctoral Program at Texas A&M is

pleased to announce the availability of travel grants for prospective PhD

students. These travel grants, which will be awarded on a competitive basis,

will cover the costs of a domestic flight to and from College Station, hotel

accommodations while in College Station, plus a per diem for meals. The aim

of the travel grant is to provide prospective PhD students the opportunity to:

=B7       Interview with faculty and meet current graduate students

=B7       Tour the department and campus to learn about available resources

and facilities

=B7       Explore College Station and its surrounding areas

Travel grants will be awarded in January with travel scheduled for February

11-13, 2017. Travel grant awardees will spend time together during their

visit, thus gaining immediate insights into their future cohort.

Why should you consider obtaining a PhD at Texas A&M University? The Ecology

and Evolutionary Biology (EEB) Program at Texas A&M is a relatively new

doctoral program at one of the largest and best-funded universities in the

United States. It has a strong mixture of nationally and internationally

recognized junior and senior faculty working across the globe on a diverse

range of basic and applied research, spanning physiological, population,

community, ecosystem and landscape ecology, genetics, genomics, behavior,

and systematics (to learn about our faculty visit:

http://eeb.tamu.edu/people/faculty/). Support for graduate study is

available through multiple sources, including teaching assistantships,

research fellowships, and internal merit fellowships. Texas A&M University

is positioned at the interface of the Neotropics and Nearctic, in Blackland

Prairie and Post Oak Savannah habitat, which supports great species

diversity and a wealth of research opportunities with great climate during

the academic year. Its location also provides a good base for access to a

broad range of habitats and research sites. Additionally, its proximity to

Austin, Dallas, Houston and San Antonio offers easy air travel and a

cultural component to a whole graduate experience.

How to apply? To be considered for a travel grant, prospective PhD students

first need to contact Jason Martina, the EEB Program Coordinator (email:

jpmartina@tamu.edu; phone: 979 845-2114). To receive a travel grant, an

official Graduate Application package must be submitted to the EEB Program.

For additional information about the EEB Program and the graduate

application process please visit: http://eeb.tamu.edu

For consideration for merit fellowships, your application needs to be

received by December 15, 2017

The Beaudrot Lab in the Department of BioSciences at Rice University has funding for 1-2 PhD students beginning Fall 2018 in the Graduate Program in Ecology & Evolutionary Biology.

We use observational data and quantitative approaches to investigate questions at the interface of ecological theory and conservation biology. Major aims of the lab are to identify the mechanisms that structure tropical vertebrate communities across spatial scales, to understand how tropical mammals and birds respond to global change, and to apply results to biodiversity conservation. More information about the lab is available at http://lydiabeaudrot.weebly.com

Prospective students should contact Dr. Lydia Beaudrot (beaudrot@umich.edu) with a description of your background, research interests and CV. The deadline for applications is December 31st and more information can be found at http://biosciences.rice.edu/EEB_GradAdmissions.aspx

The Fedy Lab of Wildlife and Molecular Ecology is recruiting a PhD student beginning in summer 2018.

We are seeking an excellent student for a PhD addressing important wildlife conservation issues for waterfowl in the Western Boreal Forest. The research will contribute to our on-

going research investigating wildlife responses to habitat disturbance and waterfowl nesting ecology in Alberta. The student will be a member of the Fedy Lab of Wildlife and Molecular Ecology at the University of Waterloo, Ontario. Research in the lab crosses scales, from genes to landscapes, and the PhD student=92s contributions will address questions related to large scale habitat use and waterfowl demography. Spring and summer field work will be based in and around Utikuma Lake, Alberta. The research will be conducted in close partnership with scientists from Ducks Unlimited Canada.

The successful applicant will have a strong background in ecology and field-based research, excellent grades, and a passion for wildlife ecology and conservation. Students should have a strong background in statistics and/or a keen interest and willingness to learn sophisticated quantitative approaches to data analysis. Previous experience with statistical software such as R is preferred. Students must have a strong work ethic, be able to thrive under physically challenging field situations, and must be comfortable supervising field crews in remote locations. Funding for PhD students is available for up to four years and students who have already completed a Master=92s degree will be given preference. The applicant should be competitive for scholarships such as NSERC, and will be expected to apply for such opportunities. We, of course, welcome students who have secured external funding. Guaranteed funding is only available for domestic students, at this time.

Students will be supervised by Dr. Brad Fedy (fedylab.uwaterloo.ca) and will be integrated into our active and engaging research environment. The admissions deadline at the University of Waterloo is February 1st for a September 2018 academic start, but students will be expected to begin field work in May 2018.

If interested, please email bfedy@uwaterloo.ca with subject line =93Waterfowl PhD=94 no later than November 30, 2017.  Please provide: (1) a cover letter detailing background and research interests; (2) CV including the names of 3 referees; and (3) unofficial transcripts from your previous degrees.

The Fedy Lab of Wildlife and Molecular ecology is recruiting a PhD student beginning in summer 2018.

We are seeking an excellent student for a PhD addressing important wildlife conservation issues for greater sage-grouse and sagebrush obligate passerine species. The research will contribute to our on-going research investigating wildlife responses to large scale habitat reclamation in northeastern Wyoming. The student will be a member of the Fedy Lab of Wildlife and Molecular Ecology at the University of Waterloo, Ontario. Research in the lab crosses scales, from genes to landscapes, and the PhD student=92s contributions will address the integration of habitat use, population demography, and landscape genetics. Spring and summer field work will be based out of Buffalo, Wyoming – at the foot of the Bighorn Mountains.

=09

The successful applicant will have a strong background in ecology and field-based research, excellent grades, and a passion for wildlife ecology and conservation. Students should have a strong background in statistics and/or a keen interest and willingness to learn sophisticated quantitative approaches to data analysis. Previous experience with statistical software such as R is preferred. Students must have a strong work ethic, be able to thrive under physically challenging field situations, and must be comfortable supervising field crews in remote locations. The research will occur on public and private lands, experience interacting and working with landowners and producers is a plus. Funding for PhD students is available for up to four years and students who have already completed a Master=92s degree will be given preference. The applicant should be competitive for scholarships such as NSERC, and will be expected to apply for such opportunities. We, of course, welcome students who have secured external funding. Guaranteed funding is only available for domestic students, at this time

Students will be supervised by Dr. Brad Fedy (fedylab.uwaterloo.ca) and will be integrated into our active and engaging research environment. The admissions deadline at the University of Waterloo is February 1st for a September 2018 academic start, but students will be expected to begin field work in May 2018.

If interested, please email bfedy@uwaterloo.ca with subject line =93Sagebrush PhD=94 no later than November 30, 2017.  Please provide: (1) a cover letter detailing background and research interests; (2) CV including the names of 3 referees; (3) unofficial transcripts from your previous degrees.

An awesome opportunity exists for a student interested in a Master’s or

Ph.D. degree in Forestry and Environmental Resources within the College of

Natural Resources at NC State University. The successful candidate would

focus on a project evaluating soil sustainability and productivity in a

natural and/or planted forested ecosystem. The position is fully funded with

opportunities to work with a forest industry partner and/or government

agency. For more information about this position please contact Dr. Zakiya

Leggett, zakiya_leggett@ncsu.edu <mailto:zakiya_leggett@ncsu.edu>  and to

apply please email CV and transcripts (unofficial).

Minimum qualifications for this position include a B.S. degree (if applying

for Master’s program) or Master’s degree (if applying for doctoral program)

in soil science, forestry, environmental science, ecology, or a related

discipline.

More information about NC State University can be found at www.ncsu.edu

<http://www.ncsu.edu>

Thanks!

Zakiya H. Leggett, Ph.D.

Asst. Professor, Dept. of Forestry and Environmental Resources

North Carolina State University

<mailto:zholmes@ncsu.edu> zakiya_leggett@ncsu.edu

Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU)

Warm-water Aquatic Ecology

Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama, USA

Summer 2018: June 3 to August 12

http://wilsonlab.com/reu/

Overview: We are excited to invite applications from undergraduate students to participate in a National Science Foundation supported summer Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program focused on the ecology of southeastern ponds, rivers, reservoirs, and estuaries.  Ten undergraduate students will work closely with a team of Auburn University faculty to explore aquatic ecosystems, complete a student-driven research project, participate in a variety of professional development and social activities, develop and lead an outreach project, and share their research findings in a symposium at the conclusion of the program.  Participants will work closely with two or more mentors to develop an interdisciplinary project involving complementary fields, such as community ecology, limnology, evolution, fisheries management, statistics, hydrology, conservation, biogeochemistry, molecular biology, biodiversity, and microbiology.  The program will run from June 3 to August 12, 2018 (10 weeks).

Eligibility: All applicants who are interested in receiving NSF support must currently be a (1) U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or permanent resident and (2) an undergraduate freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior graduating no earlier than September 2018 or a high school senior that will start their undergraduate education the following fall semester after the REU program.  We are especially encouraging students from traditionally under-represented groups in biology (i.e., African-Americans, Hispanic Americans, Native Americans, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, other Pacific Islanders, students with disabilities, first generation college students, and U.S. veterans) as well as students from institutions with limited research opportunities (e.g., community colleges) or students in financial need to apply.

Support: Participants will receive a stipend ($5,500) plus housing and subsistence, financial assistance for travel to and from Auburn, and support for lab and field supplies.  For full consideration, on-line applications must be received by 15 January 2018.

International students: Although not financially supported by our REU Site, we are also open to including a few strongly motivated and self-funded international students in our REU Site research and professional development activities.

For more information about the REU Site, visit http://wilsonlab.com/reu/ or contact Dr. Alan Wilson (wilson@auburn.edu<mailto:wilson@auburn.edu>).

—

Alan Wilson

Associate Professor – Auburn University

School of Fisheries, Aquaculture, and Aquatic Sciences

[http://www.wilsonlab.com%3chttp:/www.wilsonlab.com/]www.wilsonlab.com<http://www.wilsonlab.com/> – 334.246.1120