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.=20

Plant-Soil Feedbacks =96 This project (crri.unl.edu/about-crri) investigates

interactions between grasses and agricultural crops with the soil microbial

community.  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.=20=20

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

build models that integrate vital rates and environmental drivers to

describe and forecast changes in forest composition and function and that

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 and to scale up to

forest dynamics.

These projects involve multi-disciplinary collaborative teams and offer the

opportunity to gain skills in areas such as microbial ecology,

bioinformatics, genomics, geographic information systems, and modeling, in

addition to ecology.  Potential applicants should email Sabrina Russo

(srusso2@unl.edu) with a description of their research interests and

experience, and a resume summarizing previous coursework and listing any

publications.  See russolab.unl.edu/links and

biosci.unl.edu/prospective-graduate-students for information on how to apply.

GAIN PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE AND HELP PROTECT AND PRESERVE MONTANA’S

WATERSHEDS!

Primary duties of the Big Sky Watershed Corps Member (CM) include working

with the Host Site staff to complete tasks related to project design and

implementation, community outreach and education, volunteer generation and

management and reporting functions.  The CM works under the direct

supervision of the Host Site Supervisor and the Big Sky Watershed Corps

Program Manager to ensure successful completion of program objectives.  The

CM is an AmeriCorps Member and is entitled to the benefit package offered to

all AmeriCorps Members

BSWC members develop projects to protect local water resources, such as

watershed inventories, stream and riparian restoration, re-vegetation

projects, drought planning, water quality/quantity monitoring, riparian

fencing, river clean-ups, abandoned mine reclamation, and irrigation

improvements. BSWC members also promote watershed health and natural

resource conservation through outreach and education. They engage with local

communities through lessons in schools, community field days, workshops, and

trainings. They develop curriculum, focus on issues with local solutions,

implement outreach initiatives, and organize public meetings and events for

community stakeholders. BSWC members consistently engage volunteers for

training and events that relate to watershed health and protection. Members

also develop a skilled and influential recurring volunteer-base to support

local efforts.

Term of Service: 1/8/18-11/16/18

Living Stipend: $557 biweekly

Education Award: $5,815 upon successful completion of the program

Required Qualifications:

.             College degree (B.A./B.S.), preferably in watershed,

agriculture, environment, or education related field.

.             Effective written and oral communication skills.

.             Valid driver’s license, access to a vehicle, ability to pass a

motor vehicle records check, US Citizenship or ability to work in the US.

Preferred Qualifications/Experience

.             Previous watershed-related experience, fieldwork, data

collection & analysis or plan development.

.             Previous teaching or volunteer management experience.

.                 Proven ability to work with a diverse group of

stakeholders.

Responsibilities:

.             Work with Host Site staff to develop and implement

watershed-related field projects.

.             Assist Host Site staff in the completion of watershed-related

plans.

.             Recruit and manage volunteers on field and service projects;

ensure participant safety on all projects.

.             Develop materials (brochures, posters, PowerPoint

presentations) to use in community presentations.

.             Conduct community outreach to educate community stakeholders

about watershed-related issues.

.             Work with schools and/or youth groups to develop field

projects or educational presentations.

.             Maintain accurate personnel, safety and project records.

.             Complete and submit required program reports in a timely

manner.

.             Help complete and submit relevant grants.

.             Help develop and write watershed-related plans, proposals and

reports.

The Big Sky Watershed Corps (BSWC) is an AmeriCorps program created through

collaboration between the Montana Conservation Corps, the Montana Watershed

Coordination Council and the Soil and Water Conservation Districts of

Montana.  The BSWC utilizes community based initiatives to protect, preserve

and restore local watersheds throughout Montana.

Qualified individuals with disabilities and those from diverse backgrounds

are strongly encouraged to apply.  We provide reasonable accommodations for

qualified individuals and are an equal opportunity employer

Apply here:  http://mtcorps.org/join/big-sky-watershed-corps-member/

I’m currently recruiting 1-2 students for PhD positions in my lab (carolinemtucker.com) in the Department of Biology at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.

The Tucker lab works on a broad range of questions under the umbrella of community ecology, especially functional and phylogenetic approaches to ecology, mechanisms for multispecies coexistence, and the interaction of species traits, the environment, and coexistence. Students should be interested in developing projects using aquatic microcosms of zooplankton communities. There is flexibility in terms of projects and students are strongly encouraged to develop their own projects and research directions within the lab=92s general area of work.

It is desirable for students to have previous research experience, some coding experience (R, etc.), and some undergraduate level math and/or statistics training.=20

Chapel Hill offers world-class research opportunities with a good (and relatively inexpensive) quality of life. Chapel Hill, along with Durham and Raleigh, forms the Research Triangle region of NC, which attracts a diverse group of people and cultures. Chapel Hill has a warm climate with mild winters, is within hours of both mountains and the Atlantic Ocean, and is home to a great diversity of flora and fauna.

Interested students should contact me first to discuss research interests and qualifications. Please email me at carolinetucker@unc.edu and tell me a little about your past research experience and interests, as well as your GPA & GRE scores, CV, and any other relevant information.

Research assistant position available in vector-borne disease ecology and vector biology at the University of Rhode Island working in the Couret lab in the Department of Biological Sciences (http://web.uri.edu/bio/couret-jannelle/) Instagram @CouretLab – Twitter: @VectorEcology

Position is full time and posted at www.jobs.uri.edu/postings/2652 – applications submitted through the URI jobs portal. For additional questions about the position send emails with subject line “RA Position” to ncouret@uri.edu

Duties include both field and laboratory work on the ecology/biology of mosquitoes and ticks that transmit human pathogens. Required qualifications include a bachelor’s in Biology and one year work experience in biology research. Preferred qualifications include experience with DNA extraction/PCR, experience with ArcGIS.

The Wetzel Lab at Michigan State University is seeking prospective PhD and

MS students interested in studying how biological diversity or

environmental variability influences insects and their interactions with

plants and predators. The lab uses field experiments and quantitative tools

to address fundamental ecological questions that are relevant to

agricultural sustainability or climate change. There are currently two main

lines of inquiry in the lab:

1) How does plant chemical diversity influence insect herbivores and their

interactions with predators?

2) How does temperature variability influence interactions among plants,

insect herbivores, and predators? We are interested in understanding how

the increased frequency of high temperature events (heat waves) associated

with climate change is changing the ecology of plants and insects.

I am interested in students who would like to collaborate with me on these

projects as well as students who would like to develop novel projects

related to the ecology of plants and insects in a variable world. Please

see https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=3Dhttp-3A__wetzellab.com&d=3DDwIFaQ&c=3DnE__W8dFE-shTxStwXtp0A&r=3DDGKl3p1L8mN1KIcUKrNU9836NnGKVyNUDA0OhUoNzPA&m=3D1O5A3Q2sB1IB0vtHDs9WmUYjE4FpTk-D9YZvL-v3mKs&s=3DpL3Tksw2nGeZKnSjfs8Ve9tw1GmcoQZGOY5SwWswn6I&e=3D  <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=3Dhttp-3A__wetzellab.com_research&d=3DDwIFaQ&c=3DnE__W8dFE-shTxStwXtp0A&r=3DDGKl3p1L8mN1KIcUKrNU9836NnGKVyNUDA0OhUoNzPA&m=3D1O5A3Q2sB1IB0vtHDs9WmUYjE4FpTk-D9YZvL-v3mKs&s=3DyImNmBhKAxfLmI4VYpVPb8tiEAMycP7MUl27raz1yyg&e=3D > for more

information. I plan to take students through the Ecology, Evolutionary

Biology, and Behavior Program (https://eebb.msu.edu/) and the Department of

Entomology (http://www.ent.msu.edu/).

*Qualifications*

Applicants should have a bachelor=E2=80=99s degree in ecology, biology, entomology,

environmental science, or related field. Preference will be given to

applicants with ecological research experience. Applicants should be

interested in learning both field ecology and quantitative tools. A passion

for understanding how nature works and boundless enthusiasm are key assets.

The Wetzel Lab strives to be a safe space for diversity in STEM.

*Funding*

Students in the lab receive a generous stipend, a tuition waiver, and a

travel budget. This financial support comes through research

assistantships, teaching assistantships, and university fellowships.

Students are also encouraged to seek external fellowships through NSF,

USDA, and other sources.

*Plant-insect ecology at Michigan State University*

MSU is an exciting place to study the ecology of plants and insects. The

university has a large and dynamic community of scientists working on

cutting-edge questions about plants and insects in natural and agricultural

ecosystems. Potential collaborators and colleagues can be found in the

departments of Entomology, Plant Biology, and Integrative Biology, and

across the Ecology, Evolutionary Biology, and Behavior Program. The

university has an extensive greenhouse facility and access to field sites

at the MSU Kellogg Biological Station nearby.

Those interested in these positions should read the lab webpage (

https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=3Dhttp-3A__wetzellab.com&d=3DDwIFaQ&c=3DnE__W8dFE-shTxStwXtp0A&r=3DDGKl3p1L8mN1KIcUKrNU9836NnGKVyNUDA0OhUoNzPA&m=3D1O5A3Q2sB1IB0vtHDs9WmUYjE4FpTk-D9YZvL-v3mKs&s=3DpL3Tksw2nGeZKnSjfs8Ve9tw1GmcoQZGOY5SwWswn6I&e=3D ) and email me (wcwetzel@msu.edu) with the following.

0) “Prospective student=E2=80=9D in email subject

1) Brief cover letter describing research interests and career goals

2) CV

3) Unofficial transcripts

4) Sample of scientific writing (e.g., published paper, manuscript in

preparation, MS or undergraduate thesis, research paper or essay from a

class)

5) Names and email addresses for 3 references

I will begin reviewing candidates on September 15th. Applications are due

to the graduate school by December 1st.

I look forward to hearing from you!

The Nelson School for Environmental Studies <http://www.nelson.wisc.edu/>

at the University of Wisconsin =E2=80=93 Madison is now accepting applications for

a new professional MS program in Environmental Observation and Informatics

(EOI).

The EOI graduate program integrates cross-cutting Earth observation

technologies and big data analytics in one unique, 15-month program that

combines hands-on, in-person training with distance learning.

Formal course work and a final capstone project focus on 3 main areas;

remote sensing, modeling and analysis, and leadership and strategic

thinking. Students will gain specialized training to meet current job

demand calling for the integration of emerging technologies and big data to

address environmental challenges at local, regional, and global scales.

For more information including curriculum, how to apply, and contact info

visit: http://www.nelson.wisc.edu/observation

Link to featured article and perspective from program faculty:

Degree program uses satellite, drone technologies to solve environmental problems

*Research Associate I Colorado State University *

*Wallenstein Lab*

The Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory seeks an ambitious, curious, and

organized research associate to assist with soil ecology laboratory and

field work. The selected candidate will be responsible for performing a

broad range of molecular and soil ecology lab analyses. This may include,

but not be limited to, soil sieving, soil DNA extraction, PCR, qPCR,

preparing samples for Sanger and high-throughput sequencing, enzyme assays,

soil fractionation procedures, stable isotopes, preparing chemical reagents

and solutions, and preparing and analyzing samples for a suite of chemical

analyses.

The candidate will also perform greenhouse work and fieldwork, which will

include maintaining greenhouse experiments and field trials, planting,

plant care, soil sampling, and sample preservation.

To apply and view a full announcement, please visit

http://jobs.colostate.edu/postings/48756 by August 27, 2017.

CSU is an EO/EA/AA employer and conducts background checks on all final

candidates.

The Shefferson lab at the University of Tokyo is recruiting graduate

students at both the MS and PhD levels with interests in plant evolutionary

ecology, for entry into the Graduate Program in Environmental Sciences

(GPES, online at http://gpes.c.u-tokyo.ac.jp/) in Sept 2018. We specialize

in evolutionary demography and plant/microbial evolution, with particular

interests in rapid evolution and eco-evolutionary dynamics. We are

particularly hoping to recruit students to work on the following funded

research projects:

1)    *Deep demography*: Demographic patterns are strongly influenced by

both evolutionary history and geography, but a mechanistic understanding of

these relationships is still lacking. We hope to unravel it using a number

of large-scale projects focused on herbaceous perennial plant species.

2)    *Evolutionary origins of plant-microbial symbiosis*: We seek to

understand the first steps in the evolutionary process leading to the

development of widespread symbioses, such as the mycorrhiza.

3)    *Eco-evolutionary impacts of individual history*: We hope to

understand how long-term experience influences evolutionary processes,

particularly at the micro-evolutionary scale.

In addition to these projects, we seek students generally interested in the

following topics:

1)    Micro-evolutionary interactions between symbiosis and population

dynamics, with a focus on the mycorrhiza.

2)    The micro- and macro-evolution of senescence-related life history

patterns and life history costs, with a focus on herbaceous plants and

terrestrial fungi.

3)    Interactions between community structure and phylogeny at differing

timescales, with a focus on the mycorrhiza.

4)    Eco-evolutionary impacts of conservation problems and associated

management.

Students applying to work in the lab may focus on these topics, or choose

other research themes in plant and microbial evolutionary ecology. Research

methods typically involve *in situ* monitoring and experimentation,

combined with modeling and analysis based in R and/or C++. We typically

work with plants and their symbiotic microbes, and students should

generally be interested in these study organisms. The Shefferson lab has

active field sites in the Japan, USA, and Estonia, and also regularly

conducts field work in China, Central America, and Western and Central

Europe.

The Shefferson lab is located within the University of Tokyo, Komaba

Campus. U Tokyo is home to some of the finest scientists in Japan,

including ecologists and evolutionary biologists, and more Nobel laureates

than you can shake a stick at. Komaba in particular has a particularly

large community of ecologists and evolutionary biologists working on

plants, animals, and fungi. The GPES program conducts all graduate

education in English, although students have the opportunity to learn

Japanese and take courses from throughout the U Tokyo curriculum. Our

campus is only 15 minutes=E2=80=99 walk from Shibuya, one of the most vibrant parts

of Tokyo.

Applications to join the lab MUST be received by *24 November 2017*, and

students MUST INCLUDE a current, official GRE transcript. Please note that

GRE scores are only valid for 5 years, so students with transcripts older

than this need to re-take the GRE. Applicants with high scores, high

grades, and strong recommendations will be considered for a competitive,

full-ride scholarship.

If interested, please contact me at, and please also explore the Shefferson

lab website:

E-mail=EF=BC=9Acdorm@g.ecc.u-tokyo.ac.jp

HTML: www.sheffersonlab.com

The School of Forestry & Natural Resources at the University of Arkansas at Monticello is seeking applicants for a M.S. Assistantship available beginning January 2, 2018. The assistantship is half time and carries an annual stipend of $15,000

Project: Wetlands provide many ecosystem services and functions including flood attenuation, erosion control, and wildlife habitat. As part of a multi-disciplinary research project, the student will evaluate current on-the-ground conditions of reforested wetland reserve easement stands established by the Natural Resource Conservation Service to restore these important ecosystems. The student will use existing or develop a variety of rapid assessment techniques including tree- and stand-health indices to determine how well those ecosystems meet desired ecological conditions and functions. Student=92s thesis may focus on compositional diversity and effect of invasive species within these stands, compare structural heterogeneity and complexity among various watersheds, or focus on development of a silvicultural decision-support system for managing these stands. This is an opportunity to work closely with representatives from multiple conservation agencies to develop and refine management recommendations and assessment tools (including development of field guides) for our restored bottomland hardwood forests.

Requirements: Applicants must have a 2.7 overall undergraduate GPA or 3.0 GPA in the last 60 semester hours of undergraduate courses and satisfactory GRE scores. A B.S. degree in a natural resources-related field is also required. Applicants must have a valid U.S. driver=92s license or obtain the same within 60 days of starting employment. Overnight travel is required as well as the ability to work outdoors in all weather conditions.

Location and Facilities: The School of Forestry & Natural Resources is located in Monticello, Arkansas in the southeastern portion of the state. The Arkansas Forest Resources Center is also headquartered here, and is administered by the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. The Arkansas Forest Resources Center is the research and extension arm for forest-based programs within the State. Additionally, the USFS Arkansas Forestry Sciences Lab is located at the School. The School and Center maintain several state-of-the-art laboratories (hydrology, soil, quantitative analysis, silviculture, wildlife ecology & management) available for graduate research and education.

Application & Additional Information: Graduate program and application information can be found at http://www.uamont.edu/sfnr. Applicants must be admitted to the University of Arkansas at Monticello and apply to the School of Forestry & Natural Resources before they can be considered for an assistantship. Applicants must submit all GRE scores, official transcripts, a statement of interests, and three letters of recommendation. Please indicate the position number above on all application materials and inquiries. For additional information, please contact:

Mohammad Bataineh

Phone: (870) 460-1449

Email: Bataineh@uamont.edu<mailto:Bataineh@uamont.edu>