Funded Graduate Student Position in Plant Ecology

The Dovciak lab (http://www.esf.edu/efb/dovciak/) at the State University of New York (SUNY ESF) is looking for a highly motivated graduate student (PhD or MS) for a funded position to study vegetation dynamics of Long Island Pine Barrens of New York State. The student is expected to study forest plant communities and examine patterns of regeneration, recruitment, and mortality for pitch pine and oaks on vegetation plots surveyed in 2005/2006.
The data and protocols from this survey are available for use. The position will include (1) resurvey of the vegetation plots, (2) quantification of changes in forest community and tree populations, and (3) building statistical models to relate tree population processes to environmental conditions (including canopy cover, understory vegetation, and soil properties).

The position starts on August 20, 2018, but a later start (January 2019) may be considered. The position is based at SUNY ESF in Syracuse
(http://www.esf.edu/) and field work is based at Brookhaven National Laboratory on Long Island. Collaborative partners include the Central Pine Barrens Commission and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. The position will be supported by research (2 years) and teaching assistantships (1-3 years) that cover a stipend, tuition, and health benefits.

Additional collaborative research opportunities exist in our lab within an NSF-funded project examining ecotone dynamics between deciduous and conifer forests of northeastern United States.

Desired qualifications:
– MS or BS in plant or forest ecology, botany, or a related field
– GPA >3.5 and GRE scores >70% (lower may be acceptable with relevant research experience)
– Basic vascular plant identification skills and familiarity with ecosystems of the northeastern United States
– Excellent time management, interpersonal, and team/collaborative skills
– Ability to work long hours in potentially adverse field conditions over a period of 2-3 months
– Interest in organizing and managing large data sets (e.g., in Excel or Access)
– Ability to use, or willingness to learn, advanced statistical methods and packages (e.g., R)
– Driver’s license and an own car

To apply, send (1) cover letter summarizing your interests, educational goals (MS, PhD), and qualifications, (2) CV, including GPA and GRE, (3) transcripts (unofficial OK at this stage), and (4) contacts for three references to Martin Dovciak (mdovciak@esf.edu), ideally as a single pdf file. Please use “Plant Ecology Research Assistantship” in email subject line. Earlier inquiries are welcome. The review of the applications will start on May 15 and continue until a suitable candidate is identified.
Selected candidates will be asked to submit a full application (with official transcripts, reference letters, and GRE reports) to SUNY ESF
(http://www.esf.edu/graduate/admission.htm) as soon as possible.

Info on Syracuse academic community/environment is here:
http://www.esf.edu/efb/dovciak/Syracuse.htm

Info on Long Island Central Pine Barrens is here:
https://pb.state.ny.us/central-pine-barrens/overview/

Subject: Field Technician for Research on American Pikas, in Northern New Mexico

Job Description:
We are looking to recruit 2-3 individuals interested in alpine research on mountain ecosystems, their wildlife, and their relationship to weather and other environmental conditions. The project focuses particularly on the factors underlying the distribution and abundance of American pikas (Ochotona
princeps) across northern New Mexico, but we collect data on all bird & mammal species we encounter, as well as quantify vegetation cover, microtopography, etc.  We are seeking enthusiastic individuals that are interested in working in high-elevation settings for ~3 weeks this July (starting 3 July).

This work is very strenuous because it involves high-mileage hiking in remote, high-elevation areas
(7,800 – 12,500′), typically off-trail, and involves early mornings and late nights (to match activity peaks in our study species).  However, if you love the mountains, amazing scenery, and searching for charismatic animals, then the payoff is huge! We are seeking three overarching traits in applicants: 1) navigation experience on and off trails, 2) excellent physical condition (6-20+ miles of hiking at high elevations, each day), and 3) positive attitude, solid decision-making skills, and mental stamina under challenging conditions in remote areas. We are looking for applicants with strong, proven leadership skills. Selected applicants *must* have their own transportation to and from Los Alamos, New Mexico.

Required Qualifications:
-Highly motivated individual
-Must possess a current, valid U.S. driver’s license -Can work independently, in addition to as part of a team -Great physical condition, for work in mountainous terrain (2.5-3 mph sustained pace) -Experience hiking/backpacking -Detail-oriented, for data collection -Strong problem-solving skills -Most importantly, energetic and positive attitude under challenging conditions!

Preferred Qualifications:
-Experience in identifying trees and shrubs -Basic hiking gear, such as your own overnight and day packs, strong but comfortable boots, water bladders to carry 3-7 liters, etc.
-Orienteering experience with GPS units & topographic maps

Compensation:
Technicians will receive extensive training on use of all field gear (e.g., compass, clinometer, GPS unit, laser rangefinder) and field methods, as well as a comprehensive discussion and materials explaining the justifications and background for the study.  Technicians will have transportation and lodging expenses covered, and will receive a daily stipend for food and other expenses.  Technicians will also get the rare experience of being in remote areas of Bandelier National Monument and in Valles Caldera National Preserve, the latter of which was recently made an NPS park unit.

To Apply:
Please send a current resume or CV, along with a cover letter describing your experience, skills, and interests and especially how they make you a great fit for the position, as well as information for 4 references (name, email, phone #, how they know you) to Marie Westover at the University of New Mexico (mariewestover@gmail.com). Decisions will be made on a rolling basis, starting 9 May 2018.

Thank you for your interest and we look forward to hearing from you!

Short video about pikas:
https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=cqtm9dkAu4o

The Aquatic Ecology Laboratory at Washington State University Vancouver, directed by Dr. Stephen Bollens and Dr. Gretchen Rollwagen-Bollens, has one paid position available for a new graduate student to contribute to a dynamic program in Aquatic Ecology.

This graduate position is specifically oriented around research in the ecology and potential impact of harmful algal blooms in the Columbia River Basin, with particular emphasis on dynamics of freshwater cyanobacteria blooms.

The successful graduate student will be supported on Teaching Assistantships and/or Research Assistantships, plus full tuition waivers.

We are currently accepting applications to begin study in August 2018.

Degree program:  M.S. in Environmental Science
Deadline:  For August 2018 admission, please apply as soon as possible, but no later than May 1, 2018.

There is potential to continue on to a Ph.D. in Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences depending on progress and availability of funding.

Campus and Facilities:  Washington State University Vancouver is one of five campuses in the WSU system, and is a rapidly expanding institution located within the greater Portland, OR-Vancouver, WA metropolitan area, near the Columbia River, Cascade Mountains and coastal ocean.  The 351-acre campus offers new, state-of-the-art classroom and research facilities, where teaching and research are conducted in an interdisciplinary and collaborative atmosphere.

For more information please visit the WSUV Aquatic Ecology Laboratory website (https://labs.wsu.edu/aquatic-ecology/), or the WSUV Science Graduate Programs website
(https://cas.vancouver.wsu.edu/science-graduate-programs) or contact us
directly:

Research Internships – Evolutionary Biology

Research interns are needed to assist in a multi-disciplinary,
multi-investigator, experimental study of the interactions between
ecology and evolution in Trinidad, West Indies. The research is led by
Professor David Reznick at the University of California, Riverside in
collaboration with Joseph Travis (Florida State), Tim Coulson (Oxford),
Paul Bentzen (Dalhousie U.), and Ron Bassar (Williams).  We seek to
integrate multiple biological fields for the study of these
interactions in experimental populations of guppies in Trinidad. Duties
include assisting in monthly censuses of guppy populations in montane
streams. The monthly censuses include long hours in the field and
laboratory.  There will also be 12 days off between each census when
interns can pursue an independent project.

Qualifications: We seek interns who are entertaining the
possibility of pursuing graduate studies in some area of ecology and
evolution and who wish to gain some additional field research
experience before doing so.  Research will take place in semi-remote
areas of Trinidad sometimes under bad weather conditions. Applicants
must be able to live and work well with others. Research will involve
carrying heavy packs over slippery and steep terrain. Applicants must
be in good physical condition and be able to meet the demands of field
research under these conditions. Ability to drive a standard
transmission vehicle is desirable but not required. Applicants with
first-aid/first responder training, skills in automobile maintenance,
and construction skills are highly desirable. Please address these
skills when applying.

Interns will be required to spend a minimum of 3-months in
Trinidad, with possibility of extension. There are potential start
dates in July 2019 and every month thereafter until early 2019. We will
cover all travel and living expenses and provide housing.

Please see our website <www.theguppyproject.weebly.com> for
more information on the project and access to reprints.  Be sure to
check out our video menu, which includes a “guppy censuses” submenu
that details the main tasks associated with the internship.

Applicants should send cover letter, CV and the names and e-mail
addresses of three or more professional references to David Reznick
(gupy@ucr.edu). At least two of the references should be academics.

Cheers,

Ron

Ron Bassar <rdbassar@gmail.com>

The Phillips lab in the Institute of Ecology and Evolution at the
University of Oregon is seeking a Manager for a Data Coordination Center
(DCC) (Research Assistant/Associate) for the three-institute consortium
project, the Caenorhabditis Intervention Testing Program (CITP). UO
Job #522103.

http://careers.uoregon.edu/cw/en-us/job/522103/data-center-manager-and-developer

The Phillips lab conducts research on the structure and evolution of
the genes and genomic elements underlying complex phenotypic traits
such as behavior, sexual reproduction, life history, stress resistance,
and longevity. Through a consortium with Rutgers University and the
Buck Institute, they form the Caenorhabditis Intervention Testing
Program (CITP). The CITP aims to find robust and reproducible chemical
interventions to extend life by testing the effects of chemical
compounds across may strains of the nematode Caenorhabditis and in
multiple laboratories across the country. This is an opportunity to help
translate discoveries in basic science to help improve the quality of
life and human health.

The key responsibilities of the DCC Manager and Developer include:
– Maintaining and updating the project data pipeline from assorted
lifespan and healthspan experiments at the three institutions to the
centralized Filemaker Pro 16 database.
– Working with the PIs and technicians to simplify data quality control
and metadata validation.
– Working with project scientists to provide reports and output files
for statistical analyses.
– Writing or updating existing scripts that allow smooth exporting and
importing of data from one platform to another, as well as defining
new data types as the project implements new health-related measures.
– Working with the consortium institutes on any system-wide updates to
software, operating systems, or specific experimental needs. We are
testing a major upgrade to our Automated Lifepspan system which
requires updating our operating system to Scientific Linux 7.
– Helping to maintain the systems integrity and integration of existing
laboratory data acquisition systems, including our scanner-based
automated lifespan machines.

The CITP project focuses on screening various compounds for their ability
to extend the lifespan and “healthspan” of 21 isolate strains of three
species of nematode worms in the genus Caenorhabditis.

Minimum Requirements
– BSc, MSc (for Assistant) or PhD (for Associate) in computer science,
engineering, mathematics, biology or a related field.
– Proven competence with Filemaker, MySQL, R and standard data
formats in Excel.
– Experience working with scientific data in a multi-institutional or
multi-department environment.

Professional Competencies
– The ability to work as a member of an exciting, interactive team.
– Excellent communication skills.
– Excellent time management skills requiring little direct supervision.
– An interest in the biology of aging, age-related diseases, or
pharmacology.

The University of Oregon is proud to offer a robust benefits package
to eligible employees, including health insurance, retirement
plans and paid time off. For more information about benefits, visit
http://hr.uoregon.edu/careers/about-benefits.

The University of Oregon is an equal opportunity, affirmative action
institution committed to cultural diversity and compliance with the
ADA. The University encourages all qualified individuals to apply, and
does not discriminate on the basis of any protected status, including
veteran and disability status.

UO prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, national
or ethnic origin, age, religion, marital status, disability, veteran
status, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression in all
programs, activities and employment practices as required by Title IX,
other applicable laws, and policies. Retaliation is prohibited by UO
policy. Questions may be referred to the Title IX Coordinator, Office
of Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity, or to the Office for Civil
Rights. Contact information, related policies, and complaint procedures
are listed on the statement of non-discrimination.

In compliance with federal law, the University of Oregon prepares
an annual report on campus security and fire safety programs and
services. The Annual Campus Security and Fire Safety Report is available
online at http://police.uoregon.edu/annual-report.

Patrick C. Phillips, Ph.D.
Acting Executive Director | Professor of Biology
Phil and Penny Knight Campus for Accelerating Scientific Impact
https://www.uoregon.edu/accelerate
https://www.uoregon.edu/~pphil
pphil@uoregon.edu | 541-346-0916

Patrick Phillips <pphil@uoregon.edu>

Evolution of South American Poison frogs (genera Ameerega and Ranitomeya)
Zoology Department, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Carbondale,
IL.

A graduate position (prefeed PhD, also considering master’s students)
is available to study the evolution of S. American poison dart
frogs. Neotropical poison frogs are a species-rich family (Dendrobatidae)
that exhibit a diversity of mating systems, parental care strategies and
phenotypes. The Brown lab is looking for a student to develop a research
program studying ANY core aspect of the lab’s research. The ideal student
will be prepared to conduct field-based research, have some experience in
molecular ecology/population genetics, genomic and/or geospatial analyses.
This position includes several trips to South America and fully funded
lab work.

As follows are a few key projects that could be your graduate research:

1.  Speciation, species boundaries and hybridization in the Ameerega
bassleri complex: insights from natural history, acoustic and
morphological data, geospatial data, sub-genomic and paleoclimatology.
This group is a highly diverse group of three species with dramatic
phenotypic variation across its range. It also has experienced several
historical hybridization events among the taxa that have muddled and
complicated their evolutionary histories. This research will be aimed
to understand factor driving and maintaining speciation in natural
situations.

1.  Phylogeography and spatial biodiversity patterns of the poison frog
genus Ranitomeya: insights from sub-genomic data, geospatial analysis
and phylogenetics. The thumbnail poison frogs are some of the most
amazing species on earth— half the taxa are involved in Mullerian
mimicry, they exhibit intensive parental, and they often display
incredible phenotypic variation among populations…  This group in
an endless fountain of evolutionary questions.

1.  The genetic consequences of future climate change: spatially
explicit predictions of within-species genetic diversity using climatic,
demographic, and genetic data.  This research will expand upon a lab
methodology that accounts for climatic, geographic, and biological
complexity. This framework is promising for understanding evolutionary
consequences of climate change and guiding conservation planning.

For more information on the Brown Lab please visit the lab website
at: http://secure-web.cisco.com/14-ecM0feUTK0R8iZtVC05Nru1QlA9UCCeTCNmEEvDgYRQRkNmHwwwpKqPlk-Lvkci8uTawl2Ur1pmJqV-XpWRRM7j63_d2o4n1leZmKf4kuoy5syZ9HrbNCYaLkwvG3h-ZshnJUttG5MHw-5-JM9ylSjLn3ccZQTjT6MaHRxV1czENKwuDCgXShoPYHzgWQ3su5LOmwJWhggyhWP-ZxlZNEIBKRoGKrw6fpvHy3-4mBr1RmmrCUYNpl1a7dgBZSl0moP7igH8gbGQ7W-G0sluEmUNxwaSAsw7zVuamO3RUjaIRvXp9CWj_ARCjhelZTG-TwRN4vv1CSij_I4EGrSzxYfrDxooOMISHRySSTjusZhWevlqizgr0BQPRsUGhFML-rqStGOXyuYr2ZysIE_F8UsdKJL4RCrOL-nlKzKJmCZ3vpPdlGcdixG5iH822bT-2HDZch8p0MR1PqOznJXPw/http%3A%2F%2Fwww.jasonleebrown.org and the Zoology Department at SIUC
http://www.zoology.siu.edu. Students will find all the brains of a
nationally ranked research university and all the heart of a small
college at SIUC.

Carbondale is located in southern Illinois and provides a close link
to many forested areas and lakes. The regional landscapes varies
from bottomlands to uplands with rolling hills, bluffs, and rugged
topography. This makes it perfect home for outdoor lovers (when they
are not in the rainforest of S. America).

Interested students are encouraged to contact Dr. Brown
(jason.brown@siu.edu) ASAP. Please include a brief description of
your research interests related the Brown Lab, a CV, and names of
two references (with contact info). Competitive funding options are
available. US and Canadian students only. For full consideration,
application due date is May 15th 2018. Start date of position is August
2018 (preferred) or January 2019.

Jason Brown <jason.brown@siu.edu>

The Saltz lab at Rice University seeks a full-time lab manager/technician.  The lab manager will be responsible for facilitating scientific experiments with fruit flies (primarily by maintaining stocks), coordinating logistics of the day-to-day lab operations, and contributing intellectually to lab meetings and other scientific conversations.  The ideal candidate will be passionate about science and have exceptional time-management skills and attention to detail.  This is a great position for a recent college graduate interested in obtaining research experience for a year or two before moving onto graduate school or something else.  The position would start in July or August of 2018. You can learn more about our research here: https://saltzlab.wordpress.com.

To apply, please send me (Julia.b.saltz@rice.edu) your resumé/CV, names and contact information for a few references, and a few sentences about why you are interested in the position.

Position Summary

The Morton Arboretum is recruiting a fixed-term, full-time Soil Ecology Research Intern to aid in assessing the effects of prescribed burning and overstory thinning on soils in oak ecosystems throughout the Chicago Wilderness (N Indiana, NE Illinois, and SE Wisconsin). This position is funded under a Center for Tree Science grant, and the position has an expected duration of 4 months.

**This is an ideal position for a graduating senior or masters student seeking field and lab experience in soil and ecosystem ecology.**

Apply here:
https://careers.hireology.com/themortonarboretum/192894/description

Essential Functions:

Provide support to a scientist for the implementation of research and related projects.
Assist with data and sample collection, sample processing, data analysis, and record keeping on research and related projects.
Operate and maintain laboratory equipment, and perform routine lab maintenance by keeping laboratory and field equipment in good working order.
Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

Applicants should have a strong background in ecosystem ecology, and/or soil science with both lab and field experience. A Bachelor’s degree in Ecology, Natural Resources, or a related field is required. Ability to conduct field and laboratory research is required. Proficiency with database, spreadsheet, and statistical/graphics computer programs, Gmail, and other Google applications beneficial. Must possess a valid driver’s license, which is subject to insurability and an annual Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) report. Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and Gmail and other Google applications beneficial.

Success Factors:

Must be well organized, communicate clearly, solve problems, be able to work without close supervision (after training), quickly learn new skills, and have strong attention to detail and meticulous record keeping. The applicant must demonstrate curiosity, an ability to multi- task, and an enthusiasm for ecosystem restoration and soils research.
Work will include a mixture of office, laboratory, and field work. Good written and oral communication skills. Clear thought, visual acuity, and manual dexterity needed.

Physical Demands and Work Environment:

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.

Physical Demands: Requires physical activity: walking over varied terrain, bending, limited lifting and carrying (up to 50 lbs. assisted).
Use of chemicals may be necessary. Some travel required.
Work Environment: Office environment and Arboretum grounds. Work is performed indoors and outdoors, in a variety of weather conditions.
Equipment: General office equipment, field and laboratory equipment, including specialized equipment relating to particular field of research, hand tools, Arboretum pick-up truck and/or utility vehicle.

Apply here:
https://careers.hireology.com/themortonarboretum/192894/description