Opportunities

Biological Science Technician position at Beltsville Lab

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Plant and Protection Quarantine (PPQ), Science and Technology’ (S&T) is looking for a Biological Science Aide for Beltsville lab in Maryland.  If you know of anyone who would be a successful candidate, please encourage them to submit a coversheet and resume to Niccole C. Hill at niccole.c.hill@aphis.usda.gov.  Please note that this position is entry level.

See link to posting here:

Student-2PQ705–GS-404-04–BST

 

Graduate Position: Ecological Speciation Tree Squirrels

Adaptive Divergence and Reproductive Isolation in Tree Squirrels

The Chavez Lab

Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology

The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio

*Position description:* The Chavez lab is seeking two PhD students to start Fall 2018 in the EEOB (Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology) Department at the Ohio

State University. We are interested in both the ecological and molecular bases of reproductive barriers and are seeking students that will conduct speciation and adaptation research on tree squirrels in their hybrid zones in the Pacific Northwest. We have both field AND molecular studies that are ongoing with this system and successful applicants will conduct research that investigates EITHER (or BOTH) the ecological/behavioral, and/or genomic mechanisms of speciation and divergent adaptations. For applicants interested in the molecular studies, research methods will include collecting genomic data and using bioinformatics/population genetic analyses to study hybridization, introgression, and adaptive evolution. For applicants interested in the field studies, research will include collecting ecological and behavioral data as they pertain to divergent adaptations and reproductive barriers (assortative mating, hybrid viability, life history evolution, etc=E2=80=A6).  Candidates will be encouraged to develop independent research topics within the context of the overall project. EEOB also offers Master=E2=80=99s degrees and under the right circumstances we may give some consideration for applicants interested in entering a Master=E2=80=99s program.=20

*Deadline for applications:* Application materials should be submitted to The Ohio State University Graduate School no later than December 1, 2017.

*Qualifications:* The successful candidate will have a bachelor’s degree (Master=E2=80=99s degree is preferred) in Biological Sciences or a related discipline with previous research experience. Ideal applicant for the genomics position will have strong research interests in population genetics, molecular laboratory skills, strong quantitative skills, and some proficiency in basic bioinformatics. Ideal applicant for the ecological/behavioral position will have strong research interest in animal behavior, evolutionary ecology, and strong quantitative skills.=20

*Application materials:* Interested candidates are encouraged to email Dr. Andreas Chavez (chavez.102@osu.edu <mailto:chavez.102@osu.edu>) to discuss the position in detail. Your email message should include: (1) a short statement of intent that includes why you are interested in our lab and your previous research experience, (2) contact information for three references (preferably those associated with your research experience), and (3) a concise, current CV complete with (a) degrees earned and relevant coursework, (b) GPA, (c) GRE scores and percentiles, (d) publications, (e) research presentations, (f) awards/scholarships/grants, and (g) other relevant skills/qualifications. Students from non-English speaking countries should also provide TOFEL scores. PLEASE INDICATE =E2=80=9CGraduate position – Fall 2018=E2=80=9D in your subject line.=20

*Additional information:* To learn more about members of the Chavez lab and our work please visit the lab website <www.aschavez.com <http://www.aschavez.com/> or https://eeob.osu.edu/people/chavez.102 <https://eeob.osu.edu/people/chavez.102>>.

Andreas S. Chavez, PhD

Assistant Professor

Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology

The Ohio State University

318 W. 12th Ave., 300 Aronoff Laboratory, Columbus OH, 43210

614-292-2204

chavez.102@osu.edu <mailto:chavez.102@osu.edu>

www.aschavez.com <http://www.aschavez.com/>

PhD and MS assistantship opportunities in aquatic ecology at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology

We are currently searching for graduate students that would like to join

the aquatic ecology lab at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology

to work with Dr. Lisa Kunza.  Applications are being considered for

Spring 2018, Fall 2018, and Spring 2019. Our projects are

interdisciplinary in nature, with ongoing projects in our lab focusing

on biogeochemistry, metabolism, food web dynamics, fisheries, algal

ecology, biogeochemistry, and bacterial pathogenicity. Field work is

commonly occurring in Northwestern Montana, Grand Teton National Park,

Rapid City and on the Missouri River. Students with boating and kayaking

experience preferred.  See our lab website for more information

(http://kunzalab.wixsite.com/kunza-lab ).

Please submit CV, letter of interest, and contact information for 3

references to lisa.kunza@sdsmt.edu <mailto:lisa.kunza@sdsmt.edu>. In

addition, to be considered for assistantship opportunities file an

official application submission to the Atmospheric and Environmental

Sciences program via the graduate school:

http://www.sdsmt.edu/Academics/Graduate-Education/Graduate-Application-Instructions/

.

South Dakota School of Mines and Technology is located in Rapid City,

SD, which is the state’s second largest city (with an urban population

of 73,569 and metropolitan population of 197,628) and is nestled at the

foot of the beautiful Black Hills. Mount Rushmore, the Badlands National

Park and Crazy Horse Memorial are all within an hour of the University.

Rapid City enjoys a relatively mild climate and offers year-round

recreational opportunities, including, hiking, bicycling, skiing,

snowboarding, fishing, and hunting, to name a few. For more information

about  Rapid City visit: http://visitrapidcity.com/.

——————————————————————-

Dr. Lisa Kunza

Assistant Professor

Program of Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences

Department of Chemistry and Applied Biological Sciences

South Dakota School of Mines and Technology

501 E. St. Joseph St

Rapid City, SD 57701

phone: 605-394-2449

fax: 605-394-6061

Graduate position: UNotreDame.RapidEvolution

ECOSYSTEM RESPONSE TO RAPID EVOLUTION, PHD OPPORTUNITY AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME

We are recruiting a PhD student to work on an NSF sponsored project
studying the impact of rapid evolution on the productivity and
stability of coastal salt marshes. Our study system relies
on individuals of a foundational plant in this system (Schoenoplectus
americanus) revived from seed banks dating back over 100 years. Our
approach involves: measuring changes in plant physiology and growth in
controlled experiments; paleoecological analysis of marsh sediments;
synthesis of extensive field data; and Bayesian approaches to link
evolutionary and ecosystem processes. We welcome applicants with
strengths in any of these disciplines. For more information, see the
lab web page (https://sites.nd.edu/paleolab), or submit a letter
detailing your interest and relevant background to Jason McLachlan
(jmclachl@nd.edu). Please CC the project manager, Jody Peters
(peters.63@nd.edu). Applications to Notre Dame Biological Sciences are
due December 1.

Jody Peters

PalEON Program Manager

University of Notre Dame

Galvin 294

574-631-1852

Notre Dame IN 46556

paleonproject.org

@Pal_EON

Jody Peters <peters.63@nd.edu>

Restoration Ecology Apprenticeship at The Wilds

The Wilds is one of the largest and most innovative conservation centers in the world, offering diverse training programs for early career professionals.  One six-month position is available starting approximately November 13th, 2018. No monetary compensation is offered; however, the position is ideal for acquiring practical career experience in conservation, natural resource management, land stewardship, and ecological studies. On-site housing, valued at $250/month, is covered by the internship during the 6 months of this position.

The apprentice will be responsible for planning, organizing, and conducting restoration activities in a 20-acre forest section including understory invasive species removal, springtime native species planting events with volunteers, and vernal pool construction and monitoring.  The apprentice will also gain hands-on experience, participate in vegetation and wildlife studies and receive field training on a variety of ecological studies in wetland, forest, stream, & grassland habitats.

The apprentice will receive training in field methods (species identification, survey protocols, research methodology), GPS & GIS applications/map making, biological monitoring, and application of land management and restoration techniques.  The position requires hiking and some physically demanding tasks, including outdoor work throughout the seasons.  This may include hot, buggy, cold or otherwise challenging conditions.  Participants should be prepared with appropriate field gear / foot wear.   Must have a valid driver’s license and be able to lift at least 45 lbs.

To apply, please send your resume and a cover letter to the contact below.  Outline what you would hope to gain from the position and how your past experience makes you an ideal candidate.  All training programs at The Wilds are competitive and we value placing individuals in programs that suit their career goals.

Please send application materials to:

Dr. Rebecca Swab

Director of Restoration Ecology, The Wilds

14000 International Road, Cumberland, OH 43732

rswab@thewilds.org<mailto:rswab@thewilds.org>

740.638.5030 ext. 2084

[http://www.thewilds.org%3chttp:/www.thewilds.org]www.thewilds.org<http://www.thewilds.org>

Patrick J. Boleman, RPCV, M.S.

Restoration Ecology Program Associate

The Wilds

14000 International Road

Cumberland OH  43732

Office: 740-638-5030 ext. 2085

pboleman@thewilds.org<mailto:pboleman@thewilds.org>

PhD Student – Fungal and Microbial Ecology – University of Memphis

I am looking for a PhD student(s) to start Fall 2018 to join the Brown Lab (http://www.microbialmemphis.com) in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Memphis. In the Brown Lab, we use a cross-domain approach (Fungi, Bacteria, Archaea, Algae, etc.) to ask questions about how communities are structured, how microbe-microbe or microbe-host interactions influence assembly, and how these communities play a role in ecosystem processes.

Research questions are open, but may include: snow-borne and alpine fungal and microbial community ecology, evolution of psychrophilic syntrophic associations, or urban microbial ecology.

Preferences given to candidates who have a strong background or interest in the following: next-generation sequence generation and analysis =96 including command line based analyses, familiarity with Fungi (as well as bacteria), and a strong sense of curiosity.

If interested, please contact me (Shawn Brown) at spbrown2@memphis.edu with =93Memphis PhD position=94 in the subject line. Include in the email (in PDF or .docx format) a short description of your interests, preferred study system, experience, and career goals that includes undergraduate (and graduate if applicable) GPA. Also include a CV/resume, GRE scores and unofficial transcripts. Applicants will be screened as interest is expressed and a Skype interview may be invited soon thereafter. Official U of M graduate application deadline is February 1, 2018 but materials should be in sooner.

This is an equal opportunity position and I welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their race, sex, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation or age.

Travel Grants for prospective Ph D students, Entomology at Texas A&M University!

> > Interested in pursuing a PhD? Come take a look at Texas A&M! The Department of Entomology at Texas A&M University, a growing and vibrant Department with stimulating and diverse research opportunities, is pleased to announce the availability of travel grants for prospective PhD students. These grants, which provide airfare (within the continental United States), hotel accommodations and a per diem for food, give prospective PhD students the opportunity to meet our faculty, students and staff, tour the department and campus, and explore College Station. For more information on how to apply for a PhD travel grant, please visit us at http://entomology.tamu.edu/.

> > > > Dr. Raul F. Medina

> Professor

> Department of Entomology

> Texas A&M University

> TAMU 2475

> College Station, TX 77843

> USA

> Phone: +1-301-335-4464

Graduate Position: Conservation Genomics of the rare Californian endemic, Torrey Pine (Pinus torreyana)

An MS or PhD graduate position in conservation genomics is available to

study fine-scale population genomic structure of the rare Californian

endemic, Torrey Pine with Jill Hamilton at North Dakota State University,

Fargo, North Dakota in collaboration with Sean Hoban (The Morton Arboretum,

Lisle, IL) starting January 2017.

Torrey pine (Pinus torreyana Parry) in one of the rarest pines in the world,

restricted to two populations, a mainland grove of approximately 3400 trees

just north of San Diego and an island population of approximately 2000 trees

on Santa Rosa Island, one of the Channel Islands (nearly 300 km away). This

project will evaluate the fine-scale genomic structure of natural

populations using RAD-seq, comparing mainland and island population and

assess the status of genetic variation captured within an ex situ seed

collection. There is plenty of room to pursue particular questions of

interest depending on the interest and experience of the candidate.

This interdisciplinary research will combine genomic, spatial and

environmental datasets to ground-truth an ex situ seed collection and

investigate genetic connectivity at a fine-scale. This project will involve

substantial collaboration with tree scientists at the Morton Arboretum in

Lisle, IL (outside of Chicago) and is part of a large collaborative network

to conserve Torrey pine between the US Forest Service, National Park

Service, California State Parks, San Diego Zoo, and North Dakota State

University.

The ideal graduate student will be independent, organized and a problem

solver. Ideally the student will have some experience in lab bench work,

molecular ecology/population genetics, and/or bioinformatics for genomic

data analyses, and be prepared to conduct some field-based research in a

collaborative environment.

For more information on the Hamilton Lab please visit the lab website at:

http://www.jillahamilton.com and more information on the Department of

Biological Sciences at NDSU at https://www.ndsu.edu/biology/. Fargo

is the largest city in the northern Midwest and as the =91Gateway to the West=92

is a vibrant, growing community that has access to numerous outdoor

opportunities for all seasons. Short visits (one week to one month) will

be hosted at the Morton Arboretum (http://www.mortonarb.org/) in Lisle,

Illinios, with Dr. Sean Hoban as primary host

(http://www.mortonarb.org/science-conservation/scientists-and-staff/sean-hoban).

Interested students are encouraged to contact Dr. Hamilton

(jill.hamilton@ndsu.edu). Please include a brief description of your

research interests, a writing sample and a CV in your email. This position

is fully-funded and includes an annual salary, a tuition waiver and is open

to US students or international students.

Graduate opportunities – Terrestrial Ecosystems and Climate Change – Texas

Funded PhD and Masters Opportunities

Terrestrial Ecosystem Responses and Feedbacks to Climate Change Texas Tech University, Department of Biological Sciences, Lubbock, TX

I am looking for motivated PhD or Masters students interested in exploring terrestrial ecosystem responses and feedbacks to climate change. In my lab, we use a =

combination of empirical, theoretical, and simulation studies to examine feedbacks between terrestrial plants and soils and the Earth=92s climate system. You will have the opportunity to work on a variety of topics at a number of different scales, from the leaf to the globe. Topics currently being studied in the lab include:

– Photosynthetic acclimation to climate change – Physiological mechanisms underlying plant biomass responses to nutrient=

addition – Mechanistic models of plant respiration – Land use decision – climate feedbacks – Agricultural responses to climate – Development of next generation land surface models

More information about the lab is at www.smithecophyslab.com.

The lab has financial support for multiple students through a combination of research and teaching assistantships.

Requirements: (1) Bachelor=92s degree in a relevant field, including, but not limited to Ecology, Botany, Environmental Science, Microbiology, Atmospheric Science, Geoscience, Physics, Computer Science, or Statistics; (2) interest in gaining empirical and modeling skills; (3) curiosity about how the natural world works; (4) ability to work independently and collaboratively.

Interested students are encouraged to first contact Nick at nick.smith@tt=

u.edu. Application details can be found at www.depts.ttu.edu/biology/Graduate/graduatestudies.php.

Positions are available starting as early as Summer 2018.

Nick Smith

Assistant Professor – Texas Tech University Adjunct Assistant Professor – Purdue University

Email: nick.smith@ttu.edu

Phone: 806-834-7363

Website: www.smithecophyslab.com

Seeking MS or PhD student for Antarctic Research

The van Gestel lab at Texas Tech University (TTU), department of Biological Sciences and the TTU Climate Science Center is seeking for a qualified PhD or Master=92s student interested in carbon cycling. The lab is focused on microbial ecology and plant ecophysiology in the context of climate change.

Specific topics include: microbial responses to temperature variability, controls of microbial community composition, and plant photosynthetic responses to climate change. See www.nvangestel.com for more information on research conducted in the van Gestel lab.

Brief description:

The student will conduct a warming experiment in Antarctica to understand the effects of warming on carbon fluxes, microbial activity, and plant growth. This project is funded by the National Science Foundation. The trip requires a 4-month trip to the western Antarctic Peninsula (December 2018 through early April 2019) at Palmer Station, a small US research station (see http://pal.lternet.edu/).

The student will receive a research assistantship during the spring semester in which fieldwork is conducted. Teaching assistantships for other semesters are available through the Department of Biological Sciences.

Position: Master=92s or PhD

Qualifications: highly motivated, independent thinker, with a genuine interest in biogeochemical cycles and climate change. Experience in lab and/or fieldwork is preferred. Minorities and women are encouraged to apply.

Start date: January 2018

Application material: – Letter of interest from the prospective student. That statement should include research interests, and a statement of the student=92s professional goals. Include GPA (including graduate GPA if applicable).

– Names and contact information of three references.

– Curriculum vitae.

To ensure consideration, submit application materials by October 20, 2017, to natasja.van-gestel@ttu.edu.