PhD Opportunities Physiological Ecology of Western US Mountain Forests

University of Utah, Dept. of Biology, Salt Lake City, Utah=20

We are looking for PhD students interested in studying forest physiology and

forest carbon and water cycling in mountains of the western U.S.  Current

projects are focused on biological and physical factors influencing

photosynthesis and transpiration of mountain forests in the context of

climate change.  You will have the opportunity to learn and use a wide

variety of techniques, including leaf gas exchange, chlorophyll

fluorescence, plant water transport, forest environmental and flux

measurement methods, and isotope ratio mass spectrometry, and to work

collaboratively with scientists using tower and satellite-based remote

sensing observations and Earth system models.  We’ll train you in analytical

field and laboratory instrumentation and research techniques, experimental

design, data analysis, computer programming, ecological modeling and

scientific writing.  There is plenty of room to develop your own project in

the context of the overall scientific focus of our group. We offer up to 5

years of financial support in the form of teaching and research assistantships.

Requirements: 1) a bachelor=92s or master=92s degree and research experience in

a field of Earth system science (ecology, geology, physics, chemistry,

geography, etc.), 2) innate curiosity about the natural world and how it

works, 3) interest in learning and applying cutting-edge analytical

techniques to study ecology, and 4) strong motivation and ability to work

both independently and collaboratively.  Experience with plant physiological

ecology or environmental instrumentation is highly desired.  More

information about our Graduate Program in Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal

Biology is available at http://www.biology.utah.edu/graduate/index.php, and

about our research group at http://biologylabs.utah.edu/bowling. The

University of Utah is ranked among the top research institutions in the

nation and is home to more than 30,000 students and 18,000 employees.  Salt

Lake City is a sunny Western city with outstanding cultural and outdoor

recreational opportunities, including =93the greatest snow on Earth!=94 Deadline to apply is January 3, 2018.  If you=92re interested, please contact

Dr. Dave Bowling, david.bowling@utah.edu

Professor of Biology

University of Utah

The Tropical Responses to Altered Climate Experiment (TRACE) is looking for

two *full time *interns to assist in field and laboratory work, under the

supervision of the Project Manager. TRACE is the first field warming

experiment to be successfully conducted in a tropical forest to study the

effects of climate change on tropical forests, particularly effects on

carbon and nutrient cycling. Interns will be afforded the opportunity to

meet and interact with a wide variety of scientists from different fields

and will be trained in numerous scientific techniques. Tasks will include

but are not limited to: maintenance and operation of experimental and

scientific equipment, collection and processing of samples (soil, litterfall,

water, roots, among others), and data entry. Interns will be expected to

work in challenging field conditions (e.g., warm, humid climate with high

rainfall; steep and muddy areas) and will occasionally be asked to work for

extended hours. For more information about the project, visit

www.forestwarming.org. <http://www.forestwarming.org/>

*Review of applications will begin in September 2017 and will continue

until the positions are filled. Positions

may begin as early as September 15, 2017. We request Interns commit to

a minimum of three

months, with flexible start and end dates.*

Stipend: $575 per month to cover food and general living expenses. Contract

is with non-governmental organization Ciudadanos del Karso.

Accommodation: Free housing in Sabana Field Research Station in Luquillo,

Puerto Rico. Housing includes full kitchen and laundry.

Transportation: Interns will be required to apply for a federal license

with the USDA Forest Service. This will permit the use of the station

vehicles for work purposes. We will provide transportation to and from the

airport if needed.

Note: We are unable to provide funding for travel or medical insurance at

this time.

Requirements: We are looking for college graduates with a Natural Sciences

background. Previous field and/or laboratory experience is preferable, but

not required. Applicants should have a positive attitude and be able to

work both independently and on a team setting. They must also be able to

conduct physically demanding work under climatically challenging conditions.

While not required, applicants with a basic knowledge of Spanish are

preferred. We are currently only considering US citizens and permanent US

residents.

To apply: Send email to aurapr15@gmail.com with the following:

1.        Full resume or CV

2.        Letter of interest explaining your professional interests, why

you are interested in our project and your relevant experience.

3.        Name and contact information for two references.

Description: A MS position is available in the Davenport lab to study the

effects of predator phenology on experimental food webs. The focal aspects

of the research will pertain to responses of lower trophic levels and

ecosystem function within pond ecosystems. The field component of the

research will be conducted in the Missouri Ozarks and the experimental work

will be completed on campus at Southeast Missouri State University.

Coursework will be carried out at Southeast Missouri State University and

the field season will be from early September-late June. The student will

also have additional research and outreach opportunities such as

participating in long-term monitoring of wetland vertebrate populations and

additional food web research.  The position begins in the January 2018. This

position will be supported by a grant funded RA position that includes an

annual stipend and full tuition waiver.

Qualifications: Prospective students should have prior experience in field

biology, familiarity with zooplankton sampling and identification, a working

knowledge of statistics, demonstrate good communication skills and be

willing to work with others in humid environments. Prior experience in

surveys of pond-breeding amphibians and invertebrates is preferred but not

required. Prospective students should also possess a valid U.S. passport and

driver=92s license. A B.S. in biology, ecology or wildlife biology is required

with a GPA >3.0. Applicant must meet admittance criteria set by the

Southeast Missouri State University Graduate School and Biology graduate

program.

Application materials: Interested applicants should email the following

items to Dr. Jon Davenport (jdavenport@semo.edu) by November 1: 1) cover

letter detailing past research experience and professional goals, 2) CV or

resume, 3) 2 references, and 4) unofficial transcripts.

Hood Lab, Aquatic Ecology Laboratory, Department of Evolution, Ecology, and

Organismal Biology, The Ohio State University

I am recruiting two Ph.D. students interested in developing dissertations

focused broadly on how global change drivers (e.g., land use, nutrient

loading, climate warming, etc.) influence organisms and the structure and

function of aquatic ecosystems. There is considerable flexibility in

developing dissertation topics; however, I am particularly interested in

recruiting students interested in several new research questions focused

on: (a) nutrient cycling and metabolism in rivers, (b) the influence of

nutrient loading and climate change on Lake Erie plankton communities, (c)

the interactive effects of temperature and nutrients on autotrophic

metabolism. Interested candidates should review our website (

www.hoodaquaticslab.wordpress.com) and contact Jim Hood for more

information.

The ideal candidates will be highly motivated and honest with a strong

background in ecology and freshwater science and an interest in ecosystem

ecology. I seek to maintain a productive, diverse, and team-orientated lab

group and especially encourage students from under-represented groups to

consider joining the lab. A Master=E2=80=99s degree is preferred, but not r=

equired.

Financial support is available through a combination of research

assistantships, competitive fellowships, and teaching assistantships.

If interested, please email Jim Hood (hood.211@osu.edu) a single PDF

containing (1) a statement of interest, (2) a CV, and (3) contact

information for your three references. On* 1 November 2017

<http://airmail.calendar/2017-11-01%2012:00:00%20EDT>*, I will begin

reviewing candidate applications and invite selected applicants to apply to

the department. The department’s application deadline is *1 December 2017

<http://airmail.calendar/2017-12-01%2012:00:00%20EST>*.

*M.S. Assistantship in Applied Forest Ecology and Silviculture *The

Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management (NREM) at Iowa State

University is seeking a M.S.-level graduate student to join a research

project investigating the long-term impacts of harvest disturbance on

aspen-dominated forests across the Upper Lake States region. The student

will benefit from the opportunity to work on an established, experimental

study while also having the freedom to develop and pursue questions about

natural and anthropogenic disturbance, resilience, and competition tailored

to the student=E2=80=99s specific interests. Work will involve collaboratio=

n with a

team that includes scientists from Iowa State University and the U.S.

Forest Service Northern Research Station.

The position begins in summer 2018 and includes two guaranteed years of

funding (competitive stipend, tuition, and health insurance).  It is based

in Ames, Iowa at Iowa State University and will involve field work in

remote areas of northern Minnesota and Michigan, USA.

*Qualifications:* B.S. in ecology, forestry, silviculture, natural

resources, conservation biology, environmental science or a closely related

field. Previous field and/or extensive outdoor work experience is required.

Skills in plant identification are strongly preferred. Experience or

interest in dendrochronology is also preferred.  Submitted materials should

demonstrate effective communication through writing, an ability to work

both independently and collaboratively, a passion for natural resources,

and a strong work ethic.

*Application process:* Interested applicants should submit a CV, GRE

scores, contact information for three references, unofficial transcripts,

and a cover letter summarizing relevant experience, research interests, and

professional and academic goals to Dr. Miranda Curzon (mcurzon@iastate.edu)=

.

If nominated for the position, three letters of reference, official GRE

scores, and official transcripts will be required for application to ISU.

The process for admission to graduate studies in the Department of Natural

Resource Ecology and Management is described at

https://www.nrem.iastate.edu/admissions. The position is open until filled,

but applicants should submit materials prior to November 1, 2017 for full

consideration.

Please contact Miranda Curzon (mcurzon@iastate.edu) for further information=

I’m looking for a PhD student with experience in plant community ecology =

or evolutionary biology to start in my lab at Utah State University. The PhD=

will combine fieldwork and modelling, is fully-funded, and includes money to t=

ravel to conferences and working groups.

More details and application instructions are available online

(http://pearselab.com/join-the-lab/). I will review applications as they =

come in on a first-come-first-served basis. I’m happy to answer any questions =

over email (will.pearse@usu.edu).

Thanks,

Will Pearse

The Warne Lab at Southern Illinois University is seeking a highly motivated

graduate student (M.S. or PhD) to work on a funded study exploring the

ecology of ranaviruses among amphibian communities. Research in the lab

focuses on animal physiological ecology with specific projects testing how

environmental conditions shape resource allocation, disease processes, and

ecological community interactions.

The start date for the position is January 1, 2018. Apply by October 16th

for full consideration. For inquiries or to apply, please send a cover

letter and CV to Dr. Robin Warne (rwarne@siu.edu).

More information can be found at http://warnelab.weebly.com/.

The Warne Lab at Southern Illinois University is seeking a highly motivated

PhD student to work on a collaborative NSF funded study testing how changes

in animal physiology and foraging behavior feedback to affect plant

community ecology. The research will focus on kangaroo rats and their

grassland communities in New Mexico, and will include the experimental

manipulation of endocrine physiology along with use of digital telemetry,

and stable isotopes. The student will work with both Dr. Robin Warne and Dr.

Justin Boyles in the Zoology Department at Southern Illinois University.

The start date for the position is January 1, 2018. Apply by October 16th

for full consideration.

For inquiries or to apply, please send a cover letter and CV to Dr. Robin

Warne (rwarne@siu.edu).

Our labs are highly research active, and we collectively maintain a strong

and diverse cohort of undergraduate and graduate researchers. More

information can be found at http://warnelab.weebly.com/ and

http://www.boyleslab.com/.

A PhD track graduate student position is available (starting Spring 2018 or Fall 2018) in the Paerl Lab (https://paerllab.wordpress.com/), within the Marine, Earth, and Atmospheric Science (MEAS) Department (https://meas.sciences.ncsu.edu/).=20

The area of focus for the position is microbial (bacterial and microalgal) vitamin physiology and cycling (production, consumption, exchange), with multiple research directions being open for pursuit.  Both traditional (e.g. culturing, cell isolations, microscopy) and modern (e.g. flow cytometry, nucleic acid sequencing/amplification/quantification, isotopic tracing) techniques will be integral to the project, and prior experience with either is plus.  Field-based and laboratory-based experimentation is involved in the project.=20

A master=92s degree is prerequisite for the PhD track position.  In addition, publication (or submission) of work from the master=92s thesis is preferred.

Interested applicants please contact Ryan Paerl (rpaerl[at]ncsu.edu) to learn more details about potential research directions and to discuss the position.  Please include your CV in your initial contact email.=20

An application to the MEAS graduate program is necessary to ultimately obtain the position and information regarding the application process (including GRE requirements and deadlines) can be found here: https://meas.sciences.ncsu.edu/graduate/apply-to-

meas/.

The Howeth Lab of Ecology and Conservation (http://howethlab.ua.edu/) in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Alabama invites applications for a Ph.D. student in aquatic community and ecosystem ecology beginning Spring, Summer, or Fall 2018.

Research will address the role of succession in metacommunity and food web structure using replicate successional mosaics of beaver-formed ponds. Projects will focus on fish and/or invertebrate (e.g., odonates, zooplankton) community composition and ecosystem properties among ponds in different stages of succession and located in multiple watersheds. This work will utilize field-based approaches in the streams and beaver ponds of the Talladega National Forest in Alabama, including the NSF NEON Domain 8 core site. The project can additionally involve dendrochronology, GIS/remote sensing, hydrologic modeling, stable isotope analyses, DNA barcoding, and experiments at the UA Tanglewood Biological Station.

Additional information is available from the following webpages:

Directly related research: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ecs2.1871/full=20

Department of Biological Sciences Graduate Program: https://bsc.ua.edu/degree-programs/graduate-program-overview/=20

University of Alabama: [http://www.ua.edu=20]www.ua.edu=20

Requirements: B.S. or M.S. in Biology and Ecology or related fields. Applicants must be highly motivated and have the ability to: 1) interact and collaborate with a research group that includes graduate and undergraduate researchers; 2) conduct research outdoors in variable climatic conditions and 3) drive University trucks (valid driver=92s license and background check required).

Students will be funded on a combination of teaching and research assistantships, which include a competitive 12 month stipend, health insurance, and a tuition waiver. Highly competitive applicants can be considered for university and departmental fellowships that offer Graduate Research Assistantships.

Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled.

Interested students should send an e-mail to Dr. Jennifer Howeth (jghoweth@ua.edu) with the following attached documents and “Graduate Assistantship” in the title:

(1) cover letter that includes a statement of research interests, research experience, and career goals

(2) CV (3) scientific writing sample (e.g., laboratory report, thesis, manuscript) (4) GRE scores, if available=20 (5) unofficial copies of academic transcripts (6) contact information for three references in biology/ecology