Graduate Assistantships (PhD level) are available in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Kansas. I am seeking highly motivated students interested in community ecology, grassland biodiversity and restoration. Students will be encouraged to develop research projects related to one or more of the following related themes: community assembly, plant succession, species coexistence and biodiversity, disturbance ecology, biological invasions, ecosystem restoration, impacts of global change on communities.

Successful applicants are guaranteed five-years of support through a combination of funds from the National Science Foundation and the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Kansas. The department also provides support for travel to attend and present results at national and international meetings. Additional funds to support graduate student research are available through the departmental endowment.

For more information please contact:

Bryan L. Foster

Professor, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Senior Scientist, Kansas Biological Survey

The University of Kansas, Higuchi Hall

2101 Constant Avenue

Lawrence, KS 66047

voice:  785-864-3346

email:  bfoster@ku.edu<mailto:bfoster@ku.edu>

Lab Website: http://foster.ku.edu/

The Brashares Group at the University of California Berkeley is hiring a

full-time field technician to work on a large mammal community ecology

study at the Hopland Research and Extension Center starting October 1. See

full job description and requirements below.

*To apply: *Please submit cover letter and resume as a single attachment

via e-mail to hopland.uraps@gmail.com

*Responsibilities*

This position will assist the Brashares Lab Group

<https://nature.berkeley.edu/BrasharesGroup/> with the Hopland Community

Ecology Project, conducted in collaboration with the California Department

of Fish and Wildlife. The research attempts to refine population estimates

of deer in California and to understand how deer behavior, movement, and

interactions with other species echo through iconic California coast range

ecosystems. This position is for a full-time field technician to live and

work at the Hopland Research and Extension Center and support the full

range of field research activities needed for the project. Housing is

provided.

*Responsibilities include:*

=E2=80=A2 Maintaining field equipment.

=E2=80=A2 Servicing field cameras.

=E2=80=A2 Performing transects and collecting samples.

=E2=80=A2 Surveying vegetation.

=E2=80=A2 Assisting in animal captures and collaring.

=E2=80=A2 Developing field protocols.

=E2=80=A2 Sample organization.

=E2=80=A2 Data entry and management.

=E2=80=A2 Regular meetings and communication with PI or Assistant.

=E2=80=A2 Keeping records of lab work underway or planned.

*Required Qualifications*

*Knowledge/Skills:*

=E2=80=A2 Previous field research experience in related field and familiari=

ty with

field methods and equipment.

=E2=80=A2 Familiarity with or experience in academic research environment.

=E2=80=A2 Ability to work on multiple assignments, set priorities, re-prior=

itize as

necessary, and take initiative in defining and executing tasks.

=E2=80=A2 Highly developed organizational, analytical, problem-solving, and

communication skills.

=E2=80=A2 Ability to work efficiently with intermittent supervision.

=E2=80=A2 Willingness to live in provided housing at the Hopland Research a=

nd

Extension Center.

*Education/Training:*

=E2=80=A2 Graduation from high school or a General Education Diploma and on=

e year

of laboratory experience or two years of college including courses in the

natural, physical or social sciences; or an equivalent combination of

education and experience

*Preferred Qualifications*

=E2=80=A2 Previous experience handling wildlife.

=E2=80=A2 Previous experience using remotely triggered field cameras.

=E2=80=A2 Previous experience conducting vegetation surveys.

*Salary & Benefits*

$15/hour wage, 40 hours/week. Free housing provided on site. For

information on the comprehensive benefits package offered by the University

visit:

http://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/compensation-and-benefits/index.htm=

l

*Other Information*

This is a limited appointment opportunity working full-time from October 1,

2017 – December 31, 2017 with the possibility of extension.

*Equal Employment Opportunity*

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action

Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for

employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual

orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected

veteran status. For more information about your rights as an applicant see:

http://www.eeoc.gov/employers/upload/poster_screen_reader_optimized.pdf

For the complete University of California nondiscrimination and affirmative

action policy see:

http://policy.ucop.edu/doc/4000376/NondiscrimAffirmAct

A Research Technician (Specialist) position is available in the labs of Dr. Nicole Rafferty in the Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology and Dr. Paul Nabity in the Department of Botany and Plant Sciences at the University of California-Riverside. Preference will be given to those who can start by January 2018. Initial appointment is for one year with possible renewal for a second year contingent on performance.

Research in the Rafferty Lab spans the fields of community ecology, population biology, and global change, with a focus on plants and pollinators. Current research centers on understanding how climate change-induced shifts in phenology and spatial distribution affect species interactions (www.raffertylab.ucr.edu). Research in the Nabity Lab uses comparative genomics to understand plant-

insect interactions (www.nabitylab.org).

The technician will be expected to lead projects in the lab and field and to supervise graduate and undergraduate students who are assisting with projects. These projects involve caring for plants and insect colonies in greenhouses and growth chambers, as well as careful molecular lab work, data entry, and overall attention to detail. The technician will also be responsible for maintaining clean, organized, and efficient lab and greenhouse spaces while helping to promote an inclusive and positive work environment. Field projects may involve travel to the University of California Natural Reserves (www.ucnrs.org), the Rocky Mountain Biological Lab (www.rmbl.org), and arboreta throughout the U.S. The successful applicant will benefit from a strong and growing network of researchers studying community and genomic ecology across departments. Preference will be given to applicants with prior ecological, greenhouse-related, and molecular research experience and a B.S. or M.S. in biology or a related discipline. Data analysis and bioinformatics skills or a strong desire to learn these skills is a plus. Interest in independent projects that stem from ongoing projects, as well as publication of results, will be encouraged, and other professional development opportunities will be made available.

Salary will depend on qualifications but will be at least $18.26 per hour with excellent benefits (http://hr.ucr.edu/benefits/health_and_welfare.html). Applicants from under-represented groups are encouraged. UCR is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer with a strong institutional commitment to the achievement of excellence and diversity.

To apply, please contact both Dr. Nabity (paul.nabity@ucr.edu) and Dr. Rafferty (nicole.rafferty@ucr.edu) by November 17 with your CV, unofficial transcript(s), and a short statement describing research experiences, skills, and your interest in this position.

Graduate Program in Ecology, Evolution, and the Environment at the University of Notre Dame

The Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Notre Dame offers a wide range of research opportunities and graduate coursework in ecology and evolutionary biology, allowing students to excel in field, laboratory, and mathematical biology.  Strengths of the program include:  studies on the dynamics and divergence of populations, evolutionary and ecological genomics, terrestrial and aquatic community and ecosystem ecology, epidemiology and disease ecology, experimental biology, and the impacts of global changes, including climate change, invasive species, and land use change.  Our close-knit faculty provides interdisciplinary research opportunities and excellent research mentorship. Our students take advantage of many resources at Notre Dame, including excellent laboratory facilities in the Hank Family Center for Environmental Studies and state-of-the-

art instrumentation in our Center for Environmental Science and Technology (CEST; https://cest.nd.edu), the Genomics & Bioinformatics Core Facility (http://genomics.nd.edu), and the Notre Dame Linked Experimental Ecosystem Facility (ND-LEEF).  Other hubs of EEE research include the University of Notre Dame Environmental Research Center (UNDERC; http://underc.nd.edu/) with sites located in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and western Montana and the Notre Dame Environmental Change Initiative (http://environmentalchange.nd.edu/). Numerous opportunities for interdisciplinary interactions among research areas are available, including our GLOBES graduate training program (http://globes.nd.edu/).=20

The following faculty members are currently training graduate students in diverse areas of ecology and evolution:

Beth Archie – behavioral ecology, disease ecology, and population biology

Gary Belovsky – terrestrial ecology and modeling, conservation biology

Sunny Boyd =96 behavorial ecology, neuroendocrinology and behavioral neuroscience

Jeff Feder – ecological and evolutionary genetics, speciation

Mike Ferdig – systems genetics of malaria parasite drug resistance

Hope Hollocher – population genetics, speciation, evo-devo, and landscape epidemiology

Stuart Jones – aquatic microbial and ecosystem ecology

Gary Lamberti – stream ecology and plant-animal interactions

Jason McLachlan =96 ecology and evolution of plant populations, statistical modeling, paleoecology

David Medvigy =96 terrestrial ecosystem modeling, ecosystem-climate interactions

Alex Perkins =96 modeling, disease ecology, population biology of disease vectors

Mike Pfrender =96 ecological and evolutionary genomics, adaptation, phenotypic plasticity Matt Ravosa =96 evolution and pathobiology of the mammalian skull and musculoskeletal system

Adrian Rocha =96 arctic terrestrial ecology

Jeanne Romero-Severson =96 genomics of adaptive variation in natural populations of forest trees

Jennifer Tank – stream ecosystem ecology and biogeochemistry

All graduate students are funded with competitive stipends.  A variety of fellowship opportunities are open to top applicants. For more information regarding the Biology Graduate Program see http://biology.nd.edu/ and http://graduateschool.nd.edu/.  The deadline for receipt of all application materials for the Ph.D. program is December 1st, 2017, although earlier submission is encouraged to ensure full consideration for available fellowships. Please begin your application by directly contacting faculty of interest.

Dr. Paige Ferguson, assistant professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Alabama, is seeking a PhD or MS student to begin in Spring 2017, Summer 2017, or Fall 2018.

Research will focus on conservation of Red-cockaded Woodpeckers and land management. Potential research topics include RCW population dynamics and management in the Oakmulgee Ranger District of the Talladega National Forest or modeling future land use change scenarios and their relationship to RCW management. Close collaboration with the U.S. Forest Service and stakeholders is anticipated.

Applicants should have a background in many of the following: ecology, environmental science, ornithology, wildlife management, GIS, ecological modeling, statistics, computer programming, stakeholder outreach, and field work. Applicants should be highly motivated and prepared to conduct independent field and modeling research.

To apply, please email Dr. Ferguson (pfferguson@ua.edu<mailto:pfferguson@ua.edu>) the following:

1. a cover letter describing your interest in the project and prior experiences that have prepared you for graduate work in Dr. Ferguson’s lab

2. your undergraduate transcript (an unofficial copy is fine),

3. GRE scores,

4. a sample of your scientific writing (for example a manuscript or lab report), and

5. contact information for 3 references.

Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until positions are filled.

The position comes with a full tuition waiver, a competitive 12 month stipend, and health insurance. Funding is available as a Graduate Teaching Assistant through the Department of Biological Sciences. Highly qualified applicants may be considered for Graduate School Fellowships, which offer a Research Assistantship during the student’s first year. Funding for summer field work expenses and conference attendance are available.

Additional information is available from the following links:

Dr. Ferguson’s Research: http://bsc.ua.edu/paige-ferguson/

Department of Biological Sciences: http://bsc.ua.edu/

Graduate School: http://graduate.ua.edu<http://graduate.ua.edu/>

University of Alabama: http://www.ua.edu<http://www.ua.edu/>

Tuscaloosa: http://www.tuscaloosa.com/visitor-services

Outdoor opportunities in Alabama: http://www.outdooralabama.com

Dr. Paige Ferguson, assistant professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Alabama, is seeking a PhD or MS student to begin in Spring 2017, Summer 2017, or Fall 2018.

Research will focus on land use in the Black Belt prairie of Alabama and how it relates to the occurrence of beetle and moth species. The student will conduct field work at prairie sites in the Black Belt and will conduct analyses with statistical models. Anticipated results include information about the distribution of beetle and moth species and quantified relationships between land use characteristics at multiple spatial scales and species occupancy probabilities.

The Black Belt Region is of great interest ecologically and culturally. Land use change throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centuries have left less than 1% of the native Black Belt prairie. Several beetle and moth species are endemic to Black Belt prairies or have disjunct distributions including the Midwestern prairies and Black Belt prairies. Both the natural history and human history of the Black Belt Region have contributed to current patterns of land use and prairie habitat quality. From the mid-1800s to the early 1900s, the Black Belt Region was the site of extensive slave-based cotton farming. When cotton farming declined, land was often converted to pasture. How land is distributed and used contributes to ecosystem health, socio-economic patterns among landowners, and social, political, and economic dynamics in the region.

Applicants should have a background in many of the following: ecology, environmental science, entomology, GIS, ecological modeling, statistics, computer programming, stakeholder outreach, and field work. Applicants should be highly motivated and prepared to conduct independent field and modeling research.

To apply, please email Dr. Ferguson (pfferguson@ua.edu<mailto:pfferguson@ua.edu>) the following:

1. a cover letter describing your interest in the project and prior experiences that have prepared you for graduate work in Dr. Ferguson’s lab

2. your undergraduate transcript (an unofficial copy is fine),

3. GRE scores,

4. a sample of your scientific writing (for example a manuscript or lab report), and

5. contact information for 3 references.

Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until positions are filled.

The position comes with a full tuition waiver, a competitive 12 month stipend, and health insurance. Funding is available as a Graduate Teaching Assistant through the Department of Biological Sciences. Highly qualified applicants may be considered for Graduate School Fellowships, which offer a Research Assistantship during the student’s first year. Funding for summer field work expenses and conference attendance are available.

Additional information is available from the following links:

Dr. Ferguson’s Research: http://bsc.ua.edu/paige-ferguson/

Department of Biological Sciences: http://bsc.ua.edu/

Graduate School: http://graduate.ua.edu<http://graduate.ua.edu/>

University of Alabama: http://www.ua.edu<http://www.ua.edu/>

Tuscaloosa: http://www.tuscaloosa.com/visitor-services

Outdoor opportunities in Alabama: http://www.outdooralabama.com

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.