A new opportunity for graduate study is available in the laboratory of Dr. Jason West in the Department of Ecosystem Science & Management at Texas A&M University (http://essm.tamu.edu/). The position is part of a NSF-funded collaboration with Purdue University to develop and deploy a web-based GIS portal (INPort - the Isotope Network Portal) that will provide a transparent interface between data consumers and data sources. This new cyberinfrastructure tool will allow integrated data querying, data acquisition, and geospatial modeling operations in the context of spatial mapping and analysis of stable isotope data. Research opportunities will be targeted generally at improving and developing mechanistic models of plant stable isotope ratios and the application of distributed observations and spatial modeling to address large-scale questions (see also the recent Isoscapes 2008 conference at http://isoscapes2008.org). There is significant opportunity in the project for developm! ent of new research avenues in the context of stable isotope ecology and spatial modeling in GIS and other frameworks. Interested parties should send a CV, contact information for three references and a cover letter describing past research experiences and future goals to Dr. West ([EMAIL PROTECTED]).
