Postdoctoral Position and 4 PhD fellowships in Plant Invasion Ecology (New Zealand)
We have exciting opportunities for one Postdoctoral Fellow and four PhD students to work in the area of plant invasions. The positions are based in the Weed Invasions research group in the Bioprotection Research Centre, Lincoln University, New Zealand. The successful candidates will join an active and dynamic group of invasion ecologists and are part of a three- year funded project headed by Profs Phil Hulme and Richard Duncan. You can find out more about our work at: http://bioprotection.org.nz/project/world-leading-biosecurity/weed-dynamics- and-invasion-processes The Postdoctoral Fellow will undertake research aimed at understanding how plasticity in key life history traits affects invasion success. The study will examine how key demographic parameters of successful and less successful alien plant species vary across marked environmental gradients, and the consequences of such variation for population dynamics and rates of increase. Research will involve field and glasshouse experiments aimed at parameterising population dynamic models under different environmental scenarios. The successful candidate will need a PhD in ecology or a closely related discipline, experience in quantitative data analysis and modelling, and to demonstrate they can publish their research in peer reviewed journals. Salary will be in the range of $55-60,000 NZ dollars per annum. This position is funded for three years. For more information and an application form see: http://www.lincoln.ac.nz/section269.html, Vacancy 08-213 or contact: Prof Phil Hulme ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) or Prof Richard Duncan ([EMAIL PROTECTED]). Applications close 14 November 2008; please send applications to: The Human Resources Director, PO Box 94, Lincoln University, Canterbury. New Zealand quoting reference 08-213. The four PhD fellowships aim to address key questions in invasion ecology using a variety of approaches (including field data collection, field and glasshouse experiments, and modelling). Each fellowship is fully funded covering fees, a three year student stipend ($26,000 NZ dollars per annum) and operating expenses associated with each project. The project titles are: • How do propagule pressure, climate and land-use interact to determine weed abundance and distribution? • Predicting weed distributions under climate change: beyond the envelope • Quantifying invasion risk: commercial trees as a model system • Do mutualists matter? The significance of pollinators, seed dispersers and rhizobia on the differential success of Acacia species in NZ For more details on these projects see: http://bioprotection.org.nz/vacancies or contact: Prof Phil Hulme ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) or Prof Richard Duncan ([EMAIL PROTECTED]). Applications for the PhD fellowships should include a CV, cover letter describing why the project interests you, and the names and e-mail addresses of three referees. If you would like to be considered for more than one of the projects please make this explicit in your application, identifying your preferences and provide reasoning as to these preferences. Applications close 14 November 2008 and should be e-mailed to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
