Post-doc position (or highly qualified PhD candidate)
Landscape fragmentation in the European countries
Concordia University, Montreal, Québec, Canada
Start date: as soon as possible, preferably 01 February 2009
Position duration: 2 years
Salary: full time, commensurate with experience
I am currently looking for a postdoc (or highly
qualified PhD candidate) to work with me on a
project about the degree of landscape
fragmentation in Europe. The position is
available as of now.
Project description: Landscape fragmentation due
to transportation infrastructure has a number of
ecological effects. It contributes to the loss of
wildlife populations and to the increasing
endangerment of species (e.g., by the dissection
of populations and the isolation of habitats) and
affects the water regime, the scenery, and the
recreational quality. The project investigates
the causes that contribute to an increased or
decreased degree of landscape fragmentation and
determines their relative importance. Current
metrics of landscape fragmentation need to be
interpreted within the context of regional
socio-economic and biophysical states to make a
comparative assessment of fragmentation. Policy
and land planning will be much better served by
these comparative, rather than absolute, measures
of fragmentation which take account of the
relevant socio-economic conditions. The main task
of the project is to prepare a statistical model
that predicts the degree of landscape
fragmentation for regions in Europe based on
physical and socio-economic characteristics of
these regions. The project is conducted in
collaboration with the European Environment
Agency (EEA) in Copenhagen and the Swiss Federal
Office for the Environment (FOEN) in Berne, and
is fully funded. The results will provide data
for the indicator of landscape fragmentation on
the European level which will be used for
environmental reporting by the EEA. The method
used for measuring landscape fragmentation will
be the effective mesh size (see Jaeger 2000,
Landscape Ecology; Jaeger et al. 2008, J. of
Environmental Management).
The project involves publication of 3 reviewed
papers (or more) and a report for the general
public in 3 languages (English, and translations
into French and German). The successful applicant
will participate in the presentation of the
results at workshops in Berne and Copenhagen.
I would be happy to provide more information. If
you want to read about a related project that we
did for Switzerland, you can take a look at this
publication:
http://www.gpe.concordia.ca/documents/LSZ-kurz-e-1,6MB.pdf
The position may also be suitable for an
exceptionally qualified PhD candidate. The
project does not include field work.
Background: Dr. Jaeger's research is in Landscape
Ecology, Road Ecology, and Environmental Impact
Assessment. You find more detailed information
here:
http://www.gpe.concordia.ca/about/facultystaff/jaeger.php
Skills and qualifications:
- Degree in the natural sciences (preferably
PhD); background in ecology (preferably landscape
ecology) or geography;
- Experience with the statistical analysis of data (GLM);
- Experience with GIS;
- Excellent writing skills (English);
- Good presentation skills;
- Experience with publishing peer-reviewed papers;
- Good organizational, communication, and time management skills;
- Knowledge of French and/or German would be an asset but is not required.
How to apply: Please submit your cover letter,
resumé, and two to three references before 28
February by email or postal mail to:
Dr. Jochen Jaeger, Assistant Professor
Concordia University Montreal
Department of Geography, Planning and Environment
1455 de Maisonneuve Blvd. W., Suite H1255
Montréal, Québec, Canada H3G 1M8
Tel: +1 - 514 - 848 2424 ext. 5481
Fax: +1 - 514 - 848 2032
Email: jjaeger @ alcor.concordia.ca
http://gpe.concordia.ca/about/facultystaff/jaeger.php
--
