Post doc and graduate student opportunities in biogeochemistry at Brown University.
Post Doctoral Positions The Porder Lab at Brown University is currently seeking two post-doctoral scholars to work in the area of tropical biogeochemistry. One position, funded for two years, will explore the influence of erosion rate and geomorphic setting on the phosphorus status of tropical forests. The successful applicant must have a strong background in biogeochemistry (both in the field and in the lab), a willingness to travel, and an ability to coordinate a team of technicians and undergraduates. A background in geomorphology will also be highly relevant. The other position is more open ended, but is focused on the causes and consequences of spatial variation in nutrient availability in tropical ecosystems. Potential ideas include exploring the effects of parent material composition on ecosystem properties, pursuing a forest fertilization experiment in the lowland tropics, or using river chemistry to compare the nutrient status of different tropical landscapes. For both positions, a Ph.D. in biology, geology, or a related field is required. Funding is guaranteed for two years, and the applicant will be involved in proposal writing to supplement funding. To apply, please send a cover letter stating your interest in the position and experiences you feel are relevant, a curriculum vitae and the names of three references to both [email protected]. Graduate Student Positions Ph.D. in Terrestrial Biogeochemistry and M.S. in Environmental Science at Brown University, Providence, RI USA. I am currently seeking 1-2 Ph.D. students and 1 M.S. student to explore questions related to tropical biogeochemistry. My lab works broadly at the intersection between biology and geology to explore spatial patterns in tropical ecosystems, and the consequences of those patterns for the impacts of land use change on tropical ecosystems. A few of the current projects in the lab include investigations of: nutrient availability and landscape formation in the Talamanca Range of Costa Rica, the interaction between selective logging and nutrient dynamics in the lowland forests of Imataca, Venezuela, the effects of climate and soil age on plant/nutrient interactions in the Hawaiian Islands, and the impacts of industrialized soy production in Brazil. A few other projects are described on the lab website. Applicants should have a strong academic record, experience in either ecological or geological field work, chemical and isotopic analyses, or, ideally, some combination thereof. For more information on program details, potential Ph.D. students can visit the Dept. or Ecology and Evolutionary Biology website, and potential M.S. students can visit the Center for Environmental Studies website. Interested applicants should email CV, transcript, test scores, and a letter describing personal and research interests to [email protected].
