We are seeking enthusiastic undergraduates and recent college
graduates who are interested in summer field research in Alaska. The
overall objective of our research program is to understand the
ecosystem and global consequences of potential future changes in
arctic vegetation. The successful applicant will assist with
fieldwork in our tussock tundra site and laboratory work consisting
of tasks such as plant sorting and data entry. In addition, the
successful applicant will attend weekly seminars on the research at
the station, will develop his or her own individual research projects
on a topic related to the program and his or her own interests, and
will present his or her work at an informal symposium at Toolik Field Station.
The focus of research this summer is to understand how plant species
traits affect ecosystem processing of C and N, and how changes in the
species abundance may alter C and N cycling under a warming
climate. We have been collecting data on plant traits from a suite
of species growing in different tundra ecosystem types, and will
finish that collection this summer. Data are being compared with
similar plant traits collected in ecosystems at a range of latitudes
across the Americas, to assess the contribution of functional
diversity to ecosystem processing of C and N under land use and
climatic change. The successful applicant will also assist with
other projects, including one focused on the mechanisms by which
winter processes affect the summer growth of vegetation, and the
consequences of shrub expansion under a warming climate for
biogeochemical cycling of C and N. We have set up snowfences in
tussock tundra, low shrub tundra, and taller shrub tundra, in order
to assess how increased winter snow affects mineralization of N
overwinter and growth and recovery from snow-loading of shrubs and
other vegetation in the following summer. We will continue to follow
vegetation growth in this study, and will continue measurements of
shrub response to, and recovery from, mechanical loading by
snow. This project should improve our understanding of land surface
changes currently occurring in the Arctic, and their potential
impacts on climate. Finally, the successful applicant will help with
a project focused on understanding the contribution of vegetation and
disturbance to landscape-level fluxes of carbon, water, and energy in
tundra ecosystems. The successful applicant will be based at Toolik
Field Station, north of the Brooks Range in arctic Alaska
(<http://www.uaf.edu/toolik/%29>http://www.uaf.edu/toolik/), which is
the focus of research by nearly 100 scientists who work on a variety
of terrestrial and aquatic ecology projects.
For more information, contact Dr. Syndonia Bret-Harte
(<mailto:[email protected]>[email protected]).
There is one position, which pays a stipend of $444 per week (before
taxes). The position will begin June 9 and end August 25, 2010.
Class background in plant ecology, botany, ecosystem ecology,
statistics, and computer science would be an advantage. Experience
in field or laboratory, experience with data analysis, and experience
working in a remote field site is preferred. You should have skills
with plant identification, data collecting and recording, data
manipulation in Excel, and data analysis. Applicants must be willing
to work in the field, occasionally under adverse weather
conditions. Competent, careful, emotionally mature, and enthusiastic
people desired! We want the work to be both fun and challenging. We
encourage applications from women and minorities. A valid U.S.
Driver's license is required, and successful applicants must provide
a copy of their social security cards at the time of employment.
You must apply for these jobs on-line. To apply, please
go to https://www.uakjobs.com and click on "Create Application" link
to select a User Name and Password and to create your
application. Then, go to
<http://www.uakjobs.com/applicants/Central?quickFind=70224>www.uakjobs.com/applicants/Central?quickFind=70224.
You need to submit a cover letter that explains why you are
interested in the program and how it fits into your long-term
education and career goals. Also, describe your background and
include anything that you think would convince us that you are the
most appropriate person for this position. You must also submit a
C.V. or Resume and the names, telephone numbers, and email addresses
of three professional references. If need assistance, please contact
UAF Human Resources at 907-474-7700 or stop by 3295 College Road,
Room 108, Fairbanks, AK 99775-7860 between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and
5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday (closed noon -1
p.m.). Applications will be reviewed beginning April 24, 2010.
UAF is an AA/EO Employer and Educational Institution.
*******************************************************
Dr. M. Syndonia Bret-Harte
Associate Professor of Biology and Wildlife
Associate Science Director, Toolik Field Station
Institute of Arctic Biology
University of Alaska, Fairbanks
PO Box 757000
Fairbanks, AK 99775-7000
907-474-5434
<http://users.iab.uaf.edu/~syndonia_bret-harte/CV.html>http://users.iab.uaf.edu/~syndonia_bret-harte/CV.html
and
<http://users.iab.uaf.edu/~syndonia_bret-harte/>http://users.iab.uaf.edu/~syndonia_bret-harte/
email address: <mailto:[email protected]><[email protected]>
