PhD positions at Colorado State University and University of Nebraska A collaborative team of researchers from Colorado State University, University of Nebraska and Cornell University seeks individuals to join us on a recently awarded NSF Dimensions of Biodiversity grant called EVOTRAC (Evolutionary and Ecological Variability in Organismal Trait Response with Altitude and Climate).
EVOTRAC aims to predict the vulnerability of stream organisms to climate change across latitudinal and elevation gradients by first understanding how temperature and disturbance shape stream biodiversity and function. Through several integrated research questions, we will build links between multiple levels of evolutionary, organismal and ecological biology using a combination of field surveys, in situ physiological tolerance measurements, and community/ecosystem scale mesocosm and whole stream experiments. To complete this highly integrative project, we are recruiting several PhD students with strengths in one or more of several areas (physiological ecology, aquatic insect systematics, experimental field ecology). We seek students who are enthusiastic about working in remote streams in Colorado and Ecuador, who speak Spanish, and who are excited about interacting with a team of principals from multiple universities and with international collaborators. Specifically we seek individuals with the following expertise: (1) Integrative Evolutionary Ecology (PhD position at Colorado State University) - Interest in local adaptation and phenotypic plasticity in physiological traits related to thermal and hypoxia tolerance and how individual speciesÂ’ performance may translate to whole community or ecosystem response to climate change. Ideal candidates would be familiar with physiological techniques (e.g. respirometry, organism and/or ecosystem metabolism), and would have a good working knowledge of both evolutionary and ecological theory. Instructions for applying to this PhD position are available on the CSU Graduate Degree Program in Ecology (GDPE) Prospective Student page: http://www.ecology.colostate.edu/prospective.php. Applications will be accepted through January 31, 2011. Please also email your CV and a Letter of Interest directly to Cameron Ghalambor ([email protected]) or LeRoy Poff ([email protected]). (2) Aquatic Insect Systematics (PhD position at Colorado State University) - Expertise in aquatic insect identification and taxonomy using morphological traits and experience in molecular systematics lab techniques and analysis. This student will link morphological and molecular data for species discovery in tropical and temperate streams to help characterize biodiversity patterns across elevation gradients at different latitudes. Instructions for applying to this PhD position are available on the CSU Graduate Degree Program in Ecology (GDPE) Prospective Student page: http://www.ecology.colostate.edu/prospective.php. Applications will be accepted through January 31, 2011. Please also email your CV and a Letter of Interest directly to Chris Funk ([email protected]) or Boris Kondratieff ([email protected]) (3) Stream Ecosystem Ecology (PhD position at University of Nebraska, Lincoln) - Interest in understanding the role of organism traits (physiology, trophic, dispersal) in influencing stream ecosystem structure and function, and in how ecosystem features condition the vulnerability of species to future warming and changes in hydrologic disturbance regime. Ideal candidates will have experience in conducting experiments in mesocosms and/or whole streams. Instructions for applying to this PhD position are available on the UNL SNR Graduate School Application page: http://snr.unl.edu/gradstudent/future/index-future.asp. Applications will be accepted through January 31, 2011. Please also email your CV and a Letter of Interest directly to Steve Thomas ([email protected]). Start date: Ideally, as early as June 2011. See the project webpage at http://rydberg.biology.colostate.edu/~poff/EVOTRAC/ for further information on project details.
