We seek a Ph.D. student to join an NSF-funded research team examining the relationships between native forest fauna and introduced rodents in native forests fragmented by lava flows (kipuka) on the Big Island of Hawaii. The student will be trained in the graduate program at the Department of Biology, Stanford University, with Dr. Tadashi Fukami (http://www.stanford.edu/~fukamit/), starting in fall 2012. As part of the dissertation research, the student will participate in an ongoing project investigating the role of omnivorous predators as drivers of food web dynamics in mid-elevation forests near Hilo, HI. The study system contains a set of naturally isolated forest patches of varying sizes along with plant, bird, and arthropod communities dominated by native species. The research has both theoretical and applied foci with the potential to make contributions to the conservation of Hawaiian ecosystems. This research will provide opportunities to work with Fukami as well as other collaborators, including Dr. David Flaspohler at Michigan Technological University, Dr. Christian Giardina at the USFS Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry, and Dr. Daniel Gruner at the University of Maryland. Specific questions and organisms that the student will focus on are flexible and will be determined by the student in consultation with the collaborators. Candidates should have excellent quantitative and written and verbal communication skills and a willingness to work in a rugged field environment. A Master's degree in ecology or a related discipline or equivalent experience is desirable. Interested candidates should e-mail a short letter summarizing their research experience and interests, a CV (including GPA and GRE scores), and contact information for two references to [email protected] as soon as possible (by November 1, 2011). Qualified candidates will be asked to apply for the Stanford graduate program (application due: December 1, 2011). Fukami will attend the ESA meeting in Austin, TX, and inquiries are welcome in person in addition to email.
