3 OPENINGS IN MONICA TURNER'S LAB, UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON (1) POSTDOCTORAL POSITION (Consequences of bioenergy crop production for grassland birds in southern Wisconsin) is available on a collaborative project funded by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to explore potential landscape-level impacts of expanding bioenergy crop production on wildlife in southern Wisconsin. This research focuses on how plausible future land-use/land-cover scenarios may affect grassland wildlife ‘Species of Greatest Conservation Need.’ The postdoctoral associate will collaborate closely with researchers in the Agricultural Ecosystems Research Group at UW-Madison and the DNR project leader, David W. Sample. The successful candidate will develop quantitative models for grassland birds using new field data collected during summer 2011; assess tradeoffs among different species and among competing resource demands; identify landscape configurations that may sustain wildlife populations while producing biomass for bioenergy production; and communicate research orally and through peer-reviewed journal articles. The position is currently funded for 1.5 yrs (with the potential for additional funding), and the target starting time is January 2012.
Qualifications. Applicants must have completed a Ph.D. in ecology, conservation biology, wildlife ecology or a related field prior to appointment. Candidates should have experience with landscape ecology, GIS and spatial analysis and wildlife population and/or community studies, and habitat modeling. Strong quantitative skills, knowledge of agricultural ecosystems, and experience with terrestrial vertebrates, especially grassland avian communities, are assets. We encourage applications from outstanding candidates who work well in a collaborative team setting and have excellent communication and writing skills. To apply. Candidates should email (in a single PDF file) a cover letter, CV, one-page statement of research interests, and the names and contact information for three references to Monica Turner ([email protected]). Applications will be reviewed as they are received, and position will remain open until filled. (2) POSTGRADUATE RESEARCH INTERN POSITION (Landscape variability in forest structure, function and fuels 25 years after the 1988 Yellowstone fires) is available on a collaborative project funded by the Joint Fire Science Program. The size and pattern of the 1988 Yellowstone fires created novel opportunities to study succession at an unprecedented scale following severe fire, and we have studied the consequences of these fires for >20 years. This project will involve re-sampling our permanent vegetation plots to understand the patterns and mechanisms of change in these young postfire forests. This is a 2-yr full-time paid position that will allow a postgraduate to gain experience in a multi-faceted research program in a large wildland landscape. Collaborators include Dr. William H. Romme (Colorado State University) and Dr. Daniel B. Tinker (University of Wyoming). The intern will be based in Madison but must spend summers of 2012 and 2013 in Yellowstone. The intern will provide assistance with project coordination, all field logistics, field sampling, sample processing and laboratory analysis, data entry and GIS analyses, supervision of field assistants and posting data to the web. The target start date for this position is May 1, 2012. Qualifications. Applicants must have completed a B.S. (M.S. preferred) in biology, botany, ecology, forest ecology or a related field prior to appointment. Candidates must have experience with forest sampling, the use of GPS and GIS, and be competent and comfortable working in backcountry wilderness settings. Successful applicants will demonstrate excellent organizational skills, the ability to work effectively in a collaborative setting, and attention to detail. Experience in soil and foliar nitrogen sampling and analyses (e.g., CHN, inorganic N, soil pH) is an asset. To apply. Candidates should email (in a single PDF file) a cover letter, CV, one-page statement of research interests and professional goals, transcripts, and the names and contact information for three references to Monica Turner ([email protected]). Review of applications will begin on January 15, 2011. (3) Ph.D. CANDIDATE (Landscape change and ecosystem services in the southern Appalachian Mountains) is sought for research focused on the future of ecosystem services in the Southern Appalachian Mountains of western North Carolina. We seek an ecology student interested in sustainability science, synthesis, and the development of spatially explicit landscape models in the context of regional change. The student will build on a foundation of research in this forested region, which is noted for its high biodiversity, and also collaborate with Dr. Scott Pearson (Mars Hill College) and other researchers at the Coweeta LTER site. For information about graduate study at UW-Madison, please visit Wisconsin Ecology (http://ecology.wisc.edu/) and the Turner lab website (http://landscape.zoology.wisc.edu). The successful applicant will be funded by a combination of teaching and research assistantships. Interested students are encouraged to contact Monica Turner in advance ([email protected]), but candidates must apply to the Department of Zoology, UW-Madison Graduate School by December 31, 2011. ***************************************** Dr. Monica G. Turner Eugene P. Odum Professor of Ecology Department of Zoology, Birge Hall University of Wisconsin Madison, WI 53706 Tel: (608) 262-2592 Fax: (608) 265-6320 Email: [email protected] http://landscape.zoology.wisc.edu ***************************************** Visit Wisconsin Ecology at http://ecology.wisc.edu
