******Postdoc and PhD Opportunities in Landscape Modeling and Soundscape Ecology******
The Human-Environment Modeling and Analysis (HEMA) Lab at Purdue University (http://www.human-environment.org ) is seeking to fill several new exciting postdoc and graduate positions in landscape modeling and soundscape ecology. All candidates are expected to be highly motivated to study in a very interdisciplinary setting composed of students, staff and faculty that are working across vast disciplinary divides: the ecological, social and engineering sciences and even the arts (e.g. music). Projects in the HEMA lab are very multidisciplinary, fast-paced and require the desire to work in small to medium sized multi-university teams where making scientific discoveries with high societal impact are greatly valued. Specific positions that we wish to fill include: Postdoc in Soundscape Ecology. Recent funding to the HEMA lab in the exciting new field of soundscape ecology requires a team leader trained in bioacoustics and community ecology with abilities to work with large datasets such as those collected from acoustic, airborne (e.g., lidar) and satellite (Landsat) sensors. Broad knowledge of ecology (population, community and ecosystem dynamics) along with the ability to analyze large acoustic datasets using tools such as R, ArcGIS, and Izotope are highly desirable. Strong technical skills are necessary, including the ability to program in the Windows and possibly for mobile devices. Desire to also be in the field collecting data in exciting places (deserts, tropical forests, temperate wetland systems) a plus. Knowledge of how to mix multi-channel audio field recordings (using M/S microphone arrays) also a plus. Excellent communication skills (verbal and written) are necessary along with the desire to work with industry partners. Position is for up to three years. Postdoc in Landscape Modeling. Current funding from USDA, USGS and NSF exists to support a postdoc in the area of large-scale landscape change modeling. Expertise in land change modeling, GIS, cropping systems, spatial modeling, and invasive biology are necessary. Much of this modeling will require the knowledge of python and ArcGIS model builder. Ideal candidate would possess skills in spatial statistics as well. Excellent communication skills (verbal and written) are necessary. Position is for one year renewable dependent upon successful extension of funding. PhD student in Soundscape Ecology and Ecological Informatics. Recent funding to the HEMA lab will support a PhD student in the area of soundscape ecology with an emphasis on ecological informatics. The ideal student would be one that understands how acoustic data are collected and analyzed (i.e., has some training in bioacoustics) and is willing to learn in areas of large scale data analysis, data mining, and time series analysis of long-term acoustic data collected from various ecosystems around the world (deserts, tropics, temperate ecosystems). Ability to travel and spend time in these ecosystems learning about their unique soundscape patterns is a must. PhD student in Soundscape Ecology and Informal Learning. Recent funding to the HEMA lab will support a PhD student interested in novel approaches to engage youth, the public and special education students (e.g., visually impaired students) in efforts to use research outcomes from soundscape ecological research as a means to inform the public about the loss/degradation of earth's natural soundscapes. A student interested in science education, possibly seeking a degree across two colleges at Purdue University, would be ideal. PhD student in Soundscapes and Sense of Place. Recent funding to the HEMA lab will support a PhD student interested in human sense of place studies. Ideal student would have an interest in learning about how soundscapes form a sense of identity and place attachment and how alterations to existing soundscape composition through degradation and replace of sounds by humans affect connections people might have to nature. Ideal students would have a desire to learn about human cognition and how mixed methods approaches combining qualitative and qualitative methods can be used to assess cultural and other demographic factors related to an individual's sense of place. Deadlines. Postdoctoral positions. Both positions are currently open and we seek to fill these ASAP. Review of applications start August 15, 2013 and will close when the ideal candidates are selected. Submit a letter of interest summarizing qualifications for the position, a vita, names of up to four references, and up to two peer reviewed papers that you believe represent the level of your scholarship to Dr. Bryan C. Pijanowski ([email protected]) with the subject header "postdoc soundscape ecology" or "postdoc landscape modeling" depending on position. PhD students. All positions are available starting with the Spring semester of 2014. Students can apply to either the Department of Forestry and Natural Resources graduate program (see https://ag.purdue.edu/fnr/Pages/graduatestudents.aspx ) or the Ecological Sciences and Engineering (ESE) interdisciplinary graduate education program (http://www.gradschool.purdue.edu/ese/ ). Note deadlines and minimum GRE/GPA requirements on the program web sites. In either program application, please state your desire to work with Dr. Bryan Pijanowski. Questions about these exciting graduate positions can be sent to Dr. Bryan C. Pijanowski ([email protected] ). About the Department of Forestry and Natural Resources at Purdue University. The Department of Forestry and Natural Resources is consistently ranked as one of the top graduate programs in the area of wildlife ecology and forest science. Purdue University recently ranked #6 worldwide for Agriculture and Forestry, it is ranked in the top 20 of all public universities in the country and in the top 100 in worldwide university surveys. The Department of Forestry and Natural Resources currently has over 270 undergraduates and nearly 100 graduate students enrolled in its programs. Contact Information Dr. Bryan C. Pijanowski Professor and University Faculty Scholar Department of Forestry and Natural Resources Purdue University West Lafayette, Indiana 47906 [email protected] (765)-496-2215 (office) Purdue University is an equal opportunity/equal access/affirmative action employer fully committed to achieving a diverse workforce
