Fire, climate, & human influences on forest-steppe vegetation dynamics: The Ecosystem Dynamics Lab in the Department of Ecology at Montana State University, Bozeman is looking for a PhD student to study forest-steppe vegetation dynamics. Climate, fire, and humans, and their interactions, strongly influence vegetation dynamics over varying temporal and spatial scales and to better understand these relationships, the project partners with a paleoecology team (Drs. Cathy Whitlock/MSU and Jed Kaplan/UNIL) to develop a biogeography/biogeochemistry ecosystem model to investigate late-Holocene forest-steppe vegetation patterns in Patagonia. A highly motivated student, who is interested in field ecology, theoretical ecology, and ecosystem modeling, is desired. Experience in either ecology, environmental science, and computer programming is a plus, but not required. Please send questions and/or application materials to Dr. Ben Poulter ([email protected]). Application materials should include a 1-page letter of interest, a 2-page CV, and contact information for three references. Closing date is May 1, 2015, with a start date for August 2015.
