Postdoctoral Position in Invasion Ecology A postdoctoral position is available in the laboratory of Dr. Jennifer Fraterrigo in the Department of Natural Resources at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
The postdoc will lead a project spanning the fields of invasion ecology, biogeochemistry and fire ecology to understand how climate, resource availability and forest management influence the population dynamics of invasive species, and their effects on forest plant communities and biogeochemical cycling. The project builds on recent studies indicating that macroclimate and resource availability control invasive species effects on communities and carbon cycling, potentially by modifying plant- microbial-soil and competitive interactions (Craig, M.E., Pearson, S.M., Fraterrigo, J.M., 2015. Grass invasion effects on forest soil carbon depend on landscape-level land-use patterns. Ecology, in press. Fraterrigo, J.M., Wagner, S., Warren, R.J., 2014. Local-scale biotic interactions embedded in macroscale climate drivers suggest Eltonian noise hypothesis distribution patterns for an invasive grass. Ecol. Lett. 17, 1447-1454). Primary responsibilities will include performing experiments to test hypotheses about regulation of invasion effects by climate and resource availability, quantifying and modeling invasion-fire interactions, and writing manuscripts for publication in peer-reviewed journals. The position will be located at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign, with field work conducted in southern Illinois and involving collaboration with forest managers. Project funding is available beginning in June 2015 with two years anticipated and a possibility for extension. Candidates should have a PhD in ecology, strong publication record, and expertise in biogeochemistry and fire ecology. To apply, please send a CV and cover letter including a brief description of your relevant skills and experience to Jennifer Fraterrigo ([email protected]). Application review will begin immediately and the position will remain open until a qualified candidate is selected. More information on the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences is available at http://nres.illinois.edu. Information about the Fraterrigo Lab is available at http://landscape.nres.illinois.edu. Illinois is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, status as a protected veteran, or status as a qualified individual with a disability. Illinois welcomes individuals with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and ideas who embrace and value diversity and inclusivity. (www.inclusiveillinois.illinois.edu).
