[ECOLOG-L] Open Post Doc Position: Predator-Prey Game

[Zvika Abramsky]

Looking for a Post Doc for a research on the behavioral game between a predator and its prey
A predator in a patchy environment should consider the anti-predatory behavior of its prey and use tactics such as managing the fear of the prey to maximize prey capture. To
 avoid predation the prey should use time allocation and vigilance. The prey behavior is also dependent on prey density and the behavior of other prey individuals in the other patches.
We studied the behavioral game of two players in an artificial arena that was built specifically
for this purpose in which a fish eating bird – little egret – is free to capture fish that are found in three different
 fish pools. The fish can chose to either hide undercover or to forage for food in the risky part of the pool. The on going study, which is supported by a new ISF grant, deals mostly with building and testing the predictions of game models. Prof. Bill Mitchell
 (Indiana Stat University) is in charge of the game modeling effort.

We offer a Post doc position (1/1/16 – 30/9/17). We prefer a candidate with earlier experience in animal behavior and game theory.
Earlier results of this study can be seen in the following publications:Katz,
 1. Katz, M. Z. Abramsky, B. P. Kotler, O. Altstein & M. L. Rosenzweig.
2010. Playing the waiting game: predator and prey in a test environment. Evolutionary Ecology Research. 12:
793-801.
2.
Katz, W. M. Z. Abramsky, B.P. Kotler, M.L. Rosenzweig, O. Alteshtein & G. Vasserman.
2013. Optimal foraging of Little Egrets and their prey in a foraging game in a patchy environment. American Naturalist 181: 381-395.
3. Katz, W.M.
Zvika Abramsky, Burt P Kotler, Inbar Roth, Ofir Altestein1& Michael L. Rosenzweig. 2014. A predator-prey behavioural game: How does number of food patches influence foraging tactics? Evolutionary Ecology Research
16: 19-35.
4. Katz, M. Zvika Abramsky, Burt P. Kotler, Inbar Roth, Stav. Livne Ofir Altstein, and Michael L. Rosenzweig. 2015. A predator-prey foraging
 game: How does prey density influence tactics? Evolutionary Ecology Research. 16:323-335.
For more details get in touch with Prof. Zvika Abramsky:
Tel -  +972 528795851    
Mail - 
zv...@bgu.ac.il
 

Professor Zvika Abramsky
Department of Life Sciences
Ben Gurion University
Beer Sheva, Israel
Tel - + 972 86461342
Fax - +9726479239
Mobile - +972528795851

[ECOLOG-L] Exciting AGU 2015 Session on Climate Refugia on Dec 14

[Toni Lyn Morelli]

For those of you attending the American Geophysical Union (AGU) Fall Meeting in 
San Francisco, there are oral and poster sessions organized by Connie Millar 
(US Forest Service) and Toni Lyn Morelli (Northeast Climate Science Center, 
USGS) that will include experts in the field speaking about the physical 
processes that cause these areas to be buffered from climate change, how such 
areas might be used by species, and how managers might incorporate them into 
climate adaptation strategies.  Look forward to seeing you there!

GC11C. POSTERS: Climate Refugia in a Changing World: Climatic and Hydrologic 
Processes Informing Ecological Responses
Monday, 14 December 2015; 08:00 - 12:20; Moscone South, Poster Hall
 
GC13J. ORAL: Climate Refugia in a Changing World: Climatic and Hydrologic 
Processes Informing Ecological Responses
Monday, 14 December 2015; 13:40 - 15:40; 3005 Moscone West

[ECOLOG-L] Postdoc: U.B.C.Biodiversity Research Centre

[David Inouye]

Postdoctoral Fellowship Opportunity

The next application round begins November 1, 2015. The deadline is 
January 13, 2016.


We seek applicants for a 2-year postdoctoral fellowship in the U.B.C. 
Biodiversity Research Centre 
(www.biodiversity.ubc.ca/ ). The 
Centre is made up of over 50 faculty members with interests in 
ecology, evolution, systematics, biodiversity and conservation. 
Preference will be given to candidates with bold ideas, demonstrated 
research ability, and strong communication skills. The successful 
candidate will be expected to conduct original research on core 
problems in biodiversity, foster interactions within the Centre, run 
a seminar series, and organize a retreat. Postdoctoral fellows funded 
by the Biodiversity Research Centre typically interact with several 
lab groups. Candidates are welcome to contact potential collaborating 
labs in the Centre to inquire about current and potential research 
activities, but it is not necessary to apply to work with a specific 
faculty member.


Starting date, 1 September 2016.
Salary $48,000 per yr.
Research stipend: $7,000 per yr.
Send curriculum vitae, three letters of reference, and a statement of 
overall scientific goals and interests (approximately 2 pages) to the 
address below. Applications and Reference letters will be accepted 
electronically; reference letters must be sent directly by the referee.

Search Chair, Biodiversity Research Centre, U.B.C.,
6270 University Blvd., Vancouver, B.C., Canada V6T 1Z4.
(e-mail biodiversity.cen...@ubc.ca).
Closing date for application, 13 January 2016.

The University of British Columbia hires on the basis of merit and is 
committed to employment equity. We encourage all qualified candidates to apply.

[ECOLOG-L] Environmental Science Lecturer Position in the University of Pittsburgh Department of Geology and Environmental Science

[Dan Bain]

We are casting a wide net with the search below.  Our department is 
rapidly evolving/growing and our students are quite rewarding to teach.


While I'm not on this search committee, I'm happy to answer questions 
people may have about the department/university.


Thanks,
Dan


Environmental Science Lecturer

The Department of Geology and Environmental Science at the University of 
Pittsburgh is seeking qualified applicants for a faculty position at the 
rank of Lecturer, pending budgetary approval. This position is outside 
of the tenure stream and is contracted for 3 years, with renewals and 
promotion expected. The successful candidate will teach a variety of 
undergraduate courses for a new B.S. major in Environmental Science, 
ideally including a scientific writing class. The duties associated with 
this position would include advising Environmental Science and Geology 
majors, preparation of course materials, and academic program 
assessment. Additional duties may include, at the option of the 
successful candidate, developing proposals for undergraduate research, 
curriculum development, outreach, or attracting underrepresented 
minorities. The candidate must possess a Ph.D. in Geoscience, 
Environmental Science, or other related disciplines. Teaching experience 
is essential. Excellent communication and writing skills are required. 
The appointment begins in the fall term of 2016.


Applicants should submit a cover letter explaining their qualifications 
along with their CV, teaching and advising statements, and arrange for 3 
letters to be uploaded 
to:https://facultysearch.as.pitt.edu/apply/index/MTM0.  For each 
reference, you will have the opportunity to input a personal email 
address or an email address generated through Interfolio’s Online 
Application Delivery.  In both cases, an email notification will be sent 
to the designated address with instructions about uploading the letters 
to our system. To ensure full consideration, applications must be 
received by January 15, 2016. The University of Pittsburgh is an 
Affirmative Action, Equal Opportunity Employer.  Women, members of 
minority groups under-represented in academia, veterans, and disabled 
are especially encouraged to apply



--
Daniel J. Bain
Assistant Professor
University of Pittsburgh, Department of Geology and Planetary Science

Mail: 200 SRCC
4107 O'Hara St.
Pittsburgh, PA 15260

Phone: 412 624-8766
Fax: 412 624-3914
email: db...@pitt.edu

[ECOLOG-L] Post-doctoral position available: Restoration and management of wetlands embedded in south Florida grazing lands

[Betsey Boughton]

A one year post-doctoral position, with a very high probability of extension
to two years, is available with Dr. Elizabeth Boughton at the MacArthur
Agro-ecology Research Center www.maerc.org , a division of Archbold
Biological Station www.archbold-station.org  in Lake Placid, FL.
  
Archbold operates a full scale working cattle ranch at the MacArthur
Agro-ecology Research Center (MAERC), which provides a unique platform for
agro-ecology research, and provides many opportunities for study of the
ecology of wetlands embedded in grazing lands.  Wetlands comprise ~15% of
the landscape in the headwaters of the Everglades, the watershed where MAERC
is located.  More information is needed to understand the ecological effects
of grazing in both hydrologically restored and unrestored wetlands, as well
as the trade-offs or synergies among managing for biodiversity in
agricultural production systems.

The post-doc will utilize existing long-term field data sets that have been
collected by MAERC and collaborating researchers from other institutions in
two different studies: 1) two long-term wetland restoration sites that are
being restored through the USDA’s Wetland Reserve Program with five years
pre-and five years post-hydrological restoration groundwater and vegetation
data, including vegetation data from within grazing exclosures and 2) a
large factorial experiment examining pasture management intensity,
prescribed fire, and release from grazing on 40 wetlands, initiated in 2006.
For a description of the experiment see: Boughton, E. H., Quintana-Ascencio,
P. F., Bohlen, P. J., Fauth, J. E., Jenkins, D. G. (2015), Interactive
effects of pasture management intensity, release from grazing and prescribed
fire on forty subtropical wetland plant assemblages. Journal of Applied
Ecology. doi:10./1365-2664.12536

A main goal of the post doc will be to analyze data and prepare at least two
manuscripts ready for publication by the end of 12 months based on the two
existing long-term datasets.  The focus will be on assessing the effects of
cattle grazing on wetland plant composition, diversity, and biomass, an
issue of extreme interest to land managers, ranchers, and agencies. The
post-doc will also assess the effect of hydrological restoration on
groundwater levels and vegetation in two large wetland restoration projects
and analyze the effects of vegetation change through time and in response to
ranch management practices.  Other potential analyses could be conducted on
how land use, prescribed fire, and grazing affect wetland plant forage
quality and plant tissue nutrients. The post doc will be author on
publications stemming from this work, and senior author if responsible for
all analyses and major paper writing, but collaborating researchers will
also be included as authors. 

Minimal fieldwork is expected, but there will be opportunities to interact
and supervise research interns, participate in fieldwork if desired,
participate in outreach and education activities and other minor
administrative duties as they arise.

Strong background in multivariate statistics, assessing vegetation change
trajectories, analyzing groundwater, ARC GIS, LiDAR, spatial statistics and
experimental design are important.

Start date is between January and February 2016. Salary is commensurate with
experience with benefit package. All requirements for the PhD must be
completed before starting.

Interested candidates should submit a cover letter, CV, a short (1-2 page)
description of research accomplishments, copies of publications, and letters
of recommendation from three references to Elizabeth Boughton at
ebough...@archbold-station.org.

With the one year extension, additional responsibilities will include
administrative duties and oversight of a USDA Wetland Reserve Easement, as
well as developing outreach and education materials on wetland restoration,
and analysis of an additional wetland plant data set from a long-term
grazing and hydrological restoration monitoring project from the Archbold
Reserve.

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

The demands described here are representative of those that must be met by
an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. 
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with
disabilities to perform the essential functions.
•   Minimal field work is expected, but there will be opportunities for
fieldwork if desired. Potential physical activities including lifting,
pushing and pulling items up to 50 pounds; reaching, stooping, bending,
kneeling, climbing, crouching and prolonged periods of sitting.
•   Ability to work in outside conditions that include inclement weather, 
heat
and humidity. 
•   Ability to work various shifts during occasional emergency situations,
including evenings and weekends, with little or no notice.
•   Stand and walk for long periods of time
•   Exposure to potentially hazardous chemicals

Archbold is 

[ECOLOG-L] Multiple student positions in Ecology & Evol. Biol. at UT Knoxville

[Brian O'Meara]

Multiple positions are available to join the Department of Ecology and 
Evolutionary Biology 
at the U. of Tennessee, Knoxville, to earn your Masters or PhD degree: 
http://eeb.bio.utk.edu/graduate-studies/application-information/ . 

Program Highlights:

* Growing department: 2-6 new tenure track faculty starting Aug. 2016.

* Our students have published over 80 papers in the last academic year: 
Science, Ecology, 
Systematic Biology, Proceedings of the Royal Society B, American Naturalist, 
Biological 
Invasions, Journal of College Science Teaching, and many more.

* PhD graduate placement, for all graduates from 2000-2015: 43% tenure track 
faculty, 
22% postdoc, 15% government, with the others in NGOs, private business, or 
non-tenture 
track jobs. For those at least five years after graduation, 57% tenure track 
faculty, 3% 
postdoc, 17% government.

* Resources to support student research, in addition to external funding (i.e., 
internal funds, 
DNA sequencing facility, computer clusters, field station, boats).

* Available training in teaching best practices, including a certificate in 
college teaching and 
training consistent with AAAS national recommendations.

* Active initiatives to improve diversity in science (i.e., Program for 
Excellence & Equity in 
Research (salary, tuition, and training for 2 years), EEB Women in Science 
(department 
wide discussion group)).

* Grad students receive health insurance and a tuition waiver.

* Guaranteed support for students meeting program expectations (for 5 yrs PhD, 
2 yrs 
Masters).

* 64% of students supported by TAing, 36% by fellowships, research, or training 
grants.

* One in twelve students has received NSF Graduate Research Fellowship funding.

* Last year students received over $421K in external funds (in addition to 
internal research 
funds).

* Extensive outreach and service opportunities: students serve on the boards of 
the Nature 
Conservancy and American Cichlid Society, do invasive species removal, run 
taxonomic 
forays with the broader public, help organize Darwin Day Tennessee, mentor 
undergraduate and high school researchers, and much more.

* Nearby locations for research: Great Smoky Mountains N.P. (home to 17,000 
documented species, including 1500 angiosperm, 200 bird, 66 mammal, and 67 fish 
species); numerous cave systems; campus greenhouses; experimental plots; and 
much 
more.

* Affordable cost of living. Living wage (for one adult) in Knoxville, TN = 
$21,216, 
Cambridge, MA = $27,664, San Francisco area = $28,496 (source: 
livingwage.mit.edu). 
Stipends for PhD students start at $22,000 ($19,700 for Masters students), but 
are often 
higher.

* Vibrant community: 86 miles of greenways and trails in Knoxville, many 
festivals and 
parades, museums, live music, and more.

* Active departmental graduate student organization (GREBE) to represent and 
help 
graduate students.

* Potential students should contact advisors before applying: we only accept 
students into 
a lab (no rotations). For more information, go to 
http://eeb.bio.utk.edu/graduate-
studies/application-information/ . Application deadline Jan. 1, 2016.

==


Faculty seeking students and sample questions:

The list below is not exhaustive – indeed, far from it. There are other faculty 
members who 
will be recruiting students in the Department. Also, the listed faculty members 
may recruit 
students who have different interests to those listed. But we prepared this 
list just to 
illustrate to prospective students some of the diversity of topics on which we 
envision 
recruiting, spanning conservation, macroevolution, global change ecology, 
molecular 
genetics, biology education and systematics, among many other topics.

___

Paul Armsworth (http://web.utk.edu/~parmswor)

How can large-scale efforts to conserve biodiversity or ecosystem services, 
which are led 
by governments or international nonprofits, most effectively complement 
bottom-up 
conservation efforts led by local communities?

Conservation organizations often have a hierarchical management structure – how 
effectively do hierarchies allocate resources to support conservation of 
biodiversity and 
ecosystem services?

___

Joe Bailey (http://web.utk.edu/~jbaile29/Default.html)

How will species range dynamics drive genetic divergence? How do feedbacks 
reinforce 
patterns of genetic divergence on the landscape?

Does contemporary evolution along the gradients of global change alter 
ecosystem 
function?

___

Ben Fitzpatrick (http://web.utk.edu/~bfitzpa1)

What is the coevolutionary relationship between turtles and Salmonella?

What determines the form of hybrid zones between salamanders in the Great Smoky 
Mountains?

[ECOLOG-L] Funded PhD position: Advanced genomics for microbial risk assessment

[Sara Jamieson]

Funded Ph.D. position using advanced genomic and transcriptomic applications 
for microbial contamination risk assessment



We are looking for a motivated Ph.D. student to develop a direct, rapid and 
cost-effective method of testing recreational water quality (microbial 
community) using cutting-edge genomic and transcriptomic methods. These methods 
will include NextGen sequencing (NGS), qRT-pCR, gene expression and the 
development of a nano-fluidic qRT-PCR "chip." The project also incorporates a 
microbial ecology component to examine species interactions under different 
environmental conditions. If successful, this protocol could be adopted 
world-wide and contribute to the health and safety of beach goers and greater 
awareness of the ecological dangers our beach areas are facing.



The student will be advised by Dr. Daniel Heath at GLIER (University of 
Windsor) and will take advantage of GLIER's well-funded Environmental Genomics 
Facility (EGF). As part of the larger recreational water quality project, the 
successful candidate will collaborate with government regulators, other 
scientists and industry partners. The opportunity to conduct research directly 
relevant to the growing subsector of water quality, use cutting edge genomics 
technologies and establish a professional network in government, academia and 
industry will position the researcher for a successful and competitive launch 
into the workplace or academia upon graduation.



The successful candidate will start immediately. While the position comes with 
a stipend, please note there is no extra funding for international student 
fees. Please send your CV and summary of research interests along with contact 
information for two references to Dr. Daniel Heath (dhe...@uwindsor.ca) as soon 
as possible.

[ECOLOG-L] $500 grant for arctic / antarctic researchers - registration deadline Friday

[Katharine Corriveau]

Hi all,

If your research, education or conservation efforts focus on our Arctic or
Antarctic peoples, economies, species or environments, check out
Instrumentl's  Arctic-Antarctic Challenge for
the chance to win one of two Instrumentl Research Grants ($500 and $250 for
1st and 2nd place winners, respectively) towards your crowdfunding campaign.

Register HERE  by entering
your name and email by *this* Friday, November 6th, at 11:59 pm PST (however
campaign materials are only due on November 20th)!

Have questions? Read more about our Grant Challenges
 or send me an email. I'm
happy to answer questions.

Good luck!

Katharine

-- 
Katharine Corriveau
Co-founder/COO @ Instrumentl



Follow us on Facebook  and Twitter

Visit us at www.Instrumentl.com 

Forest Challenge , Bird Challenge
, and Fossil Challenge
 campaigns are live!
Arctic-Antarctic Challenge registration
 closes November 6th

Recent VICE article
 about
Instrumentl's contribution to funding marine research.
Check out our Fall 2015 Grant Challenge Schedule

[ECOLOG-L] SESYNC IMMERSION LECTURES: Economics & Environmental Problems

[David Inouye]

SESYNC IMMERSION LECTURES: Economics & Environmental Problems

"Economics for non-economists": Live Streaming Monday, Nov 2 and 
Tuesday, Nov 3.




Speakers:

Peter Schuhmann, University of North Carolina at Wilmington

James Boyd, Resources for the Future/SESYNC

Sheila Olmstead, University of Texas



Monday, Nov. 2

11-11:45 Broad Overview of Economics, FAQs and Common Misconceptions (Boyd)

http://www.sesync.org/events-announcements/fri-2015-10-23-1510/immersion-distinguished-scholar-jim-boyd



1:30-2:15 Non-Market Valuation Methods and Data (Schuhmann)

http://www.sesync.org/events-announcements/fri-2015-10-23-1459/immersion-distinguished-scholar-peter-schuhmann



3:30-4:15 Large 'n' Econometric Methods and Applications (Olmstead)

http://www.sesync.org/events-announcements/fri-2015-10-23-1523/immersion-distinguished-scholar-sheila-olmstead



Tuesday, Nov. 3

9-9:45 Conservation Return on Investment Analysis (Boyd)

http://www.sesync.org/events-announcements/fri-2015-10-23-1512/immersion-distinguished-scholar-jim-boyd



10:45-11:30 Coastal and Marine Species Protection and Management (Schuhmann)

http://www.sesync.org/events-announcements/fri-2015-10-23-1502/immersion-distinguished-scholar-peter-schuhmann



1-1:45 Market-based Environmental Policy (Olmstead)

http://www.sesync.org/events-announcements/fri-2015-10-23-1524/immersion-distinguished-scholar-sheila-olmstead



For more information and links to the live streaming: 
http://www.sesync.org/events-announcements/immersion-economics

[ECOLOG-L] Graduate Position in Disease Ecology and Aquatic Conservation

[Dana Marie Calhoun]

Graduate Position in Disease Ecology and Aquatic Conservation

The Johnson Laboratory at the University of Colorado is actively seeking 
applications for a new PhD student position to begin in summer (ideally) or 
fall 2016. We are looking for an independent, self-motivated student who is 
passionate about pursuing research in aquatic ecology and conservation. 
Currently we seek to fill the following position:

The community ecology of disease: this project aims to understand how 
interactions among species within an aquatic community collectively 
influence pathogen transmission and disease risk. This can include 
interactions among hosts (dilution effect), among micro- and macroparasites 
(coinfection), and between non-hosts and parasites (predation). The 
selected student would have a unique opportunity to conduct fieldwork on a 
broad range of taxa (amphibians, fishes, macroinvertebrates, zooplankton, 
waterbirds) at our long-term study sites in California (during summers).

If you are qualified and interested in working with our laboratory, please 
send the following items in a letter of introduction to Dr. Pieter Johnson 
(pieter.john...@colorado.edu):
- Curriculum vitae, GPA, and GRE scores
- Your general research interests, previous experience and how you will 
contribute to work already being pursued in the lab.
- Post-graduate career plans.
- Why you are specifically interested in work being done in the lab. 
- Whether you have applied for any external fellowships (e.g., NSF or EPA).

For more information on specific research being conducted in the lab, 
please visit the lab webpage 
http://www.colorado.edu/eeb/facultysites/pieter/index.htm. For more general 
information regarding the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, 
please visit the departmental website http://ebio.colorado.edu/. 

[ECOLOG-L] Applications being accepted for Wildlife Field Course, May 15-28, 2016

[McDonald, John E.]

The Northeast Section of the The Wildlife Society, in cooperation with 
Castleton State College and the Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife, will 
be hosting our 8th annual 2-week Wildlife Field Course in Castleton, Vermont, 
May 15-28, 2016.

Please visit the course website for details and application materials:   
http://wildlife.org/NE/field_course

The course fee is $950 and includes 3 undergraduate or graduate credits through 
Castleton State College and room and board for the 2 weeks.  The course is 
housed at the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department's Edward Kehoe Conservation 
Camp near Castleton with much field work on the nearby Bird Mountain Wildlife 
Management Area.  The course emphasizes hands-on experience with basic field 
techniques and small group work organized around the theme of conducting a 
biological inventory.   The course is led by practicing wildlife biologists and 
ecologists who volunteer their time to serve as instructors providing great 
networking opportunities and career perspectives during evening discussion 
sessions.  We usually have 20+ guest instructors from various state and federal 
agencies, consulting firms, and universities.

Enrollment is capped at 20 students, don't get stuck on the waiting list, sign 
up soon.

Dr. John E. McDonald, Jr.
Assistant Professor
Department of Environmental Science
214A Wilson Hall
Westfield State University
Westfield, MA 01086
twsmcdon...@gmail.com
413-572-8393 (w)
413-446-8389 (cell)
Associate Editor, Wildlife Society Bulletin, Journal of Wildlife Management,and 
Ursus
Vice-President and Fellow, The Wildlife Society

http://www.westfield.ma.edu/prospective-students/academics/environmental-science/

Like us on Facebook at:
www.facebook.com/pages/Westfield-State-Environmental-Science/168696726672260

[ECOLOG-L] Tomorrow's AASHE webinar: Creating a Sustainable Future with the UN's Sustainable Development Goals and UNESCO's Global Action Programme

[Daita Serghi]

Dear All,

The UN's new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have been released! How do 
your initiatives align with the SDGs? Have you heard about UNESCO's Global 
Action Program (GAP) on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD)? Higher 
education institutions and regional networks around the world are helping 
implement the GAP and are stepping up to meet the SDGs.

Please join us for the third webinar in the “Engaging Across Boundaries" 
series, tomorrow, Tuesday, Nov. 2 at 3:00-4:30 p.m. ET. to explore how you can 
engage in the SDGs and GAP's five priority action areas through increasing 
education, training, and public awareness opportunities across public, private 
and civil sectors. Join in this presentation and dialogue on how we can shape 
policies, institutions, capacity-building, youth empowerment and mobilization, 
and community development in order to foster a more sustainable future.

Learn more and register here: 
http://www.aashe.org/events/webinars/2015/Engaging-Across-Boundaries-3. AASHE 
webinars are free.

Missed a webinar? Video recordings and presentation materials are available for 
AASHE members in the webinar archive at any time. Not a member? Join AASHE 
today!

Daita

--
Daita Serghi, PhD
Programs Coordinator
Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education
www.aashe.org | daita.ser...@aashe.org | (888) 347-9997 ext. 124


-- 

Connect with us:   Website  | Facebook 
 | Twitter 
 | LinkedIn 



--
Email Confidentiality Notice 

[ECOLOG-L] Tenure-track faculty position in Geospatial Analytics for Emerging Disease and Global Food Security

[Ross Meentemeyer]

NC State is creating a new interdisciplinary cluster to address the grand
challenge of *Emerging Plant Disease and Global Food Security*. One of our
four open rank faculty positions focuses on *Geospatial Analytics* for next
generation decision-making and knowledge-sharing frameworks designed to
improve local to global management of emerging pathogens that threaten crop
production and food security.

The new member of this cross-campus team will also be a Faculty Fellow
housed in the Center for Geospatial Analytics. Forestry and Environmental
Resources in the College of Natural Resources is the anticipated
departmental home for this position.

Below is the announcement for the full cluster. Please feel free to contact
me with questions about the cluster and specifics
​about
 this new position in Geospatial Analytics.

Best wishes,

Ross

*--*
*Cluster Hire in Emerging Plant Disease and Global Food Security NC State
University*


*As part of the Chancellor’s Faculty Excellence Program*, NC State
University seeks *four* outstanding faculty at any rank to form a new
interdisciplinary faculty cluster on “Emerging Plant Disease and Global
Food Security ”.
Understanding the dynamics of and managing emerging plant diseases requires
a collaborative approach with expertise in epidemiology, population
biology, microbial evolution, geospatial modeling and bioinformatics. The
new cluster faculty will develop basic knowledge in these areas and work
collaboratively with several existing clusters to advance NC State
University as a leader in addressing the challenges of emerging plant
diseases and global food security.


The faculty cluster will develop new knowledge to understand the
fundamental basis of emerging diseases caused by pathogens of plants –
including the development of tools – enabling a more rapid response to
contain and limit potential damage by emerging threats. The cluster will
study plant pathogens and their arthropod vectors that transmit them in
nature, in agriculture, and post-harvest making linkages from genomes to
ecosystem processes. The cluster seeks faculty members in four colleges
with expertise in the following areas:


   - Integration of ecology, epidemiology, population genomics or
   host-microbe interactions from the molecular to population levels to
   investigate the biology of emerging plant disease agents, including
   potential vectors, that threaten local and global food security,


   - Engineering next generation devices for real-time detection of plant
   pathogens or pests that vector them (e.g., isothermal nucleic acid
   amplification assays; ligand binding-based methods; novel biosensors,
   nanodevices; volatile detection apparatus, or three dimensional goggles)
   and deploy sensors using robotic devices or unmanned aerial vehicles.


   - Data scientist focused on conducting cross-cutting research in
   population genomics, epidemiology and the evolution of emerging crop pests
   and pathogens using molecular, bioinformatics, and evolutionary tools to
   track sources of disease outbreaks at multiple levels of scale


   - *Geospatial analytics* for spatially-explicit prediction of
   transmission pathways and deploying rapid response strategies to detect and
   limit potential damage by emerging threats including approaches that
   leverage frontiers in citizen science, crowdsourcing with mobile
   technologies, and engaging stakeholders

Minimum requirements include a PhD in a relevant field (such as plant
pathology, entomology, biology, evolutionary biology, bioinformatics,
statistics, math, geography, chemical and biomolecular engineering,
computer science) from an accredited institution. The candidates should
have a strong capacity to teach at both the undergraduate and graduate
levels and become part of the integrated core team that develops a Global
Food Security Graduate Certificate Program. The capacity to mentor doctoral
students and postdoctoral fellows is expected. Priority will be given to
candidates that have demonstrated interdisciplinary collaborations that cut
across academic units. Inclusiveness and diversity are academic imperatives
and thus university goals. The University is particularly interested in
candidates with experience in working with students from diverse
backgrounds and who have a demonstrated commitment to improving access
to higher education for students from underrepresented groups.

*For consideration, a curriculum vitae, cover letter, a statement of
research experience and goals as it relates to the cluster and contact
information for references are requested. Materials for consideration will
be accepted electronically via http://jobs.ncsu.edu/postings/58983/
. A comprehensive review of
applications will begin by Dec. 15, 2015 and continue 

[ECOLOG-L] graduate opportunity at the University of Kansas

[Billings, Sharon A]

Dear Colleagues,

The Billings lab at the University of Kansas is seeking a Ph.D. student 
interested in exploring fundamental mechanisms governing ecosystem carbon and 
nitrogen fluxes in terrestrial ecosystems.  The successful applicant will work 
at the Calhoun Critical Zone Observatory (http://criticalzone.org/calhoun/), 
where we investigate how historic land use and climate interact to drive above- 
and belowground ecosystem processes in intact forests and forests re-growing on 
former agricultural land.  Much of our studies employ stable isotopes as a 
means to address ecological questions.  The student will be encouraged to 
assess the relevance of patterns illuminated at Calhoun in other systems, and 
via controlled experiments in the lab.  The student will have the opportunity 
to interact with a diverse group of interdisciplinary researchers, assist with 
the development of CZ science (http://criticalzone.org/), and become part of an 
energetic and driven group of researchers seeking to understand the 
interactions between life and its abiotic surroundings.  For details, please 
contact Sharon Billings at sharon.billi...@ku.edu, after visiting the lab’s web 
page and reading instructions for how best to express interest.

Sincerely,

Sharon Billings

*
Sharon A. Billings
Associate Chair, Graduate Director
Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Kansas Biological Survey
University of Kansas Lawrence, KS 66047
785-864-1560
sharon.billi...@ku.edu
http://billingslab.faculty.ku.edu

[ECOLOG-L] New job opening @ Berkeley: geospatial informatics program coodinator

[Maggi Kelly]

Academic Coordinator III Position

This is a unique academic position within the University of California that 
allows for intellectual 
growth, interaction with multiple scientists and academics, and the development 
of impactful 
data driven solutions to California’s agricultural and natural resource 
challenges. 

The University of California, Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC 
ANR), 
Informatics and Geographic Information Systems (IGIS) Program is seeking a 
Statewide 
Program Coordinator for both local and statewide program development and 
delivery. The 
IGIS Statewide Program seeks to provide innovation, technology, training, and 
data support 
for UC ANR’s research and extension mission through the collection, analysis 
and 
visualization of geospatial data. We are interested in developing and 
delivering data-driven 
tools, research results, and training to support UC ANR Strategic Initiatives: 
Endemic and 
invasive pests and diseases, Healthy families and communities, Sustainable food 
systems, 
Sustainable natural ecosystems, and Water quality, quantity and security.

The program coordinator will help fulfill the goals of the IGIS Program by 
facilitating the 
delivery of research, training, and data support to the UC ANR network. We are 
looking for a 
highly specialized academic who will provide vision and leadership on 
geospatial data 
resources, analysis and visualization that will serve multiple scientific 
constituencies at the 
state and national level. These data resources include: sensor networks, 
ecological datasets, 
existing statewide research databases, web-based data frameworks such as APIs, 
open data 
collections, and remote sensing collections. 

If you have questions, you can email me: ma...@berkeley.edu

Website: http://ucanr.edu/Jobs/Jobs_990/?jobnum=894

Closing Date: December 31, 2015

Minimum and Required Qualifications:

- A PhD Degree in Ecology, Geography, Agriculture, Statistics, or an 
appropriate related field 
with experience in data science, geographic information sciences, remote 
sensing, or 
ecological informatics is required. 
- Experience synthesizing large ecological or socio-ecological datasets and 
using them in 
complex local and statewide research projects is required. 
- Experience developing and managing research projects including agriculture, 
ecology, or 
climate change is required. 
- Experience using GIS, remote sensing, and/or web programming software is 
required. 
The ability to communicate and extend technical information in an 
understandable manner is 
required. 
- Strong leadership, administration, financial, and management skills are 
required. 
- Knowledge of human relations is required including the ability to work with 
people with a 
diversity of views and values, to motivate people and adapt to changing 
situations.

[ECOLOG-L] Professional development opportunities in GISci

[Karen F Gaines]

Professional development opportunities! Eastern Illinois University now offers 
online courses in Geographic Information Systems and Spatial Data Analysis for 
spring 2016 (details below).  To register for these courses, apply to EIU’s 
Graduate School as a non-degree (or degree) student at 
https://www.eiu.edu/myeiu/

Geographic Information Systems (GIS 5970B)
A graduate-level introduction to Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and 
Science (GIScience) emphasizing broad software competency, foundations of 
spatial information theory, project design and management, and awareness of 
current trends in GIS research & technology. Hands-on labs using commercial and 
open source GIS will provide step-wise learning of software, skills and 
concepts in a controlled virtual environment.
For more information, contact:
Barry J Kronenfeld, Co-Director EIU GIScience Center, 
bjkronenf...@eiu.edu

Spatial Data Analysis (GIS 5970A)
A graduate-level introduction to the fundamentals of spatial analysis for the 
environmental and medical sciences. The course will focus on point pattern 
analysis stressing fundamentals, foundation and application. Students will gain 
experience with the following GIS and statistical and modeling software: R, 
QGIS, ArcGIS in a controlled virtual environment.
For more information, contact:
Karen F Gaines, Co-Coordinator PSM in GISci and Co-Director EIU GISci Center, 
kfgai...@eiu.edu


+
Karen F. Gaines, Ph.D.
Professor and Chair, Department of Biological Sciences
Co-Coordinator PSM in GISci and Co-Director GISci Center
Eastern Illinois University, 600 Lincoln Ave., Charleston IL, 61920-3099
(o) 217.581.6235; (f) 217.581.7141; e-mail: 
kfgai...@eiu.edu
http://works.bepress.com/karen_gaines/
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Karen_Gaines/
+

[ECOLOG-L] R package for stochastic differential equations

[Ben Nolting]

I apologize for the shameless self-promotion, but I'd like to make the
ECOLOG community aware of a new R package for analyzing stochastic
differential equations. The package, called QPot, is available on CRAN:
https://cran.r-project.org/web/packages/QPot/index.html

QPot contains tools for simulating and visualizing stochastic differential
equations, and for calculating and visualizing quasipotential functions.
Quasipotential functions are useful for studying stochastic systems,
particularly those that have alternative stable states.

QPot was created by Christopher M. Moore, Christopher R. Stieha, myself,
Maria K. Cameron, and Karen C. Abbott.