[ECOLOG-L] Job Announcement: TNC Aquatic Ecologist

[Ryan Haugo]

The Nature Conservancy in Washington is recruiting an Aquatic Ecologist to be a 
key member of our conservation and science teams. We are looking for someone 
who brings technical and scientific leadership, who has a strong sense of the 
big picture, and the ability to communicate it compellingly.

The position will be open until December 14 and can be found on TNC's careers 
website
 or search for job #43690 at http://jobs.nature.org. Below is a brief 
description of the essential functions, duties, and qualifications for the 
position:

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
The Nature Conservancy's Washington Chapter seeks an Aquatic Ecologist to 
provide scientific and technical leadership for the Conservancy's conservation 
projects in Washington. S/he will lead projects that emphasize conservation and 
restoration of freshwater and aquatic habitats and improvements to water 
quality in urban, agricultural, and forested settings. S/he develops and 
leverages networks of external scientific colleagues who provide peer review, 
and deliver information, research capacity, models, and decision support tools 
for conservation. To export the Conservancy's knowledge and attract peer review 
s/he writes scientific papers and articles for publication, and presents at 
conferences and other meetings. S/he will represent the Conservancy and 
conservation science with a wide variety of private, local, state, and federal 
conservation partners and stakeholders and will be capable of developing and 
maintaining productive relationships within politically charged environments.

The Aquatic Ecologist is a member of the Washington Program's Science Team and 
is supervised by the Puget Sound Conservation Director. S/he works closely with 
the Directors of Forest and Marine Conservation in Washington and functions as 
a team member for the Puget Sound, Marine and Forest conservation programs.  
This is a full-time position located in either Seattle or potentially in Mt. 
Vernon, Cle Elum, Yakima, Wenatchee, or Olympia, WA.



DUTIES

*Developing restoration strategies to integrate upland, instream, 
floodplain, and nearshore salmon habitat restoration for use by land management 
stakeholder collaboratives in coastal, central, and eastern Washington.

*Engage on collaborative projects with Puget Sound agricultural and 
shellfish partners to implement best management practices (BMPs) to improve 
water quality and improve salmon habitat.

*Developing and implementing a social-ecological framework for 
prioritizing and tracking progress of actions that address critical water 
quality issues, including urban stormwater management, in Washington.

*Providing analysis and input on the anticipated conservation benefits 
and impacts for aquatic/freshwater systems of forest acquisitions and forest 
management plans and prescriptions.

*Developing and maintaining a strong network of collaborators and 
contacts.

*Writing proposals and project reports, and effectively managing 
multiple grants and contracts.


QUALIFICATIONS

*Graduate degree in ecology, aquatic or fishery sciences, hydrology, 
environmental science or a related field and 2 years related experience or 
equivalent combination of education and experience. Ph.D. in ecology, aquatic 
or fishery sciences, hydrology, environmental science preferred.

*Demonstrated interest and ability to work across a diverse range of 
subject areas in aquatic ecology.

*Knowledge of climate-related drivers for watershed planning, policy, 
and management.

*Commitment to practical solutions to conservation challenges. 
Experience designing and conducting applied field research and/or spatial 
analyses to inform immediate and long-term conservation actions.

*Proven ability to work effectively with a wide range of people, 
including government agencies, partner organizations, local constituencies, and 
Conservancy volunteers and staff. Strong team ethic required.

*Ability to communicate complex scientific information to a lay 
audience, including media (print, radio and television) and the general public.

*Experience manipulating, analyzing, and explaining spatial data.

*Moderate to strong proficiency with GIS, including ability to use 
basic spatial analysis tools, configure map layer symbologies, and manipulate 
tabular data.

*Knowledge and appreciation of the people, cultures, values, and 
current conservation issues in the Northwest.

*Experience managing time and diverse activities under deadlines while 
delivering quality results. Strong organizational skills.

*Record of peer reviewed publications in scientific journals.

Please have refer questions to Jodie Toft (jt...@tnc.org; 
206-436-6207) or Ryan Haugo 

[ECOLOG-L] Graduate Fellowships Available

[Ogle,Stephen]

Graduate Fellowships and Graduate Teaching Assistant Position - Colorado State 
University
Colorado State University's (CSU) Master of Greenhouse Gas Management and 
Accounting (MGMA) degree program is now accepting applications for enrollment 
in Fall Semester 2016. Two graduate fellowships and a teaching assistantship 
are available to support incoming students!
The interdisciplinary MGMA degree provides students from a wide variety of 
academic backgrounds-such as environmental studies, agriculture, forestry, 
business, engineering, and natural resources-the opportunity to develop the 
skills needed for emerging sustainability professions focused on greenhouse gas 
management and accounting.  Students explore a range of topics including 
sustainability, greenhouse gas policies, climate change science, and 
foundations of greenhouse gas management. They engage in real-world data 
collection and estimation of greenhouse gas footprints.
The MGMA degree showcases CSU's world-class leadership in greenhouse gas and 
climate change science. The program is led by Dr. Stephen Ogle and Dr. Rich 
Conant, who have more than two decades of combined experience compiling 
greenhouse gas emission data for the U.S. government and other governmental and 
nongovernmental entities. Drs. Ogle and Conant have served as lead authors on 
reports prepared by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), 
advise organizations of all kinds on greenhouse gas mitigation, and conduct 
leading-edge research evaluating drivers of greenhouse gas emissions and 
mitigation options.
For full consideration, applications to the MGMA degree program are due by 
February 2, 2016. Applicants interested in graduate fellowships or the teaching 
assistantship should contact the MGMA Program Coordinator for more information. 
Visit http://warnercnr.colostate.edu/mgma for program information and 
application guidelines. Email the Program Coordinator your questions at 
wcnr_ess_i...@mail.colostate.edu.

[ECOLOG-L] 2016 Society for Freshwater Science - S08 Hydroclimatic Extremes

[John Kominoski]

Dear Colleagues,

We are organizing a special session on Hydroclimatic Extremes (S08) at the
2016 Society for Freshwater Science meeting in Sacramento, California (May
21-26, 2016). Please see below for the special session abstract.

We encourage presentations from studies that span population, community,
and ecosystem scales that specifically address how data-model integration
can enhance understanding of the effects of hydrological variability.
Deadline for abstract submissions is January 29, 2016.

If you are interested in participating, please e-mail us by December 1st
with 1) your commitment to submit an abstract to present in this special
session at SFS, and 2) your tentative abstract title.

We are looking forward to seeing you at SFS.

Sincerely,

Albert RUHI, Arizona State University (albert.r...@asu.edu)
John S. KOMINOSKI, Florida International University (jkomino...@gmail.com)
John L. SABO, Arizona State University (john.l.s...@asu.edu)

———

Title: New approaches to assessing and predicting the impacts of
hydroclimatic extremes of freshwater populations, communities, and
ecosystems

S08: Hydroclimatic Extremes

Climate-driven intensification of the global hydrologic cycle is increasing
the frequency and magnitude of extreme events (droughts and floods) and
this increasing environmental variability poses threats on biodiversity and
ecosystem functioning. In lotic ecosystems, alterations to baseline
discharge variation regimes may erode native biodiversity, affect food-web
structure, and alter nutrient pulse dynamics. In lentic ecosystems,
hydroclimatic extremes control hydroperiod length and timing, which are
critical drivers of meta-population and meta-community structure and
dynamics. Nevertheless, ecological impacts of increasing hydroclimatic
variability are difficult to anticipate from discrete observations alone
because the influences of extreme events occur through a wide range of
mechanisms (abiotic and biotic) and spatio-temporal scales. Within this
context, statistical models (e.g., state-space models on time-series data)
may be important tools to increase understanding of these mechanisms and
potentially anticipate effects of increasing hydroclimatic variability on
freshwater biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. Although the use of
these models is still limited - partly due to the scarcity of
temporally-extensive data sets - increasing availability of long-term
ecological data sets and "big data" may open many opportunities in the near
future. This session will be devoted to the discussion of statistical
modeling approaches that may effectively link hydroclimatic forcing to
ecological responses, and to their data requirements, potential, and
limitations. Ultimately, we would like to exemplify and synthesize the
range of tools that are available to freshwater ecologists to anticipate
impacts of hydroclimatic extremes, across spatio-temporal scales and levels
of biological organization.

-- 
John Stephen Kominoski
Assistant Professor
Department of Biological Sciences and
Southeast Environmental Research Center
Florida International University
11200 SW 8th Street
Miami, Florida 33199, USA

Email: jkomi...@fiu.edu
Office: +1 305.348.7117
Lab: +1 305.348.6512
Fax: +1 305.348.1986
kominoskilab.wordpress.com

[ECOLOG-L] Fwd: Seeing and Observing: Emerging Diseases, Bio-Warfare, and Bio-Terrorism

[David Duffy]

For those interested in disease, be they animal, plant or human, ProMed is
the source of real time information, especially when governments find it
convenient not to report. This is a brief history of ProMed from its origin
focusing on bioterrorism to its 76,000 members interested in all diseases

Please ignore the appeal for funds, if you are not inclined.

Cheers,

David Duffy





November 23, 2015

Dear Colleagues,

In May, 1995, I was asked by Jack Woodall whether I would care to be
ProMED-mail's veterinary moderator. In those days there were some 429
members. Any bounced postings came straight back to whoever was the top mod
that week and there were but a few of us at best. It was a very slim
organization. The basic objective then, as it is now, was for ProMED to be
a trip wire for any Bio-Warfare/Bio-Terrorism event on the assumption that
any such event might well be first observed by a member of the public or a
street-level professional unaware of what had really happened but was
reporting a "disease" event. Built into this approach is the notion that to
observe an 'abnormal' event one has to be fully conversant with normality.
So we watched for and reported on emerging diseases, whether of humans,
animals, or food plants, and of related toxic events.

Each year, almost each month, we acquired more members. With experience,
more postings went out each week. What I did as the single AHEAD (Animal
Health and Emerging Animal Diseases) moderator is now ably and more
expertly done by a veterinary team of five [nine other veterinary health
specialists work on ProMED's regional services. – Mod.LM]. I just cover
anthrax now and serve as backup when others are travelling. Something I
learnt early on was the need to explain the aetiology and ecology of
infectious animal diseases, which as a veterinarian I was well aware of,
but that our medical brethren only saw as just human diseases. As a result,
then as now, the moderator's comment might be longer that the outbreak
report. But it has paid off as, for over a decade, I find young physicians
lecturing me on this or that disease and how human cases are but a small
part of a more complex multidimensional situation.

ProMED itself now has a bigger footprint with additional subsidiary groups
for Spanish, Portuguese, and Russian speaking members, plus networks in the
Mekong Basin, Francophone Africa, Anglophone Africa, South Asia, and for
North Africa and the Middle East. Each covers its special interests, but if
something unexpected should occur, it will be reported and shared globally.
Keep in mind Holmes' remark to Watson that he saw but did not observe. To
'observe' you have to know the normal background to this or that disease,
plus something of that part of the world where it is being seen this week
and last year. To do that, ProMED has many more than the three moderators
it had when I joined the ranks – today we have 35 each with specific
expertise. With that growth comes the need for a larger but very necessary
salaried support staff with editorial, administrative, and IT skills. It
was a simpler time when ProMED was just 6 people. But as ProMED grows and
becomes increasingly valuable, it also becomes more expensive to maintain.
ProMED needs your financial help to keep doing the work it has done so
well. *Please join with me in supporting ProMED-mail.
*

ProMED-mail now fills an important global function for up-to-the-moment
information on infectious diseases and toxic events. We are a recognised
and valued scientific reference. The majority of our *76,000* members in at
least *185 countries* check postings each day for conditions that they are
interested in in order to be updated and not caught unaware of something
that may be happening on their patch. This fills a much valued foreground,
but the sensitivity to be able to quickly recognise a BW/BT event is still
with us. Fortunately they are rare, for the moment. It could change in the
blink of an eye.

[ECOLOG-L] PhD position in predator sensitivity to extinction

[Edd Hammill]

GRADUATE POSITION ON PREDATOR SENSITIVITY TO EXTINCTION The Aquatic 
Ecology and Global Change Lab in the Department of Watershed Sciences at 
Utah State University is seeking Ph.D applicants to undertake research 
on predator sensitivity to extinction. Trophic cascades are a 
charismatic topic in ecology, and one that has received wide attention 
from both the scientific and public community. The drive for 
understanding the effects of predator loss on the structuring and 
functioning of ecological communities is largely based on the assumption 
that predators are at a high risk of local or global extinction. Yet 
several studies that have investigated ecological mechanisms that 
underlie extinction risk have failed to investigate or show that trophic 
level is an important trait. As a result the question still remains, 
“Are predators at a higher risk of extinction compared to other trophic 
levels?” The project will involve meta-analyses and working with big 
data. The successful applicant will be based out of the Atwood 
(http://trishaatwood.weebly.com/) and Hammill labs at Utah State 
University, but will visit and work closely with the McCauley lab 
(https://labs.eemb.ucsb.edu/mccauley/doug/) at the University of 
California, Santa Barbra (USA) and the Madin lab 
(http://oceansphere.org/) at Macquarie University (Sydney, Australia). 
Students with a prior knowledge of computer programming, the statistical 
programming package R, ArcGIS, and prior experience extracting and 
analyzing big data are particularly encouraged to apply. Students must 
meet the minimum qualifications for acceptance into the graduate 
program: GPA of at least 3.4, 40th percentile in both verbal and 
quantitative sections of the GRE’s, three letters of recommendation. 
Utah State University (http://www.usu.edu) is a Research I (Extensive 
Doctoral) land-grant institution with a student body of over 24,000, 42 
departments, 8 academic colleges, a school of Graduate Studies, and 
diverse research programs. The main campus is located in Logan, a 
community of 100,000 people. Logan is 85 miles north of Salt Lake City 
in scenic Cache Valley, a semi-rural mountain basin with nearby ski 
resorts, lakes, rivers, and mountains providing many recreational 
opportunities. The area has a low cost of living and provides a high 
quality of life. For more information on Logan see 
http://www.tourcachevalley.com. Initial funding for tuition and salary 
has been secured. However, candidates are strongly encouraged to apply 
for external fellowships through the NSF and other sources, and internal 
fellowships at Utah State 
(http://rgs.usu.edu/graduateschool/htm/finances/fellowships, and 
http://rgs.usu.edu/graduateschool/finances/funding-available-to- 
graduate-students). Candidates will be provided extensive support with 
the application process. Starting salaries are $20,000 for a PhD. Please 
contact Trisha Atwood (trisha.atw...@usu.edu, 435 797 5729) for more 
information or to submit application materials (CV, cover letter, any 
publications, details of research interests, official/unofficial GRE 
scores and transcripts, and names of three people willing to provide a 
letter of reference). Initial review of applications will begin Nov 30th 
2015. Lab website http://trishaatwood.weebly.com/

[ECOLOG-L] Grad student position in Community Ecology

[Edd Hammill]

GRADUATE POSITION IN AQUATIC COMMUNITY ECOLOGY 

The Spatial Community Ecology Laboratory at Utah State University is 
seeking Ph.D and M.Sc applicants to undertake research in the field of 
freshwater community ecology. Current areas of interest include – 1) The 
evolutionary responses of mosquitoes to pesticide contamination. 2) 
Understanding the relationships between habitat condition, aquatic 
community health, and ecosystem function. 3) How do changes to river 
flow affect aquatic insects and their ability to support fish 
populations? 4) How do changes in water conditions affect interactions 
between predators, prey, and competitors? 5) Can distributions of 
aquatic insects inform conservation decisions? Candidates with other 
specific research interests are encouraged to suggest projects in their 
application. The successful candidate will have access to a well-
equipped laboratory, and Utah State University’s nearby outdoor Aquatic 
Research Facility that houses mesocosms and experimental ponds. In 
addition the research group has strong ties to research stations in 
Costa Rica, Brazil, Canada and Australia that will be available for 
field projects. A knowledge of the statistical programming package R, 
and/or ArcGIS, and conversational ability in either Spanish or 
Portuguese will be looked upon favorably. Candidates should be 
reasonably physically fit, and be able to carry a 40lb backpack 1 mile. 
Utah State University (http://www.usu.edu) is a Research I (Extensive 
Doctoral) land-grant institution with a student body of over 24,000, 42 
departments, 8 academic colleges, a school of Graduate Studies, and 
diverse research programs. The main campus is located in Logan, a 
community of 100,000 people. Logan is 85 miles north of Salt Lake City 
in scenic Cache Valley, a semi-rural mountain basin with nearby ski 
resorts, lakes, rivers, and mountains providing many recreational 
opportunities. The area has a low cost of living and provides a high 
quality of life. For more information on Logan see 
http://www.tourcachevalley.com. Initial funding for tuition and salary 
has been secured. Candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for 
external fellowships through the NSF and other sources, and internal 
fellowships at Utah State ( 
http://rgs.usu.edu/graduateschool/htm/finances/fellowships, and 
http://rgs.usu.edu/graduateschool/finances/funding-available-to- 
graduate-students ). Candidates will be provided extensive support with 
the application process. Starting salaries are $18,000 for a Masters 
student, and $20,000 for a PhD. Please contact Edd Hammill 
(edd.hamm...@usu.edu, 435 265 5964) for more information or to submit 
application materials (CV, cover letter, any publications, details of 
their research interests). Initial review of applications will begin Dec 
15th 2015. Edd Hammill’s google scholar page - 
https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=THOE6q0J=en

[ECOLOG-L] Grad student position in seabird population research

[Edd Hammill]

In June of this year, the Spatial Community Ecology Lab at Utah State 
University together with the Sea Around Us project at the University of 
British Columbia reported a ~70% drop in global seabird populations 
since the 1950s (Population Trend of the World’s Monitored Seabirds, 
1950-2010. M Paleczny, E Hammill, V Karpouzi, D Pauly PloS one 10 (6), 
e0129342) While such a substantial drop in seabird numbers is worrying, 
the underlying factors generating the decline are unknown. The Spatial 
Community Ecology Lab is therefore seeking Ph.D and M.Sc applicants to 
undertake research investigating the global processes related to seabird 
declines, and potential conservation options. The lab currently has 
spatial data on global rates of seabird population changes, and has been 
provided data on the distribution and composition of oceanic plastics. 
The successful candidate’s first project will be to investigate 
relationships between these two data sets. Successful candidates must 
have a good working knowledge of either R or ArcGIS, but preferably 
both. As part of the position students will be taught to use the 
systematic conservation planning tool Marxan. Candidates must be self-
motivated, and evidence of successful scientific writing is a plus. The 
ability to manage and work with large data sets will be a crucial 
component of the project, and candidates must be comfortable with using 
large data sets. The bulk of the work will be carried out at the Logan 
Campus of Utah State University, but successful candidates will be 
strongly encouraged to spend time with colleagues in research groups 
abroad, they must therefore be eligible to visit Canada and Australia. 
Utah State University (http://www.usu.edu) is a Research I (Extensive 
Doctoral) land-grant institution with a student body of over 24,000, 42 
departments, 8 academic colleges, a school of Graduate Studies, and 
diverse research programs. The main campus is located in Logan, a 
community of 100,000 people. Logan is 85 miles north of Salt Lake City 
in scenic Cache Valley, a semi-rural mountain basin with nearby ski 
resorts, lakes, rivers, and mountains providing many recreational 
opportunities. The area has a low cost of living and provides a high 
quality of life. For more information on Logan see 
http://www.tourcachevalley.com. Initial funding for tuition and salary 
has been secured, however candidates are encouraged to apply to external 
fellowships through the NSF and other sources, and internal fellowships 
at Utah State 
(http://rgs.usu.edu/graduateschool/htm/finances/fellowships, and 
http://rgs.usu.edu/graduateschool/finances/funding-available-to- 
graduate-students). Candidates will be provided with extensive support 
during the application process. Starting salaries are $18,000 for a 
Masters student, and $20,000 for a PhD. Please contact Edd Hammill 
(edd.hamm...@usu.edu, 435 265 5964) for more information or to submit 
application materials (CV, cover letter, any publications). Initial 
review of applications will begin Dec 10th 2015

[ECOLOG-L] Tropical Forest Ecology Internship - Mariana Islands

[Evan Fricke]

Position: Forest ecology interns (4)
Location: Mariana Islands (Guam, Saipan, Rota)

Appointment: 9 months, starting either January 15 or March 1, 2015

Project Description: Nearly all native seed dispersers have been extirpated 
from the island of 
Guam, largely due to predation by the invasive Brown Treesnake. The Ecology of 
Bird Loss 
Project (www.ecologyofbirdloss.org) aims to determine the full impact of seed 
disperser loss on 
Guam’s forests – including impacts on individual species and to forest 
structure – and the 
potential for different dispersers, both native and non-native, to restore 
function. Our research 
examines the ecological role of seed dispersers through comparisons of dynamics 
on Guam to 
those on nearby islands (Rota and Saipan) where birds are present. 

Duties of the interns: Interns will participate in a variety of field research 
endeavors including 
long-term plant survival experiments, forest inventories in intact and degraded 
plots, plant 
propagation, and observation of fruit-frugivore interactions. Two positions 
will be based on 
Saipan and two will be based on Guam, but all positions may involve travel to 
other islands. 
Specific duties may include: mapping and identifying trees (including 
seedlings), collecting 
seeds, propagating plants in a nursery, planting and monitoring seedlings, 
extended direct 
observation of interactions with fruiting trees, and entering data. Field crews 
work 8-10 hours a 
day, 5-6 days a week. Interns must be able to commit to working on the project 
from mid-
January through mid-October or early March to late November.

Requirements: The successful applicant must be able to pay attention to detail, 
work well 
individually and as part of a group, and be flexible. Research in the Mariana 
Islands involves 
working in high heat and humidity, walking over rough terrain sometimes 
carrying heavy and 
awkward loads (i.e. rolls of chicken wire, flats of seedlings, water), and 
tolerating the tedious, 
and at times monotonous, work necessary for all scientific endeavors. 
Successful applicants 
must learn how to identify trees (including seedlings) quickly and accurately. 
Experience 
identifying birds by sight and sounds is preferred for the two Saipan 
positions, but not required. 
If a candidate is allergic to bees, he/she must carry a bee sting kit and be 
trained in its use, as 
the chances of getting stung are high. Relevant field experience and prior 
independent research 
experience is desired. The intern must be a US citizen with a valid US driver's 
license. 

Payment and benefits: Interns will receive valuable research experience in the 
field of 
conservation biology and field ecology – a great way to both determine whether 
graduate school 
in the life sciences is for you and to gain the necessary experience for a 
competitive application 
to graduate school. Successful applicants will also receive a round-trip ticket 
from any major 
airport in the US to Saipan or Guam, housing on all islands, transportation to 
and from field 
sites, and a monthly stipend of $600.

To apply: Email a single pdf document including a cover letter, resume, and 
contact information 
for 3 references to Dr. Evan Fricke (ecfri...@iastate.edu). The subject line 
should read “EBL 
Intern Position”. The cover letter should describe your previous research 
experience, career 
goals, and why you are interested in this position. In addition, please 
indicate whether you are 
applying for the January 15-October 15 or March 1-November 30 position. 
Applications must be 
submitted by 8 pm EST on December 7, 2015.

For more information, contact Dr. Evan Fricke (ecfri...@iastate.edu).

[ECOLOG-L] Field Research Leader - tropical forest ecology in the Mariana Islands

[Haldre Rogers]

Position: Field Research Leader
Location: Guam and Northern Mariana Islands

Appointment: 10-12 months, starting early February 2015, with potential for 
annual renewal

Project Description: Nearly all native seed dispersers have been extirpated 
from the island of Guam, 
largely due to predation by the invasive Brown Treesnake. The Ecology of Bird 
Loss Project 
(www.ecologyofbirdloss.org) aims to determine the full impact of seed disperser 
loss on Guam’s 
forests – including impacts on individual species and to forest structure – and 
the potential for 
different dispersers, both native and non-native, to restore function. Our 
research examines the 
ecological role of seed dispersers through comparisons of dynamics on Guam to 
those on nearby 
islands (Rota and Saipan) where birds are present. 

Job description: The Field Research Leader will lead the Ecology of Bird Loss 
Project research efforts in 
the Mariana Islands. He/she will manage a crew of ~7 field technicians and 
interns located across the 
three islands. Fieldwork will involve long-term plant survival experiments, 
forest inventories in intact 
and degraded plots, plant propagation, and observation of fruit-frugivore 
interactions. The position 
will likely be based on Saipan (Guam is a possibility) but will involve travel 
to other islands. The field 
research leader will be responsible for implementing research protocols, 
training new employees, 
scheduling day-to-day field tasks, assisting in the development of field 
methods, managing data, and 
communicating frequently with project leadership based in the mainland US. 

Qualifications:  We are seeking an exceptionally motivated individual with 
demonstrated skills in 
managing a field crew and executing a complex research project. This includes 
hiring, delegating 
responsibility, training employees in research techniques, providing feedback 
to employees, as well as 
developing protocols and ensuring protocols are being followed in the field, 
and identifying and 
resolving methodological issues in the field. The field research leader must 
possess a strong 
background in plant ecology, independent decision-making abilities, excellent 
communication and 
organizational skills, and cultural sensitivity. Applicants must have completed 
an undergraduate or 
Masters degree (preferred) in a relevant discipline. Research in the Mariana 
Islands involves working in 
high heat and humidity, and walking over rough terrain sometimes carrying heavy 
and awkward loads 
(i.e. rolls of chicken wire, flats of seedlings, water). Successful applicants 
must learn to identify trees 
(including seedlings) quickly and accurately. Experience identifying birds by 
sight and sounds is 
preferred but not required. If a candidate is allergic to bees, he/she must 
carry a bee sting kit and be 
trained in its use, as the chances of getting stung are high. A sense of humor 
is always appreciated.

Payment and benefits: The salary is $2600-$3200 per month, depending on 
experience and housing 
preferences. We will provide a round-trip ticket from the candidate’s current 
place of residence to 
Saipan and housing during travel away from Saipan. The position is eligible for 
health and welfare 
benefit plans (medical and dental insurance, life insurance, etc.) and 
retirement plans. Details are 
available at http://www.hrs.iastate.edu/hrs/benefits.

Application procedure: To apply, email a single pdf document containing a cover 
letter, CV, and 
contact information for 3 references to Dr. Haldre Rogers (hal...@iastate.edu). 
The subject line should 
read “EBL Field Research Leader Application”. The cover letter should describe 
your previous research 
experience, career goals, and why you are interested in this position. 
Applications will be accepted 
until the position is filled, but to ensure full consideration, applications 
should be submitted by 
December 4, 2015.

For more information, contact Dr. Haldre Rogers (hal...@iastate.edu).

[ECOLOG-L] Graduate student opportunity: PhD studying fungal foliar endophytes of Vanuatu at the University of Hawaii

[David Inouye]

Graduate student opportunity: PhD studying fungal foliar endophytes 
of Vanuatu at the University of Hawaii


The Amend lab at the University of Hawaii at Manoa is recruiting a 
PhD student to research plant fungal interactions as part of a 
NSF-funded collaboration.  The student will collaborate with a broad 
consortium of researchers to examine the fungal, botanical and 
linguistic diversity of Tafea province, Vanuatu, in the South 
Pacific. This will be the first systematic survey of this oceanic, 
tropical, biodiversity hotspot. The student will be responsible 
principally for documenting the endophytic fungi of native host 
plants using cultivation and high-throughput DNA-sequencing 
techniques.  This will involve long stretches in the field under 
uncomfortable, remote and staggeringly beautiful conditions. The 
student will have the opportunity to develop research questions 
consistent with lab interests in microbial community ecology, 
biogeography and evolution.
The student will enroll in the Department of Botany 
http://www.botany.hawaii.edu, a small, 
research-active department that values organismal and natural history 
research. We have access to modern facilities including greenhouses, 
growth chambers, a rainforest arboretum, a campus supercomputer with 
excellent administrators, and sequencing/microscopy cores. Hawaiian 
field sites are spectacular and easily accessed; our native flora is 
90% endemic.
Full stipend and tuition as a research assistant is guaranteed for 3 
years. The student will enroll Fall 2016.
The successful applicant should have some of the following 
attributes: experience devising, conducting and completing 
independent research; coursework and interest in fungi and/or plants; 
skills in molecular biology and bioinformatics; ability to make a 
convincing case that he/she will be happy spending extended periods 
in the field.


Please take a look at the Amend Lab website 
http://amendlab.com to get a sense of the type 
of research we conduct. If you think you're a good fit, please send 
your CV and unofficial transcripts to Anthony: 
am...@hawaii.edu.   In a cover letter please 
describe 1) why you're interested in this opportunity 2) a research 
question or questions you'd be interested in exploring and 3) what 
approach you'd use to do so. Full applications are due January 15, 
please contact me sooner.


___
Anthony S. Amend
Assistant Professor
Department of Botany
University of Hawaii Manoa
3190 Maile Way, Room 101
Honolulu, HI 96822 U.S.A.
Email: am...@hawaii.edu
Lab website: http://www.amendlab.com
Office phone: 808-956-6429
Lab phone: 808-956-0936
Fax: 808-956-3923

Schedule: http://tinyurl.com/m8dyrt8

[ECOLOG-L] Graduate Assistantship in Animal Behavior and Physiology

[Chris Chabot]

MS Biology student position: Biomedical Bleeding Effects on Horseshoe Crabs 
(Plymouth State University, Plymouth, NH)

Funded Position Available: 

We are currently recruiting for an MS student to work on a 2 year NH
SeaGrant-funded project to investigate the effects of biomedical bleeding on
the horseshoe crab, Limulus polyphemus. This student will be based at
Plymouth State University with Dr. Christopher Chabot, and 
will work closely with another student starting soon at the University of
New Hampshire with Dr. Win Watson. The  PSU student will focus on lab
studies, while the UNH student will focus on field studies. There will be
much overlap and combined lab/field efforts between research groups. Start
date is flexible but early 2016 is preferred.

Interested students should contact Dr. Chris Chabot to discuss the details
of the project and graduate school application procedures.  Contact should
be made as soon as possible. The PSU application deadline is rolling but
preferred by December 31, 2015.

Additional information on the research group is available here:
http://jupiter.plymouth.edu/~chrisc/ and
http://win.unh.edu/research/limulus/index.html.

[ECOLOG-L] PhD position at Northern Illinois University – wildlife habitat restoration and management

[Nick Barber]

We seek two (2) motivated Ph.D. students for anticipated positions through a
collaboration between Northern Illinois University and the Lake County
Forest Preserve District in Illinois.  The students will help carry out
annual monitoring and develop dissertation projects involving analysis of
wildlife and habitat management data to help LCFPD personnel assess outcomes
and identify successful strategies for meeting restoration and management
targets.  The LCFPD has substantial data on wildlife populations (especially
small mammals, reptiles, and amphibians), land cover, and management
history, which will allow the students to pursue unique and important
questions about restoration ecology and habitat management.  Prospective
students should be comfortable working in during inclement weather, possess
a valid driver’s license, and be willing to oversee a small team of field
technicians.  

The students will join the Barber community ecology lab group
(http://www.bios.niu.edu/barber/lab/Barber_Lab/Home.html) or the restoration
ecology and conservation biology lab group of Dr. Holly Jones
(http://www.bios.niu.edu/jones/lab/index.html).  Collaboration may also
include co-PI Dr. Rich King (http://www.bios.niu.edu/rking/lab/index.html).
 The position will include stipend and tuition remission, and we anticipate
one position beginning June 15, 2016, and the second position beginning
August 15, 2016.

Northern Illinois University is a 20,000-student research university in
DeKalb, Illinois, a diverse community of 50,000 with a low cost of living. 
The Department of Biological Sciences includes faculty with a wide range of
research interests, including an active Ecology, Evolution, Behavior, and
Conservation research concentration.  Details of the graduate program are
available at http://www.bios.niu.edu/graduate_studies.  

Interested students should email me (Nick Barber:  nbar...@niu.edu) by
December 11, 2015, with a cover letter that explains your research
background and interests and why you want to pursue a Ph.D.  Please also
include a CV with GPA and GRE scores.  

[ECOLOG-L] Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) in Ethiopia

[Travis Reynolds]

In December we will begin accepting applications for the Summer 2016 NSF
Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program based at Colby College
and in South Gondar, Ethiopia. This REU provides eight American
undergraduate students from diverse academic backgrounds an opportunity to
conduct path-breaking interdisciplinary research on the ecological, economic
and cultural roles of church forests. Church forests are patches of
Afromontane forest surrounding Ethiopian Orthodox churches. Preserved for
centuries by church leaders and communities as religious sanctuaries, church
forests are, in many parts of Ethiopia, the only indigenous forests left.
Under the eight-week summer REU program students will receive training at
Colby College in ecological field methods, spatial analysis using Geographic
Information Systems (GIS), social survey research, and written and oral
communication. They will then travel to South Gondar, Ethiopia to conduct
hands-on fieldwork with mentors from Colby College, the California Academy
of Sciences, and local academic and government institutions. Applications
will be accepted beginning December 1, 2015. The application deadline is
February 15, 2016 via the REU-in-Ethiopia webite:
http://www.colby.edu/reu-in-ethiopia.

[ECOLOG-L] Organic Agriculture Graduate Assistantship

[Greta Gramig]

One graduate research assistantship is available in the area of weed biology
and ecology to pursue a M.S. in Plant Sciences at North Dakota State
University in Fargo, ND starting Spring 2016. As one facet of his or her
research program, the student will conduct field experiments to assess the
impacts of various management practices on weed populations, crop yield,
system profitability, and soil health in a certified organic vegetable
cropping system. Additional research topics may also be pursued, depending
on the interests and abilities of the student. The research project requires
travel to and overnight stays in Dickinson, ND. The graduate research
assistant will conduct field/greenhouse/lab studies, collect data, analyze
research results, prepare reports, write journal articles, and prepare a
thesis/dissertation. This half-time assistantship will provide a monthly
stipend ($1460.00) and a full tuition waiver. Prospective students should
hold a Bachelor’s degree in plant sciences, agronomy, biology, ecology,
environmental science, or other related field. Desired qualifications
include a strong quantitative/statistical background, excellent oral and
written communication skills, field research experience, and an interest in
ecologically-based weed management and organic crop production systems.
Other desirable qualities include a strong work ethic, ability to work
independently, and experience with managing work flows. The ideal candidate
will be highly motivated, thorough, and organized. The candidate must
possess a valid US driver’s license. Candidates must also meet the admission
requirements of NDSU's Graduate School and the Department of Plant Sciences.
Applications must be made on-line through the NDSU Graduate School at
http://www.ndsu.edu/gradschool/. Inquiries should be addressed to:

Dr. Greta Gramig, Assistant Professor
NDSU Department of Plant Sciences 
P.O. Box 6050, Department 7670 
 
Fargo, ND 58102-6050
Office phone: 701-231-8149
Email: greta.gra...@ndsu.edu

THE UNIVERSITY 
NDSU is a highly regarded and often recognized student-focused, land-grant,
research institution. With a land-grant mission to provide quality
education, leading-edge research and excellent service, NDSU is acknowledged
as a national leader among its peers, and seen by many as a model for success.
NDSU was named by the Carnegie Commission on Higher Education to the elite
"Research University/Very High Research" category, which represents the 108
top-ranked private and public universities in the United States. NDSU is the
first and only North Dakota institution to attain the status.
NDSU offers more than 100 undergraduate and approximately 135 graduate
degree programs of study in nine academic colleges. Degrees are awarded at
the doctoral, master’s, professional, and baccalaureate levels. Various
undergraduate minors and certificate programs at the undergraduate and
graduate levels also are available. Programs offered at the time of this
publication are listed in the Programs of Study section of this bulletin or
may be viewed online at www.ndsu.edu/majors.
NDSU has experienced a remarkable period of growth and expanded academic
opportunities, and it is recognized as a national model of the contemporary
land-grant institution. NDSU has an enrollment of more than 14,700 students
in its undergraduate and graduate programs, and its research expenditures
surpass $150 million annually.

THE COMMUNITY 
The home of NDSU, Fargo is a bustling metropolitan area that is often listed
as one of the best places to live in the country. Fargo is quietly earning a
reputation as a perfect place to make a home. Nestled in the rich farmlands
of the Red River Valley, the Fargo-Moorhead community has many qualities
that contribute to this reputation, including a highly respected educational
system; advanced medical technology; a progressive business community;
numerous cultural and arts opportunities; clean air and water; and
good-hearted, friendly people.
Fargo-Moorhead is among the largest metropolitan centers between Minneapolis
and Seattle. More than 200,000 people make their home in Cass and Clay
Counties. One of the reasons people choose NDSU as a place to get a good
education is that the F-M community provides students access to part-time
jobs, internships, parks and other recreational facilities, entertainment,
and cultural amenities.

[ECOLOG-L] MSc/PhD Position in Mammalian responses to land-use change, University of Maine

[alessio mortelliti]

A graduate (MSc/PhD) position is available to work in Alessio 
Mortelliti’s lab (http://alessiomortelliti.weebly.com/) focusing on the 
response of small mammals (mice, voles, shrews and squirrels) to forest 
management practices. The goal of the study is to contribute to 
providing a mechanistic understanding of mammalian responses to 
silvicultural practices and to understand how these responses affect the 
process of seed predation. This may include conducting a series of 
experiments to measure individual characteristics of small mammals (e.g. 
health status, personality, fitness) in the context of a large scale 
capture-mark-recapture study.
The ideal candidate would have a strong passion for field work and have 
strong quantitative skills. Previous experience working on small mammals 
is not mandatory. Expected start of field work: May/June 2016, graduate 
enrollment in Fall 2016.
If you are interested please send 1) an unofficial transcript 
(undergraduate and/or MS), 2) curriculum vitae, and 3) a personal 
statement describing research and career goals to Dr. Alessio Mortelliti 
(alessio.mortell...@maine.edu). Applications will be reviewed beginning 
January 10, 2016.


--
Dr. Alessio Mortelliti
Assistant Professor of Wildlife Habitat Conservation
Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Conservation Biology
University of Maine
5755 Nutting Hall, Room 228
Orono, ME 04469
Office: 207-581-2915
http://alessiomortelliti.weebly.com/

Re: [ECOLOG-L] Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) in Ethiopia

[Malcolm McCallum]

If you are an undergraduate student I figured I would alert you that REU's
are outstanding opportunities for learning and figuring out what direction
you want to go with your career/future.

I participated in an REU at Illinois State as an undergraduate and it 100%
convinced me what I wanted to do.  A friend of mine also did undergraduate
research of this sort, and after 6 weeks decided he never wanted to do
research again, today he is a pharmacist and perfectly happy.  That really
is the point of an REU, pay an undergrad to experience what a career in
research is about.

I loved it, my friend hated it.  But neither of us would have had a clue
had we not done it.

Just a thought for the undergrads who might have read the advertisement
from Travis and wondered about it.

On Sun, Nov 22, 2015 at 9:47 PM, Travis Reynolds  wrote:

> In December we will begin accepting applications for the Summer 2016 NSF
> Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program based at Colby
> College
> and in South Gondar, Ethiopia. This REU provides eight American
> undergraduate students from diverse academic backgrounds an opportunity to
> conduct path-breaking interdisciplinary research on the ecological,
> economic
> and cultural roles of church forests. Church forests are patches of
> Afromontane forest surrounding Ethiopian Orthodox churches. Preserved for
> centuries by church leaders and communities as religious sanctuaries,
> church
> forests are, in many parts of Ethiopia, the only indigenous forests left.
> Under the eight-week summer REU program students will receive training at
> Colby College in ecological field methods, spatial analysis using
> Geographic
> Information Systems (GIS), social survey research, and written and oral
> communication. They will then travel to South Gondar, Ethiopia to conduct
> hands-on fieldwork with mentors from Colby College, the California Academy
> of Sciences, and local academic and government institutions. Applications
> will be accepted beginning December 1, 2015. The application deadline is
> February 15, 2016 via the REU-in-Ethiopia webite:
> http://www.colby.edu/reu-in-ethiopia.
>



-- 
Malcolm L. McCallum, PHD, REP
Link to online CV and portfolio :
https://www.visualcv.com/malcolm-mc-callum?access=18A9RYkDGxO

 “Nothing is more priceless and worthy of preservation than the rich array
of animal life with which our country has been blessed. It is a
many-faceted treasure, of value to scholars, scientists, and nature lovers
alike, and it forms a vital part of the heritage we all share as Americans.”
-President Richard Nixon upon signing the Endangered Species Act of 1973
into law.

"Peer pressure is designed to contain anyone with a sense of drive" - Allan
Nation

1880's: "There's lots of good fish in the sea"  W.S. Gilbert
1990's:  Many fish stocks depleted due to overfishing, habitat loss,
and pollution.
2000:  Marine reserves, ecosystem restoration, and pollution reduction
  MAY help restore populations.
2022: Soylent Green is People!

The Seven Blunders of the World (Mohandas Gandhi)
Wealth w/o work
Pleasure w/o conscience
Knowledge w/o character
Commerce w/o morality
Science w/o humanity
Worship w/o sacrifice
Politics w/o principle

Confidentiality Notice: This e-mail message, including any
attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may
contain confidential and privileged information.  Any unauthorized
review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited.  If you are not
the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply e-mail and
destroy all copies of the original message.

[ECOLOG-L] UW-Madison Nelson Institute Academic Staff position

[Jamie Hogberg]

Please see PVL for Professional Programs Specialist position for the 
Environmental Conservation Professional MS Program, applications due Dec 4:
http://www.ohr.wisc.edu/Weblisting/External/PVLSummaryPrint.aspx?pvl_num=84790


--
Professional Programs Coordinator
Environmental Conservation M.S. Program
Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies
University of Wisconsin-Madison
651.283.7632

[ECOLOG-L] Postdoc: Ecological modeling and community change, UCONN

[Morgan Tingley]

*Job Summary*: The Tingley Lab in Global Change Ecology in the Department
of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Connecticut is
hiring a postdoctoral researcher in ecological modeling (
http://morgantingley.com/join). The postdoc will lead in the development of
hierarchical Bayesian models of avian community structure and turnover as a
result of environmental change, using multiple existing data sets to
explore how species interactions change over time. The postdoc’s research
will complement the lab’s focus on utilizing field and biodiversity data to
explore how large-scale anthropogenic drivers of change (e.g., climate
change, invasive species, land-use change, fire regimes) affect geographic
distributions and community interactions over short to long timespans, from
years to centuries.

*Qualifications*: Ideal candidates will have a Ph.D. in ecology or related
field, a strong background in Bayesian statistics and model building,
fluency in R, excellent written and oral communication abilities, a
promising record of publication, and evidence of creativity and enthusiasm.
Experience with hierarchical community occupancy models desired but not
required.

*Application Details*: This position is based at the Storrs campus of the
University of Connecticut and includes competitive salary and health
benefits. This is a full-time, 12-month, fixed-term position, with
reappointment conditional on satisfactory performance. Funding is available
for 2 years. The position is open until filled and review of applications
will begin December 1st, 2015. Interested candidates should send (1) an
email describing their research interests and qualifications along with (2)
a CV, (3) two representative publications, and (4) a list of 2 references
to Morgan Tingley (morgan.tingley[AT]uconn.edu). The intended start date
for this position is summer 2016.


Morgan Tingley

Assistant Professor

Ecology & Evolutionary Biology

University of Connecticut

Storrs, CT 06269


--

*The University of Connecticut (UCONN) has been one of the nation’s leading
public institutions since its founding in 1881. Located in Storrs, UConn’s
main campus is situated in the picturesque rolling forests and fields
quintessential of New England, yet is only 30 minutes from Hartford, and
has close connections to Providence, Boston and New York. The Department of
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology consists of over 30 faculty and 60
graduate students with research spanning nearly all major groups of
organisms. The Department maintains close ties with the Departments of
Physiology and Neurobiology, Molecular and Cell Biology, Marine Sciences,
and Natural Resources Management and Engineering, as well as the Center for
Environmental Sciences and Engineering, which together comprise one of the
largest groups of biologists in the Northeast. As an Affirmative
Action/Equal Employment Opportunity employer, UConn encourages applications
from women, veterans, people with disabilities and members of traditionally
underrepresented populations.*