[ECOLOG-L] M.S. Graduate Student positions in Forest Ecology

[Beverly Collins]

Would you like to study forest ecology and dynamics in the heart of the 
southern Appalachians?



Western Carolina University, located just southwest of Asheville, is 
seeking M.S. Graduate Students to join an exciting, collaborative, 
landscape-scale study.  The overall objective of the project is to 
determine if changing the aggregation of openings created by different 
types of timber harvest (single tree and group selection, small and large 
regeneration harvests) over multiple sub-watersheds in the Nantahala 
National Forest can more effectively increase abundance of early 
successional species at the stand and landscape levels while retaining 
acceptable timber yield and forest interior habitat, and creating favorable 
public perception. Students at WCU will focus on questions related to 
responses of understory plants, trees, and birds; for example, “Does 
aggregating harvests decrease the threshold for establishing open site 
vegetation?”  



This USDA –funded project provides summer support, and WCU graduate 
students typically are supported by a teaching assistantship through the 
academic year.  We are looking for students to start Fall Semester, 2014.

For more information about the WCU graduate program, including application 
requirements and deadlines, please contact Dr. Sabine Rundle 
(run...@email.wcu.edu). For more information about the project, please 
contact Beverly Collins (colli...@email.wcu.edu), Laura DeWald 
(ldew...@email.wcu.edu), or Jeremy Hyman (jhy...@email.wcu.edu)

[ECOLOG-L] please post: Graduate Assistntship Western Carolina University

[Beverly Collins]

Graduate Assistantship - Western Carolina University

What is the minimum forest gap size needed to create early successional habitat 
in the Southern Appalachians? This project needs an energetic graduate student 
who likes ecological field work and is interested in answering this question as 
part of their M.S. thesis project.  An assistantship is available beginning 
fall, 2012. Interested students should contact Beverly Collins 
(colli...@email.wcu.edu<mailto:colli...@email.wcu.edu>), Laura DeWald 
(ldew...@email.wcu.edu<mailto:ldew...@email.wcu.edu>) or Jeremy Hyman 
(jhy...@email.wcu.edu<mailto:jhy...@email.wcu.edu>) in the Biology Department 
at Western Carolina University.




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[ECOLOG-L] Research Assistant for Black Cohosh study

[Beverly Collins]

The Department of Biology at Western Carolina University and the Bent Creek 
Institute of the NC Arboretum are seeking a Research Assistant to participate 
in a 2-year grant funded study of black cohosh population genetics and 
breeding. The individual must be able to conduct laboratory research in 
molecular genetics, primarily STR genotyping, as well as basic plant 
cultivation and data collection activities.

The individual will be required to commute between Cullowhee and Asheville. We 
expect 25% of the duties to take place at the Arboretum (primarily 
June-August), and 75% of the duties to take place in the molecular systematics 
lab at WCU. Must possess a valid driver's license and be willing to commute 
between Cullowhee and Asheville, NC, approximately 50 miles apart.

To apply, please fill out the application at the link: 
https://jobs.wcu.edu/applicants/Central?quickFind=51922
Questions may be directed to Kathy Mathews:

Katherine Mathews, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Department of Biology
Western Carolina University
Cullowhee, NC 28723
828-227-3659

[ECOLOG-L] SABS Student Award

[Beverly Collins]

Southern Appalachian Botanical Society
EARL CORE STUDENT AWARD
The Core Student Award was established by the Society Council to provide 
financial assistance in support of student research projects in plant taxonomy, 
systematics and ecology.
CRITERIA AND PROCEDURES
1. An applicant for a Core Student Award and his/her research advisor must be 
members of the Southern Appalachian Botanical Society (SABS).
2. Support in the form of a Core Student Award will be presented to an 
individual student for a given research project only once; applications for 
additional support for the same project will not be considered.
3. The research advisor will attest to the applicant's student status and 
validity of the research proposal.
4. The annual award period will run from May 1 of the award year through April 
30 of the next year.
5. An individual award may not exceed $300.
6. Award applications for consideration each year must be received by the 
committee chair no later than February 15 of the award year. Download the 
application cover sheet on SABS website 
(http://www.sabs.appstate.edu/Awards/CoreMain.htm) for submitting information.  
The chair will transmit copies of each application to other members of the 
committee and will subsequently report the decision of the committee to the 
Society president by April 1st.  Award recipients will be announced in April at 
the annual meeting of SABS/ASB in Asheville, NC.
7. Awards will be designated on a competitive basis with the applications 
reviewed and awardee(s) selected by the Core Student Award Committee.  Should a 
member of the committee be the research advisor of an applicant, he/she will be 
excused as a reviewer for that entire group of applications and replaced by the 
society president.
8. Recipients of a Core Student Award are expected to submit a summary for 
publication in Chinquapin (our newsletter).  Though not required, recipients 
are encouraged to submit the results of their research to Castanea for possible 
publication.  In any case, oral presentation(s) and/or publication(s) resulting 
from financial support will appropriately acknowledge SABS.
Submit completed applications to:
  Dr. Kathy Mathews, Chair
  Department of Biology
  132 Natural Science Building
  Western Carolina University
  Cullowhee, NC  28723
  Phone: 828-227-3659 
Email:kmath...@email.wcu.edu

2009-2009 EARL CORE STUDENT AWARD COMMITTEE
Kathy Mathews, Chair, Western Carolina University (2007-2010)
Douglas P. Jensen, Converse College (2008-2011)
Rebecca A. Cook, Lambuth University (2009-2012)

Assistant/Associate Professor of Soil and Water Conservation

[Beverly Collins]

Contact: Peter Bates
Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Western Carolina University
Department of Geosciences and Natural Resources
Cullowhee, NC  28723, phone: (828) 227-7367

The Natural Resource Conservation & Management program at Western Carolina 
University seeks applicants for a tenure-track, Assistant or Associate 
Professor with expertise in some combination of watershed management, 
natural resource policy, and soil science.  A Ph.D. in one of these, or a 
related discipline, from an accredited institution is required by date of 
appointment.  

The successful candidate must be committed to undergraduate education, 
scholarship, and engaging in professional service.  The incumbent will 
develop and teach undergraduate courses in watershed management, the 
University’s liberal studies program, and other natural resources courses 
depending on the candidate’s background.  

Western Carolina University is located in the heart of the southern Blue 
Ridge Mountains; the most biologically diverse temperate ecoregion in the 
eastern United States.  This area is home to the Great Smoky Mountains 
National Park, as well as the Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests making 
it an exceptional laboratory for natural resources education and research. 

Apply online at https://jobs.wcu.edu/applicants/Central?quickFind=51044.  

For more information, contact Dr. Peter Bates, Department of Geosciences 
and Natural Resources, Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, NC  28723.  
828-227-7367 (email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]).  Review of applications will 
begin February 1st, 2008 and will continue until the position is filled.

Western Carolina University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity 
Employer that conducts background checks.  Proper documentation of 
identity and employability are required at the time of employment.