[ECOLOG-L] Job opportunity: Research Assistant in Biogeochemistry/Ecosystems Ecology, University of Cincinnati
UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES Jr. Research Associate (212UC0748) A full-time junior research associate position is available in the laboratory of Dr. Ishi Buffam, Department of Biological Sciences, at the University of Cincinnati, to assist in biogeochemical studies of the influence of vegetated roofs and other urban green infrastructure on surface water quality in the Cincinnati, OH region. Position duration is initially 1 year, possible extension based on funding availability. Dr. Buffam is seeking a field/laboratory technician to join his research group. The technician is expected to carry out sampling of soil and water under a range of weather conditions and assist in designing and implementing plot-scale ecological and biogeochemical experiments. The technician will also analyze soil and water samples in the lab for a range of chemical parameters including: carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus content, concentration of metals, cations and anions. In addition, the technician is expected to oversee lab QA/QC and maintain a well-documented database of field and analytical data. The technician will interact closely with graduate students and help with the training and supervision of undergraduates in lab and field techniques. The successful candidate will have a BS in Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science or a related field, and a minimum of 1-2 years of experience in aquatic ecosystems ecology, biogeochemistry and/or water quality analysis, including both field and lab experience. Applicants should be in good health and capable of rigorous outdoor activity. Familiarity with standard water quality techniques (colorimetric nutrient analyses, dissolved organic carbon analysis, ICP-OES) is required. Maturity and self-motivation, good organizational skills, the demonstrated ability to work independently, and a strong capacity for focus, concentration, and attention to detail are all essential. Proficiency in MS Excel is required, MS Access a plus. Driver’s license in good standing also required. If you should have any questions about this position, please feel free to email Dr. Ishi Buffam at ishi.buf...@uc.edu. For more details and in order to apply, go to: http://www.jobsatuc.com. The position number is 212UC0748. The University of Cincinnati is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer
[ECOLOG-L] Bubble production as a way to calculate photosynthetic rate
Hello Ecolog-Listers: Centuries ago, Charles Bonnet reported that submerged plants produced bubbles in the presence of light. Now, we know the gas is oxygen and the process is photosynthesis. Do you know anyone who reported that before Bonnet? Calculating rate of photosynthesis by using the rate of bubble production is widely (?) used in American intro. biology courses. Do you know *since when* this exercise became popular? Is it used in other countries? If you know of a venue more for intro. biology teachers/high school teachers, etc. where this questions may be appropriate, please let me know. Some of us in this list may also be intro. bio. teachers. Apologies for cross-posting. Will take answers on my email (below). Thank you. Gratefully, Jorge Santiago-Blay blayjo...@gmail.com
[ECOLOG-L] Salford Systems Data Mining Conference
Don't miss it, it's this month! Environmental Forecasting, Wildlife Research, Ecological Prediction The 2012 Salford Analytics & Data Mining Conference aims to bring together researchers, practitioners, and data enthusiasts to exchange ideas and experiences. Attendees will have the chance to have one-on-one meetings with Dr. Adele Cutler, co-creator of RandomForests algorithm and Dr. Richard Olshen, co- creator of CART classification and regression algorithm. Both Algorithms are used in the modeling of environmental data. http://www.salforddatamining.com/ In addition, the following presentations will be featured: “Global Modeling of Biodiversity and Climate Change,” University of Alaska, Biology and Wildlife dept, Institute of arctic Biology, EWHALE Lab "Data Mining to Reveal Biological Invaders,” Charles University in Prague "Machine Learning in the Environmental Discipline," University of Alaska, Biology and Wildlife dept, Institute of arctic Biology, EWHALE Lab
[ECOLOG-L] 2012 Natural Area Conference Call for Papers
The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation is co-hosting the 39th annual Natural Areas Conference in Norfolk, VA October 9-12, 2012 The Virginia Natural Heritage Program is leading the planning effort, in coordination with the Natural Areas Association. The link below has conference information and a call for papers and posters. http://www.naturalarea.org/12conference/ Submissions are due by June 1, 2012. Topics of particular interest are: * Natural Areas Program Relevance and Resilience * Marketing, Communications and Outreach * Land Conservation * Coastal/Marine Issues * Cave/Karst Issues * Cultural Resource Management * Managing Climate Disruption Effects * Managing Public Access in Natural Areas * Fire Ecology and Management * Invasive Species Management http://www.naturalarea.org/12conference/ Karen D. Patterson Natural Heritage Vegetation Ecologist Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation 217 Governor St, 3rd floor, Richmond, VA 23219
[ECOLOG-L] Fwd: [ECOLOG-L] Families in Science - Balancing your personal and professional life
1. I'm linking a *New York Times* Opinion piece addressing, from several women's points of view, a number of topics being discussed in this thread: http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2012/04/30/motherhood-vs-feminism/lets-not-pass-judgment-on-parenting-styles 2. After careful reading and consideration of your posts, I've formed the opinion that, in the USA, it is most likely that each academic department or university will respond individually to the concerns many of you have (see Duke for one example in A&S). It seems unlikely to me that, in the USA, the issues will be addressed structurally as they have been in most W European countries. In the final analysis, there may be no strategy that serves all requirements. Anyway...TBC... clara b. jones Blog: http://vertebratesocialbehavior.blogspot.com Twitter: http://twitter.com/cbjones1943 -- Forwarded message -- From: Jacquelyn Gill Date: Tue, May 1, 2012 at 12:49 PM Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] Families in Science - Balancing your personal and professional life To: ECOLOG-L@listserv.umd.edu Hi Karen, The problem with this framework is that you risk guilting parents (usually women) for choices they are forced to make, or even those they may genuinely want to make, especially if the parents' level of engagement doesn't match what others expect. Like I said earlier, for some people, a mother's choosing to work at all is irresponsible. Framing arguments in this way is ultimately damaging and shifts the burden away from institutions who need to step up and support parents, and instead shifts that burden to parents for whom choice may be relative and is definitely highly value-laden. I don't see the value in reminding people who are probably already very aware that that can't spend enough time with their kids that, in addition for working hard to provide their family at the expense of having a fulfilling life, they're also not really raising their kids. Those choices were probably hard to make. I also still fail to see how that is relevant to a discussion of women in academia-- the overwhelming evidence is that women are leaving academia because there aren't institutions in place to support them, not that women are abandoning their families. Best wishes, Jacquelyn -- clara b. jones
[ECOLOG-L] ESA SERDP Student Travel Awards - Last Day to Apply
LAST DAY TO APPLY: May 1, 2012 Submit Letter of Recommendation from Adviser by May 7, 2012 The Ecological Society of America (ESA) announces the availability of ten (10) travel awards of $500 each to students presenting papers at ESA's 2012 Annual Meeting in Portland, OR. These awards are sponsored by the Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program (SERDP). SERDP is the U.S. Department of Defense's (DoD) environmental science and technology program, executed in partnership with DOE and EPA. SERDP invests in basic and applied research, and exploratory development. Please visit http://www.esa.org/education_diversity/serdp_awards.php for full details and FAQs on eligibility and required documents. Please follow submission instructions carefully. KINDLY NOTE THAT YOUR APPLICATION IS NOT COMPLETE UNTIL YOU HAVE SUBMITTED THE APPLICATION FORM, PROOF OF STUDENT STATUS AND THE LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION FROM YOUR ADVISER. You have up to May 7 to submit the letter of recommendation from your adviser. Teresa Mourad Director, Education and Diversity Programs Ecological Society of America
[ECOLOG-L] Graduate Research Assistant in the Ecology of Green Infrastructure now being recruited at the University of Arizona, Tucson.
A research assistantship is available to support a M.S. or Ph.D. student interested in investigating efforts to use green infrastructure to provide ecosystem services in semi-arid cities. Stormwater harvesting, bioretention basins, and rain gardens are green infrastructure elements that can improve water quality in urban watersheds and increase plant cover in cities. We are initiating a study of experimental rain gardens at Biosphere 2 that will look at biogeochemical cycling and plant performance and also links to ongoing monitoring of green infrastructure in Tucson, AZ. Requirements: for M.S.: B.S. degree in Ecology, Environmental Sciences, Hydrology, or related field and minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.25. for Ph.D.: M.S. degree in Ecology, Environmental Sciences, Hydrology, or related field. Desired experience: Strong lab and field skills with biogeochemistry, experience or interest in data analysis, GIS, and biogeochemical/ecosystem modeling, interest or experience with citizen science. Strong work ethic, good verbal and written communication skills, ability to work independently, and interest in public communication of science. Support: A graduate research assistantship stipend, which includes a waiver of out-of-state tuition (but not fees) for at least 1 full year. Start date: Approximately 15 July 2012, for the Fall 2012 semester. To apply: Submit (via email: mzuc...@email.arizona.edu): Letter of interest, resume, transcripts & GRE scores (unofficial are fine), and names and contact information for three references to Mitchell Pavao-Zuckerman, Biosphere 2 and the School of Natural Resources and Environment, University of Arizona, Biological Sciences West, Rm 310, Tucson, AZ 85721. The student would be enrolled in a graduate program within the School of Natural Resources and Environment at the University of Arizona (see, http://snre.arizona.edu/academic/grad/prospective and http://www.snr.arizona.edu/academic/grad/gradprograms)
Re: [ECOLOG-L] Families in Science - Balancing your personal and professional life
Please, I'm not sure how it has come down to this but for the record: I absolutely *do* support work/life balance initiatives and models that are family (and couple and single-person)-positive, both inside and outside of academia. On Tue, May 1, 2012 at 11:49 AM, Jacquelyn Gill wrote: > Hi Karen, > > The problem with this framework is that you risk guilting parents (usually > women) for choices they > are forced to make, or even those they may genuinely want to make, > especially if the parents' level of > engagement doesn't match what others expect. Like I said earlier, for some > people, a mother's > choosing to work at all is irresponsible. Framing arguments in this way is > ultimately damaging and > shifts the burden away from institutions who need to step up and support > parents, and instead shifts > that burden to parents for whom choice may be relative and is definitely > highly value-laden. I don't > see the value in reminding people who are probably already very aware that > that can't spend enough > time with their kids that, in addition for working hard to provide their > family at the expense of having > a fulfilling life, they're also not really raising their kids. Those > choices were probably hard to make. I > also still fail to see how that is relevant to a discussion of women in > academia-- the overwhelming > evidence is that women are leaving academia because there aren't > institutions in place to support > them, not that women are abandoning their families. > > Best wishes, > > Jacquelyn > > -- G. Karen Golinski, PhD
[ECOLOG-L] Job Announcement
*Managing Director, Center for Marine Studies, Blue Hill, Maine* *Description* The Marine Environmental Research Institute (MERI) is seeking an experienced senior management professional with strong organizational leadership, finance, communications and fundraising/ development skills to fill the full-time position of Managing Director of the Center for Marine Studies in Blue Hill, Maine, reporting to the Executive Director. Located in the coastal village of Blue Hill, Maine, the Marine Environmental Research Institute (MERI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization founded in 1990. Its mission is dedicated to scientific research, advocacy and education on the impact of ocean pollution on marine life and human health, and to protecting the health and biodiversity of the marine environment for future generations. The Institute’s initiatives include scientific research on toxic chemical pollutants, a coastal monitoring program, policy and advocacy outreach, and education programs. For more information, visit our website: www.meriresearch.org. The organization is poised to expand its influence on marine policy to a national scale and the individual who fills this key position will be instrumental in implementing this strategy. *Position Description* The Managing Director will be responsible for overseeing the organization’s daily operations and enhancing internal business processes to help the Institute grow and fulfill its mission. She/he will assist the Executive Director with the design and implementation of the Institute’s strategic plans, communications and development strategies as well as its advocacy outreach. At a minimum, the Managing Director will manage five direct reports, three additional part or full-time staff and a number of seasonal interns. *This is a full-time professional position based in Blue Hill, Maine, with a competitive salary and benefits package.* *Primary Responsibilities* - Working closely with the Executive Director and the Board, help develop and implement the Institute’s strategic business and operating plans. - Oversee financial management and the budget. Lead the budget process, monitor financial performance, prepare, review and analyze financial reports, and advise the Executive Director in financial planning and decision-making. - Oversee development operations, including grants management, fundraising and major gift campaigns and donor relations. Interact regularly with the Executive Director and senior staff to accomplish fundraising goals. - Serve as a liaison with the Institute’s constituency, including funders, collaborating science and academic institutions and individuals, other non-profit organizations, community leaders, government officials and policymakers. - Supervise the Center’s senior staff, administrative support team and consultants, helping them direct interns and volunteers involved in the Center’s day-to-day programs and operations. - Coordinate the Center operations with the Institute’s evolving offsite activities, programs and staff. - Represent the Institute in the ocean, environmental and human health communities, delivering presentations to articulate and promote the Institute’s mission and programs. *Reports to:* Executive Director *Qualifications* Candidates should be highly organized, effective business managers with nonprofit management experience and an interest in the marine environment that is consistent with the Institute’s mission. They should have highly developed written, verbal and interpersonal communications skills, program and staff management experience, and a fundraising/development track record. Familiarity with marine science and environmental research would be an advantage and human resources experience helpful. The successful candidate must enjoy working with a small staff balancing multiple tasks under pressure in a growing organization.** An MBA/MA/MSc with 5+ years of management and development experience, or a BA/BSc with 10+ years and management and development experience is preferred. Proficiency with the Microsoft Office suite is required, familiarity with a Mac platform is a plus, and experience with development software is beneficial. *Start Date: *June 2012 * Salary:* Competitive, DOE *Benefits:* Full benefits package If you are interested in applying for this position, please submit by e-mail your CV and cover letter with MERI Search Committee/Managing Director in the subject line to i...@meriresearch.org. -- Coastal Monitoring Coordinator Marine Environmental Research Institute 55 Main St. Blue Hill, ME 04614 207-374-8980 www.meriresearch.org
[ECOLOG-L] Job Opportunity - Remote Sensing/Ecology - NEON - Boulder, CO
Overview: The National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON), Inc., is a $430 million dollar NSF-funded project dedicated to understanding how changes in climate, land use and invasive species impact ecology and ecological processes. For the next three decades, NEON will collect a comprehensive range of ecological data on a continental scale across 20 representative ecoclimatic domains. NEON will use multiple methods for data collection, including an airborne observation platform that will capture spectral and LiDAR data of regional landscapes and vegetation; mobile, relocatable, and fixed data collection sites with automated ground sensors to monitor soil and atmosphere; and trained field crews who will observe and sample populations of diverse organisms and collect soil and aquatic data. Linking these observations is a stable and extensible cyberinfrastructure that will calibrate, store and publish this raw data, as well as support the production of derived science products that address NEON’s grand challenges. The Observatory will eventually employ up to 300 personnel nationwide and will be the first of its kind designed to detect and enable forecasting of ecological change at continental scales. Position Summary: As a member of the Data Products Group (DPG), the Staff Scientist will be responsible for contributing to the development and generation of all data products that will be released by NEON to the community. This collaborative effort requires a broadly-trained scientist well-versed in and eager to learn the breadth of NEON scientific efforts, since the DPG works with the NEON’s science, cyberinfrastructure, and education teams, as well as the external community, to define and create the data products and manage their lifecycle. Specifically, this Staff Scientist position will act as the subject-matter expert supporting the development of NEON data products derived from and/or informed by waveform LiDAR and hyperspectral data collected by NEON’s Airborne Observation Platform (AOP). This position, within the Data Products Group, will work closely with the members of the AOP team. Essential Duties and Responsibilities: • Develop novel algorithms for processing LiDAR and hyperspectral data and producing related data products, in support of developing inferences related to ecological science; • Contribute to developing the science rationale for NEON data products, prototyping algorithms for their generation, and engaging all stakeholders in vetting the produced materials. The candidate will help to define NEON’s strategy to scale ecological data across multiple temporal and spatial scales in support of continental-scale ecological science; • Engage the user community through meetings, workshops, and working groups, to ensure the utility and veracity of NEON data products. Education: • PhD, ScD, or equivalent degree in atmospheric science, biogeochemistry, ecology, physics, or related fields is required. • Postdoctoral experience is preferred, but not required Required Experience: • Application of remote sensing theory to biological and/or physical systems • Expertise with common software packages (e.g., IDL/ENVI) • Experience building novel algorithms in support of LiDAR and/or hyperspectral data processing. • Experience integrating remote sensing data with a variety of ground-based data, including measurements of biophysical variables and observations of flora and fauna. • Familiarity with a variety of remote sensing platforms (e.g. MODIS, AVIRIS, Landsat) Preferred Experience: • Familiarity with data processing workflows in a production environment • Programming & analysis software experience (C/C++, Java, Python, MATLAB, IDL, R, etc.) • Teaching experience Skills and Abilities: • Skilled at scientific writing and review • Strong communication and interpersonal skills • Experience working in a collaborative scientific enterprise • Open to undertaking responsibilities beyond those associated with individual research projects • Ability to work independently and as part of an active science team • Problem solver who can successfully apply experience, judgment, and creativity to both short- and long-term challenges, independently and within a larger team Apply to: www.neoninc.org NEON Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Women, Minorities, Veterans and Disabled Persons are encouraged to apply.
[ECOLOG-L] MS position: oak savanna fire ecology
Two Graduate Research Assistantships (M.S.) are available to study the ecology of oak-pine savanna in eastern Oklahoma to begin Fall 2012. This project is part of a larger funded research effort examining the community and restoration ecology of the tallgrass prairie – oak & pine forest – prescribed fire interactions in newly restored savanna. Research opportunities can be tailored to interest, and we invite students to apply with research interests ranging from plant community ecology, to carbon sequestration dynamics, production ecology or ecological modeling. The position will require substantial field work. For information about the Dept. of Natural Resource Ecology & Management at Oklahoma State University, please see: http://nrem.okstate.edu. A stipend is available at $15,500/yr for two years, with renewal after the first year based on satisfactory progress. Benefits include tuition waiver and health insurance. A complete application includes: statement of research interests and relevant experience, three letters of reference, curriculum vitae, official transcripts of all college level study, GRE scores and a completed OSU Graduate College application. Unofficial transcripts and GRE scores are fine for initial consideration. For further information contact Duncan Wilson, (duncan.wil...@okstate.edu).
[ECOLOG-L] MS position: forest nutrition and soil moisture
A Graduate Research Assistantships (M.S.) is available to study forest productivity–soil moisture and nutrition relationships in loblolly pine to begin Fall 2012. Research will focus on soil-plant interactions, with substantial opportunity to tailor a research project to a student’s interests. The position will allow wide interaction with a diverse set of University and Federal researchers from across the southeastern U.S. on a common rain exclusion experimental platform. For information about the Dept. of Natural Resource Ecology & Management at Oklahoma State University, please see: http://nrem.okstate.edu. A stipend is available at $15,500/yr for two years, with renewal after the first year based on satisfactory progress. Benefits include tuition waiver and health insurance. A complete application includes: statement of research interests and relevant experience, three letters of reference, curriculum vitae, official transcripts of all college level study, GRE scores and a completed OSU Graduate College application. Unofficial transcripts and GRE scores are fine for initial consideration. For further information contact Duncan Wilson, (duncan.wil...@okstate.edu).
Re: [ECOLOG-L] Families in Science - Balancing your personal and professional life
Hi Karen, The problem with this framework is that you risk guilting parents (usually women) for choices they are forced to make, or even those they may genuinely want to make, especially if the parents' level of engagement doesn't match what others expect. Like I said earlier, for some people, a mother's choosing to work at all is irresponsible. Framing arguments in this way is ultimately damaging and shifts the burden away from institutions who need to step up and support parents, and instead shifts that burden to parents for whom choice may be relative and is definitely highly value-laden. I don't see the value in reminding people who are probably already very aware that that can't spend enough time with their kids that, in addition for working hard to provide their family at the expense of having a fulfilling life, they're also not really raising their kids. Those choices were probably hard to make. I also still fail to see how that is relevant to a discussion of women in academia-- the overwhelming evidence is that women are leaving academia because there aren't institutions in place to support them, not that women are abandoning their families. Best wishes, Jacquelyn
[ECOLOG-L] New blog on sexy groupers
Introducing my new blog, Grouper Luna : sexy groupers united. http://grouperluna.wordpress.com/ Brief descriptionThis is a blog about sexy groupers going on a honeymoon. The honeymoon is what scientists call a reef fish spawning aggregation, one of the most breathtaking shows in nature. Most reef fish species aggregate at only a few sites of the reef during one or two months of the year to spawn. The spawning event is always linked to the moon cycle. Hundreds, sometimes thousands of fish (depending on the species) swim in a synchronized ballet under a moonlit ocean. When the moment of spawning arrives, they release the next generation of baby fish into the ocean currents. Worldwide, 80 % of known reef fish spawning aggregations are overfished, and 20 % of them have been fished to extinction. This blog will focus on research and conservation of reef fish spawning aggregations, specially those of large-bodied grouper fish. Other topics on marine conservation will also be explained. Sarah Frias-Torres, Ph.D. Schmidt Ocean Institute Postdoctoral FellowOcean Research & Conservation Association (ORCA) 1420 Seaway Drive, Fort Pierce, Florida 34949 USA Tel (772) 467-1600http://www.teamorca.orghttp://independent.academia.edu/SarahFriasTorres
Re: [ECOLOG-L] Families in Science - Balancing your personal and professional life
Interesting observations, Robert H., perhaps summed up by the metaphor "The best steel goes through the fire." But what does it imply for implementing social policy, or academic policy? Deliberately harsh or downright brutal conditions might be appropriate for training Navy Seals, and tough ghetto conditions might produce the best boxers, but should this apply in academia? Aren't high academic standards and intellectual rigor better tools for training productive scientists? And if these high standards are not accompanied by things like support for family and other "work/life balance" issues, what are we selecting for? The most ruthless, cutthroat competitors? Such people might be very poor at the cooperative aspects of science, and so science would suffer. Would we be selecting for people with "iron constitutions" that makes them resistant to ulcers and mental breakdown? Perhaps, but people who might be "weak" by this criterion could have brilliant minds that would make great contributions. Are we really in danger of making life so cushy for students and scientists that they will grow complacent, slack off on their work, and merely warm their academic chairs? And even if scientific productivity were to fall off a bit, is that the end of the world? I think that harsh conditions, such as those imposed by totalitarian regimes, can boost performance in the short term, but in the long run it is unstable. People hate it and they rebel against it by passive/aggressive non-cooperations,, voting with their feet, sabotage, etc. The history of the twentieth century shows this. And smart, qualified people leaving academia shows it, even if less dramatically. I think these are factors we should bear in mind when considering how the academic life should be structured. Martin M. Meiss 2012/4/30 Robert Hamilton > I have had both young men and young women (much more often young women) > in my classes who are/were single parents, working and going to school > full time and raising children. IMHO they have a much better sense of > the urgency of life, and while they are not the top students, the ones > that get through do very well, much better (in general) than those who > simply live in a dorm or some rental housing of some sort and do nothing > they are obliged to do but go to school. JMHO again, but it seems that > those who are given a tough row to hoe early in life, and hoe it, find > the challenges of the rest of life a lot easier and get a lot more done > than those who have it really easy, and this is as true of Ecologists as > any other sorts of professionals. Having to both raise a family, > including finding the resources needed to raise that family, represent a > very common challenge in any society and it just seems to me that we > academics, who are obliged to teach 7-15 hours of classes a week for 32 > weeks, mentor some grad students and maintain a research program at the > most, have it pretty soft, with plenty of time for family and other > obligations. > > Robert Hamilton, PhD > Professor of Biology > Alice Lloyd College > Pippa Passes, KY 41844 > > > -Original Message- > From: Ecological Society of America: grants, jobs, news > [mailto:ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU] On Behalf Of Clara B. Jones > Sent: Monday, April 30, 2012 1:11 AM > To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU > Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] Families in Science - Balancing your personal > and professional life > > ...just out of curiosity...are some suggesting that people, in > particular, women, should not be surgeons or pediatricians or > line-persons for an electric or cable company or members of First > Response Teams in, say, Ecology, or soldiers or on-call nurses, say, > members of anesthetic support teams, or firefighters or crisis > negotiators or specialized rescue workers, say, EMTs or fieldworkers > studying crepuscular taxa or safari guides or owners of high-traffic > motels or restaurants, say, a 24-h diner on Rt. 22 in NJ, or deep-sea > "fishermen" or CDC epidemiological specialists or priests or mountain > climbers or nannies or sanitation workers or medical examiners or Red > Cross pilots or members of the US Senate from, say, CA or Oregon, or any > number of additional tasks and, dare I say, passions...and * > life*-skills... > > On Sun, Apr 29, 2012 at 6:02 PM, karen golinski > wrote: > > > I wonder how a person who is regularly away from home from 6 AM until > > after > > 10 PM really raises a family? Most kids are sleeping during the "at > home" > > time of 10 PM-6 AM. > > > > It saddens me to think that people want to silence the discussion of > > positive models of work-life balance. Just because people have to work > > > the long hours described below does not mean it is a good (or > > productive) way to live our lives. > > > > On Sun, Apr 29, 2012 at 1:20 PM, Robert Hamilton > > > >wrote: > > > > > I must say that I find this conversation somewhat embarrassing, and > > > ho
[ECOLOG-L] MS position: Modeling the impacts of sea level rise on coastal ecosystems
MS position: Modeling the impacts of sea level rise on coastal ecosystems The University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science has an open position for a motivated MSc student interested in studying the impacts of sea level rise on coastal ecosystems. The student would join a team of ecologists, geomorphologists, and remote-sensing scientists working to develop novel approaches to quantify how sea level rise could alter patterns of biodiversity in coastal marshes along the Potomac River (see http://www.umces.edu/al/project/predicting-vulnerability-sea-level-rise for details). There are numerous opportunities for a student to extend the broader project objectives to include specific ideas the student is interested in pursuing. This is an ideal project for an individual interested in working at the interface of theoretical and applied ecology, while developing the following set of skills: - statistical modeling generally and species distribution modeling in particular - spatial analysis, including GIS - remote sensing - Computer programming, with an emphasis on the R statistical language The project is based at the Appalachian Laboratory in Frostburg, Maryland, with Matt Fitzpatrick, Andrew Elmore, and Katia Engelhardt. Student support has been secured through funding from the National Park Service. The student will matriculate through the Marine, Estuarine, and Environmental Sciences Program (MEES) at the University of Maryland, College Park. Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled, with an anticipated start date of Fall semester 2012. To apply, please email as a *single pdf* document: (1) a statement of interest, (2) a CV, and (3) contact information for three referees to mfitzpatr...@umces.edu.
Re: [ECOLOG-L] Families in Science - Balancing your personal and professional life
Jacquelyn, If you re-read my post you will see that I said nothing about the working poor. Nor did I criticize anyone. As a field ecologist who spends most of the field season away from my young family, I am acutely aware that I cannot parent my kids when I am not there. Thankfully, my husband (a grad-student) and parents have been willing and able to shoulder my responsibilities, but it isn't an ideal situation by any means. My point was, to suggest that parents who aren't present, for whatever reason, effectively raise their children--*without giving credit to those who helped or did most of the "raising"*--isn't fair. Many academic women don't have family nearby or a partner who is willing and able to help. If we don't want to lose those people from the system, we need to think of ways of attracting them to stay in or to re-enter. Some great suggestions are given in the second to last paragraph of the article posted by David Schneider. Karen On Mon, Apr 30, 2012 at 1:36 PM, Jacquelyn Gill wrote: > To clarify: my statement about conflating women academics with the working > poor was not in response to Sarah's post, which came after mine, but in > response to Karen Golinski's criticism of people working long hours being > poor parents. > > I made the point in my post that people forced to work multiple jobs and > long hours are not in the same situation as working academic mothers, even > though both would benefit from increased institutional support. This is not > to criticize either group, but to point out that having a work-life balance > discussion at all is, for some, not an option. I suspect most academics are > above the poverty line, underpaid though they may be (adjuncts are a > different story). Whether you have to work or choose to work, you should > have the same access to support and protection from criticism. > > Jacquelyn > > On Apr 30, 2012, at 11:51 AM, Sarah Fann wrote: > > > A couple of notes to my post. :) > > > > I made a silly assumption that readers would check out the link that > David > > originally posted, and I then re-posted. Without reading the article, my > > paragraph is out of context. The article follows women and men with at > > least a B.S. in mathematics, and found that a disproportionate number of > > women with these degrees do not attend graduate school and do not become > > professors. It then asked the questions I re-posted (in green which I > > forgot doesn't show up on this list serve) about why these women leave > and > > where they go. As a woman who fits into that category, I answered their > > questions about myself. > > > > The second is in response to this quote. > > > > "Conflating the plight of the working poor with the choice of a woman to > > have a career and a family is false equivalence." > > > > Robert Hamilton gave an example of the "6am-10pm" parent working fine for > > the family, and I provided a counter-example. Others may disagree with > me, > > but personally I don't think my example should be discarded simply > because > > my family was part of the "working poor". Professors do not make that > much > > money, especially when compared to administrators in academia, or to > > scientists outside of academia. Additionally, cost of living raises are > > rare and sometimes non-existent for professors. Many universities are > > rolling back and cutting health insurance benefits while cost of living > > (rent, gas, food, commodities, education, etc) is skyrocketing around the > > nation, and programs put in place to help support families (in retirement > > or other stages) are being cut by States and the Federal government. My > > generation of scientists are faced with the additional burden of > > considerable debt for undergraduate studies, of which congress is voting > to > > possibly double the interest rate on. My point is that my family > situation > > in high school might not be all that different for a "sole-bread winner" > > professor in today's America. I maintain my original point, which is that > > having one parent working gross overtime on a consistent basis only works > > if either one parent can be home more frequently, or the family is rich > > enough to cover child care costs. Both of these scenarios are unlikely > > amongst my generation, and having this high demand of time spent away > from > > family is one factor that drives some of women out of science careers in > > academia. > > > > On Mon, Apr 30, 2012 at 11:05 AM, R Omalley > wrote: > > > >> This all started with a query about how best to bring kids along on > >> fieldwork... > >> It may be helpful to remind ourselves of our predecessors, to be able to > >> believe in our own capacities. > >> I love the story of Dorothea Lange, who had two kids and two step-kids. > >> http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dorothea_Lange#_ > >> (forgive the Wikipedia source) > >> > >> Excellence is defined in many different ways. Sole-authored research > >> papers is a mighty narrow defi
[ECOLOG-L] 2 positions in Australia
I found this on another mailing list, and believe it might interest some ecologists. Again, please, don't contact me, but the people offering the job. Good luck. Matheus C. Carvalho Senior Research Associate Centre for Coastal Biogeochemistry Southern Cross University Lismore - Australia http://www.angelfire.com/pa/ostro ##1st JOB OFFER# Research Fellow – Methane (Methanotrophic Bacteria) - School of Marine & Tropical Biology Ref. No. 12145 – Townsville The appointee will conduct and lead research on genetic/molecular identification of archaebacteria and/or cyanobacteria within the methanotrophic bacteria sub-project of the Bioremediation of Methane from Mine Ventilation Air Project. The appointee will also conduct research on the development and optimisation of a biphasic growth system connecting methanotrophic bacterial and diazotrophic cyanobacterial culturing, for the remediation of methane and the resulting CO2. The ability to work in a team is crucial as all work will be undertaken in collaboration with industry partners. Employment Type: Appointment will be full-time for a fixed-term to 30 June 2014. Salary: Academic Level B - $76,767 - $90,581 per annum. Commencing salary will be in accordance with qualifications and experience. Benefits include 5 weeks annual leave, generous employer superannuation contribution and attractive options for salary packaging. Applicants must follow the Method of Application procedures (including systematically addressing the Selection Criteria). Further information is available at http://www.jcu.edu.au/jobs/ or by contacting the Recruitment Officer, Human Resources Management, e-mail jcu.recruitm...@jcu.edu.au Applications close on 25 May 2012 ##2nd JOB OFFER# Research Fellow – Methane (Diazotrophic Cyanobacterial) Ref. No. 12146 – Townsville The appointee will be responsible for the diazotrophic cyanobacteria sub-program of the Bioremediation of Methane from Mine Ventilation Air Project. The appointee will conduct and supervise research on strain identification, culture optimisation and biochemical profiling of diazotrophic cyanbacterial biomass for end product assessment. As part of the team, the appointee will participate in research for the development of biphasic methane remediation systems. Report writing and the ability to work in a team is crucial as the research is industry-partnered. Employment Type: Appointment will be full-time for a fixed-term to 30 June 2014. Salary: Academic Level B - $76,767 - $90,581 per annum. Commencing salary will be in accordance with qualifications and experience. Benefits include 5 weeks annual leave, generous employer superannuation contribution and attractive options for salary packaging. Applicants must follow the Method of Application procedures (including systematically addressing the Selection Criteria). Further information is available at http://www.jcu.edu.au/jobs/ or by contacting the Recruitment Officer, Human Resources Management, e-mail jcu.recruitm...@jcu.edu.au Applications close on 25 May 2012.
