[ECOLOG-L] Tenure-track vegetation ecology position, Murdoch University
Dear EcoLog, Tenure-track position in vegetation ecology at Murdoch University in Perth, Western Australia. Position description below and link to apply at end. Application deadline 02 May. The School of Veterinary and Life Scienceshttp://www.murdoch.edu.au/School-of-Veterinary-and-Life-Sciences is currently looking to fill a role in Ecology as part of its Environmental and Conservation Sciences program. The School includes 100 faculty spanning a broad range of fields, offering excellent opportunities for multi-disciplinary collaborations. Environmental and Conservation Sciences comprises a research and teaching cluster spanning the ecological sciences and protected area management. Existing areas of ecological strength include plant ecology, forest health, wildlife science, freshwater, estuarine ecology, fisheries and marine ecology. Murdoch University invites applications for a continuing (tenure-track) position in vegetation ecology within the Environment and Conservation Science cluster of the School of Veterinary and Life Science. The position will be filled at the Lecturer (level B) to Senior Lecturer (level C) , depending on experience and track record. We seek candidates with a research focus on field-based plant ecology, disturbance, or urban-restoration ecology and which may span physiology, population, and/or community scale investigations. Bio statistical and/or modelling expertise is highly desirable. Applicants must have a PhD, and post-doctoral experience is preferred; applicants for appointment at level C must demonstrate an established research program and track record of external funding and publications that have international impact and influence. We are looking for an energetic scholar with strengths in research and teaching who will contribute to the vibrant research community within the school. Applicants will be expected to develop an active research programme, apply for nationally competitive grants, publish in international journals, and supervise graduate students. Expectations are commensurate with level of appointment. Teaching responsibilities include coordinating and teaching in a second year unit (Ecology) and 1-2 other units per year in ecology-related areas across both undergraduate and post-graduate levels. To apply, use the link below to read job description and instructions to applicants. http://www.murdoch.edu.au/About-us/Careers-at-Murdoch/ Joe Fontaine Lecturer Environmental Conservation Sciences, VLS Murdoch University
[ECOLOG-L] One Species at a Time Podcast:Riftia
Could life on earth have started in deep sea vents? Scientists at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) are testing this hypothesis and their current work is reviewed in this article: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/04/140409094330.htm. Deep sea vents are teaming with life - the rain forest of the seas - and home to Riftia, a wild looking tube worm and the subject of this One Species at a Time podcast. Read the article http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/04/140409094330.htm Listen to the podcast: http://podcast.eol.org/podcast/riftia The One Species at a Time podcast series is supported by the Harvard Museum of Comparative Zoology.
[ECOLOG-L] Summer Courses Offered at the Sevilleta Field Station
The Sevilleta Field Station will be offering two classes this summer, Southwest Field Ecology and Ecological and Evolutionary Genomics, which are described below. These courses can be taken for advance undergraduate or graduate credit. Note that the date for application for admissions to UNM for summer is May 1. http://summer.unm.edu/get-started-unm.html Biology 419/519: Southwest Field Ecology (3 cr) Dates and Locations: June 3-11 at the Sevilleta and Trail End Ranch Field Stations Description: This course will focus on the ecology near two field station sites in New Mexico: the UNM Sevilleta Field Station in the middle Rio Grande Valley, and the Albuquerque Academy Trail End Ranch Field Station in the Gila Wilderness. During this intensive field course, students will visit the major habitats and biomes of the middle and lower Rio Grande Valley, learn to identify the predominant animal and plant species, observe ecological roles and relationships and make connections between the local abiotic factors that determine biotic structure. We will also cover topics in data collection and complete a comparative analysis of the ecology of the two Field Station sites. Instructors: Rich Anderson (ander...@aa.edu or 828-3227), Terry Dunn ( tlawsondu...@gmail.com or 821-8901) Prerequisite: Consent of instructor (contact: ander...@aa.edu) Course Fees: Tuition (approx. $800) plus $550 to cover lodging, food and transportation. Undergraduates should enroll in Biology 419. Graduates should enroll in Biology 519. Biology 410/510: Ecological and Evolutionary Genomics (4 cr) Dates and Location: July 14-19 at Sevilleta Field Field Station Description: This course will combine hands-on laboratory and field activities, lectures and computer exercises to explore modern genomic approaches to the study of ecology and evolution. The course will take place over six full days, Monday through Saturday. Topics to be covered include acquisition of sequence data, modern metagenomic and transcriptomic approaches to ecology, an introduction to computational biology, genome evolution, and genomic approaches to evolutionary biology. We will also visit field sites to discuss research associated with UNM’s Long-Term Ecological Research Program at the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge. Lectures and laboratory exercises will be conducted in the Sevilleta Education and Research facility, a state of the art facility with beautiful views of the Rio Grande valley and Los Pinos mountains. Instructors: Don Natvig, Dan Colman, Miriam Hutchinson Prerequisites: Consent of instructor (contact: dnat...@gmail.com). Course Fees: Tuition (approx. $1000) plus $255 to cover lodging and transportation. Undergraduates should enroll in Biology 410. Graduates should enroll in Biology 510. For additional information, please contact Don Natvig (dnat...@gmail.com or 505-363-1911). Note for non-UNM students: Tuition for UNM summer classes is the same for New Mexico residents and non-residents. The application for summer admission is 1 May 2014. Admissions website: http://summer.unm.edu/get-started-unm.html
[ECOLOG-L] M.S. Graduate Teaching Assistantship - Fall 2014
Title: M.S. Graduate Teaching Assistantship Agency: University of Northern Colorado Location: Greeley, Colorado Job Description: One M.S. Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTA) is available in the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Northern Colorado (UNC) starting in fall 2014. This project will evaluate the conditions to create a rigorous system to study mycorrhizal fungus-crop-insect interactions, examine the effects of aboveground insect herbivory and belowground mycorrhizal fungus colonization on plant physiology, and assess organism performance in tripartite interactions. The proposed work combines plant biology, fungal ecology, and molecular biology. Students involved in this research will be partly supported by a grant and graduate teaching assistantships. Students awarded a teaching assistantship are generally supported (during fall and spring semesters) contingent on successful teaching and progress in the program. The compensation for this position includes a stipend of $14,562 for 9 months, and a full waiver of up to 10 credit hours of tuition per semester (GTA). In addition, summer funding opportunities are available to eligible students. Qualifications: Please review the requirements for admission to UNC: http://www.unco.edu/grad/admissions/requirements.html and the School of Biological Sciences: http://www.unco.edu/nhs/biology/students/gradapp-instructions.html. Additional requirements for international students: http://www.unco.edu/grad/international/howtoapply.html If you are qualified and interested in pursuing graduate research related to plant interactions with other organisms, please send the following items to Dr. Karen Gomez (karen.go...@unco.edu): (a) cover letter discussing interest in the project, applicable experience, and goals for undertaking a graduate program, (b) official or unofficial undergraduate transcripts, (c) CV, (d) GRE scores, and (e) name and e-mail of three professional references. Successful applicants are expected to start in August 2014. Applicants with experience in (or the ability to learn) molecular biology techniques (e.g. PCR and qPCR), and with experience in designing and conducting independent research under an advisor will be especially competitive. Responsibilities: In order to successfully complete this M.S. program, students must meet expectations at teaching undergraduate courses, and must complete their required coursework. For the research component, students should: demonstrate willingness/ability to learn new research techniques, possess the ability to design and conduct independent research, demonstrate attention to detail and effectiveness in completion of research, conduct work safely, be collegial, and maintain a habit of reading scientific literature in her/his field. Deadline: Open until position is filled Website: http://www.unco.edu/nhs/biology/ Lab Website: http://www.gomezlab.com Contact: Dr. Karen Gomez E-mail: karen.go...@unco.edu Phone: 970-351-2555
[ECOLOG-L] the limits to growth for biology: winter is coming
Below is a link to a rather frightening policy paper that everyone should read. The authors (a bunch of very heavy hitters in American science policy) point out the obvious: science support can't keep doubling and pumping more students and buildings into the mix will only make the problem worse. The current system is essentially built on the backs of low paid grad students and post docs supported by grants, doing the work while the PI's try not to drown in ever increasing paperwork. Additional research facilities are funded indirectly by the feds, and require yet more research to service the resulting debt. A house of cards has been built on soft money requiring ever more research to keep it going. Hypercompetition has led to PIs and grad students not undertaking cutting edge, risky work. Funding agencies don't fund it and reviewers flee from it. Assuming you can find reviewers. And everyone wants to show their work is relevant and have it published in 'high-impact' journals so the emphasis is on 'impact', not quality. We may have created a lost generation of Ph.D.s: a growing number of PhDs are in jobs that do not take advantage of the tax payers' investment in their lengthy education. . . an ever-increasing supply of scientists vying for a finite set of research resources and employment opportunities The good news is that the authors suggest a series of actions that may help improve things, although they will be painful to implement. David Duffy http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2014/04/09/1404402111.full.pdf Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit Botany University of Hawaii 3190 Maile Way Honolulu Hawaii 96822 USA 1-808-956-8218
[ECOLOG-L] PhD Assistantship - River otter survival, movements and habitat use, Southern Illinois University
*Ph.D. Graduate Research Assistant* *Cooperative Wildlife Research Laboratory and College of Agricultural Sciences * *Southern Illinois University* *Position Description:* Drs. Clay Nielsen and Eric Schauber are seeking a Graduate Research Assistant at the Ph.D. level to study river otter ecology in southern Illinois. Primary objectives include quantifying survival, movements, and habitat use of radiomarked river otters to inform conservation decisions; the student will be given some leeway to address their own research interests, as well. This is a well-funded project with 3 capture seasons envisioned, so you MUST have pertinent trapping experience! The student will eventually receive his/her PhD. in Agricultural Sciences at Southern Illinois University. Salary: ~$1,488/month + full tuition waiver and full support for field work *Qualifications:* The successful applicant will have: (1) obtained a B.S. and M.S. in wildlife management, forestry, ecology, zoology, biology, or a related field; (2) earned grade point averages 3.2/4.0 or equivalent; (3) scored in the top 30% (new scale) or ~1100 (old scale) on the verbal and quantitative sections of the GRE; (4) considerable experience trapping otter-sized mammals, performing animal surgery, and/or conducting aerial and ground-based radiotelemetry; (5) superior field and quantitative skills; (6) no fear of seasonal weather conditions, humidity, poison ivy, and crawly things; and (7) an ability to work within a team framework. *Application Materials: *Interested parties should submit a cover letter, full transcripts (unofficial or official), CV, and list of 3 references no later than 15 May 2014. *Contact:* Clay Nielsen (email kez...@siu.edu)
[ECOLOG-L] Postdoc: Avian and predator occupancy of CRP fields
*Postdoctoral Research Fellow* *Cooperative Wildlife Research Laboratory * *Southern Illinois University* *Description:* Drs. Clay Nielsen and Eric Schauber are seeking a Postdoctoral Research Fellow to study site occupancy of upland wildlife in Illinois. This will be a 1-year position. We have developed extensive datasets on avian and predator occupancy of CRP fields in Illinois during the past 4 years. In conjunction with graduate students, the successful applicant will analyze data beginning Day 1 with the expectation to quickly prepare manuscripts for submission to scientific journals. Additional wildlife occupancy datasets will be made available for analysis, as well. Opportunities will be available to work with collaborators to write additional grant proposals, gain experience mentoring graduate and undergraduate students, and participate in teaching university courses. Salary: ~$40,000 + benefit package *Qualifications:* The successful applicant will have: (1) obtained (recently) a Ph.D. in wildlife management, forestry, ecology, zoology, biology, or a related field; (2) superior quantitative skills with considerable experience using occupancy modeling techniques; (3) strong communication skills; (4) a solid publication record; and (5) an ability to work both independently and within a team framework. *Application Materials: *Interested parties should submit a cover letter, CV, PDFs of pertinent publications, and list of 3 references no later than 15 May 2014. *Start Date:* 7/1/2014 *Contact:* Clay Nielsen (email: kez...@siu.edu)
[ECOLOG-L] Biosphere 2 Summer Research Institute
The University of Arizona’s Biosphere 2 is announcing a 10-week Summer Research Institute (SRI) program this summer in earth and environmental sciences (http://b2science.org/outreach/sri). This program gives undergraduate students an opportunity to conduct guided research in environmental and earth systems science at a leading and unique research institution, while earning course credit. The program runs from June 9 to August 13, 2014, and costs $4,495.00. Students will receive 6 credits of upper-division directed research from the University of Arizona, and will receive accommodation for the duration of the program in furnished housing on the Biosphere 2 campus. Students majoring in, or in a curriculum leading to one of the following fields in environmental or earth system science will be well suited to participate in the B2 SRI: biology, ecology, plant sciences, hydrology, soil science, atmospheric science, geology, mathematics, physics, chemistry, sustainability science, or computer science. For more information on the SRI, potential research projects, and to apply, please visit: http://b2science.org/outreach/sri Applications are due April 30, 2014, and application material can be found at: http://b2science.org/outreach/sri/2014_apply
[ECOLOG-L] Looking for DOLT (3 or 4)
Hello Ecolog, I am trying to get a hold of some DOLT-3 or DOLT-4, a standard reference material for heavy metals in organic tissue produced by the National Research Council Canada. They have been working on a new formulation (DOLT-5), and have been out of stock for about a year. If anyone has a jar of DOLT they would be willing to share, I would be happy to pay for part (or all), provided it has been stored properly and is uncontaminated. Please contact me off the listserv. Thanks for your help! Cheers, Claire Ramos -- Dr. Claire Varian Ramos Assistant Professor Biology Department Colorado State University-Pueblo 2200 Bonforte Blvd. Pueblo, CO 81001 719-549-2509
[ECOLOG-L] Two PhD positions in Water Quality and Carbon in various forested watersheds
I am posting this for a colleague, Alex Chow. Please respond directly to him at the address below. The Baruch institute is a pretty magical place and his studies are on the leading edge of combining ecology, biogeochemistry, and toxicology/human health/environmental health. I can also vouch for Dr. Chow as a thoughtful, supportive mentor/advisor. Two PhD Research Assistantship (2014 Fall): The Biogeochemistry and Environmental Quality Research Group ( http://people.clemson.edu/~ACHOW/) at Baruch Institute of Coastal Ecology Forest Sciences, Clemson University is seeking two highly motivated PhD students to participate in projects to examine the impacts of forest fire on source water quality. The project will combine intensive field and laboratory studies to understand the contribution of forest fires on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) and dissolved black carbon (DBC), and the way in which the interacting photochemical and biogeochemical processes occurring near the water surface impact the disinfection byproduct (DBP) formation during drinking water treatments. In addition to field sampling and chemical analyses, the PhD students will conduct watershed studies focusing on the loads and yields of PAH, DBC, and DBP precursors from managed and unmanaged forests in South Carolina’s Francis Marion National Forest. We are particularly interested in applicants with experience in field sampling and quantitative chemical analysis. The successful candidate will work at the Baruch Institute of Coastal Ecology Forest Sciences, Georgetown, South Carolina (http://www.clemson.edu/public/rec/baruch/). It is a research experimental station of Clemson University near Myrtle Beach SC and includes a diverse team of hydrologists, wildlife biologists, ecologists, and environmental engineers. Applicants with degrees in any field of chemistry, environmental science, or engineering are welcome to apply. For further information regarding this position please contact Dr. Alex Chow through email at *ac...@clemson.edu* ac...@clemson.edu
[ECOLOG-L] Visiting Faculty Position in Ecology - University of Richmond
The Department of Biology at the University of Richmond seeks to fill a full-time visiting faculty position (non-tenure track) for the 2014-15 academic year, beginning August 2014 and ending May 2015. We are looking for a broadly trained biologist with expertise in ecology. All applicants should demonstrate a strong commitment to high quality undergraduate education and an interest in teaching at a primarily undergraduate institution (PUI). Teaching expectations for this position include an introductory Ecology course with lab for biology and environmental studies majors and other ecology electives in the candidate’s area of expertise. Research space and equipment will be made available based on synergy with existing faculty research programs. Applicants must have a Ph.D. in hand by August 20, 2014. Applicants should upload a cover letter; a statement that addresses their teaching experiences and their vision for being a teacher-scholar at a PUI; a current curriculum vitae; and the names of two references who can address teaching effectiveness and potential. References will be contacted once a short-list of candidates is made. Review of applications will commence on April 25th and continue until the position is filled. Questions concerning the ecologist position and application process should be directed to Dr. Roni Kingsley (rking...@richmond.edu). The University of Richmond is committed to developing a diverse workforce and student body and to being an inclusive community. We strongly encourage applications from candidates who will contribute to these goals. For more information on the department, see http://biology.richmond.edu/. The Department of Biology is housed in the Gottwald center for the Sciences, which also houses the Departments of Chemistry and Physics and had an extensive renovation/expansion of laboratory and teaching facilities completed in 2005. Approximately 50 biology majors graduate each year, many of whom go on to attend top graduate and medical schools. Members of the Department of Biology have access to two University-owned field sites that are approximately 15 and 45 minutes away from campus.
