JOBS and GRADUATE STUDENT OPPORTUNITIES
New posts: post your job ad to the ESA-Biogeosciences listserve by sending an email to esabiogesciences@princeton.edu (you must be a member of the listserve) or send it in an email to: jlm40@duke.edu. It will be posted within a week of being received.
Ph.D. Opportunities in Ecology at Duke University
Duke University's Interdepartmental Program in Ecology has PhD assistanthships available in the coming year, enrollment in fall of 2009, including a Plant-Ecology Billings Fellowship, named for W.D. Billings ( http://www.wku.edu/~smithch/chronob/BILL1910.htm), and James B. Duke Fellowships as well. The Duke program has a breadth, depth, and history that makes it a very special place to earn a PhD. Questions can be directed to Meg Stephens at meg.stephens@duke.edu. Applications are due 15 December. On-line applications are available at: http://www.gradschool.duke.edu/admissions/
RICHTER'S SOIL-ECOSYSTEM BIOGEOCHEMISTRY PROGRAM
Professor Daniel deB. Richter's Soil Biogeochemistry Laboratory is recruiting a biogeochemist PhD student to enroll in the fall of 2009. The lab has research sites that are >50-year-old, a hydraulic Geoprobe that can sample to >20-m, analytical instrumentation, and a history of providing excellent mentoring for linking soils with ecosystem science. Although we focus on the belowground components of ecosystems, we are interested in all geographic scales of ecosystem ecology. On-going projects involve the changing model of soil, anthro-pedology, long-term soil-ecosystem experiments, and global soil change ( http://calhoun.env.duke.edu; http://ltse.env.duke.edu). Questions can be directed to Dan Richter at drichter@duke.edu and applications are due 15 December. On-line applications are available at: http://www.gradschool.duke.edu/admissions/ [19 November 2008]
Graduate Research Assistantship – Controls of Dryland Decomposition
A graduate research assistantship (MS or PhD level) is available in the Department of Plant & Soil Sciences at the University of Kentucky (Lexington, KY). This position is affiliated with the grassland ecosystem ecology lab of Dr. Rebecca McCulley (see http://rebecca.mcculley.googlepages.com/) and is being supported by an NSF funded project entitled, ‘COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH: Decomposition in drylands: Soil erosion and UV interactions.' As suggested by the title, the project is collaborative in nature (with Drs. Steve Archer, Dave Breshears, Heather Throop, and Paul Barnes), and the field sites for this work are in the desert grasslands of New Mexico and Arizona (see http://www.snr.arizona.edu/project/decomposition for more information).
The assistantship in Kentucky will support the microbial-side of the project; therefore, applicants for this position should have demonstrated skills with traditional and/or modern microbial techniques. Candidates with degrees in soil science, ecology, microbiology, or related fields and proven interest, experience, and/or knowledge of dryland ecosystems are encouraged to apply. The successful candidate will receive a graduate student stipend, health insurance, and tuition remission for at least 3 years. For more information, please contact: Rebecca McCulley, N-222D Ag Sci North, Dept. of Plant & Soil Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40546-0091, Phone: (859) 257-6388, Fax: (859) 323-1952, Email: rebecca.mcculley@uky.edu [18 November 2008]
Graduate Assistantships at ESF/Hubbard Brook
Ruth Yanai is recruiting a graduate student, MS or PhD, to participate in a new multi-investigator project on nutrient limitation (N vs P) of young and old northern hardwood stands at Hubbard Brook, Jeffers Brook, and Bartlett Experimental Forest (sites with contrasting P availability) in New Hampshire, USA. Simulation modeling using Rastetter's Multi-Element Limitation model could contribute to this project, as could field studies, for example on foliar retranslocation of nutrients.
For more information on my research projects, visit my web site. For access to the password-protected proposal documents, contact Heather Engelman at forestecology@esf.edu . Hubbard Brook and Bartlett Experimental Forest also have web sites. For information about the department of Forest and Natural Resources Management at the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, NY, visit http://www.esf.edu . Instructions for applying and application forms are available on line at http://web.esf.edu/gweb/.
The State University of New York is offering Doctoral Diversity Fellowships to students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. http://cas.buffalo.edu/cas/content/DoctoralDiversityFellowship.pdf. Fellowships are also available to support participation in the National Science Foundation's Graduates in K-12 Education program, linked with the ESF in the High School program ( http://www.esf.edu/outreach/sciencecorps/nsfgk12.htms ). [18 November 2008]
Endowed Professorships in Ecosystems and Earth Systems Science, Washington University in Saint Louis
The International Center for Advanced Renewable Energy and Sustainability (I-CARES) ( http://i-cares.wustl.edu ) at Washington University in St. Louis invites nominations and applications for endowed professorships. We seek individuals from such fields as biology, chemistry, earth and planetary sciences, environmental sciences, and physics who have expertise and innovative insight into global change over a range of time scales and interactions with the biosphere. Important research frontiers in this area include interactions between biological and geochemical processes; microbial ecology; carbon dynamics at the regional and global level; the feedbacks between global change and natural and/or managed ecosystems; and the interactions among agriculture production, energy usage, and the biosphere.
The search is focused on tenured appointments at the rank of full professor, although other exceptional candidates will be considered for appointments commensurate with their experience and accomplishments. Applicants should have an internationally-recognized research program, a distinguished record of leadership and will be expected to take a proactive role in developing and fostering fruitful cross-disciplinary interactions among departments in Arts & Sciences and around the University, and will teach related courses, conduct research, publish in peer-reviewed journals, advise students and participate in faculty meetings. Competitive start-up funding, laboratory development resources and ancillary support commensurate with the candidate's qualifications are available with these chaired positions.
Interested individuals should submit the following application materials: cover letter; statement of research (up to 5 pages); statement of teaching interests, philosophy and plans (up to 3 pages); current curriculum vitae; and the names and complete contact information of five references. Application materials must be submitted electronically by email as a single file in editable (e.g., not password protected) PDF format to ICARES2008search@artsci.wustl.edu . Questions regarding the search process can be directed to Dr. Jonathan Chase (Department of Biology) ( jchase@wustl.edu ) or Dr. T. R. Kidder (Department of Anthropology) ( trkidder@wustl.edu ), Co-chairs of the Search Committee. Review of applications will begin immediately, but applications will be received until the positions are filled. Washington University is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer. Applications from women and underrepresented minority groups are strongly encouraged. [17 November 2008]
Marine Biologist, Assistant Professor Position at Boston University
The Biology Department at Boston University ( www.bu.edu/biology ) invites applications for a tenure-track appointment at the Assistant Professor level. We seek an evolutionary ecologist conducting research in coastal marine systems at the population, community, and/or ecosystem levels. The successful candidate will also participate in the interdisciplinary Boston University Marine Program ( www.bu.edu/bump ). Responsibilities will include establishing an independent research program with extramural funding and active participation in undergraduate and graduate teaching. Please submit a cover letter, curriculum vitae, and statement of research and teaching interests in a single electronic document. E-mail this document and three representative reprints to Dr. Michael Sorenson, Chair, Marine Ecology Search Committee, Department of Biology, Boston University at biosrch@bu.edu . Also, please arrange for three letters of reference to be sent to the same email address. Review of applications will begin December 5, 2008. [17 November 2008]
Ph.D. Opportunity in Biogeochemistry at Boston University: Understanding the effects of N limitation on inter-annual and long-term uptake of atmospheric CO2 in temperate forests.
This project seeks to understand the capacity of temperate forests to store atmospheric CO2. Building on long-term measurements (>16 years) of forest-atmosphere exchanges of CO2 at the Harvard Forest EMS tower, we are specifically interested in understanding how N cycling affects inter-annual variation in forest-C uptake as well as the >2-fold increase C uptake observed at the tower over the last decade and a half. The position will include field and laboratory work as well as collaboration with modelers. The Ph.D. position is open to post-bachelors and post-masters candidates with a background in ecology, biology, soil science, chemistry, or related field. Interested applicants should contact Adrien Finzi ( afinzi@bu.edu or 617.353.2453) to discuss their interests and to learn more about the project. Application information and materials can be found at: http://www.bu.edu/grs/ . The deadline for receipt of applications to the Graduate School is January 15, 2009. [17 November 2008]
Post Doctoral Position in Greenhouse Gas Dynamics at U.C. Berkeley
Post doctoral position available immediately to study methane dynamics in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta in northern California. The position is part of a large on-going collaborative project where we are measuring carbon, nitrogen and greenhouse gas fluxes in peatland pastures and surrounding agricultural environments. Successful candidates should have skills in terrestrial biogeochemical cycling, familiarity with trace gas measurements and analyses, experience with analytical instrumentation, and interest in conducting field and laboratory studies. To apply, please send a letter of interest and a CV to Whendee Silver ( wsilver@nature.berkeley.edu ). [19 October 2008]
Postdoctoral Fellowship in Organic Geochemistry Gracefield - Lower Hutt, New Zealand
GNS Science, Te Pu Ao, is the New Zealand science institute that focuses on geological resources, environmental and industrial isotopes, and geological hazards. By applying our scientific knowledge, we create wealth, protect the environment, and improve the safety of people. The National Isotope Centre (NIC), a division of GNS Science, seeks a post-doctoral fellow to be based at our facility, overlooking Wellington Harbour in New Zealand.
NIC's research and commercial activities are supported by a sophisticated technical infrastructure, including accelerator mass spectrometry, stable isotope mass spectrometers, chemical laboratories, and a new Agilent 5975 GC-MS system. This position is for a two year fixed period. The role will be involved in two exciting projects within NIC's Terrestrial Isotope Biogeochemistry Laboratory.
The first project involves using biomarker compounds and nitrogen isotopes to investigate population and fertility changes leading to the pre-historic societal collapse on Easter Island. The second project investigates the changes in biomarker compounds associated with loss of organic matter from intensively farmed pasture soils as well as soil organic matter recovery following erosion.
The ideal candidate will be an ambitious and bright postdoctoral research fellow with the following:
- A PhD in the field of organic geochemistry.
- A track record of publications in the field of organic geochemistry.
- Excellent organisational skills.
- The ability to work and collaborate within multidisciplinary research teams.
- The ability to supervise technicians and students to complete laboratory tasks.
- Practical knowledge and experience in organic geochemistry as it relates to the analysis of soils or soil-derived sediments.
- Willingness to travel to collaborating overseas laboratories to learn analysis techniques.
To obtain a position description or to apply for this position, please visit our website https://vacancies.gns.cri.nz and follow the online process. Closing date: Saturday, 8 November 2008. Vacancy number: 1468
GNS Science, PO Box 30 368, Lower Hutt , New Zealand . Phone +64 4 570 1444, fax. +64 4 570 4748 [19 October 2008]
Assistant Professor at Boston University: Carbon Cycle Science
The Department of Geography and Environment at Boston University invites applications
for a tenure track assistant professorship in terrestrial carbon cycle science, with a Fall
2009 start date. We seek a scholar with research and teaching interests in the terrestrial
carbon cycle and its role in the global climate system. Specific potential research foci
include (but are not limited to) measurement and/or modeling of land-atmosphere carbon
fluxes, studies of coupled water and carbon dynamics in terrestrial ecosystems, the
impact of humans on regional to global carbon budgets, linkages between terrestrial
carbon and nitrogen cycles, and the use of remote sensing for carbon cycle science.
Candidates should have a commitment to teaching and research, and a desire to work in
an interdisciplinary setting. Excellent opportunities for collaboration exist with
colleagues in affiliated departments and research centers including the department of
Biology, the department of Earth Sciences, and the Center for Remote Sensing at Boston
University. Applicants should submit a CV, a statement of teaching and research
interests, and contact information for at least three referees to: Mark Friedl, Department
of Geography and Environment, Boston University, 675 Commonwealth Ave, Boston,
MA, 02215-1401. Electronic submissions are welcome and should be sent to ge@bu.edu
with the subject “Carbon Cycle Science Position.” Review of applications will begin on
December 15, 2008 and will continue until the position is filled. Boston University is an
Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. [19 October 2008]
Postdoctoral Research Associate in nanomaterials and biogeochemistry at Duke University
The Bernhardt lab at Duke University is seeking a postdoctoral research associate with a PhD in Biogeochemistry or Environmental Microbiology to participate in a new research initiative examining the impacts of manufactured nanomaterials on biogeochemical cycling in soils and sediments in aquatic/wetland systems (funded through the Center for the Environmental Impacts of Nanomaterials (CEINT)). The postdoctoral associate will work closely with Emily Bernhardt (Department of Biology), Curt Richardson (Duke's Nicholas School of the Environment) and Claudia Gunsch (Duke's Pratt School of Engineering).
We hope to recruit a postdoctoral scholar that will complement the existing expertise in our laboratories by having significant prior experience in one or more of the following areas: 1) linking microbial gene expression or enzyme activity with biogeochemical functions; 2) expertise in colloid chemistry in soils or natural waters; or 3) experience in toxicological studies with aquatic/terrestrial vegetation. The successful applicant will have the opportunity to work with a large interdisciplinary initiative to examine the effects of nanomaterials on ecosystem processes.
Salary will be competitive, commensurate with experience and accompanied by Duke's very competitive benefits package. Funds are available through CEINT to support travel to present results at scientific meetings and for short-term training and research opportunities at other member institutions within CEINT. Learn more about the cooperating research units at Bernhardt lab at http://www.biology.duke.edu/bernhardtlab/, the Duke University Wetland Center at www.env.duke.edu/wetland and about the new CEINT at http://ceint.duke.edu.
To apply send a letter describing your research interests, your curriculum vitae, pdfs of one or two representative publications and the names of three references to Emily Bernhardt at emily.bernhardt@duke.edu. Review of applications will begin immediately. [7 October 2008]
University of Tennessee: Research Coordinator in Ecosystem Ecology
We seek a field and laboratory technician/manager (RESEARCH COORDINATOR I) in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Tennessee. Responsibilities include: (1) Maintaining ongoing & establishing new field, greenhouse and laboratory experiments; (2) Collect data from field and laboratory experiments using routine methods, as well as develop new sampling techniques as appropriate; (3) Supervise undergraduate assistants, and coordinate student field and laboratory activities; (4) Data entry, preliminary analysis, and interpretation; (5) General laboratory coordination and maintenance, including ordering and organizing equipment and supplies and maintaining laboratory databases.
Required qualifications: BA/BS (or higher) required with experience in lab and field ecology and/or laboratory coordination. Preferred qualifications and experience: laboratory and field ecosystem techniques, chemistry, molecular ecology, statistical analysis, lab management, field ecology. Salary depends on experience; includes health insurance. Ideal starting date: November 2008 – but the date is negotiable. Please apply online ( http://uthr.admin.utk.edu/emplcomp/StaffVacancy.shtml ) and send a resume or CV and a brief statement of interests and experience relevant to this position, and the names of references to: Aimee Classen ( aclassen@utk.edu ) [24 September 2008]
MS/PhD Graduate Student Opportunities in Biogeographic Aspects of Land-Use Change and Terrestrial Biogeochemistry
One to two graduate assistantships are available to prospective students interested in global change impacts on biogeochemical cycling and biodiversity in the Department of Geography at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, starting Fall 2009. Students with interests in the following are encouraged to apply: land-use/land-cover and climatic change effects on biogeochemical cycling, mechanisms of soil organic matter stabilization, restoration of ecosystem goods and services, legacies of human disturbance on tropical forest structure and species composition, and physical and human dimensions of land-use and land-cover change. Opportunities exist for fieldwork in tropical as well as local and regional ecosystems. For more information on the graduate programs, please visit: http://www.geography.wisc.edu/admissions/index.htm
Interested applicants should email the following to marinspiotta@geography.wisc.edu: 1) a current resume or CV, including GPA and test scores (if available); 2) a letter of interest, including research interests, professional goals and prior experience; and 3) contact information, including email addresses, of three potential references. [24 September 2008]
Ecologist Postdoctoral Research Associate Position
The Central Arizona-Phoenix Long-Term Ecological Research (CAP LTER) project at Arizona State University's Global Institute of Sustainability is seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate in Ecology. The position involves development of a research project that fits within ongoing research in CAP LTER; participation in long-term monitoring and experiments; analysis and write-up of long-term data; and publication of research papers. Qualified applicants must have obtained a Ph.D. within three years or less from the time of appointment and must have demonstrated research experience in population, community, or ecosystem ecology. Specific research expertise related to urban or human-dominated ecosystems is preferred. Also desired are interdisciplinary education or research training and a record of research publication.
Position begins spring 2009 and is for one year with the possibility for renewal of an additional year. Send cover letter explaining interest in the position and relevant expertise; curriculum vitae; the name, phone number, and e-mail addresses of three references; and publication copies (no more than three) to Marcia Nation, CAP LTER Project Manager, Global Institute of Sustainability, PO Box 875402, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287-5402 marcia.nation@asu.edu . Materials due November 30, 2008. For inquiries, please contact Marcia Nation at 480-965-7951 or by e-mail. Position contingent upon funding. AA/EOE. [18 September 2008]
Post Doc Opportunity - Terrestrial Biogeochemistry at Brown University, Providence, RI USA.
A postdoctoral position is available to plan, manage, and analyze a forest fertilization experiment in a lowland tropical rainforest in Costa Rica. The goal is to explore the nature of nutrient limitation in the lowland tropical forests, with an eye towards understanding their basic biogeochemistry and likely responses to anthropogenic changes in nutrient status. The successful applicant must have a strong background in biogeochemistry (both in the field and in the lab), a willingness to spend about 6months/year in Costa Rica, fluency in Spanish, and an ability to coordinate a team of technicians and undergraduates. A Ph.D. in biology, geology, or a related field is required. Funding is guaranteed for two years, and the applicant will be involved in proposal writing to supplement the experiment. To apply, please send a cover letter stating your interest in the position and experiences you feel are relevant, a curriculum vitae and the names of three references to stephen_porder@brown.edu . [18 September 2008]
Graduate Student Opportunities: Ph.D. in Terrestrial Biogeochemistry and M.S. in Environmental Science at Brown University, Providence, RI USA.
I am currently seeking 1-2 Ph.D. students and 1 M.S. student to explore questions related to tropical biogeochemistry. My lab works broadly at the intersection between biology and geology to explore spatial patterns in tropical ecosystems, and the consequences of those patterns for the impacts of land use change on tropical ecosystems. A few of the current projects in the lab include investigations of: nutrient availability and landscape formation in the Talamanca Range of Costa Rica, the interaction between selective logging and nutrient dynamics in the lowland forests of Imataca, Venezuela, the effects of climate and soil age on plant/nutrient interactions in the Hawaiian Islands, and the impacts of industrialized soy production in Brazil. A few other projects are described on the lab website .
Applicants should have a strong academic record, experience in either ecological or geological field work, chemical and isotopic analyses, or, ideally, some combination thereof. For more information on program details, potential Ph.D. students can visit the Dept. or Ecology and Evolutionary Biology website , and potential M.S. students can visit the Center for Environmental Studies website . Interested applicants should email CV, transcript, test scores, and a letter describing personal and research interests to stephen_porder@brown.edu . [11 September 2008]
Ecosystem Ecologist - Assistant Professor (Fall, 2009)
The Department of Biological Sciences of Northern Kentucky University invites applications for a TENURE-TRACK FACULTY POSITION for Fall 2009. Ecosystem Ecologist - ASSISTANT PROFESSOR. Ph.D. in Biological Sciences or related field required. Primary teaching responsibilities will include a course in area of specialization and introductory biology. Research specialization area is open; multidisciplinary approaches are encouraged. Successful candidates will have the opportunity to be involved in the Environmental Science program ( http://www.nku.edu/~envsci/), the new College of Informatics ( http://informatics.nku.edu/), and the Center for Integrative Natural Science and Mathematics (http://www.nku.edu/~cinsam/).
Northern Kentucky University is a growing, vibrant comprehensive metropolitan university of 15,000 students that is just minutes away from Cincinnati, OH, and CVG airport. The Department has a strong focus on undergraduate research. A detailed description of the position plus departmental information may be found at http://www.nku.edu/~biosci . Send letter of application; brief statement of professional goals; statements of teaching/research philosophy; curriculum vitae; transcripts; and names, addresses, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses of three references to Ecosystem Ecology Search Committee, Department of Biological Sciences, SC 204E, Northern Kentucky University, Highland Heights, KY 41099. All application materials must be received by November 1, 2008. NKU is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer and actively seeks applications from minorities and women. [10 September 2008]