A graduate research assistantship is available for a new PhD student at the University of Wyoming in Dr. Kiona Ogles lab (www.uwyo.edu/oglelab) through the Dept. of Botany (www.uwyo.edu/Botany) and/or the Program in Ecology (www.uwyo.edu/PIE). The PhD student will be a part of project team that is developing and testing a scaling framework for understanding forest diversity and productivity. The project involves three main components organized around the following questions: How do plant traits related to tree form and function vary between species, and how do evolutionary versus environmental drivers affect trait variability? Is a species-specific representation of form and function necessary to describe community and ecosystem properties? How do we develop a general scaling framework for predicting large-scale forest dynamics that includes species-specific trait variability and key physiological mechanisms? Data-model integration methods will be applied to address these questions, including: dynamic process models that link tree form and function; Bayesian meta-analyses of literature data on species-specific traits that incorporate phylogenetic information; and Bayesian statistical and computational methods for informing the process model with large and disparate data sources. Qualifications: (1) a Bachelors or Masters degree in one or more of the following or related areas: biology, botany, ecology, statistics, mathematics, or bioinformatics; (2) strong academic record, (3) sufficient mathematical, statistical, and/or programming skills or ability and desire to develop proficiency in these areas; (4) background in forest or plant physiological ecology or ability and desire to develop proficiency in these areas; (5) good verbal and written communication skills; and (6) ability and desire to interact and collaborate with other scientists. Interested applicants should send the following information via email to Dr. Kiona Ogle ([email protected]): (1) brief statement of why this position and a PhD degree is of interest, (2) CV or resume, (3) transcripts (unofficial copies are fine), and (4) names and contact information of three references (at least one should be familiar with academic record and ability to pursue graduate degree and research). Interested applicants should contact Dr. Ogle as soon as possible because, pending final approval of funding, the expected start date is August 2009 (preferred) or January 2010. For more information, contact Dr. Ogle via email ([email protected]).
