A multi-year postdoctoral position in ecology is available in the research group of Jonathan Levine at ETH Zurich, beginning in 2012. In collaboration with Levine, the successful candidate will develop a project combining empirical and theoretical approaches to explore questions in plant population and community ecology. The research focus and start date are flexible and those with plant, non-plant, or theoretical backgrounds are encouraged to apply.
Research in the Levine group focuses on two general problems: (1) the maintenance of species diversity in communities and (2) the determinants of the success and impacts of biological invasions. Current coexistence projects explore how individual variation influences the outcome of competitive interactions, the effect of fluctuating climate on plant coexistence, and the role of plant pathogens in shaping community composition. Current invasions projects explore the role of landscape patchiness in influencing the spread of exotic species, how invasions alter the connectivity among native populations, and the importance of phenology for the outcome of plant invasions. All projects combine empirical approaches with mathematical theory to achieve their aims. The applicant will have the opportunity to conduct fieldwork in Europe, California, and elsewhere. Work-related interactions will be in English. The quality of life in Zurich is among the highest in the world, and the postdoctoral salary at ETH is excellent. Outstanding research groups at ETH Zurich <www.ibz.ethz.ch/people/index> and the adjacent University Zurich <www.ieu.uzh.ch/staff/staff.php> offer numerous opportunities for interaction and collaboration. Also in Zurich are WSL- the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research, WSL, and Eawag- the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology. Postdoctoral alumni from Levines group have gone on to top ecology faculty positions at the University Washington, Utah State University, UC Davis, the University of Queensland, and the University of Toronto. Your application includes a research statement including one to two paragraphs describing the type of projects of interest, a curriculum vitae, and the contact information for three references. Application review will begin September 15, 2011, and continue until the position is filled. For questions and application information, please contact Jonathan Levine at [email protected]. To submit your application, visit http://internet5.refline.ch/845721/1618/++publications++/1/index.html
