Note corrected date of 15 November 2011 (not 2012, as was advertised
by mistake) for preferred start date.
Postdoctoral Associate, Project Baseline: a seed bank for the study
of evolution.
We seek a 75% time Postdoctoral Associate in the Department of
Biology at the University of Minnesota Duluth to participate in a
collaborative project to create a new resource for detecting
evolutionary change in plants. The Postdoctoral Associate will be
primarily located in Duluth, MN
(http://www.duluthmn.travel/request-info/2011/duluth-in-the-news.pdf)
but will coordinate with the PIs and Field Crew Managers to conduct
seed collections in three US regions in the west (Susan Mazer, UCSB),
midwest (Julie Etterson, U of MN Duluth and Ruth Shaw U of MN Twin
Cities), and east (Steve Franks, Fordham University). The appointment
will initially be for one year and may be renewed for a total of up
to 36 months; the preferred start date is no later than November 15,
2011. The base salary is $37,333 (75%-time $28,000) and includes
healthcare and other benefits.
Project Baseline:
The goal of this project is to create a nationwide seed bank of wild
populations to be preserved for the next 10-50 years at the National
Germplasm Conservation Lab in Fort Collins, CO. This resource will
enable assessments of both rapid and long-term responses to climate
change and facilitate investigation of the genetic basis of
adaptation. We will also create a GIS database of population and
environmental information that will be useful in a wide variety of
ecological and conservation applications. For more information on the
project, see Franks et al. 2008, The resurrection initiative: Storing
ancestral genotypes to capture evolution in action. BioScience 58: 870-873.
Job responsibilities:
The Postdoctoral Associate will be responsible for promoting and
developing the Project Baseline seed collections. The Postdoctoral
Associate will be expected to communicate about the project to the
general public and the scientific community and to encourage public
participation through presentations, informational materials to be
made available on-line, workshops, publications, a newsletter, and
the Project Baseline web page. The Postdoctoral Associate will be
responsible for designing seed collections including: obtaining
species lists for appropriate sites, identifying populations within
these sites through communication with site managers, finalizing
collection lists, obtaining collecting permits, and developing
collaborative relationships with on site individuals who can monitor
plant phenology, and developing and testing specific protocols for
collecting environmental data, monitoring flowering phenology, and
collecting and shipping seeds. The Postdoctoral Associate will
establish relationships with the PIs and participate in training the
seed collection crews. Data will be sent from field crews to the
Postdoctoral Associate who will develop databases compatible with
GRIN (National Genetic Resources Program) and use GIS technology to
produce maps that report locations of seed collection sites; record
climate data; and archive other data associated with project
development. Effective communication with herbarium and Germplasm
Conservation Lab staff will be maintained to assure that samples are
properly vouchered and preserved. This position offers opportunities
to design an independent project compatible with Project Baseline's
goals and seek additional funding to increase the position to
full-time, as well as to participate in other career-development activities.
Qualifications:
Essential qualifications include Ph.D. and three years experience in
plant ecology, botany, or evolution or other relevant fields; strong
organizational, writing, and field skills, including GIS, database
development, vegetation and environmental sampling, plant
identification, excellent writing and communication skills. Preferred
qualifications include experience in a long-term research and
outreach programs and experience writing research proposals.
Candidates with career interests in research and/or teaching at all
types of institutions or working in environmental management through
governmental agencies, consulting firms or nonprofit organizations
are all welcome.
Application process:
Applications should include a cover letter with current contact
information, CV, summary of research interests and skills, and the
names and addresses of three referees. The University of Minnesota
requires that you apply online for this position. For a complete
position description and information on how to apply online, visit
http://employment.umn.edu/applicants/Central?quickFind=96634, and
search for Job Requisition #173282. Complete applications will be
reviewed beginning October 15, 2011. Applications will be accepted
until position is filled. The University of Minnesota is an equal
opportunity educator and employer.
