1 postdoc and 1 PhD positions in Sustainability Reconciliation of Biodiversity Conservation, Food Security and Economic Development in the Tropics. I would like to invite applications for a PhD scholarship on modeling of sustainable development strategies that can reconcile economic development and food security with biodiversity conservation in Southeast Asia. Rapidly increasing population in the tropics and the inherent demand for agricultural land destroy tropical forests at alarming rates, especially in Southeast Asia. Tropical forests in the region are a major global reservoir of biodiversity. They provide essential ecosystem goods and services including non-timber forest products, climate and water regulation, and carbon sequestration. The loss of these services through tropical deforestation can have very negative consequences for current and future generations. This is especially relevant given the mitigation role of forests against climate change. For tropical countries to attain sustainable development, it is thus necessary to reconcile food security, economic development and biodiversity conservation. The postdoc and PhD student will have flexibility in the formulation of original research questions and approaches, ranging from an ecological, economic or interdisciplinary approach. Objectives of the research are: (i) to identify mechanisms for global market systems to internalize the true economic value of tropical forests; (ii) to perform spatial analyses of land use distributions that maximize the synergies between ecosystem services, biodiversity conservation and agricultural production; and (iii) to evaluate economic development strategies that guarantee non-decreasing wealth and equity among individuals in tropical regions. Successful applicants will join a new Ecological Modeling and Economics lab in the Department of Biological Sciences of the National University of Singapore. The Department of Biological Sciences has over 300 graduate students from 19 countries. Facilities and research support are world-class and the university, department and PhD program are internationally highly regarded. Funding and requirements Funding for the postdoc is available for 2 years. The annual salary is £30000-36000 British pounds (US$ 48000-58000). Assistance for relocation, housing allowance and medical insurance are also provided. The candidate would have or be in the last year of a relevant PhD in quantitative Ecology/Environmental Sciences/Ecological Economics. Funding for the 4 years PhD program is available for the successful candidate. The scholarship covers tuition fees, monthly stipend, research and conference travelling expenses. In order to apply you must have a 2.1 or above in a relevant ecological/ environmental degree. MSc/ MRes in a relevant discipline and experience with R and GIS are considered a plus. To apply, please send me an up-to-date CV and briefly state your research interests as they relate to the project. References: Please email Dr. L. Roman Carrasco, Assistant Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore. Email: [email protected]. Webpage: http://www.dbs.nus.edu.sg/staff/roman.html
________________________________ From: ECOLOG-L automatic digest system <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Monday, 5 March 2012, 13:00 Subject: ECOLOG-L Digest - 3 Mar 2012 to 4 Mar 2012 (#2012-65) There are 4 messages totalling 153 lines in this issue. Topics of the day: 1. Graduate Opportunity for Research on Missouri River Floodplain Forests 2. Postdoctoral Teaching Fellowship, Tulane University 3. SEASONAL FIELD ASSISTANT POSITION - INVASIVE SPECIES AND MYRMECOCHORY 4. Training for canopy research tree climbing ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sun, 4 Mar 2012 01:53:33 -0600 From: "Dixon, Mark" <[email protected]> Subject: Graduate Opportunity for Research on Missouri River Floodplain Forests Note: This is slightly modified from an ECOLOG post from earlier this year: Graduate Student Position for Research on Effects of the 2011 Flood on Missouri River Floodplain Vegetation I'm looking for a graduate student (PhD or MS) for a 3-year project characterizing the effects of the 2011 flood on floodplain forest vegetation along the Missouri River. Field work will commence in June 2012 and will concentrate on segments of the Missouri River in South Dakota and Nebraska, although opportunities may also exist to work on segments in North Dakota, Montana, and Iowa. The graduate student will lead a vegetation sampling crew during the summer and will be responsible for data analysis and vegetation mapping using GIS for his/her Research Assistantship during the academic year. Precise thesis/dissertation topic is somewhat flexible, but should fit within the broad objectives of the project. Funding is available for 3 years, beginning in May/June 2012 and will include a stipend for the graduate student and funds for several field assistants, travel expenses, and field supplies. The ideal candidate will have strong skills in plant identification, experience in sampling in riparian plant communities, experience mapping land cover using ArcGIS, solid analytical and writing skills, and strong organizational and supervisory skills. The ability to supervise a field crew and to plan and implement field sampling logistics will be an important component of the position(s). Experience operating a motor boat on large rivers would also be a plus. Field work will require work for extended periods of time under sometimes arduous field conditions and in remote locations away from campus. The student(s) will enroll in the graduate program of the Department of Biology at the University of South Dakota, in Vermillion, SD (http://www.usd.edu/arts-and-sciences/biology/index.cfm), in the lab of Dr. Mark Dixon (http://www.usd.edu/arts-and-sciences/biology/mark-dixon.cfm). Student must be able to begin work by May of 2012, and enroll in the university for the Fall 2012 semester. Interested students should first contact me directly ([email protected]) and then apply to the graduate program in Biology at the University of South Dakota (http://www.usd.edu/arts-and-sciences/biology/graduate.cfm). Applicants will need to provide recent GRE scores and should have an undergraduate GPA over 3.0 for admission to the program. Mark D. Dixon Assistant Professor Department of Biology University of South Dakota Vermillion, SD 57069 Phone: (605) 677-6567 Fax: (605) 677-6557 Email: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 4 Mar 2012 11:33:52 -0500 From: =?ISO-8859-1?Q?Michael_Blum?= <[email protected]> Subject: Postdoctoral Teaching Fellowship, Tulane University KOCH POSTDOCTORAL TEACHING FELLOW The Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (EEB) at Tulane University seeks to fill the inaugural Koch Postdoctoral Teaching Fellowship in Plant Ecology And Evolution, pending budgetary approval (website:http://tulane.edu/sse/eebio/about/kochfellow.cfm). The position is a two-year appointment, with faculty status and a start date of July 1. The department aims to recruit outstanding researchers with a Ph.D. and prior postdoctoral research experience who will merge excellence in teaching (30%), research (60%), and service (10%). Applicants are encouraged to identify a potential faculty collaborator in EEB, although those interested in independent research will be given consideration. Applicants should describe botanical courses they would be able to teach, including courses that are not in the existing curriculum and could be taught as special topics. An application (curriculum vitae, statement of research interests, and statement of teaching philosophy and interests) and three letters of recommendation focusing on both research excellence and teaching potential should be submitted electronically to the Search Committee (e-mail: [email protected]). Please write "Koch Fellow" in the subject line. Application review will begin immediately, and the position will remain open until filled. Tulane University is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action/ADA employer committed to excellence through diversity. All eligible candidates are invited to apply. ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 4 Mar 2012 09:19:23 -0500 From: =?ISO-8859-1?Q?Kirsten_Prior?= <[email protected]> Subject: SEASONAL FIELD ASSISTANT POSITION - INVASIVE SPECIES AND MYRMECOCHORY We seek a field assistant from early May to late August (dates negotiable) to work on a project studying the consequences of invasions on seed dispersal by ants (i.e., myrmecochory). The assistant will be part of a research team that is investigating the effects of an invasive seed-dispersing ant, the European fire ant, Myrmica rubra, on native ant and plant communities, and the potential for co-introduced mutualists to facilitate species invasions. This position is affiliated with Dr. Megan Frederickson’s lab at the University of Toronto (http://mutualism.ca), and the assistant will be working closely with Dr. Kirsten Prior, a postdoctoral associate in the lab (https://sites.google.com/site/kirstenmprior). Major responsibilities include: locating and collecting ant colonies, maintaining ant colonies, conducting surveys of myrmecochorous (ant-dispersed) plants and ants in the field, collecting seeds, conducting seed preference and dispersal trials in the field, setting up and monitoring a mesocosm experiment, and data input and management. The assistant may also assist with other related projects. The majority of time will be spent in the field. Desired qualifications include: 1) completion of or working towards a degree in ecology and evolution, biology, entomology or a related field, 2) strong interest in ecology, entomology, ant ecology, and/or field ecology, 3) hard-working, highly motivated, with attention to detail, 4) ability to work independently and as a part of a research team, 5) willingness to work outside for long periods sometimes in uncomfortable conditions (hot and buggy), 6) ability to deal with a flexible work schedule (i.e., work around weather conditions). 7) Previous experience working in the field or with plants and insects is preferred, but not required. Location/housing: work will largely be conducted at University of Toronto’s research station, the Koffler Scientific Reserve (http://ksr.utoronto.ca/) (~20 km from Newmarket and 60 km from Toronto, Ontario), but will also include some trips to sites in and around the greater Toronto area. Shared accommodations at KSR will be provided along with a modest stipend (~$1400/month) depending on qualifications and experience. Application requirements: please submit a cover letter briefly detailing relevant interest and experience, a CV, and a list of three references. Review of applications will begin on March 19th. Applications and inquires should be sent to Kirsten Prior at [email protected]. ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 4 Mar 2012 13:58:41 -0800 From: Amy McKinney <[email protected]> Subject: Training for canopy research tree climbing "Training for canopy research tree climbing" Researchers wishing to do "hands on" research in the forest canopy need to receive adequate training in techniques and safety protocols before going aloft. The Institute for Tropical Ecology and Conservation (ITEC) offers such courses. While there are many venues for learning to climb, ITEC offers this training in a field/research environment that goes beyond the training offered elsewhere. Most climbing courses do not take place in the same environment where tropical research will take place and students who have not been familiarized with climbing under tropical forest conditions will be at a disadvantage when the time comes to go aloft. Our course runs from mid-June through early July, but for those with scheduling issues, the course can be arranged for other dates. This course is also offered during ITEC's winter session. The course will take place in the rainforest environment and students will learn to climb while experiencing conditions relative to what they will actually encounter while performing research. To learn more go the [email protected] website or contact Joe Maher [email protected] It's the chance to learn a new way to study the forest while engaging in real adventure." ** Thanks!---Joe Maher--- ------------------------------ End of ECOLOG-L Digest - 3 Mar 2012 to 4 Mar 2012 (#2012-65) ************************************************************
