The lab of Dave Crowder (http://entomology.wsu.edu/david-crowder/) in the Department of Entomology at Washington State University is recruiting a postdoctoral scholar who will study plant-pollinator interaction networks and/or the relationship between pollinator diversity and ecosystem function. This position is funded by a USDA Organic Transitions grant which focuses on studying wild pollinator communities in diversified organic farms in western Washington. Since 2014 we have amassed a large dataset on the diversity of wild pollinators at 30+ farm sites along an urban-to-rural gradient. The postdoctoral scholar could work with these existing data to construct plant-pollinator networks (based on data on visitation rates to various flowering plant groups and/or pollen collected from pollinator bodies) across the urban-to-rural gradient. Additionally, the postdoctoral scholar will be encouraged to establish field experiments investigating the relationship between pollinator diversity and ecosystem function across large spatial and temporal time scales. The postdoctoral scientist will work with two PhD students and other collaborators within the context of this larger project.
Required Qualifications: (1) Experience working with pollinators (2) Excellent statistical skills (3) Strong writing skills, evidenced by peer-reviewed publications and/or successful grants (4) Experience with field ecology Desired Qualifications: (1) Experience working in agricultural systems, or desire to move into these systems (2) Experience with analyses of ecological networks (3) Experience with outreach and/or citizen science The position is currently funded for 1.5 years, with a potential for extension. The starting salary is $40K and comes with full benefits. Ideally the postdoc will start no later than May 2016, and applicants will be reviewed as they are received. To apply send a CV and statement of research interests to Dave Crowder ([email protected]).
