Ph.D.-Student Position in Sedimentology / Ichnology

Origin of Metazoan Benthic Ecosystems: Mutual Modification between Ediacaran to Early Phanerozoic Faunas and their Sedimentary Environments

Applicants are invited for a graduate research assistantship (Ph.D.-student) to participate in the recently funded DFG research group FOR 736 "The Precambrian-Cambrian Biosphere (R)evolution: Insights from Chinese Microcontinents". This interdisciplinary group of European researchers will study root causes and interactions between the multiple changes that occurred in biosphere, geosphere, atmosphere and hydrosphere at that time and will cooperate closely with a complementary Chinese research group.

The position is funded for 24 months with a 12-month extension. Starting date should be February 1, 2008. Salary level will be according to German public employee pay scale 50% BAT IIa. Above-average English communication skills are advantageous. We particularly encourage applications from women and disabled persons.

The project:

The goal of this project is to investigate the consequences of the gradually increasing bioturbation, recorded in the shallow-water facies of the Yangtze Platform and beginning in the late Ediacaran, for sedimentology, sedimentary chemistry, permeability, nutrient availability etc. Project work includes significant field work with Chinese colleagues at selected locations of central China, extended stays at research institutions at Nanjing and Xian, and close interdisciplinary collaborations with the other members of the research group, in particular Dr. Bernd Weber (bweber@zedat.fu-berlin.de)

A completed Master's, Diplom or equivalent degree in geosciences is required. The successful candidate should demonstrate advanced knowledge in paleontology and sedimentary geology. Capacity for field work and above-average English will be an advantage. A willingness to learn German within a reasonable time span is expected.

The sedimentary geology group at the Freie Universität Berlin studies sedimentary basins and processes on a variety of scales, with particular focus on Earth system evolution.

Please send your application, including CV, copies of degree certificates, and the names of two references by mail or e-mail to:

Prof. Dr. Christoph Heubeck
Freie Universität Berlin
Institut für Geologische Wissenschaften
Malteserstr. 74 - 100
12249 Berlin, Germany
e-mail: cheubeck@zedat.fu-berlin.de.
Applications will be accepted until October 20, 2007.

Institut für Geologische Wissenschaften: http://www.geo.fu-berlin.de/
and
Christoph Heubeck: http://userpage.fu-berlin.de/~cheubeck/

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Ph.D. scholarships in soil physics

The scholarships will have their base at Aarhus and Aalborg Universities, within the frame of a major new research project funded by the Danish Research Council for Technology and Production Sciences: “Soil Infrastructure, Interfaces & Translocation Processes in Inner Space” (“Soil-it-is”):

The upper few meters of the soil (the vadose zone) sustain our life and society, but we only have an empirical knowledge of how soil behaves. In the “Soil-it-is” project, a group of internationally recognized soil scientists at University of Aarhus (AU) and Aalborg University (AAU), Denmark, join forces with partner universities in the USA, UK and Japan to explore how soil architecture and infrastructure (pore and particle networks) control and are controlled by newly recognized soil-physical phenomena. Our project vision is a holistic understanding of architecture and processes in soil inner space that will provide the basis for solutions to protect groundwater resources, improve clean-up technologies at polluted sites, enhance the health and productivity of cultivated soil, and improve the understanding of the soil vadose zone and its role in climate change. For more information on the project please visit our web-site: http://www.agrsci.dk/soil-it-is/

The project currently has two openings for Ph.D. scholarships with start by February 1, 2008. The scholarships are open to both Danish and international applicants. The subject areas of the two studies are briefly described:

Ph.D. 1: Soil Architecture: “Degraded soil architecture reduces soil functionality”

Inadequate management of urban and cultivated land violently challenges the self-organized system of biotic and abiotic soil constituents. This creates poor soil quality in terms of reduced productivity and buffering of environmental impact Understanding the controlling mechanisms for soil self-organization at the cluster-, aggregate-, and bulk soil scale will allow us to influence soil architecture in a positive way with respect to soil functionality and health. As an integral part of this, the interactive links between soil architecture and mobility and transport of colloidal particles, water, and gases need to be revealed. The Ph.D. work will be in close cooperation with the SIMBIOS center at University of Abertay Dundee, Scotland. The successful candidate will be employed and enrolled as a Ph.D. student at University of Aarhus, Department of Agroecology and Environment, with work place at Research Centre Foulum.

Ph.D. 2: Water-Solids Interfaces: “Water transport in soil is often erratic, causing poor water distribution and accelerated chemical transport”

A major reason for this problem is the recognition of interface processes that affect water flow throughout the soil profile. Both surface and sub-critical water repellency due to hydrophobic coatings (films) on soil particles and aggregates occur and both phenomena need to be quantified and incorporated in existing models for water and chemical transport. The Ph.D. work will be in close cooperation with Saitama University, Tokyo, Japan. The successful candidate will be employed and enrolled as a Ph.D. student at Aalborg University, Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry, and Environmental Engineering.

Should a candidate apply for more than one position, then each application must be submitted separately. Closing date for applications is November 1, 2007 at 12:00 noon.

More detailed information and specifics on the application procedure is given on our homepage http://www.agrsci.dk/soil-it-is/ , please note that the requirements vary between Ph.D. 1 and Ph.D. 2.

For further information please contact:

Senior scientist Lis Wollesen de Jonge, University of Aarhus, Department of Agroecology and Environment, Research Centre Foulum, 8830 Tjele, Denmark. Lis.W.de.Jonge@agrsci.dk Phone: +45 89991752
or
Professor Per Moldrup, Aalborg University, Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry, and Environmental Engineering, Sohngaardsholmsvej 57, 9000 Aalborg, Denmark. pm@bio.aau.dk Phone: +45 96358460,

Bloggerwave

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Ph.D. Assistantship, Aquatic Resources

Texas State University offers a comprehensive doctoral program in Aquatic Resources in the Department of Biology, with the objective of graduating exceptionally-trained professionals. This multi-disciplinary program seeks highly-motivated individuals to conduct research aimed at understanding, describing, and managing aquatic systems in an holistic manner, ranging from the landscape (drainage basin, groundwater aquifer) to the population, organismal and microbial scales. In addition, the program provides graduates with the background and skills in aquatic systems and related socioeconomic issues to enable them to work skillfully within the management and policy arenas. Because complex issues involving aquatic resources require solutions from a broad range of fields, this research-emphasis program also integrates the diverse expertise residing in other departments at Texas State, including Agriculture, Chemistry, English, Finance and Business, Geography, Health Sciences, Philosophy, and Political Science. Further information on the doctoral program is available on the aquatic resources web site: www.aquaticresources.bio.txstate.edu.

QUALIFICATIONS: (i) M.S. degree or equivalent from an accredited university in a field of natural or earth sciences relevant to the goal of sustainable aquatic resources; (ii) an overall GPA of 3.25 or higher in graduate course work; and (iii) a preferred GRE score of 1150 or higher (verbal & quantitative combined). Applicants with backgrounds in other relevant fields also will be considered. Exceptional students with a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Additional qualifications are listed on the above-noted aquatic resources web site.

BENEFITS: Competitive Instructional and Research Assistantships, with associated benefits, are available. Resident tuition rates apply for all assistantships.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: Screening of candidates for the Fall 2008 semester will begin January 15, 2008.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION: Official transcripts and GRE scores, three letters of recommendation, Curriculum Vitae, Statement of Goals as a Ph.D. student, and an Intent to Mentor letter from potential research supervisor. An official TOEFL score also is required for foreign applicants. Application forms and identification of other required documentation can be downloaded from the university website:
http://www.gradcollege.txstate.edu/Prospect_Students/Pgms_Apps/Doctoral/Aqua_Resources.html

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PhD Position in Marine Microbiology - Amsterdam

The Institute for Biodiversity & Ecosystem Dynamics (IBED) of the University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands, offers opportunities for a PhD student in Marine Microbiology and/or Biological Oceanography. Marine primary production depends on the availability of nutrients and light. Nitrogen is particularly important, because its low availability limits phytoplankton growth in large parts of the oligotrophic oceans.
Nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria play a key role in the marine nitrogen cycle. Strikingly, however, oceanic nitrogen fixation seems largely restricted to the tropics. This suggests that the dominance of nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria is strongly temperature dependent.

To obtain a better understanding, this PhD project will therefore run monoculture experiments and competition experiments with nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria against non-nitrogen-fixing phytoplankton species at different temperatures. The project will include molecular, physiological and ecological aspects of nitrogen fixation. Which of the aspects under investigation will receive most attention will depend on the expertise and interests of the PhD student.

REQUIREMENTS:
1) Master degree (MSc, or comparable grade) in Biology or the Environmental Sciences, with specializations in microbial ecology, aquatic ecology, marine biology or biological oceanography.
2) Excellent laboratory skills, including experience with laboratory cultures of micro-organisms (bacteria, phytoplankton).
3) Excellent communication skills
4) Proven ability to work in multidisciplinary research teams.
5) Experience with mathematical models is a plus.

For additional information, please contact:
Jef Huisman, email jef.huisman@science.uva.nl
Lucas Stal, email l.stal@nioo.knaw.nl


APPLICATION:

The work will be carried out partly at the University of Amsterdam and partly at the Centre of Estuarine & Marine Ecology of the Netherlands Institute of Ecology. The appointment will be for a maximum period of four years (one year plus a further three years after a positive evaluation) and should lead to a dissertation. The salary will be in accordance with the university regulations for academic personnel, and will range from € 1,956 gross per month in the first year to a maximum of € 2,502 gross per month in the fourth year; there will also be secondary benefits (holiday allowance etc). The position will start in early 2008.

Applications should include a detailed CV, the names and contact addresses of two references, and a motivation letter. They should be sent by email, mentioning vacancy number 07-1062 and the position, before 31 October 2007 to application@science.uva.nl

Part-time Jobs

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Academic, Government and Industry, Biological/Medical jobs in Europe

1. Position: Analytical Manager
Organisation: Peakdale Molecular
Location: Derbyshire, Midlands
http://www.newscientistjobs.com/eview.action?job.id=NS20072621059

2. Position: Animal Breeding Specialist
Organisation: Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs
Location: UK
http://www.newscientistjobs.com/eview.action?job.id=NS20072621044

3. Position: Assistant Programme Manager
Organisation: Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
(BBSRC)
Location: Swindon, South West & Wales
http://www.newscientistjobs.com/eview.action?job.id=NS20072621061

4. Position: Career opportunity Health and Safety
Organisation: Cancer Research UK
Location: Cambridge, East Anglia
http://www.newscientistjobs.com/eview.action?job.id=NS20072621042

5. Position: Chemistry Editor
Organisation: Thomson
Location: Central London, London
http://www.newscientistjobs.com/eview.action?job.id=NS20072621025

6. Position: Chemistry/Physics/Computer Science/IT/Engineering
Organisation: AWE
Location: Berkshire, South East
http://www.newscientistjobs.com/eview.action?job.id=NS20072621018

7. Position: Copywriters and Technical & Marketing Writers
Organisation: Qiagen
Location: Germany
http://www.newscientistjobs.com/eview.action?job.id=NS20072621069

8. Position: Director of Regional Medical Physics
Organisation: Newcastle University
Location: Newcastle, North East
http://www.newscientistjobs.com/eview.action?job.id=NS20072621043

9. Position: Drug Safety Associate
Organisation: Roche
Location: Hertfordshire, South East
http://www.newscientistjobs.com/eview.action?job.id=NS20072621032

10. Position: Ecotoxicologist - Algal Toxicology
Organisation: AstraZeneca
Location: UK
http://www.newscientistjobs.com/eview.action?job.id=NS20072621003

11. Position: Ecotoxicologist - Terrestrial and Aquatic Sediments
Organisation: AstraZeneca
Location: UK
http://www.newscientistjobs.com/eview.action?job.id=NS20072621004

12. Position: Editor, Commissioned Drug Profiles
Organisation: Thomson
Location: Central London, London
http://www.newscientistjobs.com/eview.action?job.id=NS20072621024

13. Position: Editor, Commissioned Key Opinions
Organisation: Thomson
Location: Central London, London
http://www.newscientistjobs.com/eview.action?job.id=NS20072621023

14. Position: Education Specialist
Organisation: Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs
Location: UK
http://www.newscientistjobs.com/eview.action?job.id=NS20072621045

15. Position: Environmental Fate Scientist
Organisation: AstraZeneca
Location: UK
http://www.newscientistjobs.com/eview.action?job.id=NS20072621005

16. Position: Experimental Officer, Biotechnology
Organisation: Covance
Location: Harrogate, UK
http://www.newscientistjobs.com/eview.action?job.id=eur9555

17. Position: Eye Bank Manager
Organisation: Moorfields Eye Hospital
Location: London
http://www.newscientistjobs.com/eview.action?job.id=NS20072621054

18. Position: Field Analyst
Organisation: The Expro Group
Location: Berkshire, South East
http://www.newscientistjobs.com/eview.action?job.id=NS20072621010

19. Position: Field Studies Co-ordinator
Organisation: The Expro Group
Location: Berkshire, South East
http://www.newscientistjobs.com/eview.action?job.id=NS20072621012

20. Position: Formulation Chemists
Organisation: Syngenta
Location: Berkshire, South East
http://www.newscientistjobs.com/eview.action?job.id=NS20072621022

Debt Problems After College

After College, you may have Student Loans to be paid. Further, you may also have accumulated credit card debts. And you decided to fixed things up before the situation completely gets out of hand. What can you do?

1. Do not spend more than what you earn. This is, I guess, the first step you should take if you want to be financially stable.
2. Consolidate your debts.

Now, if you are in deep debt, I would advice for you to seek pro active actions to solve your debt problem ASAP. I would suggest you seek debt relief and credit card consolidation counseling.

Debt counseling will simply provide you with advice and solutions to your debt and credit card problems. For example: credit card consolidation would recommend to you to close all your credit card but one. This way the debt becomes more manageable. Also, the credit counseling company will help you negotiate for lower interest rates, etc.

Seeking for help would not only improve your financial health but also would enable you to avoid problems such as sleep disorders, depression, relationship problems, health risks, social issues and mental breakdown.

Graduate Assistantship (M.S., Ph.D.) opportunities

Opportunities for teaching and research assistantships are available for qualified graduate students for the 2008-2009 academic year at the USM Department of Marine Science. Annual stipends range from $20,400 to $21,600 and include full tuition waivers. The department has active ongoing basic and applied research programs in all emphasis areas (geological, chemical, biological and physical oceanography and hydrographic science), with strong field- and lab-based components. Departmental resources include extensive laboratory and state-of-the-art analytical and computational facilities. Particular research strengths are in sedimentology, isotope geochemistry, biogeochemistry, trace metal geochemistry, large scale ocean and coastal circulation studies, paleooceanography, marine technology, hydrographic science, remote sensing-ocean observing, acoustics, phytoplankton ecology and microbiology. The location of the department at the John C. Stennis Space Center provides ready access to coastal systems and collaborative opportunities with a myriad of federal agencies (NASA, NOAA, NRL, NAVO, USGS, EPA). Applicants should visit http://www.usm.edu/marine/ for additional information and application instructions.