PhD in Representation of Geographic Relevance in Mobile Applications - University of Zurich

Universität Zürich, Geographisches Institut, Abt. GIVA
Representation of geographic relevance in mobile applications

The Geographic Information Visualization and Analysis group at the University of Zurich invites applications for a doctoral research assistant position in Geographic Information Science/Geovisualization to work on a 3-year project.

The highly motivated, successful applicant will be asked to develop methods for representing geographic relevance, including relevance-based filtering of features in the context of mobile geoservices. The objective is to find appropriate representations and metaphors for the geographic relevance concept and design suitable tests for an evaluation of these developments.

Applicants are required to have successfully completed a Masters degree in a relevant area, e.g., Geography, Geoinformatics /Geographic Information Science, Psychology, Cognitive Science, or Computer Science. You have experience in GIS, spatial data representation and handling as well as quantitative spatio-temporal analysis methodologies. Knowledge of wayfinding, spatial cognition, and decision making would be an asset. You have good programming skills (preferably Java), you are confident in implementing the developed methods in the context of a geoservice framework. You have a proven ability to work independently on guided projects, and are interested in presenting your results orally and in publications for a larger scientific audience. You have a very good standard of written and spoken English and knowledge of German, whilst not required, would be an advantage.

The position, housed in the GIScience Center of the Geography Department, will start in September 2008, or as soon as possible thereafter.

For more background information about the department please visit us on the Web at http://www.geo.uzh.ch/gia/aboutus/ or direct any informal enquiries about the position to the address below.

Send your application (CV, letter of motivation, transcripts, names and email contact of referees) electronically in a single PDF document to: Dr. Tumasch Reichenbacher,tumasch.reichenbacher[a-t]geo.uzh.ch (subject: PhD Relevance Representation), ph: +41-44-635-5152, fax: +41-44-635-6848. We will also behappy to answer informal inquiries. Review of applications will begin immediately, and will continue until the position is filled.

Entrance upon September 2008, or as soon as possible thereafter
Duration of appointment 3 years .

Ph.D. Student Position – Perturbations impacts on lake food webs studied from paleo-ecological methods

A Ph.D. position is available to study the impacts, over the last 200 years, of human perturbations on lake food webs using paleo-ecological methods. This PhD project is part of a larger program funded by the French National Research Agency, gathering sedimentologists, biogeochemists and ecologists. Research will involve lab and field work and would require a multi-disciplinary perspective.

The student will be working under the supervision of Dr. Marie-Elodie Perga, at the Alpine Research Center for Lake Food Webs (UMR CARRTEL) of the National Institute for Agronomical Research, in Thonon les Bains, France. This position will provide diverse opportunities for field and laboratory work, integration of field results and long-term monitoring data, and collaborative work within a large multi-disciplinary network program.

For more information, applicants should contact Dr Perga. Applicants should submit a C.V. indicating previous research experience, unofficial copies of university transcripts (undergraduate and graduate as appropriate) and a brief statement of scientific interests to: Dr. Marie-Elodie Perga, Station d’Hydrobiologie Lacustre, UMR CARRTEL INRA, 75 Avenue de Corzent BP 511, 74203 Thonon les Bains Cedex, France. Phone : +33 (0)4 50 26 78 18. Applicants are not required to be French speaking. Applications should be sent preferably by email at: perga@thonon.inra.fr.

PhD student for Temporal Analysis of Coastal Monitoring Data

Vacancy number 08-1038

The University of Amsterdam (UvA) is a university with an internationally acclaimed profile, located at the heart of the Dutch capital. As well as a world centre for business and research, Amsterdam is a hub of cultural and media activities. The University of Amsterdam is a member of the League of European Research Universities.

The Faculty of Science at the UvA is one of Europe's foremost institutions of higher education and research in its chosen fields of specialization. It plays an active role in international science networks and collaborates with universities and industry. The Faculty has approximately 2,000 students and 1,500 staff members spread over four departments and ten research institutes. Each institute has its own research programme, a substantial part of which is externally funded by the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO), the Dutch government, the EU and various private enterprises.

The Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics (IBED) is one of the ten research institutes of the Faculty of Science. IBED covers a wide range of subjects, in both fundamental and applied research. Our scientific studies aim at a better understanding of the dynamics of ecosystems at all relevant levels, from genes to climate change, using a truly multidisciplinary approach.

Within the Sea and Coastal Research program of the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO), and in collaboration with the institute DELTARES and the Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO), we have two vacancies for the following project:

"An innovative monitoring strategy for the carrying capacity in the Dutch coastal zone"

Water quality monitoring programs are under pressure, because they are expensive and essentially the methodology and logistics have not been updated since the 1970s. Also the monitoring data often do not fulfill the information needs of policy makers and managers. Therefore, a major renewal of coastal monitoring strategies is desirable. During the past few decades, there have been important technological and scientific developments to advance monitoring efforts. New on-line instruments have been developed for scientific and applied monitoring purposes. Remote sensing combined with GIS analysis has enriched the spatial information available to coastal managers. New molecular techniques have enabled recognition of a wide array of marine microorganisms and their activities. Advances in computation power, statistical techniques and data-model integration have improved the analysis of monitoring data. However, application of these new techniques, insights and methods to optimize water quality monitoring programs of the coastal zone are still in its infancy.

The project aims at three goals:

1- analysis of temporal and spatial trends and fluctuations of nutrients, suspended matter, phytoplankton, and where possible zooplankton and shellfish in existing data sets,

2- design of an advanced, cost-effective monitoring network of the Dutch coastal waters for the next decades,

3- demonstrating the value of enhanced monitoring networks by quantifying its predictive capacity.

The focus in this subproject will be on the temporal component of coastal monitoring. The work will consist of linear and nonlinear time-series analysis of coastal monitoring data, using advanced methods from dynamical systems theory and machine learning. Special attention will be given to the variability and predictability of the species composition in existing time series. The findings will be integrated into the design of an advanced monitoring network.

Requirements

- Master in Biology or Mathematics with specialization in e.g. theoretical ecology, environmental statistics, applied mathematics, or dynamical systems theory,
- Firm theoretical background, excellent modeling skills, and sound knowledge of statistical techniques,
- Experience with field studies and GIS is a plus,
- Ability to work in multidisciplinary research teams.

For additional information, please contact Prof. Dr. J. Huisman, tel. +31-20-5257085, email j.huisman@uva.nl or
Prof. Dr. J. Middelburg, +31-113-577476 email j.middelburg@nioo.knaw.nl or
Prof. Dr. R. Laane, tel +31-15-2858655, email remi.laane@deltares.nl

Appointment
The appointment of the PhD students will be on a temporary basis for a maximum period of four years (18 months plus a further 30 months after a positive evaluation) and should lead to a dissertation (PhD thesis). During the employment period it is possible to work for a period in Delft (DELTARES) and/or Yerseke (NIOO).

An educational plan will be drafted that includes attendance of courses and (international) meetings. PhD students are also expected to assist in teaching undergraduates. The salary is in accordance with the university regulations for academic personnel and will range from € 2,000.- (first year) up to a maximum of € 2,558.- (last year) gross per month (scale P).

The Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch universities is applicable. This provides secondary benefits like 8 % holiday allowance and 6.4 % end-of-year bonus (8.3 % in 2009) of the annual salary.

Job application
Applications should include a detailed CV including a list of peer-reviewed publications, a motivation letter, and the names and contact addresses of two references from which information about the candidate can be obtained. They should be sent by email, mentioning the vacancy number and the position, to: application@science.uva.nl

The closing date for application is September 12th, 2008.

PhD student for Spatial Analysis of Coastal Monitoring Data

The University of Amsterdam (UvA) is a university with an internationally acclaimed profile, located at the heart of the Dutch capital. As well as a world centre for business and research, Amsterdam is a hub of cultural and media activities. The University of Amsterdam is a member of the League of European Research Universities.

The Faculty of Science at the UvA is one of Europe's foremost institutions of higher education and research in its chosen fields of specialization. It plays an active role in international science networks and collaborates with universities and industry. The Faculty has approximately 2,000 students and 1,500 staff members spread over four departments and ten research institutes. Each institute has its own research programme, a substantial part of which is externally funded by the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO), the Dutch government, the EU and various private enterprises.

The Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics (IBED) is one of the ten research institutes of the Faculty of Science. IBED covers a wide range of subjects, in both fundamental and applied research. Our scientific studies aim at a better understanding of the dynamics of ecosystems at all relevant levels, from genes to climate change, using a truly multidisciplinary approach.

Within the Sea and Coastal Research program of the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO), and in collaboration with the institute DELTARES and the Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO), we have two vacancies for the following project:

"An innovative monitoring strategy for the carrying capacity in the Dutch coastal zone"

Water quality monitoring programs are under pressure, because they are expensive and essentially the methodology and logistics have not been updated since the 1970s. Also the monitoring data often do not fulfill the information needs of policy makers and managers. Therefore, a major renewal of coastal monitoring strategies is desirable. During the past few decades, there have been important technological and scientific developments to advance monitoring efforts. New on-line instruments have been developed for scientific and applied monitoring purposes. Remote sensing combined with GIS analysis has enriched the spatial information available to coastal managers. New molecular techniques have enabled recognition of a wide array of marine microorganisms and their activities. Advances in computation power, statistical techniques and data-model integration have improved the analysis of monitoring data. However, application of these new techniques, insights and methods to optimize water quality monitoring programs of the coastal zone are still in its infancy.

The project aims at three goals:

analysis of temporal and spatial trends and fluctuations of nutrients, suspended matter, phytoplankton, and where possible zooplankton and shellfish in existing data sets,
design of an advanced, cost-effective monitoring network of the Dutch coastal waters for the next decades,
demonstrating the value of enhanced monitoring networks by quantifying its predictive capacity.
PhD student (promovendus) for Spatial Analysis of Coastal Monitoring Data
1.0 FTE
vacancy number 08-1037
For both internal and external candidates
Tasks
The focus in this subproject will be on the spatial component of coastal monitoring. The work will consist of analysis of existing data using spatially explicit models and statistical techniques. In addition, integration of ship measurements, remote sensing data and hydrodynamic models will be explored by developing spatially explicit models. The processing and interpretation of remote sensing data will be an important aspect in this research.

Requirements

Master in Biology or Mathematics with specialization in e.g. environmental statistics, oceanography, ecology, or geosciences,
Expertise in spatially explicit models and statistical techniques,
Expertise in remote sensing,
Experience with field studies and GIS is a plus,
Ability to work in multidisciplinary research teams.

Further information
For additional information, please contact Prof. Dr. R. Laane, tel +31-15-2858655, email remi.laane@deltares.nl and Prof. Dr.Ir. W. Bouten, tel. +31-20-5257421, email w.bouten@uva.nl

Appointment
The appointment of the PhD students will be on a temporary basis for a maximum period of four years (18 months plus a further 30 months after a positive evaluation) and should lead to a dissertation (PhD thesis). During the employment period it is possible to work for a period in Delft (DELTARES) and/or Yerseke (NIOO).

An educational plan will be drafted that includes attendance of courses and (international) meetings. PhD students are also expected to assist in teaching undergraduates. The salary is in accordance with the university regulations for academic personnel and will range from € 2,000.- (first year) up to a maximum of € 2,558.- (last year) gross per month (scale P).

The Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch universities is applicable. This provides secondary benefits like 8 % holiday allowance and 6.4 % end-of-year bonus (8.3 % in 2009) of the annual salary.

Job application
Applications should include a detailed CV including a list of peer-reviewed publications, a motivation letter, and the names and contact addresses of two references from which information about the candidate can be obtained. They should be sent by email, mentioning the vacancy number and the position, to: application@science.uva.nl

Post Doctoral Fellow – Marine Benthic Ecologist

NIWA is a leading environmental research institute and a key provider of atmospheric, freshwater and marine research in New Zealand.

This is an exciting opportunity to undertake research on a two year Post-doctoral appointment in a new area of ecological resilience, focusing on the role of resilience in maintenance of ecological health. It will involve considering theoretical and practical aspects of resilience within the framework of ecosystem goods and services, biodiversity, meta-communities and habitat fragmentation.

Our ideal candidate will have completed a PhD in one of the following areas: marine ecology, ecological modelling or ecological statistics. Experience with field experimentation is a requirement.

You must have the ability to work within a multi-disciplinary team, be motivated to publish in highly-rated peer-reviewed journals and have the ability to interact and communicate positively with a wide range of people.

For further information, a detailed position description and online applications, please visit www.niwa.co.nz/about/careers

PhD Studentship in Robotic Abrasive Finishing Technology Development - University of Huddersfield

University of Huddersfield
PhD Studentship in Robotic Abrasive Finishing Technology Development
Centre for Precision Technologies

Applications are invited for a fully funded three-year full-time research studentship leading to a PhD. This studentship is fully funded by the University of Huddersfield and is open to UK, EU and overseas candidates. The studentship offers a stipend of £10,000.00 tax-free per year as well as payment of tuition fees. The successful candidate will work on a research project in the field of “Robotic Abrasive Finishing Technology Development” under the supervision of Dr. Xun Chen in the Centre for Precision Technologies - a world renowned centre of precision engineering.

The project will develop a new generation abrasive finishing technology which will combine both advantages of grinding and polishing to simultaneously achieve high efficiency materials removal as grinding and excellent surface quality as polishing. The successful candidate will work closely with industrial partners to apply the new techniques to aerospace, energy and biomedicine productions

The candidates should have a good degree in mechanical manufacturing engineering, materials science, physics or other related disciplines. The candidate with work experience in machining process monitoring and control, robotics and artificial intelligence will be an advantage. We are looking for outstanding, highly motivated individuals with relevant background to work in our multidiscipline team.

Applicants should initially send a full C.V. to Dr Xun Chen , followed by sending a completed application form with 2 references. For further details, please contact Dr Xun Chen, School of Computing and Engineering, University of Huddersfield, Queensgate, Huddersfield HD1 3DH, UK.

Deadline for applications: 31 July 2008

Project to start: 1 September 2008 or thereafter as soon as possible.

Graduate Program in Aquatic Sciences

GRADUATE PROGRAMS IN AQUATIC SCIENCE AT THE
STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK COLLEGE OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND FORESTRY, DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND FOREST BIOLOGY

The Department of Environmental and Forest Biology offers M.S. and Ph.D. programs in several areas of study (Chemical Ecology, Conservation Biology, Ecology, Entomology, Environmental Interpretation, Environmental Physiology, Fish and Wildlife Biology and Management, Forest Pathology and Mycology, and Plant Science and Biotechnology), including strong interdisciplinary programs in aquatic science, limnology and fisheries biology. Two additional areas (Applied Ecology and Plant Biotechnology) are offered at the M.P.S. level. For details about the graduate program, research interests of faculty, facilities and resources, as well as financial assistantships, please visit our website (www.esf.edu/efb/grad) or contact the Director of the Graduate Program, Dr. Danny Fernando (fernando@esf.edu), 315-470-6746.

PhD Studentship in Microbiology - De Montford University

Full-time PhD Studentship in Microbiology - Discrimination of Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria

Faculty of Health & Life Sciences

Applications are invited for a fully funded three-year PhD studentship starting in October 2008. The studentship includes a bursary of £12,600 per annum (tax-free) for three years and all tuition fees.

Candidates should hold a good first degree (at least an Upper-Second Class or equivalent) in a relevant subject area.

Project: Discrimination of Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria

The emergence of antibiotic resistance in hospital-acquired infections represents a considerable burden to healthcare delivered globally. This research project aims to develop proteomic approaches (including MALDI-TOF-MS) for discrimination and characterisation of antibiotic resistant bacteria. Proteomic techniques, such as two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, will be used to identify biomarkers of antibacterial resistance on the surface of bacterial isolates. Candidates should have a strong interest in bacteriology and molecular biology. Laboratory based practical experience in microbiology, molecular biology and proteomic techniques would be an advantage.

Applications are welcome from citizens from the EU and those with overseas status as well as those from UK.

Candidates for whom English is not their first language should hold an English qualification at least equivalent to IELTS 6.5.

Enquiries should in the first instance go to the Research Office, De Montfort University, Leicester, LE1 9BH. Telephone: 0116 2506309. Web: http://www.dmu.ac.uk/research/index.jsp

Closing Date: 25th July 2008

An application form may be downloaded from: http://www.dmu.ac.uk/research/degrees/procedure.jsp

Applicants are requested to contact the office to receive a hardcopy admission pack and will need to provide a full CV with two supporting references. Please e-mail: researchstudents[a-t-]dmu.ac.uk or call (0116) 2506309 to receive further details.