Undergrad Study Abroad Marine Ecology & Conservation

Tropical Marine Ecology and Conservation Semester Abroad: Bonaire, Spring 2010
Undergraduate Study Abroad Opportunity in the Caribbean
The Tropical Marine Biology and Conservation study abroad program is accepting applications for spring semester. Students register for 17 semester hours: Coral Reef Ecology (4), Scientific Diving (4), Environmental and Cultural History of Bonaire (2), Marine Conservation Biology (3) and Independent Research (4). The program description and course syllabi can be found using the following link:
http://www.cieebonaire.org/courses.html

The Scientific Diving course provides dive training that prepares students for AAUS certification at their home universities. Students will receive the following training in the Scientific Diving course: Open Water, Advanced Diver, Rescue Diver, Emergency First Responder, CPR + First Aid, Dan Oxygen Rescue, underwater photography and videography, night diving, and underwater navigation. Students will learn internationally recognized monitoring protocols including REEF and AGRRA.

Independent Research provides students with the opportunity to conduct a research project of their choice in marine science and to publish the results in a student journal, PHYSIS: Journal of Marine Science. A copy of the journal can be downloaded on the following page: http://www.cieebonaire.org/physis.html

Prerequisites: Overall GPA 2.75 or better, 2 semesters of biology, chemistry, geology, ecology or environmental science and a nationally recognized open water SCUBA certification (or a PADI referral – you can do your check out dives in Bonaire). The deadline for application to the spring semester program is 1 November 2009.

Interested students should contact Rita Peachey Director of CIEE Research Station Bonaire at RPeachey@ciee.org or call 1-800-40-STUDY. The study abroad office at your institution will also assist you with registration.

PhD and MS Assistantships: Fish and Aquatic Ecology

Multiple (2-3) graduate student (PhD and MS) assistantships available to participate in research projects exploring ecological dynamics of Great Lakes fishes. These projects involve an integration of field studies, laboratory analyses, controlled experiments and quantitative modeling.

Research topics include:

1) Recruitment and early life history dynamics: linking early life growth and survival of Great Lakes fishes to physical processes.
2) Intra-specific life history trait variation: inter-population variation of maturation schedules, growth rates, and egg characteristics.
3) Description and modeling of food-web connections among Great Lakes fishes.

Within these general research topics students will have flexibility to develop their own thesis projects. Selected individuals will enroll in Purdue University’s Department of Forestry and Natural Resources (www.fnr.purdue.edu) in West Lafayette, IN.

Qualifications:
Minimum qualifications include a BS (for MS position) or MS (for PhD position) in Biology, Ecology, Fisheries Science, or related field; GPA of 3.2 or greater; and above average GRE scores (at least 50th percentile for quantitative and verbal; at least 4.0 for analytical writing).

Salary:
Assistantships include stipend, full tuition coverage, and insurance.

Start date:
Exact date negotiable (sometime between March-August 2010).

How to Apply:
The positions will remain open until filled. For full consideration, please respond by 18-December-2009 and submit cover letter, CV, GRE scores (unofficial is fine), transcript (unofficial is fine), and names and contact numbers of three references to Tomas Höök (thook@purdue.edu; 765-496-6799; www.ag.purdue.edu/fnr/pages/thook.aspx).

For more details please contact:
Tomas Höök
thook@purdue.edu

Purdue University is an affirmative action equal opportunity employer.

Ph.D. Graduate Student Opportunity at Dartmouth

The Graduate Program in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at Dartmouth College invites applications from prospective Ph.D. students interested in ecology and evolution in aquatic ecosystems. I am especially interested in students who want to study linkages between species and ecosystem processes (http://www.dartmouth.edu/~btaylor/). Generous financial support is available in the form of a Dartmouth Fellowship, health care, and a substantial yearly discretionary fund for research and travel that are guaranteed for 5 years. Applicants with excellent records and who demonstrate financial need are also eligible for a U.S. Department of Education Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need (GAANN) Fellowship http://www.dartmouth.edu/~gradstdy/GAANNAWD.html. Detailed information about the program, and access to online applications, are available at http://www.dartmouth.edu/~biology/graduate/eeb/

Students interested in alpine or polar ecosystems (e.g., Alaska, Greenland, Iceland) may also be admitted and participate in a NSF IGERT training grant with Dartmouth and the Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (http://www.crrel.usace.army.mil/). More information on this program is available at http://www.dartmouth.edu/~igert/

For further information send a 1) two page letter articulating your research interests, 2) your CV, 3) the names and contact information for 3 references, 4) and a phone number to Brad Taylor (brad.taylor@dartmouth.edu), Department of Biological Sciences, Gilman Life Science Laboratories, Hanover, NH 03755. Completed applications will be considered beginning December 1st. Promising applicants will be hosted for interviews in mid January.

Dartmouth is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and encourages applications from women and members of minority groups.

Graduate Student Assistantships – Marine Biogeochemistry/Microbial Ecology

Research assistantships with full stipends and tuition waivers are available immediately for students interested in pursuing an M.S. or Ph.D. degree in Marine Sciences. Students will be expected to carry out thesis research within the framework of several ongoing NSF-funded projects that focus on the marine biogeochemistry and microbial ecology of organic sulfur compounds including the widespread algal osmolyte, dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) and its climate-relevant degradation product, dimethylsulfide (DMS). Opportunities for participation in oceanographic research cruises will be available. Laboratory work will be carried out at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab (www.disl.org) located directly on the Gulf of Mexico at the mouth of Mobile Bay.

Students with strong backgrounds in the natural sciences and with a strong motivation to succeed in research should contact Ron Kiene, Department of Marine Sciences, University of South Alabama, LSCB 25, Mobile, Alabama, e-mail Rkiene@jaguar1.usouthal.edu for more information.

Graduate Assistantship/Invasive quagga mussels in the arid southwest

An assistantship towards a Master degree of Public Health (MPH) is available in the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV). The candidate will work with federal, state, and local government agencies, as well as other research teams to monitor the life histories of quagga mussel (Dreissena bugensis) adults and veligers in Lake Mead and address the key environmental factors affecting these invasive mussels in this largest reservoir in the US (by volume). Invasive quagga mussels were discovered in Lake Mead on January 6, 2007. It is the first known occurrence of the dreissenid species in the western United States. Now it has been found in many ecosystems in the arid southwest region.

The final candidate needs to do field work to collect water and sediment samples in Lake Mead, summarize water quality data, enumerate quagga mussel veligers and adults, identify and count benthic samples, present research results in interagency meetings, and draft report to funding agencies. The funding is available for 2 years. Minimum requirements include 1) a Bachelor’s degree in Ecology, Biology, Limnology, Chemistry, Environmental Sciences, or related field; 2) good physical condition; 3) safe driving history; 4) self-motivated personality; 5) working independently and interactively with a multidisciplinary team.

The position starts from January 2010 depending on the availability of qualified applicant. Interested students should send CV, letter describing their qualifications, contact list of three references, and unofficial transcripts to Dr. David Wong (David.Wong@unlv.edu), Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, University of Nevada at Las Vegas, 4505 Maryland Parkway Box 453064, Las Vegas NV 89154 (Tel: 702-895-2446/Fax: 702-895-5166). Electronic submission is preferred. The due date for application is December 7, 2009. More information about graduate studies at UNLV can be found at http://graduatecollege.unlv.edu/.

Research Assistantship, Coastal Oceanography and Engineering

The Skidaway Institute of Oceanography and the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) announce the availability of funds for two students to join their Joint Program in Coastal Science and Engineering (http://www.gtsav.gatech.edu/go/cse). This program, a collaborative effort between Skidaway and Georgia Tech’s Civil and Environmental Engineering program in Savannah, Georgia, focuses on issues and problems that lie at the intersection of science and engineering in coastal and ocean environments. It includes numerous courses jointly taught by Skidaway and GT faculty members, and field experiences on Skidaway’s R/V Savannah, a 29 m UNOLS-fleet vessel.

The available support is for graduate students (M.S. or Ph.D.) admitted to Georgia Tech’s School of Civil and Environmental Engineering (see grad.gatech.edu for application instructions). Students may choose the Environmental Fluid Mechanics and Water Resources (EFMWR) or Environmental Engineering tracks. Funding is available as early as January 2010 to work with a Skidaway investigator on the BOTTOMS-UP benthic observation project (http://www.skio.usg.edu/?p=research/phy/bottomsup). This is a multidisciplinary project, so students with interest in biological, chemical, and physical process-related issues, or a combination, are all encouraged to apply.

Please contact:
Dr. Paul Work, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Tech (paul.work@gatech.edu) for application and academic program information, or
Dr. William Savidge, Skidaway Institute of Oceanography (William.savidge@skio.usg.edu) for more information about the BOTTOMS-UP program and other research opportunities at Skidaway Institute of Oceanography.

Postdoctoral Position in Biogeochemistry of marine algae - The Geology and Ecology Units at the University of Oviedo, in Oviedo, Northwest Spain

The Geology and Ecology Units at the University of Oviedo, in Oviedo, Northwest Spain, invite applications for a Postdoctoral Associate to conduct research on carbon acquisition strategies of marine algae, as part of a larger EC-funded project assessing precedents of algal adaptation to atmospheric CO2 levels in the geological record. The position is a 3 year appointment. The research will be jointly conducted between the marine ecology unit in biological sciences and the geochemistry unit in the geological science department; these groups have a strong marine ecology program, including one of the longest monthly time series of phytoplankton and nutrient monitoring (in the Bay of Biscay), and strong expertise in low temperature geochemistry. A part time laboratory technician will be available to assist in culture maintenance.

The successful candidate must hold a PhD in oceanography or related biological sciences at the time of appointment, and have several years experience in the controlled laboratory culture of marine algae such as coccolithophorids or diatoms and characterization of their growth rates and metabolism. The position, available 1 December 2009, offers competitive salary, 1 month vacation, and free health care for the candidate and his/her family in the public health care system. The position is open to candidates of all nationalities; hire of a candidate from non-EU country may entail a 1-2 month delay in start date pending approval of work permit. The Department is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Oviedo is a small city of 200,000 with historic pedestrian only city center and classic cultural offerings (opera, orchestra). The location is ideal for those interested in active outdoor lifestyle, only 30 km from the coast (beaches, surfing) and 45 km from the Cantabrian mountains (hiking/backpacking, cycling, rockclimbing).

To apply, please send a current CV and brief description of your experience and research interests to Heather Stoll (hstoll@geol.uniovi.es).

Research Associate, Aquatic Biogeochemistry

A research associate position in aquatic biogeochemistry is available beginning Spring 2010 in Ohio State University’s Aquatic Ecology Laboratory. The successful individual will assist in the collection and preparation of samples for various analyses including natural isotopic abundances (13C, 15N, D and 14C) of organic and inorganic materials. Experience with the operation and maintenance of vacuum extraction lines, stable isotope ratio mass spectrometry and/or accelerator mass spectrometric techniques is desirable. Familiarity with other standard analytical techniques (e.g., nutrients, dissolved and particulate organic C, N and P, dissolved oxygen and CO2, alkalinity, etc.) in freshwater and marine systems, as well as with organic separations and characterization and/or microbial ecological methods, is desirable. The position also requires extensive fieldwork using small boats in rivers and estuaries, as well as occasionally on ships in coastal ocean waters for up to 2-3 weeks at a time. The successful individual will ideally possess an undergraduate degree in chemistry or biology, and/or a master's degree in some area of aquatic or marine biogeochemistry or geochemistry. Previous lab and fieldwork experience, including small boat handling, is considered an asset.

This position will be filled for a minimum of 3 years. Starting pay will be commensurate with the level of experience, and full health and retirement benefits are included.

Interested individuals should email a letter of interest and experience, curriculum vitae, and contact information including e-mail addresses and phone numbers for three references by November 17, 2009 to:

Dr. James Bauer
Aquatic Ecology Laboratory
Department of Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology
Ohio State University
1314 Kinnear Road
Columbus, OH 43212
Email: bauer.362@osu.edu

Postdoctoral Fellow, Aquatic Biogeochemistry

POSTDOCTORAL POSITION IN AQUATIC BIOGEOCHEMISTRY, OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY. Applicants are sought for a 1-2 year postdoctoral fellowship beginning spring 2010 in the general area of aquatic biogeochemistry and land-aquatic interactions in freshwater and marine systems. Areas of specialization could include major elemental cycles, organic and isotope biogeochemistry, microbial ecology, or aquatic food webs. Experience in one or more of the following is desirable: natural abundance isotopic techniques (13C, 15N, D, 14C), organic matter characterization (e.g., GC-MS, NMR, HPLC, etc.), microbial ecological approaches, and/or ecology of lower food webs. Applicants should email their CV, a one-page statement of research interests, experience and future research goals, and contact information for three references to Dr. Jim Bauer, Aquatic Ecology Laboratory, Department of Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43212 at bauer.362@osu.edu by November 10, 2009.

Postdoctoral Fellowship in Freshwater Biology

The Department of Biology is offering one to two 12-16 month postdoctoral fellowships in freshwater biology, with a compulsory start date anytime during 2009. We are looking for highly qualified non-Swedish applicants within the field of freshwater biology, whose research fits in well with ongoing research at the Department. The applicant will have access to a newly-built, 250 m2 aquarium facility, equipped with aquaria and replicate artificial streams. Research at the Department is focused on freshwater biology and conservation biology in forest landscapes. Faculty are currently studying questions concerning fragmented landscapes, interactions between the riparian zone and stream communities, fish migrations, fish passage and stocking problems associated with stream regulation, rare species (river pearl mussel), winter ecology of fish, ecophysiology of fish and hydrological restoration. Some of the faculty participate in a multidisciplinary research group together with social scientists and work on questions of sustainability and resource management in streams. Much of Biology’s research is done in cooperation with external agencies, for example the county boards, Highway Administration, Forestry Board, hydropower companies, etc. We also cooperate with Norwegian agencies such as NINA and the University College of Hedmark.

The applicant is requested to submit a CV, a list of publications, a description of research interests, a brief description of what you would like to work with at Karlstad University and three letters of reference. Application deadline is 21 October 2009 but late applications may be considered if a suitable candidate is not found. All application materials can be sent to Larry Greenberg, Dept of Biology, Karlstad University, S-651 88, Karlstad, Sweden or sent via e-mail to Larry.Greenberg@kau.se. The fellowship pays the equivalent of 20 000 Swedish crowns per month tax-free, the total amount dependent upon the duration of the fellowship (12-16 months). For further information contact Larry Greenberg at the above e-mail address or at the telephone number +46-54-7001543.

Post Doc Position in Physical Limnology/Air-Sea Interactions

A position at the Postdoctoral level is available at the University of California, Santa Barbara, in physical limnology/air-sea interactions to study the physics of gas exchange at the air-water interface. Study sites include lakes in the arctic, temperate zone, and tropics. The position is full time with a salary of $44,000 to $55,000, depending on experience. The initial appointment is for 1-year on the multiyear project; continuation beyond one year will be based on performance and availability of funding. Applicants must have an earned Ph.D. in physical limnology, physical oceanography, boundary layer meteorology, or environmental engineering with demonstrated experience in analysis and interpretation of observational data and a record of communicating research results. As the research is in part field-oriented, the candidate should have proven ability to conduct research successfully under arduous field conditions. Experience in modeling and working as part of an interdisciplinary team are also desirable. The department is especially interested in candidates who can contribute to the diversity and excellence of the academic community through research, teaching, and service. Apply by October 15, 2009, for primary consideration; however, position will remain open until filled. Please send a cover letter describing your research interests and experience, a current resume and names of three referees to: Professor Sally MacIntyre, email: sally@icess.ucsb.edu. An Equal Opportunity/ Affirmative Action Employer.