MSc Freshwater and Coastal Sciences

Aquatic ecosystems are resources of high economic and ecological value. However, they are threatened by habitat degradation, pollution, species introductions and climate change on a global scale. This MSc (either one-year or part-time) aims to provide students with the necessary skills to understand and tackle these issues.

The programme is taught by world experts from the School of Biological & Chemical Sciences and the Department of Geography at Queen Mary, University of London. Staff from a range of external agencies (eg CEH, Environment Agency, DEFRA, APEM) also contribute.

Field work is a key feature of many modules and is continued via a substantive individual research project, providing students with valuable independent research skills for further PhD research and hence into academia, or for prospective employment in the applied sector.

For further information, please contact: Postgraduate Admissions Administrator, School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary, University of London, London, E1 4NS.Tel: +44(0)20 7882 3012 / Fax: +44(0)20 8983 0973, email: sbcs-pgadmissions@qmul.ac.uk

MSc Aquatic Ecology by Research

The majority of MSc programmes with an aquatic theme are based upon taught modules focusing on applied aspects of management. However, the rationale for offering the MSc Aquatic Ecology by Research (AER) is to provide a more comprehensive practical training by application in the laboratory or field, rather than by formal tuition in the lecture theatre. In essence then, AER melds both the UK and European models of MSc. The key element is the extended project which is designed to provide many the skills required to undertake further academic or applied research. Such projects are closely aligned to the current research topics of staff members of the Centre for the Aquatic and Terrestrial Environment at Queen Mary, University of London.

For further information, please contact: Postgraduate Admissions Administrator, School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary, University of London, London, E1 4NS.Tel: +44(0)20 7882 3012 / Fax: +44(0)20 8983 0973, email: sbcs-pgadmissions@qmul.ac.uk

PhD FELLOWSHIP ON PHYTOPLANKTON ECOLOGY , Spain

We look for students interested in performing a PhD Thesis at the Marine Biology and Oceanography Department of the Institut de Ciències del Mar de Barcelona. We offer an FPI fellowship (beca predoctoral de Formación del Personal Investigador by the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación), linked to the project "ECOALFACS: ECOlogical mechanisms controlling (harmful) phytoplankton blooms in ALFACS Bay (Ebro Delta), CTM2009-09581, PI: E. Berdalet". The Thesis will be advised by Drs. Marta Estrada and Elisa Berdalet.

The general objective of the Thesis is to investigate some biological aspects that modulate the phytoplankton dynamics in Alfacs Bay, and in particular of harmful species. Namely, the research will include: a) the estimations of in situ phytoplankton growth rates and of the grazing pressure by microzooplankton, b) the potential role of mixotrophy on the selective proliferation of certain phytoplankton assemblages and/or harmful species and c) the significance of the preferential vertical location of some (harmful) phytoplankton species linked to their migratory behaviour. Optical microscopy, flow cytometry, image analysis with FlowCam and HPLC techniques will be used.

The official call by the Spanish Government is expected to be published in January 2010, with only 15 natural days to apply. The specific requests for the application will be shown at the MICINN Webpage (http://web.micinn.es).

If interested, send CV (including the grades) and/or ask for more information to:

Dra. Marta Estrada
marta@icm.csic.es
+34 93 230 9596

Dra. Elisa Berdalet
berdalet@icm.csic.es
+34 93 230 9595

Ph.D. opportunity-Benthic Nitrogen Cycling

Ph.D. opportunity in benthic nitrogen cycling for Fall 2010.

Application deadline is Feb 26, 2010. We have space available in the Biogeochemistry Lab that currently has active projects in Weeks Bay Alabama, and Toolik Lake Alaska. Our work focuses on effects of climate change on trace gas fluxes, and how eutrophication affects coastal regions. The successful applicant will work on elucidating spatial and temporal patterns in nitrogen cycling in coastal waters located within the vicinity of Dauphin Island, a barrier island in the Northern Gulf of Mexico. The initial work will focus on using membrane inlet mass spectrometry to detect rates of denitrification.

Future work may involve tracing sources and utilization of nitrogen in coastal waters. The assistantship will include (1) a tuition waiver, (2) an annual stipend and (3) health insurance.

For additional information, contact Dr. Behzad Mortazavi, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa AL 35487, email: bmortazavi@ua.edu, ph: 251- 861-2189. Application information and forms are available at
http://bsc.ua.edu/gradstudies.htm. Funding is primarily in the form of research assistantships.

PhD opportunity Phytoplankton Ecology

Within the EU-funded project FORCE (Future Of Reefs in a Changing Environment), the research group Aquatic Microbiology has a vacancy for a:

PhD student in Phytoplankton Ecology
1.0 FTE (38hrs per week), 4 years
vacancy number 10-1000.

The FORCE project aims to understand the ultimate and proximate causes of change in Caribbean coral reef ecosystems. Eutrophication through runoff of terrestrial nutrients into coastal waters may cause a shift from coral dominance to macroalgae. However, the role of phytoplankton in absorbing nutrients has largely been under-appreciated. Phytoplankton often responds rapidly to changes in nutrient availability and may utilise much of the terrestrial nutrients, rendering them unavailable to corals and macroalgae. To date, nutrient thresholds indicating problematic levels of eutrophication of coral reefs have been proposed, but their relevance is questionable. Our study will investigate how the nutrient influx is allocated over phytoplankton, macroalgae and corals to obtain a better understanding of the impacts of eutrophication on coral reefs.

Fieldwork will consist of water sampling, chemical and biological analyses, underwater surveys, and aquarium experiments. The fieldwork (18-24 months) will be primarily conducted at the Carmabi Institute on Curaçao, Netherlands Antilles, and at some other Caribbean locations. Preparation for field work, laboratory and statistical analyses, and writing of manuscripts will be done at the University of Amsterdam in the Netherlands.

The successful candidate has: an MSc in marine biology, aquatic ecology, or related biological field; experience with fieldwork; experience in (scientific) teamwork; proven writing ability in English; preference will be given to applicants who have experience with the ecology of phytoplankton, or macroalgae, or coral reefs; a valid driver's license and open water SCUBA certificate.

More information can be obtained from: Dr. Petra Visser, +31 20 525 7073, P.M.Visser@uva.nl, Aquatic Microbiology, UvA.

Applications should include a detailed CV including a list of publications, a motivation letter, and the names and contact addresses of two references from which information can be obtained. Applications should be e-mailed to application-science@uva.nl before February 15, 2010. Please quote the vacancy number in the subject field. Interviews will be held on March 8, 2010.

8 Ph.D. Student Research Assistantships, Critical Zone Observatory

The NSF-funded Christina Basin Critical Zone Observatory (CRB-CZO, http://www.udel.edu/czo) – a collaborative and multi-scale research effort among the University of Delaware (www.udel.edu), the Stroud Water Research Center(www.stroudcenter.org), and the Delaware Environmental Institute (www.udel.edu/denin) – has openings for 8 Ph.D. students.

The CRB-CZO focuses on the properties of carbon-mineral complexes and the impacts of weathering, erosion, and fluvial network dynamics on the formation and sequestration of these complexes in watersheds with mixed land uses.

Individual students will have a primary mentor/advisor, but the CRB-CZO research program fosters and encourages collaboration among the Ph.D. students, 3 post doctoral scientists working on the project, and senior investigators. We anticipate that student training will benefit from working with multiple investigators within the research team. CRB-CZO scientists have expertise in hydrology, soil physics, biogeochemistry, organic geochemistry, geomorphology, and ecosystem science, and modeling.

Ph.D. candidates may have diverse backgrounds which include but are not limited to MS. in earth, ecological, and environmental sciences. Potential candidates are encouraged to visit the project web site to study the research focus areas, key hypotheses and questions, and the faculty involved.

Candidates should include a cover letter with their research interests, a CV, transcripts, GRE scores, all refereed manuscripts, and contact information for three references. All material should be sent electronically to Dr. Amy Broadhurst (als@udel.edu).

We also strongly encourage candidates to contact individual CZO faculty for further information and guidance. Reviews will begin Feb. 15 and continue until all positions are filled.

Graduate Research Assistant: Coastal Sciences

Applicants are being recruited in the Department of Oceanography and Coastal Sciences in the School of the Coast and Environment at Louisiana State University, to support research projects on the biogeochemistry of the Mississippi River delta. Applicants for either M.S. or Ph.D. will be considered; stipend is commensurate with experience and qualifications. This research will be conducted as part of a larger project directed by Robert Twilley to couple geomorphology of the delta to ecological and biogeochemical patterns of the ecosystem. Students will work in a multidisciplinary environment incorporating ecology, geosciences, and biogeochemistry. Highly qualified students should send resume and letters of interest (email preferred) to: Judy Johnson, Department of Oceanography and Coastal Sciences, 3253 Energy, Coast & Environmental Bldg. Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803. E-mail: jjohnson@lsu.edu. Information on graduate program is available at http://www.ocean.lsu.edu/

Beginning:
Summer or Fall 2010

Location:
Department of Oceanography and Coastal Sciences
Louisiana State University
Baton Rouge, LA

Qualifications:
B.S. in biology, chemistry, environmental science, geology or related discipline. Demonstrate excellence in coursework, completion of GRE, ability to work as a team member.

Stipend:
Minimum annual stipend is $18,000 To $24,000. Graduate assistants tuition is fully covered.

How to Apply:
Complete a pre-application, available at http://www.ocean.lsu.edu/
Complete a full application, information available at LSU graduate school website, http://appl003.lsu.edu/grad/gradschool.nsf/index

PhD scholarship, Benthic Ecology

More than mud: how will disruption of soft-sediments threaten coastal biodiversity? (ref 2010090)


Based in the Coastal Ecology Group, Department of Biological Sciences and Climate Risk CORE, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia.

A PhD student is sought to contribute to an Australian Research Council funded project investigating how climate change and human activity are acting upon the total supply and mix of detrital resources that fuel bottom-dwelling organisms and the productive fisheries that they support. They will use large-scale field experiments to determine how disturbance of estuarine ecosystems influences detrital pathways of nutrition. The results they generate will be used to forecast future impacts of changed detrital resources under different management scenarios. Outcomes of this research will help prevent economic and ecological losses caused by eutrophication of Australia's estuaries.

Applicants should have a strong academic record with Honours (First Class) or equivalent in a relevant discipline such as ecology, invertebrate biology or marine science. They must be able to work within a team and should have high level written and oral communication skills. Experience in designing and analysing multi-factor ecological field experiments is desirable, as is experience and interest in the taxonomy of marine and estuarine invertebrates. Domestic and international applicants will be considered.

Prospective applicants should, in the first instance, submit a cover letter detailing relevant experience, a CV and an academic transcript to the principal supervisor: Dr Melanie Bishop, email: mbishop@bio.mq.edu.au, telephone: +61 2 9850 4075.

The 2010 MQRES full-time stipend rate is $22,500 pa tax exempt for 3.5 years.

Application forms and conditions of award are available at Scholarship Forms and Conditions. The completed application and associated referee reports are to be sent to the Higher Degree Research Office. Macquarie University will advise the successful applicants of entitlements at the time of scholarship offer.

MS Graduate Student Assistantships, Limnology

We are looking for two MS students interested in aquatic ecology or limnology through our Water Science Masters program. Both are paid research assistantships and would be through Murray State University's Hancock Biological Station on Kentucky Lake. Students would have the option of residing at the Biological Station, about 15 miles from the main campus.

Both students would assist with deployment of lake environmental sensors and bi-weekly monitoring cruises through an NSF-funded cyberinfrastructure grant. Specific thesis research areas would be based on each student's interests and the Station's ongoing research programs. These might include but are not limited to analysis of sensor data, zooplankton ecology and invasive species, lake algae, zebra mussels and native mussel species, the effects of water level fluctuations, and lake benthos dynamics. In the later case, the benthos of Kentucky Lake is quickly disappearing but the reasons for it remain unclear.

For more information on the Station, go to www.murraystate.edu/hbs If you are interested in these projects, please contact me.

REU in Aquatic Chemical Ecology at Georgia Tech

Aquatic Chemical Ecology (ACE) at Georgia Tech is a summer undergraduate research program supported by the National Science Foundation. ACE at Georgia Tech gives you the opportunity to perform exciting research with our faculty in the Schools of Biology, Earth & Atmospheric Sciences, Chemistry & Biochemistry, Civil & Environmental Engineering, and Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering. You'll participate in research with one or more of our faculty, learn about careers in science and engineering, and see how scientists blend knowledge and skills from physics, chemistry, biology and related disciplines to investigate some of the most challenging problems in environmental sciences. Our REU program is also a great way to check out research as a career before committing to graduate school, and for building relationships that will help you with future career decisions.

Our program website is http://www.biology.gatech.edu/undergraduate-program/reu/
including program details, application process, and contact information.

The following three areas comprise the research activities covered by faculty in the Aquatic Chemical Ecology program:

Area 1. Biological and geochemical transformations of chemicals in aquatic ecosystems.

Area 2. Sensory biology and ecology of aquatic chemical communication.

Area 3. Ecological roles and consequences of chemicals in aquatic environments.

The application deadline is February 1, 2010. The full-time, 10-week program will start in late May and run through to the end of July. Participants will receive a stipend of $4500 plus accommodations with kitchen facilities in university housing, and help with travel expenses to and from Atlanta. There will also be numerous social activities.

Students can go to our website to get more information and to apply. Any U.S. citizen or permanent resident who is currently enrolled in an undergraduate degree program is eligible, unless they have already been part of an NSF-REU program in Ocean Sciences or unless they will graduate before this summer. We are particularly interested in recruiting minority students and those who come from non-PhD granting institutions.

Additional resources at Georgia Tech for participants will include:
http://www.omed.gatech.edu/redux/ - Office of Minority Education and Development
http://www.womenscenter.gatech.edu/ - Women's Resource Center
http://www.adapts.gatech.edu/ - Access Disabled Assistance Program

PhD student, environmental bio-optics

Opportunity for PhD research in the field of environmental bio-optics at SYKE (Helsinki, Finland)

The Marine Research Centre of the Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE) conducts wide-ranging research on the open Baltic Sea and Finnish coastal waters. Three research programmes focus on the state of the sea environment, marine ecosystems, and ecology and biodiversity. The Academy of Finland will finance a 3-yr PhD-student appointment in our cross-disciplinary bio-optical research team. The student will mainly work on the project ‘Bioluminescence in the Baltic Sea: exploring the potential of night-time optical markers for optical-taxonomical classification of harmful dinoflagellate blooms’. We will attempt to chart the occurrence of dinoflagellate blooms in the Baltic Sea, based on their specific optical properties including their night-time bioluminescence. The project further includes genetic screening of cultured dinoflagellates for the presence of bioluminescence genes, the development of a prototype bioluminescence recorder for use in automated measurement systems, and upscaling findings to the scale of satellite observations of phytoplankton biomass.

The PhD-student will be trained and supported by our research teams with experience in dinoflagellate ecology and genetics, optical modelling, and remote sensing, both in the field and in the laboratory. The candidate is expected to contribute to field work onboard our research vessels Aranda and Muikku.

The PhD student will be advised by Drs. Stefan Simis, Seppo Kaitala, and Anke Kremp working in the Marine Research Laboratory, located on the Kumpula campus in Helsinki, Finland.

Qualifications: M.Sc. degree in biology/ecology/biophysics and a keen interest in environmental monitoring, methods development, and laboratory bases studies. Oral and written English at academic level. We particularly welcome applications from individuals who can demonstrate experience in: molecular lab studies, working with cell cultures, phytoplankton taxonomy, physical (optical) modelling, electronic engineering, remote sensing.

Duration: The funding is for 3 years, starting as soon as possible.

Salary: Salary will be in the range € 2,450 - € 2,700 according to standard salary practises in SYKE.

Additional information about SYKE can be found at www.environment.fi/syke. Information about Baltic Sea research and monitoring activities at www.balticseaportal.fi. Additional information about the position or the project may be requested by e-mail (stefan.simis@environment.fi, seppo.kaitala@environment.fi).

Applications, consisting of a CV and accompanying motivation letter in English, should be addressed to Stefan Simis, SYKE Marine Research Centre, PO Box 140, 00251 Helsinki, Finland. Applications should be received latest 11 January 2010 to be considered for interviews in January.