Postdoc position: ecological impacts of climate change

A multi-year postdoctoral position is available in the Hille Ris Lambers lab at University of Washington (Seattle). In collaboration with Hille Ris Lambers, the successful candidate will develop a project that fits the overall goals of a recently funded NSF grant examining 1) the determinants of altitudinal range limits for a suite of western US tree species; and 2) whether range shifts of these species will keep pace with rapid rates of climate change. Observational, experimental or quantitative approaches (ideally a mix) are possible, and projects that take advantage of existing long-term demographic, distributional and microclimate data sets available from the main field site (Mt. Rainier NP) are preferred. Please see the following website for more details on research conducted in the lab (http://protist.biology.washington.edu/oikos/Index.html). A PhD is required, and strong quantitative and writing skills are desired. Applicants should send a research statement including 1-3 paragraphs describing potential projects of interest, a curriculum vitae and the names and full contact information (email and phone numbers) of three potential references to Janneke Hille Ris Lambers (jhrl[at]uw.edu) with “CLIMATE CHANGE POSTDOC” in
the subject header. The start date is flexible, but would ideally be before June of 2012. Application review will begin January 1, 2012, and will continue until the position is filled.

Postdoctoral Fellows - Fellowship Opportunity

As a part of our NSERC CREATE training program in <http://biodiversity.ubc.ca/BRITE/index.html> biodiversity research, we seek applicants for a 2-year postdoctoral fellowship
in the U.B.C. Biodiversity Research Centre ( <http://www.biodiv.ca/> www.biodiversity.ubc.ca). The Centre is made up of over 50 faculty members with interests in ecology, evolution, systematics, biodiversity and conservation. Preference will be given to candidates with bold ideas, demonstrated research ability, and strong communication skills. The successful candidate will be expected to conduct original research on core problems in biodiversity, foster interactions within the Centre, run a seminar series, and organize a retreat. Postdoctoral fellows funded by the Biodiversity Research Centre typically interact with several lab groups. Candidates are welcome to contact potential collaborating labs in the Centre to inquire about current and potential research activities, but it is not necessary to apply to work with a specific faculty member.

Starting date, 1 September 2012.
Salary $43,000 per yr.
Research stipend: $7,000 per yr.
Send curriculum vitae, three letters of reference, and a statement of overall scientific goals and interests (approximately 2 pages) to the address below. Reference letters will be accepted electronically, and must be sent directly by the referee.
Search Chair, Biodiversity Research Centre, U.B.C., 6270 University Blvd., Vancouver, B.C., Canada V6T 1Z4. (Fax 604-822-2416, e-mail biodiversity.centre@ubc.ca).

Closing date for application, January 12 2012.

The University of British Columbia hires on the basis of merit and is committed to employment equity. We encourage all qualified candidates to apply.

Macroecology, Macroevolution, and Models of Biodiversity - Lecturer

The CNRS Research Unit 5174 (EDB; http://www.edb.ups-tlse.fr/) at Paul Sabatier University (Toulouse, France) seeks to complement and build on existing strengths in ecology and evolution by inviting applications ... for a full permanent position at the rank of lecturer.

We seek outstanding applicants engaged in answering broad basic questions to advance the fields of macroecology and macroevolution, with a strong emphasis on the combined application of empirical and theoretical
approaches. Preference will be given to applicants with experience and strong interest in field oriented research. Numerous opportunities for collaborative research are available in the Toulouse area through EDB itself and the other research units of the Research Federation 3450 (http://www2.toulouse.inra.fr/ifr40/fr/1_Presentation/index.htm)

Strong commitment to teaching at the undergraduate and graduate level is expected. Note that it is necessary to be relatively fluent in French since teaching is in English at the Master level only. Applicants must have a Ph.D. degree and have obtained the formal � Qualification � to apply to French University positions.

The review process will be held in Spring 2012. Official announcements will be posted later but if you are interested,
send a CV and a brief letter of interest to Christophe Th�baud (christophe.thebaud@univ-tlse3.fr).

PhD Assistantship - Spatial Ecology / Coastal vertebrate species response to climate change and sea level rise

We are seeking a highly motivated graduate student (PhD preferred, MS considered) to work on a project assessing the vulnerability of coastal vertebrates to climate change and sea level rise. The successful candidate will employ GIS-based models to assess which vertebrates will be most s...ensitive to changes in climate and sea level rise, and what habitat management options may exist to enhance the ability of these vertebrates to persist in the coastal region. Qualified candidates will be given flexibility to develop their own interests on this project; however s/he will focus on modeling species occupancy as a function of landscape structure and potential landscape change due to climate and sea level rise.
The research will involve field work to address species occupancy across a range of coastal landscape configurations, and will use spatial modeling tools to evaluate both vulnerability and adaptation/mitigation options.

Qualifications: The successful applicant will be motivated, have well-developed writing and communication skills, strong work ethic, and ability to work cooperatively in team setting. Experience doing field work in rough conditions is preferred. Proficiency using ArcGIS for spatial analysis, some programming experience, strong quantitative skills, and most of all… creative energy, are required! An MS in an ecological field, or substantial equivalent experience, is necessary for PhD consideration; some relevant experience outside academic programs is required for MS consideration. Minimum entry requirements are 3.0 GPA and combined verbal + quantitative GRE score > 1200 for PhD (3.0 GPA + 1000 GRE for MS).

For further information please send a CV and a letter of interest (which should include a description of past research experience and skills) to Dr. Nate Nibbelink (nate2@uga.edu). Review of applicants will begin immediately and competitive candidates will be invited to submit a full application. Our search will continue until a suitable candidate is found.

Salary: Competitive stipend, tuition remission, health insurance options
Last Date to apply: January 1, 2012 for University of Georgia fellowship consideration, otherwise open until filled.

Contact: Nate Nibbelink
Warnell School of Forest Resources
University of Georgia
Athens, Georgia 30602-2152
e-mail: nate2@uga.edu

PostDoc-Position - University of Azores

Project - “Biodiversity on oceanic islands: towards a unified theory” (2012-2015. (PTDC/BIA-BIC/119255/2010)

Creative and motivated candidates are invited to apply for a three-year Postdoctoral Scientist position, at the Azorean Biodiversity Group, University of Azores for participation in a collaborative project supervised by Paulo A. V. Borges and Kostas Triantis (University of Azores), in collaboration with Luis António Borda Água (CBA- University of Lisbon), Aris Parmakelis (University of Athens) and Robert Whittaker (Biodiversity Research Group, Oxford University Centre for the Environment).

This project aims at developing conceptual models mathematically describing the dynamics of diversity on oceanic islands. The main objective of the project is a unifying theory of island biodiversity, based on the recently proposed General dynamic model of oceanic island biogeography (Whittaker et al., 2008), which will require: a) the development of analytically tractable mathematical models, b) the analysis of extensive empirical (molecular and biogeographical) data to assess the validity of the models, and c) taking into account that biodiversity itself is multi-faceted, and thus biodiversity theories should incorporate multiple diversity metrics.

Candidates should hold a Ph.D. in a pertinent field. Previous post-doctoral experience is not mandatory but will be considered a plus. The ideal candidate would have excellent skills in ecological mathematics, handling of large data sets, stochastic/mechanistic and/or prognostic modelling and experience of combining molecular and ecological data.

Salary will be 1495€/month.

Please send a CV, a brief statement of research interests, and the names and contact information for two references to Paulo Borges, pborges@uac.pt and Kostas Triantis (island.biogeography@gmail.com).

Review of applications will begin on March 1 2012 and will continue until the position is filled. The project is expected to begin in August 2012.

Postdoctoral Researcher in Landscape Ecology/Global Change Ecology

A two year postdoctoral position in the Department of Natural Resources and the Environment is available at the University of New Hampshire.
The postdoc will join Drs. Rebecca Rowe (University of New Hampshire) and Eric Rickart (Natural History Museum of Utah, University of Utah) as part of the ongoing NSF-funded Great Basin Resurvey Project. The primary focus of this project is comparing historical and modern survey data for small mammals on multiple mountain ranges in the Great Basin of the western US to investigate change in species distributions and community composition over the past century. Additional details can be found at: http://www.nre.unh.edu/rebecca-j-rowe, http://nhmu.utah.edu/vertebrate-zoology?q=eric-rickart-phd, and http://home.utah.edu/~u0547417/

We seek a highly motivated candidate interested in understanding how changes in climate and land cover are impacting small mammal biodiversity. The position represents a superb opportunity to work at the interface between historical ecology, landscape ecology and biogeography and the candidate will have input in shaping future research directions for this project. Familiarity with landscape connectivity analyses and/or species distribution modeling and/or occupancy modeling would be an advantage. Experience working with small mammals or in the Great Basin is not required, but all applicants must be interested in participating in some field work associated with this project.

Start date is flexible but preference will be given to candidates who can begin on or before August 27 2012. The position offers a competitive salary and benefits.

To apply: Please send a single pdf document containing a cover letter summarizing your research experience and interests, CV, and contact information for three references by email to rebecca.rowe@unh.edu. Review of applications to begin January 15, 2012 and will continue until the position is filled.

UNH is an AA/EEO Employer. UNH is committed to excellence through the diversity of its faculty and staff and encourages women and minorities to apply.

PhD opportunity in Quantitative Conservation Ecology at UC Riverside: Effects of global change on plant biodiversity in California

The Quantitative Conservation Biology Lab at University of California Riverside lead by Helen Regan is seeking highly motivated PhD students to start in the Fall 2012. Research in the lab applies modeling and simulation techniques to address three main themes: 1) the impacts of global change on biodiversity and potential management responses, 2) characterization and
treatment of uncertainty in ecological models and 3) decision making under risk and uncertainty for conservation. While we seek candidates in any of these themes, we encourage applicants who are interested in applying spatially dynamic population models to address questions about the effects of global change on plants in fire-prone ecosystems. Strong quantitative skills are preferred and an interest in and understanding of conservation
ecology is essential. Likewise, the ability and willingness to collaborate with a broad range of researchers is desirable.

Most students in the Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology Graduate Program at UCR are funded by fellowships, teaching assistantships, research assistantships, or some combination of the three. Priority deadline for Fall 2012 admission and fellowship consideration is January 5th 2012. More details about the program and how to apply can be found at http://eeob.ucr.edu/

All interested candidates should contact Dr Helen Regan at helen.regan@ucr.edu before they apply. Thank you.

Call for proposals for hosting IBS conference in 2015

We are seeking proposals from prospective hosts of the 7th biennial conference of the International Biogeography Society to be held in early January 2015. Proposals should be submitted by individuals who are interested in chairing the local (host) committee. The duties of the local host involve conducting contract negotiations with the venue and the hotel as well as all local logistics including field trip organization and production of the abstract book. Minimum requirements of the venue are 1) one auditorium with a capacity of 450-550 people (2 days), 2) three or four smaller rooms with a capacity of 75-150 people (1 day), and 3) various smaller meeting rooms. The IBS is interested in holding the biennial conference in locations fairly convenient with respect to the majority of its membership base in North America and Europe. Locations of past (and upcoming) conferences can be seen here: http://www.biogeography.org/html/Meetings/index.html

We have been contacted by two groups (in Germany and France) and we may be contacted by others shortly. To minimize duplication of effort, you may send an initial inquiry to the address below.

Please include the following information in the proposal:
1. Location of the meeting (city) and the host institution or organization.
2. What would be the benefit of hosting the conference at this location?
3. Actual site of the meeting and the capacity of the auditorium.
4. Space for poster sessions--general size and location relative to the auditorium.
5. Approximate cost for three-day use of the venue. A specific quote is not needed, but evidence of the price competitiveness is important.
6. Transportation infrastructure, including travel from airport.
7. Attractions in the vicinity of the conference site, including field trip potential.
8. Who potentially would serve on the local organizing committee?

Proposals from prospective hosts of the biennial conference must be received before 20 January 2012. Please send proposals by email to Daniel Gavin, International Biogeography Society Vice-President for Conferences at dgavin@uoregon.edu

PostDoc - Biotic Ecosystem Services...and more

The Department of Computational Landscape Ecology (www.ufz.de/cle) invites applications for an
Researcher (PostDoc) m/f code digit: 85/2011
to commence as soon as possible. The appointment is for an initial period of 3 years, an extension is aspired.

The candidate is expected to further develop the research on biotic ecosystem system services by establishing a model-based analysis that quantitatively shows how land use intensity and structure on a regional scale affects constituents of biological, supporting ecosystem services (such as bio¬control, pollination, seed dispersal etc.) and how these affect final regulating or provisioning services. This analysis aims at providing process based understanding on trade-offs that occur between land¬use, land use intensity and a variety of ecosystem services and identifies optimum land use patterns for supporting regional resource management of ecosystem services.

The researcher has the opportunity to develop a research group within the department. He/she is expected to supervise PhD and undergraduate students and to apply for 3rd party funding on the topics described above. Furthermore, research results should be published in international peer¬reviewed journals. Cooperation within the department, the UFZ and projects in its recent research program are mandatory.

Applicants for the post have a background in biology and ecology profound knowledge on ecosystem functioning. Good experiences in model development and programming, data analysis and advanced statistics are obligatory as well as the ability in working with spatial/temporal explicit data. We expect very good written and oral communication skills in English and a publication track record in peer-reviewed journals. Ability for working in international interdisciplinary team is obligatory.

We offer excellent research opportunities within an interdisciplinary, international team, located in a very pleasant city. Funds for support through students internships.
The place of work is Leipzig, Germany. Salary will be according to the appropriate civil service level, salary group 14 TVÖD (http://oeffentlicher-dienst.info/tvoed/bund/), depending on personal pre-conditions.
The UFZ is an equal opportunity employer. Women are explicitly encouraged to apply to increase their share in science and research. Physically handicapped persons will be favoured if they are equally qualified.

Further Information: Prof. Dr. Ralf Seppelt (ralf.seppelt@ufz.de)
Please send your application with curriculum vitae, certificates of academic degrees and reprints of most important publications under the code digit 85/2011. Please email your application with all documents in a single pdf-file that states your name and the reference number of this job description (e.g. Smith_Peter_85_2011.pdf) to application@ufz.de, or by mail to: UFZ, personnel department, P.O. Box 500136, D-04301 Leipzig, Germany.