42nd Annual Meeting of the Ecological Society of Germany, Austria and Switzerland - September 2012

We cordially invite you to join the 42nd Annual Meeting of the Ecological Society of Germany, Austria and Switzerland from 10 to 14 September 2012 at the Leuphana University of Lüneburg.

http://www.gfoe-2012.de/index.php?cat=show_start

The guiding theme of the 42nd Annual Meeting is "From basic ecology to the challenges of modern society".

Along the lines of this guiding theme, we will stimulate scientific discussions about all aspects in basic and applied research contributing to solve ecological challenges or help to understand the direct or indirect ecological consequences of human impact. The meeting aims at linking ecological challenges caused by human impact like all facets of global environmental changes to the full scope of ecological research at the different scales of organization (from molecules and genes to landscapes or aquatic ecosystems). In this sense, we will appreciate to receive research including contributions of non-ecological disciplines (inter-disciplinary) or research aiming to implement stakeholders' perspectives (trans-disciplinary) besides disciplinary contributions.

The various aspects of the 2012 meeting theme will be elucidated by a number of exciting keynote talks. We are happy to announce that the following keynote speakers have already agreed to join our meeting:

Gretchen Daily (University of California in Stanford, USA)
Nigel Stork (Griffith University, Australia)
Garry Peterson (Stockholm Resilience Centre, Stockholm University, Sweden)
Toby Gardner (University of Cambridge, UK)
Nico Blütghen (University of Darmstadt, Germany)
Pierre-Michel Forget (Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, France)
Birte Matthiessen (Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Germany)

The main language of the meeting is English. The meeting will take place at the Central Campus of the University of Lüneburg.

Next to the talks and poster sessions several social events will be organized. Social events highlights include the conference dinner, Ecoslam and sport events. You are warmly welcome to join excursions to the "Lüneburger-Heath" and to the Biosphere Reserve "Lower Saxonian Elbe Valley".

We are looking forward to meeting you at the GfÖ2012 in Lüneburg!

Alexandra-Maria Klein and Henrik von Wehrden
(on behalf of the organizing committee)
Institute of Ecology
Leuphana University Lüneburg

info@gfoe-2012.de

Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research - PhD Position

The Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research, Department of Computational Landscape Ecology (www.ufz.de/cle), invites applications for an:

PhD student in the field of Landscape Ecology (f/m)
- code digit: 29/2012 -

The position will be available as soon as possible and is limited to 3 years.

The project seeks to analyze the effects of landscape complexity on the biocontrol-production functions in rice dominated agro-ecosystems. The position is part of the LEGATO project (www.legato-project.net) that investigates ecosystem functions and services in agricultural systems in South East Asia, with focus on regional land use intensity, biodiversity and potential impacts of future climate and land use change. The candidate is expected to develop statistical and simulation models to analyze interactions between habitat characteristics, agricultural pests and pest-controlling species using a range of field, GIS and remote sensing data. The candidate will closely cooperate with other researchers from the LEGATO project.

Research tasks:
• Investigate the relationship between habitat complexity and diversity of species representative for the predator-prey system in rice field landscapes
• Examine the effects of different land use change scenarios on predator-prey interactions in rice dominated ecosystems using a simulation model
• Analyze the effects of landscape complexity on other ecosystem services and functions Requirements:
• Master or diploma degree in ecology, geography, environmental systems, geoinformatics or a related field
• Experience with statistical analysis (preferably in R), GIS and geocomputation • Very good written and oral communication skills in English
We offer:
• Excellent research opportunities within a highly interdisciplinary and an international team located in Leipzig, Germany
• Funding through the Project LEGATO • Participation in the established Helmholtz Graduate School HIGRADE (www.higrade.ufz.de)
• Salary according to the appropriate civil service level 13 (50%) TVöD.

Further information can be provided by:
Dr. Tomás Václavík email: tomas.vaclavik@ufz.de phone: +49 341-235-1952

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.

Please send your complete application documents including a letter of motivation, curriculum vitae, degree certificates and three references (in English) under the appropriate code digit 29/2012 to: Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Personnel Department, PF 50 01 36, 04301, Leipzig, Germany, or by email as a single PDF document to: application@ufz.de
Closing date: 15th of April 2012

PhD position investigating biodiversity - ecosystem functioning relationships in European forests using ecosystem modeling

A three year PhD position is available at the Institute of Silviculture, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU) Vienna, Austria, investigating the relationships between biodiversity and forest ecosystem functioning by means of ecosystem modeling. The research is part of an international, continental scale effort aiming to quantify the effects of forest biodiversity on ecosystem functions and services such as timber production, carbon sequestration, and freshwater provisioning.

The successful candidate will
* contribute to the development, parameterization, and evaluation of spatially explicit, multi-species ecosystem models at the stand and landscape scale,
* apply these models to answer questions on the spatial and temporal stability and scalability of relationships between diversity and ecosystem functioning, and on the role of disturbances in these relationships,
* investigate the effects of different forest management strategies and climate change scenarios on biodiversity and ecosystem functioning, and
* actively participate in the dissemination of results (conferences, publications)

We are looking for motivated candidates with a master’s degree in forestry, forest ecology, environmental sciences, or related fields. The successful applicant is able to independently conduct scientific research and possesses decent command of the English language. Strong quantitative skills and experience in ecosystem modeling are desirable; the knowledge of a higher programming language (e.g., C++) is beneficial.

We are offing a dynamic, international working environment at the frontier of quantitative forest ecosystem research in Europe. In a cooperative research program the successful  candidate will be working in the labs of Prof. Manfred J. Lexer and Dr. Rupert Seidl. BOKU is one of the top tier schools in the environmental sciences in Europe, and the city of Vienna
consistently ranks among the cities with the highest quality of life globally. The salary is 24,000 €/year after taxes, including full health and social security benefits.

To apply, please send a CV, a concise motivation letter including research interests and prior accomplishments, and the names and addresses of two references to Prof. Manfred J. Lexer (mj.lexer(at)boku.ac.at) or Dr. Rupert Seidl (rupert.seidl(at)boku.ac.at). The position is open immediately until filled.

For more information see the following links
BOKU Vienna: http://www.boku.ac.at
Lexer lab: http://www.wabo.boku.ac.at/lexer.html
Seidl lab: http://www.wabo.boku.ac.at/seidl.html
the FunDivEUROPE project: http://www.fundiveurope.eu/
the stand-level model PICUS: http://www.wabo.boku.ac.at/picus.html
the landscape model iLand: http://iland.boku.ac.at

Posting: Biodiversity Institute Director University of Wyoming

Biodiversity Institute Director University of Wyoming

www.uwyo.edu/acadaffairs/ad

Biodiversity Institute Description:

The newly founded University of Wyoming Biodiversity Institute is dedicated to world-class biodiversity research, education and training of graduate and undergraduate students, and dissemination of scholarship to support biodiversity conservation and management. We seek an energetic Director, hired at the rank of Full Professor, to develop this new program to its full potential as one of the world’s leading biodiversity enterprises. This Institute provides an outstanding opportunity for a visionary leader to coordinate the University’s resources in its internationally recognized programs in ecology, environmental sciences, and natural resource economics, and build an innovative interdisciplinary and collaborative program addressing multiple dimensions of the globally critical field of biodiversity research. While biodiversity sciences will anchor the Institute, human interactions with the natural environment are considered a critical focus of the Institute’s work. For more information about the University of Wyoming Biodiversity Institute please visit: www.uwyo.edu/acadaffairs/ad/biod.pdf.

Position Description:

The Director will establish the Institute’s curricula with opportunities for student research, field experiences and internships. The Director also will oversee outreach activities designed to serve the needs of the public and Wyoming state agencies and non-governmental organizations. The Biodiversity Institute will be housed in the University of Wyoming’s Berry Biodiversity Conservation Center: www.uwyo.edu/berrycenter.

The successful candidate will possess an internationally recognized reputation in biology, a passion for biodiversity, a commitment to the broadly inclusive mission of the Institute, proven leadership abilities, clear evidence of successful working relationships with faculty across disciplinary boundaries, and skills to represent the Institute effectively to state and national stakeholders and to the public.

Preferred qualifications include:

1. leadership experience demonstrating vision, managerial ability, and communication skills; 2. the ability to create synergy with other University programs and with stakeholders; 3. a commitment to integrating academics, research excellence, and the outreach mission of the
Institute; and 4. an internationally recognized record of teaching and research in biology, including a proven record
of external grant support.

Minimum qualifications include:

1. an earned doctorate; and 2. demonstrated excellence in research, teaching, and professional service commensurate with a
tenured appointment at the rank of Full Professor. We seek to fill this full-time, 9-month position starting 21 August 2012. Applications should include:
1. 2. 3.
a letter describing the applicant’s qualifications and experience related to the position; a curriculum vitae; and names and addresses of three references.

Review of applications will begin on April 30, 2012, but applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Please email all application materials as pdf attachments to Ms. Wilma Varga (wilmav@uwyo.edu) and reference the position number (#4916). Inquiries about the position can be made to Dr. David G. Williams (dgw@uwyo.edu).

The University of Wyoming is committed to diversity and endorses principles of affirmative action. We acknowledge that diversity enriches and sustains our scholarship and promotes equal access to our educational mission. We seek and welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives.

PhD position: PHYLOGEOGRAPHY AND POPULATION GENETICS OF SOUTH PACIFIC ANTS

Laboratory of Ecology and Evolution of Social Insects, Biology Center, Czech Academy of Sciences, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic

We are looking for a motivated student with biology background to join our international team focused on ecology and evolution of tropical ants. The PhD candidate will study phylogeography and population history of ants from Melanesia and South Pacific. He/she will use various genomic and genetic tools to study the origin and relationship of ant faunas in New Guinea and South Pacific islands. She/he will combine traditional population genetics methods with Next Generation Sequencing tools. The project will involve repeated research stays in laboratories in the US (Harvard Univ.) and Mexico (LANGEBIO, http://www.langebio.cinvestav.mx/), where the student will develop genomic tools.

We offer 4 years grant contract (50%) at Biology Center, Czech Academy of Sciences (http://www.entu.cas.cz/en/). The student will be required to enroll into associated PhD program at Faculty of Science, Univ. of South Bohemia (http://www.prf.jcu.cz/en/). The salary and stipend are sufficient to cover living expenses in Czech Republic. The beginning of the project is between June and August 2012.

Requirements:
- fluent English and ability to communicate with an international team
- Master degree in biology
- experience with laboratory techniques used in molecular biology (e.g. Sanger sequencing, microsatellite genotyping)
- highly independent
- experience with work in R, and/or basic programming skills (Perl, Python) is preferred
- experience with genetic, bioinformatics, phylogenetic or biogeography research is advantageous

We offer:
- participation in cutting-edge research
- access to unique ecological and biological data and original research topics
- research stays at collaborting institutions in USA and Mexico
- opportunity to learn novel methods of data gathering and processing (NGS)

Interested candidates should send a short statement of interest, a CV, and the addresses of two potential referees to Milan Janda. mjanda@oeb.harvard.edu

Closing date for applications is April 5th 2011.

Starting date for the position is flexible between June and September 2012.
For further information, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Dr. Milan Janda
Biology Center, Czech Academy of Sciences
Branisovska 31, 37005, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
email: mjanda@oeb.harvard.edu

more information:
www.newguineants.org
www.entu.cas.cz/en/
http://www.entu.cas.cz/en/departments/department-of-ecology-and-conservation-biology/

Job opportunity: Biodiversity Postdoctoral Associate

NatureServe, an international nonprofit conservation organization, in collaboration with Stony Brook University, is seeking a Biodiversity Postdoctoral Associate to join its team of scientists. The Biodiversity Postdoc will collaborate with a multi-institutional team on a project titled: "Integrating genetic, taxonomic, and functional diversity of tetrapods across the Americas and through extinction risk." The postdoc will compile databases of tetrapod distribution and trait data, perform data analyses using R, model distributions in GIS, and write manuscripts.

A Ph.D. is required for the position. The ideal candidate will have a strong theoretical and analytical background in biodiversity science with a proven track record of senior-authored publications, proficiency at biodiversity data analysis, and experience with GIS/RS and spatial analyses.
Applications from candidates with an interest in NGO conservation organizations are encouraged.

The successful candidate will be an employee of NatureServe (located in Arlington, Virginia) but based in the Department of Ecology and Evolution at Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY (under the guidance of Dr. Catherine Graham). NatureServe offers a competitive nonprofit benefits package that includes a 401(k) savings and retirement plan with matching contributions; health and dental insurance; short and long-term disability; annual and sick
leave; and life insurance.

Review of applications will begin Friday, 9 March 2012, and the starting date for the one-year (with possibility of renewal for 2 additional years contingent upon performance) position is 1 June 2012. Please click on this link [http://natureserve.iapplicants.com/searchjobs.php] for detailed Pinformation about this job, the organization, and how to apply.

Ebbe Nielsen Prize

The Ebbe Nielsen Prize was established by the GBIF Governing Board to honour the memory of Dr Ebbe Schmidt Nielsen, who was an inspirational leader in the fields of biosystematics and biodiveristy informatics.

The prize is awarded annually to a promising researcher, usually in the early stages of his/her career, who is combining biosystematics and biodiversity informatics research in an exciting and novel way.

The nominations are submitted by GBIF Participants to the GBIF Science Committe which decides upon the recipient. The prize is awarded each year at the GBIF Governing Board meeting. The prize consists of 30,000 Euro to be used by the recipient to furhter his/her research.

For further details, please download the full call for nominations.
http://www.gbif.org/communications/news-and-events/showsingle/article/call-for-nominations-for-the-2012-ebbe-nielsen-prize/

GBIF Young Researcher Award

The Young Researchers Award (YRA) in an annual award aimed at graduate students in a masters or doctoral programme at universities in countries participating in the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) network.

The main objective of the award is to foster innovative research and discovery in biodiversity informatics.  The award has been put in place to stimulate use of GBIF enabled data by graduate students developing new research in biodiversity informatics and also to serve as an outreach mechanism to universities.

Please notice that all nominations for the award cannot be sent directly to GBIF, All nominations are to be sent to the GBIF Secretariat by the national Heads of Delegation. Se call for nomination for more information.

For further details, please download the full call for proposals.
http://www.gbif.org/communications/news-and-events/showsingle/article/call-for-proposals-for-the-2012-young-researchers-award/