JOB ANNOUNCEMENTS

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Position title	Salary
Position description	How to apply
Qualifications required	For more information
Location	Closing date
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Position Description:

Post-Doctoral Position – Landscape Ecology of Large Rivers at U.S. Geological Survey, Biological Resources Division, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center (UMESC), La Crosse, WI.

Announcing a post-doctoral position in landscape ecology of large floodplain rivers (full-time position, 2 years with potential to be extended, pending funding).  Position is to provide leadership to UMESC in landscape ecology focusing on the Upper Mississippi River system and using existing data from the Long Term Resource Monitoring Program (LTRMP).  Various landscape metrics will be analyzed to develop models that relate landscape features to ecological processes and indicators.  The LTRMP began in 1988 and has developed extensive data sets (see http://www.umesc.usgs.gov/data_library.html).  Results will help determine the usefulness of landscape ecology approaches and metrics to understand ecosystem function and to set targets for rehabilitation.

Qualifications:  Experience in developing and leading landscape ecology studies applied to aquatic or riparian systems; experience with modeling and statistics related to landscape ecology; skills in manipulating large data sets; and a demonstrated capability to communicate with technical and non-technical audiences.  A complete description of qualifications is at http://www.usgs.gov/ohr/oars/quals/0408.html. 

Salary/Benefits:  Level is GS-9/11.  Starting salary ranges from $45,040-$54,494.  Benefits include health, life, and long term care insurance; retirement plan with matching contributions; and pre-tax accounts for health and dependent care.

How to apply:  Position requirements and application procedures are provided in vacancy announcement #ER-2008-0085 on the USGS Online Automated Recruitment System at http://www.usgs.gov/ohr/oars/ .  Applications close 4 March 2008. 

For more information, contact: Dr. Barry Johnson, bljohnson@usgs.gov, 608-781-6230

The Federal Government is an Equal Opportunity employer.

Position Description:

The Woods Hole Research Center has positions open for Research Assistants and Postdoctoral Researchers with experience and responsibilities in remote sensing and programming to monitor and analyze land-use change and to model ecosystem responses to climate change.

Job descriptions are posted at http://www.whrc.org/jobs. 

Application instructions: To apply, send cover letter, curriculum vitae, and contact information for three references to jobopenings@whrc.org.

Position Description:

At the full performance level, the incumbent of this position serves as a research team leader to the Coastal Assessment and Nutrients research team.  He/she participates in setting research directions and implementing field and laboratory research to support EPA's strategic goals for water quality and healthy ecosystems; leading research teams who conduct estuarine and coastal research to improve understanding of ecosystem condition associated with anthropogenic stressors, including nutrients, habitat alterations, contaminants, and watershed attributes; developing mathematical models for coastal ecosystems using both established and innovative methods in systems analysis to improve understanding of complex coastal ecosystems using both established and innovative methods in systems analysis, demographic analysis, spatial analysis, and multivariate statistical analysis to improve understanding of complex coastal ecosystems and to make predictions for the outcomes of management alternatives; developing and participating in scientific partnerships with state agencies, federal agencies and academic institutions to achieve research goals; and disseminating research findings through research reports, publications, presentations, outreach and technology transfer to EPA programs and regional offices.  

The US EPA is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
 
How to apply:

http://www.usajobs.gov

Announcement Numbers:

RTP-MP-2008-0119: (open to Federal competitive status eligibles and other special groups as listed in the announcement)

RTP-DE-2008-0067: (open to all U.S. citizens):  

Position announcement on USAJobs

For more information:  Rena Sawyer, 800-433-9633, sawyer.rena@epa.gov

Position Description:

At the full performance level, the incumbent serves as a research team leader in the Ecosystem Dynamics and Effects Response Branch.  He/she will conduct watershed, estuarine and coastal research to improve understanding of ecosystem responses to environmental stressors, including changes in watershed nutrient loading and landscape attributes and evaluate ecological risks associated with anthropogenic stressors; develop and apply spatially-explicit mechanistic models that dynamically simulate physical and biogeochemical processes that impact water quality impairment of coastal/estuarine ecosystems in order to quantify the relationship between impairments and causes, so as to support continual improvements of water quality criteria and guidance for watershed management; provide leadership and expertise to research teams by helping to establish research directions, by implementing research and by developing products that address water quality and ecological research multi-year plans at the division, laboratory and office level; disseminate research findings through peer-reviewed publications, reports and presentations and assists with outreach and technology transfer to EPA program and regional offices; and collect and maintain data and records in accordance with the laboratory/division policies and procedures.

How to apply:

http://www.usajobs.gov

Announcement Numbers:

RTP-MP-2008-0120 (open to Federal competitive status eligibles and other special groups as listed in the announcement)

RTP-DE-2008-0089 (open to all U.S. citizens):  

Position announcement on USAJobs

The US EPA is an Equal Opportunity Employer

For more information:  Rena Sawyer, 800-433-9633, sawyer.rena@epa.gov

Position Description:

The Appalachian Laboratory (AL) of the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science (UMCES) seeks to fill 2-3 full-time faculty positions to support new landscape and watershed initiatives. To enhance our strengths and extend capabilities we will hire individuals—at either the assistant or associate professor levels—with expertise in climate change science, terrestrial biogeochemistry, and/or the social and economic dimensions of land-use and land-cover change. Our new Potomac Initiative (http://www.al.umces.edu/research/landscape/PotomacInitiative.html) provides an example of the interdisciplinary research we have in mind. All scientists interested in applying their research to environmental problems at landscape scales are encouraged to apply. To enhance the potential for collaboration, we will consider applications from established teams of scientists who have a strong record of productivity. Teams applications should be coordinated and each scientists’ role in ongoing and future research defined.

Excellent research, computing, and teaching facilities are available at AL, including plant, soil, and water analysis laboratories with state-of-the-art analytical instrumentation, growth chambers, and a greenhouse. UMCES faculty are expected to participate in graduate education in addition to research, outreach, and application. Applicants should send an electronic copy of a curriculum vitae; statement of research interests and a brief discussion of how their research would complement ongoing research at AL and UMCES; selected reprints; and names of four references (including title, mailing address, telephone, FAX, and e-mail address) to PIsearch@al.umces.edu.  Review of applications will begin on October 1, 2008 and will continue until the positions are filled.  Information about AL and UMCES and this search can be found at: http://www.al.umces.edu/. UMCES is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.  Women and minorities are strongly encouraged to apply.

Position Description:

The Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society (FES) at Oregon State University seeks a statistically- and geographically-savvy problem-solver to aid in NASA- and National Park Service-funded landscape-scale remote sensing research. Research is focused on new analytical approaches to use Landsat satellite imagery to monitor trends in landscape dynamics inside and outside national parks, and on examining potential linkages among cyclic climate change oscillations, land management strategies, and vegetation dynamics. Focal processes include land management and development, fire, insect attack, woody encroachment, drought stress, and succession in forested and some non-forested ecosystems ranging from boreal to arid conditions. An important component of the work will be relaying methods and results to park monitoring and interpretive staff. Two to six weeks of field work per year are expected. The position will be housed in the Laboratory for Applications of Remote Sensing in Ecology (http://www.fsl.orst.edu/larse). Familiarity with statistical, geographical, and ecological sciences is important, as are good writing and communication skills.

Responsibilities and duties: This Faculty Research Assistant position will aid in developing, implementing, and testing a variety of approaches to use passive optical imagery, particularly that from the Landsat sensors, to capture landscape dynamics in and around national parks of the western U.S. and Alaska, including Katmai, Kenai Fjords, Olympic, Yosemite, Sequoia, Kings Canyon, and Bryce national parks. Duties cover four areas: image processing and analysis (approximately 50% of time), site visits and field validation (approx. 20%), project logistics and outreach (15%), data management (10%) and supervision of a temporary technician during the field season (5%). Image processing includes acquisition, processing, interpretation, and multivariate statistical analysis of satellite imagery, and involves use and modification of custom software. Site visits and field validation includes establishing contacts with national park staff, planning field sampling and field equipment, driving and hiking to field sites, conducting samplebased observations, and may include multi-day hiking in backcountry and/or travel in small aircraft. Project logistics and outreach include aiding supervisor with workshops and communication with park interpretive and monitoring staff, overall project logistics, and development and presentation of results and methods for public, park professional, and scientific communities.

Qualifications: Required qualifications include:

1. Masters degree (or Bachelors degree with exceptional other skills and background) in a geographical, statistical, mathematical, ecological, or environmental sciences field.
2. Demonstrated experience (in academic or work setting) with
   1. Geospatial data analysis
   2. Univariate statistical theory and statistical software
   3. Microsoft Windows XP
   4. Standard word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation software
3. Ability and enthusiasm for quickly learning new skills, new software packages, and new concepts.
4. Good organizational skills to manage both large volumes of image data and a large number of professional contacts in collaborating parks.
5. Ability to independently plan and carry out work assignments without direct supervision, and to also work collaboratively in a team.
6. Strong communication skills.

Preferred qualifications include:

1. Classwork instruction or direct work experience in some or all of the following:
   multivariate statistics, satellite image processing, basic ecological sciences, geographical sciences, computer programming, landscape ecology, spatial statistics and forestry.
2. Basic or advance programming skills (any language; IDL preferred)
3. Experience in planning and carrying out ecological or natural-resource field-research at ecosystem or landscape scale.
4. Desire to promote diversity.

Employment conditions: Full-time (1.0 FTE), 12-month, fixed term faculty research position. Reappointment is at the discretion of the Dean. Full-time annual salary is $38,004 to $44,376, depending on qualifications and experience. Benefits include state retirement, group health, dental, life and disability, reduced tuition rates for employee or dependent at Oregon University Systems schools (restrictions apply), annual leave, and sick leave. The incumbent is expected to work primarily in Corvallis, with two to six weeks of travel for field work expected per year.

For additional information: Contact Robert Kennedy, Search Committee Chair, Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society, 321 Richardson Hall, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, 97331-5752. Email: robert.kennedy@oregonstate.edu. For questions on the application process, contact Jeannette Harper at jeannette.harper@oregonstate.edu, or by phone at 541-737-6554.

Application procedure: Qualified applicants are required to upload the following documents: Cover letter, curriculum vitae, official or unofficial academic transcripts, contact information (name, address, email, and phone number) for three professional references, and one or two examples of applicant’s writing (with applicant as primary author: first author journal articles, papers from academic classes, non-scientific writing, etc.). If transcripts are too large to upload, they may be mailed to: Jeannette Harper, Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society, Oregon State University, 321 Richardson Hall, Corvallis, OR 97331-5752 or emailed to jeannette.harper@oregonstate.edu.

Website posting: http://oregonstate.edu/jobs Posting #0003044

Position Description:

The Department of Environmental Science at the University of San Francisco invites applications for two tenure-track faculty positions, contingent on funding approval, at the assistant professor level to begin in August 2009. Primary responsibilities include teaching undergraduate and graduate courses in programs offered or supported by the Department, with curriculum oversight and development, as appropriate. A PhD is required, teaching and/or post-doctoral experience is desirable, and a commitment to undergraduate science education
 
Of special interest are candidates with expertise in a) landscape ecology, GIS and remote sensing; b) environmental health and toxicology; or c) energy, resources and sustainability science. However, candidates with expertise in other areas of environmental science/studies are also encouraged to apply.
 
The successful candidate will also be expected to develop a dynamic research program that ideally would allow for undergraduate student participation. The area of research is open, but a candidate with interdisciplinary interests within the environmental arena is preferred.
 
Please submit the following materials electronically to envscisearch@usfca.edu: cover letter, curriculum vitae, graduate transcripts, a statement addressing teaching in a liberal arts environment (2 pages max), a research statement that addresses how to involve students, and for applicants with university teaching experience, syllabi and course evaluations. Candidates should also arrange for three letters of recommendation to be forwarded directly to this email or to the Search Committee Chair. Inquiries about the positions or printed applications should be sent to: Dr. John Callaway, Search Committee Chair, Department of Environmental Science, University of San Francisco, 2130 Fulton Street, San Francisco, CA 94117, email: callaway@usfca.edu
 
Completed applications will be reviewed starting November 1, 2008 and accepted until the position is filled. The Department is part of the College of Arts and Sciences; a new integrated science building for undergraduate teaching is currently being planned in response to program growth. Information about the Department and its programs can be found at http://www.usfca.edu/artsci/ug/environmental_science/index.html,
http://www.usfca.edu/artsci/ug/environmental_studies/index.html,
and http://www.usfca.edu/artsci/grad/environmental_management/index.html
 
The University of San Francisco is a private, Catholic and Jesuit institution and particularly welcomes candidates who will positively contribute to such an environment. USF is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer, and will provide reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities upon request. We particularly encourage minority and women applicants for all positions.

Position Description:

A postdoctoral researcher is being sought to join a multidisciplinary research team in the Department of Ecosystem Science and Management, Texas A&M University. The successful candidate will assemble and analyze long-term ecological data from multiple sites throughout the central and western US. These data will be used to construct quantitative models of ecosystem dynamics to evaluate and guide development of an emerging ecosystem assessment protocol based upon ecological resilience, alternative stable states and thresholds. Major responsibilities will include acquisition, formatting, and analysis of existing long-term ecological data sets; construction of empirically-based quantitative models of ecosystem behavior; and formalization of an ecological protocol capable of incorporating long-term ecological data into ecosystem assessment models. Some out-of-state travel will be required during the first year of the 2-year grant supported project.

A Ph.D. in ecosystem science, plant ecology or related discipline and quantitative knowledge of temporal and spatial vegetation dynamics are required. Some familiarity with rangeland ecosystems of the Great Plains and Intermountain West is desirable. Beginning salary is competitive ($40,000 - 50,000/yr) and commensurate with experience and qualifications. To apply, submit a statement of research interest, CV, relevant reprints, and contact information for three references to David Briske (dbriske@tamu.edu) or Ben Wu (xbw@tamu.edu). Applicant evaluation will begin on 1 December 2008 and continue until a qualified candidate has been identified.

Position Description :

PhD position is available beginning summer/fall 2008 for a highly motivated and qualified individual to study the relationships between landscape patterns and ecosystem function at the Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources (http://www.warnell.uga.edu) at the University of Georgia. Student will have access to a long-term dataset of songbirds in an urbanizing region and will participate in field work in the southeastern U.S. to develop species and community response models. An interest and background in GIS and spatial modeling is required; and in land use and land cover change modeling, wildlife species habitat models, Bayesian hierarchical models, cellular automata, and urban ecology is desired. Field identification experience with southeastern U.S. bird species is also desired.

Expected enrollment is Fall 2008. Twelve month funding includes serving as a teaching assistant in 1 class per year. Interested students should email a cover letter stating your research interests, names and contact information for three references, and CurriculumVitae to Jeffrey Hepinstall at jhepinstall@warnell.uga.edu before February 15th, 2008.

Location: Athens, Georgia, USA

Qualifications: Prospective applicants should have a B.S. and a Master's degree in biology, zoology, wildlife management, conservation biology, or related field. Additional qualifications include a minimum GPA of 3.0 for the B.S. degree and a minimum GPA of 3.5 for the Master's degree, and a minimum of 1200 on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). Applicants also should have solid analytical and writing skills. Desirable qualifications of applicants include experience with GIS (ArcGIS preferred), experience with statistics and spatial modeling, a high degree of motivation, good people-skills with an ability to work as part of a research team, and an interest in interdisciplinary research and applied landscape ecology.

Salary and Benefits: $17,888/year plus full tuition waiver and supplemented health insurance. Additional salary may be available for additional research efforts, pending funding.

Position Description :

Project Objective:  To assess the environmental conditions of isolated wetlands in the Dougherty Plain of southwestern Georgia relative to disturbance history.  This project will analyze the rate and degree of degradation of isolated wetlands within the lower Flint River Basin, a karst region of the State (the Dougherty Plain) characterized by the presence of numerous depressional wetlands. Specifically, this project will: a) examine changes in cover type of the wetlands at a landscape level using aerial imagery and GIS technologies; b) identify a continuum of wetland disturbances; and c) measure physical variables as indicators of ecosystem integrity.  The graduate research project will build upon an on-going long-term study of depressional wetlands in the coastal plain of Georgia.

Student will complete coursework during first year on University of Georgia campus and then relocate to Ichauway, J. W. Jones Ecological Research Center, for duration of fieldwork period and thesis completion.  Graduate stipend for two years and housing while in residence at Ichauway will be provided. Graduate student will be co-advised with Dr. Katherine Kirkman, Jones Center, and Dr. Jeffrey Hepinstall at the Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources.
 
Interested students should email a cover letter stating your research interests, names and contact information for three references, and Curriculum Vitae to Kay Kirkman (kkirkman@jonesctr.org)  and Jeffrey Hepinstall (jhepinstall@warnell.uga.edu) before February 15th, 2008.

Location: Athens and Ichauway, Georgia, USA

Qualifications:  Prospective applicants should have a B.S. degree in biology, zoology, wildlife management, conservation biology, or related field. Additional qualifications include a minimum GPA of 3.0 for the B.S. degree and a minimum of 1200 on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). Applicants should be interested in field-based research as well as experience with or a desire to learn GIS (ArcGIS preferred).

Salary and Benefits:  Approximately $16,800/year plus full tuition waiver and supplemented health insurance. 

For more information, contact:

Dr. Katherine Kirkman
J. W. Jones Ecological Research Center
Route 2 Box 2324
Newton, GA  39870
229-734-4706
kkirkman@jonesctr.org

Dr. Jeffrey Hepinstall
Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources
University of Georgia
Athens, GA  31705
706-583-8097
jhepinstall@warnell.uga.edu

Position Description :

We invite applications for a graduate research assistantship (GRA; Ph. D. level preferred) from students interested in arid lands restoration and specifically grass-shrub interactions at the critical seedling establishment phase of the shrub life cycle.  Starting date negotiable, but January 2009 is preferred.  The student will be based in the School of Natural Resources at University of Arizona, Tucson, but will actively collaborate with USDA/ARS CO-PIs in Las Cruces, NM on a 4-year project aimed at improving our understanding of patterns of woody plant encroachment into ecosystems in the Southwestern USA.  Field sites include the Sevilletta and Jornada LTER sites in New Mexico and the Santa Rita Experimental Range in southeastern Arizona. The overall goal of the project is to provide analytical and conceptual tools to guide management aimed at shrub proliferation and grassland restoration.  The graduate research assistant will focus on shrub dispersal and shrub seedling establishment questions within a broader framework that seeks to use geospatial mapping of soils, land-use history, climate, and shrub invasion patterns to distinguish four basic classes of land on a regional basis: 1) shrub dominated areas that are poor candidates for grassland restoration, 2) shrub-dominated areas where restoration to savanna is feasible, 3) grasslands that are at risk of invasion but are not yet invaded, and 4) grasslands/savannas that are at low risk of shrub domination.  For additional details, go to http://ag.arizona.edu/research/archer/ .

The assistantship includes an annual salary of $14,677 (MS) or $15,990 (PhD); waiver of out-of-state tuition; full remission of in-state tuition; and health insurance.  Applications will be accepted until 1 October 2008 or until suitable candidate is found, and should include 1) a statement of interests and goals, 2) a CV with copies of transcripts and GRE scores, and 3) names and contact information for 3-5 references.  For general admission requirements see http://www.snr.arizona.edu/academic/grad .  Applications and information requests should be directed (preferably via email) to Steve Archer (sarcher@Ag.arizona.edu), 325 Bio Sciences East, School of Natural Resources, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ  85721-0043; 520 626-8791).

Position Title: Research Assistantship (PhD) in Landscape Limnology, Quantifying human disturbance for aquatic ecosystem management within a landscape framework: Lakes as model systems
 
Location: Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824.  http://www.fw.msu.edu/
 
Position Description: We are seeking a highly motivated doctoral student to join the landscape limnology research group at Michigan State University. The student will develop a dissertation project that quantifies: (1) the relationships among fish assemblages, water clarity and chemistry, and natural hydrogeomorphic landscape-scale factors, (2) regional differences in the response of lakes to human disturbance, and (3) lake distance from reference condition. The student will examine these questions using a lake and landscape database that encompasses a 6-state region of MI, WI OH, IA, ME and NH. Preferable start date is August, 2009.
 
Qualifications: Applicants must be self-motivated and hard-working with good written and verbal communication skills. A background in ecology, landscape ecology, geography or limnology is desired. Past experience with geographic information systems, statistics (especially spatial), database management, and working in multidisciplinary collaborative research settings is desirable. 
 
Applicants interested in this position should be prepared to submit an application for a university fellowship http://grad.msu.edu/funding.htm by early December 2008.
 
Salary and Benefits: The assistantship includes a monthly stipend of approximately $1600/month with health benefits and tuition waiver.
 
For More Information: Please submit the following information to Dr. Pat Soranno (soranno@msu.edu), Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, 13 Natural Resources Building, East Lansing, MI, 48824:

• Cover letter describing background, relevant research interests and skills, and career objectives
• Curriculum vitae
• Unofficial transcripts
• GRE scores (including percentiles)
• Names, phone numbers, and emails of three references

For more information, please contact any member of MSU's Landscape Limnology Research Group:

Dr. Mary Bremigan (bremigan@msu.edu)
Dr. Kendra Cheruvelil (ksc@msu.edu)
Dr. Pat Soranno (soranno@msu.edu)
Dr. Katherine Webster (webster152@msu.edu)