Multiple Positions Available

Multiple Positions Available

1. University of Michigan seeks Undergrads or Recent Graduates
   Aquatic Ecology
   Northern Alaska

2. University of Massachusetts seeks Graduate Student
   Arctic Carbon Cycle Modeling
   Amherst, Massachusetts

3. Toolik Field Station seeks Summer Research Aide
   Ecology
   Northern Alaska

1. University of Michigan seeks Summer Research Assistants
   Aquatic Ecology
   Northern Alaska

The University of Michigan seeks undergraduates or college graduates
interested in ecological research in remote Alaska during summer 2012.
Fieldwork will run from approximately 5 June to 25 August 2012.

Both paid jobs and paid research fellowships are available. The
fellowships are for 2nd and 3rd year undergraduates and are through the
NSF Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program. Both positions
offer an excellent opportunity to gain research experience in ecology
and meet outstanding research scientists from around the world. The REU
and research assistants will work closely with a group of scientists on
projects from microbial ecology to the linkage of terrestrial and
aquatic ecosystems via the movement of carbon and nitrogen. The broad
goals of the projects are to understand the dynamics of ecosystem
function in soils, streams, and lakes, and how tundra ecosystems will
respond to climate change. Fieldwork will be conducted at the Toolik
Lake Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) site, located in the foothills
of the Brooks Range in northern Alaska.

If interested, please provide a resume and a one-page description of
your background (courses, field experience), goals, and names of
references to George Kling (gwk [at] umich.edu). Experience in ecology,
chemistry, and microbiology is desirable.

Hiring begins 1 March 2012 and will continue until all positions are
filled.

For more information on the Toolik Lake site, please go to:
http://ecosystems.mbl.edu/ARC/
http://www-personal.umich.edu/~gwk/
http://www.uaf.edu/toolik/

For further information on the positions, please contact:
George Kling
Email: gwk [at] umich.edu

2. University of Massachusetts seeks Graduate Student
   Arctic Carbon Cycle Modeling
   Amherst, Massachusetts

The Climate System Research Center at the University of Massachusetts -
Amherst seeks a PhD student to join a project funded by the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The position will be based
in Amherst, Massachusetts.

The research centers on estimation of carbon dioxide and methane fluxes
across tundra and boreal forest regions of northern Eurasia using
numerical modeling and remote sensing approaches. It involves
collaboration with researchers working in hydrology, ecology, and remote
sensing at the University of Massachusetts, the University of
Washington, and the City College of New York.

The ideal candidate should have quantitative and numerical modeling
experience in a linux/unix environment. Ability to analyze large spatial
datasets is also desirable. Applicants with a Master's degree in
geosciences, hydrology, physical geography, mathematics, computer
science, or related disciplines are encouraged to apply. Highly
motivated recent Bachelor's of Science graduates will also be
considered.

The candidate research assistant will enroll in the UMass Department of
Geosciences PhD program (http://www.geo.umass.edu/programs/grad.html).
Research at the Climate System Research Center
(http://www.geo.umass.edu/climate/) is focused on the climate system,
climatic variability, and global change issues ranging from contemporary
climate variations, their causes and consequences, to paleoclimatic and
paleoenvironmental changes.

Please send a description of your research interests, a full curriculum
vitae, and contact information for three references to Michael Rawlins
(rawlins [at] geo.umass.edu).

Review of applications will begin in mid February 2012.

3. Toolik Field Station seeks Summer Research Aide
   Ecology
   Northern Alaska

Toolik Field Station, run by the University of Alaska Fairbanks, is
seeking applications from persons interested in summer ecological field
research in northern Alaska. The position will be based in northern
Alaska.

Responsibilities will include collecting data on plant phenological
events and small-mammal population dynamics as well as data entry and
organization under general supervision. Assistance with other tasks
related to the overall goals of the long-term environmental monitoring
program and routine lab equipment maintenance may be necessary. The
position will report to the Toolik manager of the Environmental Data
Center.

The field site is the focus of research by nearly 100 scientists who
work on a variety of terrestrial and aquatic ecology projects. The
overall objective of the research program is to expand the collection of
baseline environmental data complementary to and in extension of those
already collected by other long-term studies, and make it available to
the research community. One area of focus is on the timing of biological
events in relation to climatic conditions. A long-term plant-phenology
monitoring program has been established, in which the dates of first
occurrences such as leaf emergence, flower development and seed
dispersal are recorded. Data on bird migration and breeding behavior is
also recorded, with plans to develop a small-mammal inventory.

Knowledge, skills, and abilities required:

- Ability to participate in rigorous fieldwork under sometimes
adverse conditions;
- Strong organizational skills and attention to detail;
- Technical skills to operate a Unispec spectral analyzer in the
field;
- Computer skills for data entry in Excel and word processing in
Word;
- Ability to work independently in a team setting and to stay on
task with a minimum of supervision;
- Ability to seek input from supervisor as needed and to learn
quickly by experience and instruction;
- Willingness to work in a remote field site and live in a cultural
setting without much privacy; and
- Previous college-level work in biological sciences.

This is a full-time, temporary position (June through August 2012). If
you are interested, please submit a cover letter, resume, and two
professional letters of recommendation online at:
https://www.uakjobs.com/applicants/Central?quickFind=76251.

Application deadline: Thursday, 9 February 2012.

For questions, please contact:
Anja Kade
Email: ankade [at] alaska.edu