Job Description Post Doc.

Title: Postdoctoral Position

FTE: 1.0

Length of appointment: Job opens January 1, 2012. Review of applications will begin November 10, 2011 though applications will be accepted until a suitable candidate is found. Position appointment will last for one year from starting date, with possibility of renewal based on performance and funding.

Salary: $36,000

Departmental Required Skills:
A valid driver’s license is required. NC Driver’s license required within 60 days of hire.

Essential Job Duties: One postdoctoral position will be available beginning as soon as January 2012 to work in the lab of Steve Frank in the Department of Entomology at North Carolina State University in potential collaboration with labs in the Department of Biology, the Nature Research Center and the Department of Genetics. Funding will be partially or fully to work on a project that examines the consequences of urban heat islands and global climate change for arthropods of societal or economic importance. The warmest parts of Raleigh, North Carolina and Manhattan, two of the current study areas, are already as much as 5 degrees C warmer than adjacent natural areas. The study design will include both large observational studies (across cities) and controlled experimental manipulation in large-scale outdoor climate chambers to uncover ecological phenomena and the mechanisms behind them. The project may include work to compare arthropod responses in urban environments to in large experimental warming chambers in the forest understory of Duke Forest. Study organisms can be selected to accommodate goals of the project and expertise of successful the candidate. Ongoing work in the group includes research on scale insects, butterflies, ants, flies and crickets.

Cover letter should include a description of research interests and experience and a separate proposal (<600 words) of research they would like to complete in the framework outlined above. Depending upon early results, a genetic component to this study is also possible (in collaboration with Nadia Singh in the Department of Genetics) as would be a modeling and/or macrecological component (with Rob Dunn and Nick Haddad in the Dept. of Biology). Opportunities also exist for collaborative outreach through the southeastern Climate Science Center (http://www.theglobalchangeforum.org/) and the Nature Research Center (http://naturalsciences.org/nature-research-center), both of which expanding through hires in the next years.

Minimum Experience Education: Ph.D. in ecology, evolution, biology, entomology or related fields. The applicant’s CV should indicate evidence of strong scholarship, including peer-reviewed publications in high ranked journals.

Preferred Experience, Skills, & Training:
Expertise in arthropods, urban ecology, or climate change of particular interest. A background in genetics is also of potential value, depending on the direction of the project. The applicant’s CV should indicate evidence of strong scholarship, including peer-reviewed publications, particularly in high ranked journals. The successful candidate must be able to interact with a diverse group of researchers and students and benefit from new and established intra- and inter-institution collaborations. The candidate should show strong evidence of the ability to finish projects.

Other Work/Responsibilities:

Application Procedure: Submit a CV, cover letter, names and email addresses of three references to the NCSU website at http://jobs.ncsu.edu/. Proper documentation of identity and employability will be required.

North Carolina State University is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, veteran status, or disability. In addition, NC State welcomes all persons without regard to sexual orientation. The University strongly encourages all qualified applicants to apply. Individuals with disabilities desiring accommodations in the application process should contact Steven Frank sdfrank@ncsu.edu or (919) 280-8623.

Bethany Laursen is a budding forest ecologist preparing for graduate studies in 2011. Do you need an intern or technician for your research this coming winter, spring or summer? In 2006, Bethany graduated from Biola University, summa cum laude, with a B.S. in Biological Sciences and a minor in Chemistry. Since then, she has enjoyed challenging, inspiring work as an outdoor educator and science teacher in California and Maine, earning high praise from parents, employers and coworkers as “a captivating teacher” and “an invaluable source of knowledge.” Now, Bethany will gain graduate training as a forest ecologist in order to study experiential, ecology education at the PhD level, and she hopes to gain more research experience before enrolling in 2011. Currently, her research experience includes entomology with the USDA and self-guided surveys of California’s and Maine’s ecosystems. As a wilderness trip and encampment leader, Bethany feels at home in the woods and enjoys strenuous, engaging work in the outdoors. She is excited to work with any part of a forest research project in any part of the world winter 2010, and/or spring or summer 2011. Please contact her now at bklaursen@gmail.com

From the Times of India:

Directorate of tourism, Andaman and Nicobar administration invites proposals for development of canopy walkways project in Andaman & Nicobar Islands under item rate base offer.

Details:

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Please welcome our first TREE student leadership fellow. Taylor is our first student officer for TREE, as part of our new outreach to educate young people about non-profit management. Welcome, Taylor.

Taylor Jamrok graduated from New College of Florida in 2009 after studying environmental issues, sustainable development, economics and business. His final thesis combined many of these interests as he organized a team of developers to produce energy conservation software that would increase the efficiency of computer networks by eliminating corporate costs and carbon footprints. His interests in computer technologies also includes web design, programming, and graphic design. After founding the Jamrok Consulting Group during his senior year of high school, Taylor has worked with numerous clients in Sarasota and his hometown of Florence, South Carolina. Here he was directly involved with the technical development of the Pee Dee Land Trust, helped establish an Internet-based tracking system for threatened raptor species, and has worked closely with various nonprofit organizations.Taylor enjoys hiking and kayaking at local state parks, exploring speleological sites in the southeast and cooking fresh foods grown in his backyard organic garden. He is currently a supervisor at a local branch of the Department of Commerce and the new Vice President of Development for TREE.

My name is Holli Kilburn and I am looking to pursue my conservation/research based career. I am a newly qualified Conservation Biologist, having completed a bachelors degree in 2008 gaining a first with honours. This winter I spent five weeks learning tree climbing on a Canopy Access Techniques course with ITEC (Institute for Tropical Ecology and Conservation) in Panama. I have since attained a research based internship with Para la Tierra in Paraguay where I will be expected to design and implement a research project of my choosing. I am very keen to undertake work that is relevant and useful and preferably that contributes to a wider research. I would happily use this internship to work with an organisation that requires canopy research or as part of a Masters Degree or Doctorate. Equally, I would love to put my skills into working as a technician in the wildlife documentary field. I am really enthusiastic and can’t wait to get on to the next level. For more information please contact me at: hollikilburn@yahoo.co.uk