JOB POST – Two Tenure Track Positions in Wisconsin

1) The Department of Natural and Applied Sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay is seeking applicants for a tenure track faculty position in microbial ecology, beginning in August 2014. Successful applicants will contribute to teaching and research within the Environmental Science and Biology undergraduate programs, and the Graduate program in Environmental Science & Policy. UW-Green Bay has outstanding facilities, an innovative interdisciplinary focus, a significant history of research in the field of Environmental Science, and a commitment to building a sustainable future through quality education and community outreach.

We would be grateful if you could forward the attached position description to qualified candidates; the deadline to ensure consideration of applications is Monday 21 October.

If you have specific questions, contact Dr. Michael Draney (draneym@uwgb.edu), Chair of the Recruitment and Hiring Committee.

2) The Department of Soil Science at the University of Wisconsin-Madison invites applications for a 9-month tenure-track faculty position in soil ecology at the assistant professor level. The position will focus on research and instruction in soil ecology including but not limited to linking below-ground processes to ecosystem functions; the dynamics of nutrient, energy, and mass fluxes in soils; the effects of global change on soil processes; and characterizing and evaluating soil biodiversity. The position carries a 75% research/25% teaching distribution effort.

Research responsibilities will include obtaining external funding to maintain a vigorous research program focused on soil ecology. The incumbent will train graduate students, publish in peer-reviewed journals, and is expected to become a leader in soil ecology nationally and internationally. The University of Wisconsin-Madison is a world leader in ecology (ecology.wisc.edu) and genetics research, and collaboration with a talented and diverse group of faculty and staff across campus is expected and encouraged.

Teaching responsibilities include the ability to teach up to two courses per year serving both undergraduates and graduate students in the field of soil biology and ecology. Opportunities to provide instruction in team-taught courses related to soil ecology are available. The incumbent will also advise graduate students, provide undergraduates with hands-on research opportunities, give occasional guest lectures, and participate in graduate-level seminars. Innovative teaching approaches are encouraged.

Requirements include a PhD in Soil Science, Microbiology, or related discipline; a strong foundation and relevant research experience in the principles and concepts of soil ecology and microbiology; effective oral and written communications skills; experience in teaching in higher education; ability to work effectively across disciplines and with teams; and the ability to lead and motivate others.

Applicants should submit the following materials to Jennifer Etter Goh (jgoh@wisc.edu): (1) a single pdf containing a cover letter, statements of research and teaching interests, and curriculum vitae; (2) contact information (name, address, phone and e-mail address) of three references; and (3) copies of college transcripts. Please direct questions regarding the position to Professor Doug Soldat (djsoldat@wisc.edu). Applications received by November 22, 2013 will be assured full consideration. Review of applications will continue until a suitable candidate is identified. The University of Wisconsin is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. For further details visit soils.wisc.edu.

ORNL Internship Opportunities for Spring Term

Spring undergraduate applications available

Applications are now being accepted for the 2014 Spring Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internship (SULI) program,which encourages undergraduate students to pursue science, technology, engineering and mathematics careers by providing research experiences at DOE laboratories. Spring internship dates are Jan. 6 through April 25. The deadline to apply is 5 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 1.

Announcing PROFESSOR’S Sullivan and Steinweg.

Good news! Two of our postdoctoral associates, Tarah Sullivan and Meg Steinweg, have been offered and accepted Assistant Professor positions starting this fall! Given the tight job market these days I was a little surprised that within one week of each other a couple of months ago, two of my postdocs were in my office to let me know they had received position offers.

Tarah will be moving in October to Washington State University in Pullman to start a position in the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences.

Meg Steinweg will be moving in August to University of Wisconsin – Baraboo to start a position in the Department of Biological Sciences.

As a project manager I’m concerned it is going to leave a big hole in the lab to fill, but as a colleague and mentor I couldn’t be more excited for their success (and even if Tarah is going to my old rival WAZZU)!

Congrats to both!

Postdoctoral Research Associate in Soil Carbon Cycle Science and Microbial Ecology now open in my group at Oak Ridge National Laboratory

The Biosciences and Environmental Sciences Divisions, and the Climate Change Science Institute at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (http://www.ornl.gov), are seeking a postdoctoral researcher to support interdisciplinary efforts to understand the effects of climate change on soil biogeochemical and microbiologically driven carbon cycling. The selected candidate will work across linked projects involving a long-term climate change experiment to understand ecosystem-level responses in experimental manipulations of an ombiotrophic bog (peatland) in Minnesota (more information found at http://mnspruce.ornl.gov).  The second project involves complementary lab- and field-scale experiments to improve understanding and modeling of interactions between physical, chemical and biological drivers of soil organic carbon decomposition.

Major Duties/Responsibilities

Design, conduct and interpret laboratory and field based research; lead and contribute to the development of scientific manuscripts and proposals.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications: Ph.D. in biology, ecology, microbiology, soil science or a related scientific disciplines, with demonstrated experience and expertise in the research areas related to the above projects. Demonstrated expertise must include a track record of primary contributions to peer-reviewed publications in one or more of the following areas: soil nutrient and carbon cycling, soil biogeochemistry, and molecular microbial ecology.

Qualifications Preferred:  Priority will be given to applicants with a successful history of interdisciplinary, integrative, and innovative research in these areas.  Familiarity with software tools for next generation DNA sequence analysis of rRNA and metagenomic microbial datasets (e.g QIIME) as well as the ability to program and script in R, Python or Perl to customize such analyses would also be preferred.

Applicants cannot have received the most recent degree more than five years prior to the date of application and must complete all degree requirements before starting their appointment.

Official applications will only be accepted via the jobs.ornl.gov site.  However, questions about the position should be directed to schadtcw@ornl.gov and mayesma@ornl.gov.

Job Post: Graduate Student/Postdoctoral openings In Anna Rosling’s new lab in Uppsala

Multiple Positions in the Department of Evolutionary Biology, EBC, Uppsala University exploring life strategies in the Archaeorhizomycetes

-PhD position in Soil fungal ecology
-Post doc fellowship

Deadline for application is March 15, 2013.

More information as well as links to the position advertisements on her homepage:
http://www.ebc.uu.se/Research/IEG/evbiol/research/rosling/

Job Post: Staff Microbiology Position(s) at Argonne National Lab

Argonne National Laboratory is building a dynamic microbiology team to pursue cutting-edge research in microbial systems biology. We are seeking several microbiologists interested in becoming part of this team as well as the larger established team of computational and structural biologists at Argonne. To be successful in this role the successful candidate should possess:

• The expertise to develop a robust extramurally-funded research program preferably focused on current and future topics of interest to the Department of Energy such as carbon and nutrient cycling, bioenergy, and bioremediation,
• The ability to apply systems approaches to microbial problems,
• The ability to combine both experimental and computational approaches to answering
biological questions,
• A demonstrated ability to publish in recognized journals, and
• A record of conducting research in a collaborative framework.

Argonne offers a competitive salary and an excellent benefits package. US citizenship is not required. A joint appointment at a regional university may be possible depending on the particular applicant.

A PhD in Microbiology or related fields is required. To apply please go to our website at www.anl.gov/careers, requisition # 320165. Argonne is an Equal Opportunity Employer; we value diversity in our workforce.

Grad Student Positions Available: Lee Taylor’s lab in New Mexico

The Taylor lab has relocated from the University of Alaska to the University of New Mexico and would welcome applications to graduate school from talented students. UNM guarantees 5 years of support to accepted PhD students.

The Department will support one or more positions. Application procedures can be found here (the fast approaching deadline is flexible): http://biology.unm.edu/graduate/graduate-procedures.shtml

General information about the department can be found here: http://biology.unm.edu/index.shtml

Information about the Taylor Lab research program can be found on these sites:
http://mercury2.iab.uaf.edu/lee_taylor/ & http://www.borealfungi.uaf.edu/

Research areas include:
– assembly and function of soil fungal communities across arctic, boreal and desert ecosystems
– metagenomics of fungal extracellular enzymes
– ecological genomics of mycoheterotrophic orchids (Corallorhiza and Hexalectris)
– molecular ecology of mycorrhizal interactions of tropical epiphytic orchids

Grad Student Position: Zanne Lab – PhD position in saprotrophic fungal community structure/function

We are looking for a graduate student to join our plant evolutionary ecology research group, beginning fall semester 2013. Support is available for a student to participate in an NSF-funded project, which examines the influences of plant traits on wood decay.

We are exploring how plant traits relate to community structure and function of decomposing fungi, and the consequences of these interactions for the forest carbon cycle in the Central and Eastern USA and Eastern Australia as climate changes. The research assistant would focus on wood decay and fungal culturing and identification, using both traditional techniques (field collection and culturing) and molecular methods (targeted sequencing and next-generation based metagenomics). The student would have opportunities to spend time in collaborating labs that specialize on fungal identification, enzyme analysis and genomics. Motivated students with interests or skills in mycology, molecular biology, and bioinformatics are especially encouraged to apply.

The student would join an interactive lab group that broadly focuses on plant structure and function (anatomy and physiological ecology), community ecology, and evolutionary ecology, both in the temperate and tropical areas. The graduate work will be completed at George Washington University. Washington, DC is a dynamic city with a wealth of ecologists and evolutionary biologists. We have strong links to area institutions, including the Smithsonian. George Washington University is located in the heart of DC, with easy access to numerous science, conservation, and policy based institutions.

If you are interested in working with us on the NSF project (or on other projects broadly related to the lab interests), please send an email to me (Amy Zanne: aezanne@gmail.com) with brief details about your GPA, GRE, research interests, experience, and why you want to go to graduate school. For information about applying to the program, go to the George Washington University, Department of Biological Sciences website. The application deadline is 2 January 2013. I am also happy to answer any further questions you might have.

Summer Undergraduate and Educator Internship Programs

Applications are now being accepted for the Summer 2013 DOE laboratory internship programs (SULI, CCI and VF). These are great opportunities for undergraduates and educators to get hands on science experience, and we usually have a few working with us at ORNL. Most students come in the summer, but opportunities exist year around.

Program Summary is excerpted below:
The DOE Office of Science’s Office of Workforce Development for Teachers and Scientists (WDTS) leverages the expertise of its six research program offices and the unique capabilities at DOE’s laboratories to sponsor workforce training programs designed to motivate students and educators to pursue careers that will contribute to the Office of Science’s mission in discovery science and science for the national need. WDTS also partners and coordinates with other DOE program offices and other federal agencies in its workforce and STEM education efforts.

Job Posting for Hobbie Lab at UNH on our collaborative SPRUCE project.

Ph.D. opportunities in terrestrial ecosystem ecology and mycorrhizal fungi at the University of New Hampshire (this posting is for a collaborator on our SPRUCE project)

The Hobbie lab invites applications to the UNH Natural Resources and Earth Systems Science (NRESS) Ph.D. Program. We welcome inquiries from motivated students interested in how the interactions of organisms with their environment influence carbon and nutrient cycling. Our lab is an interactive group with interests in ecosystem modeling, remote sensing, the application of stable isotopes in ecology, and belowground processes, particularly mycorrhizal fungi. We are currently looking for students on two projects, one to work on a new global change experiment in northern Minnesota, another to work on biogeochemical consequences of shrub expansion in the Arctic. Incoming Ph.D. students are encouraged to develop their own research projects in these areas. For more information on research projects in the lab, please visit our website http://www.isotope.unh.edu/research.shtml>.

Interested applicants should email Dr. Hobbie <erik.hobbie@unh.edu>. The deadline for domestic and international applications is Jan. 15, 2012. In your email, include “Ph.D. opportunity” in the subject line, and a brief statement of your current or future research interests (please be as specific as you can), and a curriculum vitae. For information on applying to the NRESS Program, visit < http://www.unh.edu/nressphd/>.