You are here:
ASPT Publications / ASPT Newsletter / Newsletter
NOTE: THE MOST RECENT LISTINGS ARE THE TOP! Nearly all announcements have been edited to conserve space--be sure to obtain complete descriptions before applying.
The Conservation and Land Management Internship Program is now accepting applications for 2009!
Apply online at www.clminternship.org. Would you like to put your education to use assisting in important conservation projects? Do you like to experience new landscapes, habitats, and species diversity? The CLM Internship Program is a wonderful opportunity to begin a career in natural resource management and conservation!
Each year, the Conservation and Land Management Internship Program places 75-100 college graduates in five-month paid internships to assist professional staff at the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), National Park Service (NPS), US Fish and Wildlife Service (NFWF) or US Geologic Survey (USGS). Internships are primarily located in one of the thirteen western states, including Alaska! Each internship is unique and may focus on botany, wildlife, or a combination of the two. Projects may include monitoring or assessing threatened and endangered species and habitats. Applicants with strong botanical backgrounds are especially encouraged to apply!
Benefits of the CLM Internship Program are numerous! As a CLM intern, you will receive a stipend of $11,000 and will attend an all expenses-paid week long training workshop. In addition, the CLM Internship Program provides opportunities to make connections in various governmental and non-profit organizations, to learn what it's like to work at a federal agency, to explore your career goals and expand your resume.
For more information and to apply online, please visit: www.clminternship.org [Posted 17 December 2008]
The positions listed below were included in the Newsletter for December 2008.
M.S. Student Position: Analysis of patterns of gene flow in Maryland populations of Harperella (Ptilimnium nodosum)
Funding is available for a graduate teaching assistantship in the Department of Biological Sciences at Towson University. The successful candidate will assist in a research study regarding patterns of gene flow in Maryland populations of Harperella (Ptilimnium nodosum), a federally-endangered stream macrophyte. The study will focus on examining patterns and relationships between gene flow via seed and pollen using molecular markers. Understanding historical and contemporary patterns of gene flow and their effects on genetic diversity and genetic structure is necessary to manage and restore populations of Harperella. Identification of more genetically diverse plants may be key to restoring viable populations as these carry more adaptive genetic variance. Additionally, if we understand historical patterns of gene flow we can formulate more educated hypotheses about the manner of restoration efforts, in particular, we can identify the most genetically diverse subpopulations for protection and use in restoration activities. Students would be expected to use data generated from their studies for a Master's thesis at Towson University. The stipend is currently $12,000/year, plus a full tuition waiver and travel costs. The assistantship will begin in August 2009. Deadline for applications is 15 March 2009, but early applications are encouraged.
The ideal student for this position is self-motivated, works well independently, and has a strong interest in conservation biology, plant molecular ecology and evolution. The position will require long hours in both the field and laboratory. Prior experience with field research and molecular ecology is preferred but not required.
Towson University is located just a mile north of the vibrant city of Baltimore, Maryland. TU’s Department of Biology offers outstanding opportunities for graduate students in several areas including ecology, conservation biology and molecular ecology. Previous graduate students have gone on to Ph.D. programs at a number of major institutions or have found employment with state or federal management agencies.
A complete list of departmental facilities, our current Graduate Faculty, and their teaching and research interests is available on our web site at: http://wwwnew.towson.edu/biologicalsciences/graduate_program.html. For additional information, contact:Roland P. Roberts, Dept. of Biological Sciences, Towson University, Towson, MD 21252; 410-704-3034; rroberts@towson.edu [Posted 15 October 2008]
Postdoctoral Positions at The New York Botanical Garden
Two Postdoctoral positions are available for 1 year with renewal possible for up to 3 years to work in plant anatomy/morphology and the phylogeny of vascular plants. These Postdoctoral positions involve working on a Monocot Tree of Life project and working on Plant Ontology across the vascular plants. Background experience and expertise in phylogenetic systematics is mandatory. The candidates should be familiar with molecular techniques and applications as well as generating data using anatomical and morphological techniques, (SEM, etc.). Submit CV and a list of references.
Applicants should send a curriculum vitae, statement of research interests, reprints if available and the names and contact information for at least three references to: Dr. Dennis Wm. Stevenson, Vice President for Laboratory Science, Attn: Human Resources Department, The New York Botanical Garden, 200th Street and Kazimiroff Blvd., Bronx, New York 10458-5126, USA. Positions open until filled. Positions to begin September 1, 2008 (Monocots) and October 1, 2008 (Ontology). The New York Botanical Garden is an Equal Opportunity Employer. [Posted 23 September 2008]
Te Papa MSc Scholarship in Molecular Systematics at Victoria University
Te Papa Tongarewa Museum of New Zealand and Victoria University of
Wellington are offering a Master of Science (MSc) scholarship in the
field of molecular systematics at Victoria University. The purpose
of the award is to promote research between Te Papa and Victoria
University in the area of molecular systematics, ecology and
evolution.
An MSc degree at Victoria University is undertaken over two years
(Parts 1 and 2) and involves four courses worth equal marks, plus a
research thesis worth 60% of the total. The Te Papa-VUW scholarship
provides the successful applicant with a student stipend of $4000 in
part 1 (2009) and $6000 in part 2 (2010). The project offered in
2009-2010 will be a molecular systematic investigation of the New
Zealand species of Pseudopanax (Araliaceae) or Gleichenia
(Gleicheniaceae), or another project to be determined. The thesis
research will involve the DNA sequencing of chloroplast and nuclear
genes, with complementary morphological analyses, and will address
phylogenetic questions such as the relationships between species and
generic boundaries, as well as issues of biogeography and
species-delimitation. The ideal applicant will have completed a BSc
degree and have an interest in New Zealand plants and molecular phylogenetic techniques.
For more information about the thesis project or studying towards an MSc degree at Victoria University contact: Dr Leon Perrie (e-mail: leonp@tepapa.govt.nz), Dr Heidi Meudt (e-mail: heidim@tepapa.govt.nz), or Dr Peter Ritchie (e-mail: Peter.Ritchie@vuw.ac.nz). For information about the School of Biological Sciences and a copy of the post-graduate prospectus visit http://www.vuw.ac.nz/sbs. Applications are lodged through the Scholarships Office, Victoria, University of Wellington, PO Box 600, Wellington, New Zealand. E-mail: Scholarships-Office@vuw.ac.nz. Tel +64-4-463 5113/5557. Visit the web site for an application form and instructions: http://www.vuw.ac.nz/scholarships. Applications close on 1 November 2008. Selection will be based on academic merit and short listed applicants may be required to participate in a telephone interview. [Posted 3 September 2008]
Graduate Opportunities in Botany at The New York Botanical Garden and Fordham University
The New York Botanical Garden and the Biology Department and Louis Calder Center of Fordham University are pleased to announce a new partnership to jointly train Ph.D. students in Biology. Students will have the opportunity to benefit from the strengths of both institutions and work on research projects that combine aspects of plant systematics, conservation biology, and ecology. Joint graduate students will have full access to the staff expertise and resources of both institutions, including NYBG’s new Pfizer plant research laboratory, Steere Herbarium, and Mertz Library, and Fordham’s Calder Center and the Biology Department’s broad range of courses in biology. Preference will be given to students whose interests combine field- and laboratory-based research, and who will actively use the collections and facilities of both institutions. Students must apply to the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS) at Fordham and to NYBG’s Graduate Studies Program. Funding packages and fellowships include tuition, health coverage, and an annual stipend. Applications to both institutions must be received by January 15, 2009.
Information on the graduate program at The New York Botanical Garden is available at http://sciweb.nybg.org/science2/GraduateStudies.asp or by contacting Lawrence M. Kelly (Lkelly@nybg.org). Information on Fordham University is available at http://www.fordham.edu/biology/, http://www.fordham.edu/calder_center, or by contacting Amy Tuininga (tuininga@fordham.edu). Fordham applications may be downloaded from http://www.fordham.edu/gsas. [Posted 26 August 2008]
Post-doctoral positions, monocot phylogenomics and evolution
Descriptions: Two post-doctoral positions in monocot molecular phylogenetics and comparative biology are now available in the Department of Botany at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Annual salaries are $36,000 based on 22-month terms. These positions provide exciting opportunities for research on broad-scale patterns of monocot phylo¬geny, biogeography, and ecology. The successful candidates will work closely with T. J. Givnish in Madison, as part of a $2.9M project funded by NSF and involving six campuses in the United States and colleagues in Canada, Europe, Japan, and Australia. Research will include (1) sequencing, annotating, and comparing whole chloroplast genomes, and (2) identifying and sequencing several nuclear genes for taxa representing all major groups of monocots. Both positions will involve extensive phylogenetic analyses, calibration of molecular trees against fossil dates, and overlays of morphological, ecological, and distributional data. Opportunities will be provided for close collaboration with other post-docs and PIs involved in the project, including studies of transcriptomes, whole-plastid genomes, a wide array of morphological and anatomical characters, and fossil monocots. Applicants should have extensive hands-on experience with DNA sequencing, informatics, and phylogenetic reconstruction, broad evolutionary interests, and excellent skills in written and oral expression. Madison is a vibrant community of 200,000 set amid four large lakes, with a rich mix of cultural offerings and outdoor activities, and an excellent quality of life. The University of Wisconsin-Madison is a world-class research center, with 42,000 students and 2000 faculty; federal research funding ranks third nationally among public institutions. Excellent sequencing facilities are available through the UW Biotechnology Center. The Department of Botany perennially ranks in the top five among its peers nationally, and includes six labs with a strong focus on plant evolution and systematics. Information on research in Professor Givnish’s lab can be seen at http://www.botany.wisc.edu/givnish. Applications: Applicants should contact Professor Givnish at givnish@wisc.edu. Please provide a letter summarizing your research interests and experience, why this opportunity is exciting for you, and contact information for two professional references. Preferred starting dates are September 15, 2008 for the plastome position, and February 1, 2009 for the nuclear-gene position, but some flexibility is available to permit recruitment of the strongest possible candidates. Unless confidentiality is requested in writing, information regarding applicants and nominees must be released upon request. Finalists cannot be guaranteed confidentiality. The University of Wisconsin-Madison is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer. [Posted 25 August 2008]
Ph.D. Position in Plant Hybridization
DESCRIPTION: A Ph.D. position is available to join an on-going study on hybridization between distylous species of primroses (Primula L.). The study focuses on how the variation of floral traits typical of distyly affects the formation and establishment of hybrids. The funded position is available for a minimum of three years, extendable to a fourth year upon satisfactory performance. REQUIREMENTS: Bachelor’s or, preferably, Master’s degree in biology. Experience in the use and development of molecular markers and/or pollination biology strongly preferred. Good quantitative skills necessary. LOCATION: The Ph.D. position is available at the Institute of Systematic Botany of the University of Zurich, Switzerland. Zurich is located on a lake within striking distance from the Alps, easily reachable by public transportation. DEADLINE: Applications will be reviewed until a suitable candidate is selected. Candidates are invited to send in their application as soon as possible. HOW TO APPLY: Send in the following documents:
1) a two-page letter explaining why you are interested in this position and why you are qualified for it; 2) your University transcripts; 3) your Curriculum Vitae; 4) the names and email addresses of three people who can comment on your qualifications for the position. If you apply by email, please (a) include the title “Ph.D. position Zurich 08” in the Subject line; (b) send in your application as a single pdf file. CONTACT: Prof. Elena Conti, University of Zuerich, Institute for Systematic Botany, Zollikerstrasse 107, 8008 Zuerich, SWITZERLAND. Ph: 0041 44 634 8424; Fax: 0041 44 634 84 03. email: ContiElena@access.unizh.ch. [Posted 25 August 2008]
Postdoctoral position in Plant Molecular Phylogenetics / Systematics of Sedges
A postdoctoral research position is available through an NSF-funded Systematics project on the systematics and evolution of chromosome number and genome size in Carex subgenus Vignea (Cyperaceae). This study provides an excellent opportunity to explore the evolution of genome structure in a genus with holocentric chromosomes, one that displays a remarkable range of karyotypic diversity. The postdoctoral researcher will work primarily on molecular phylogenetic and cytogenetic aspects of the project, as well as phylogenetic comparative analysis. Responsibilities include field work in North America and China, molecular systematic lab work, chromosome counting, data organization and specimen handling for the project, analysis of molecular and cytogenetic / genome size data, meeting presentations, and manuscript preparation. Candidates are required to have a PhD in plant systematics or related field, with experience in conducting field work and in cytogenetic methods or methods of molecular systematics. Experience or interest in phylogenetic comparative analysis is strongly desired. The researcher will work at The Morton Arboretum with Dr. Andrew L. Hipp (The Morton Arboretum) and Dr. Eric H. Roalson (Washington State University). Information about The Morton Arboretum is available through the Arboretum's Web site <http://www.mortonarb.org/> and our lab web site <http://redwood.mortonarb.org/lab_pages/hipp>. The position is a two-year appointment, beginning 1 January 2009 (start date negotiable). Application review begins immediately and continues until the position is filled. To apply, submit via email a curriculum vitae, statement of research interests, and contact information for three references to: Andrew Hipp, The Morton Arboretum, 4100 Illinois Route 53, Lisle IL 60532-1293; Phone: 630-725-2094; fax: 630-719-2433; e-mail <ahipp@mortonarb.org>. [Posted 20 June 2008]