Available Positions

• Postdoctoral Scientist - NEW
• Graduate Students
• Research Associate/Technician - NEW
• Undergraduate

Postdoctoral Scientist.

Ecosystem C and N Dynamics and Synthesis: A two-year post-doctoral position is available to work on a multi-investigator, DOE-funded project that examines the effects of elevated carbon dioxide on ecosystem C and N dynamics in the Mojave Desert. The post-doctoral research associate will be responsible for synthesizing and modeling existing data from the 10-year Nevada Desert FACE project in a collaborative project between Washington State University, the University of Wyoming, University of Nevada Las Vegas, and the University of Nevada Reno. A primary goal of the synthesis work is to explore the combined effects of elevated carbon dioxide and precipitation variability on the functioning of arid ecosystems. Data are to be synthesized within a hierarchical Bayesian framework that facilitates simultaneous coupling of diverse data sources and mechanistic models. To apply please email an application letter with professional interests, research experience and goals, CV, reprints, and names, addresses, and E-mail addresses of three references to Dr. R. Dave Evans (rdevans@wsu.edu) and Dr. Kiona Ogle (kogle@uwyo.edu). Review of applications will begin 1 October and will continue until the position is filled.

Graduate Students.

Students that are interested in pursuing a graduate degree under the direction of Dr. Kiona Ogle related to other research themes in the Ogle Lab are encouraged to contact Dr. Ogle via email at . Dr. Ogle is particularly interested in taking-on students that have a strong quantitative background (or that have the ability and desire to develop quantitative skills) and that wish to use their quantitative skills to address important questions in plant, ecosystem, or global change ecology. Students keen on integrating mathematical, simulation, or statistical modeling with empirical or experimental data to address questions related to one of the Ogle Lab’s research themes should contact Dr. Ogle, and prospective students with compatible interests are encouraged to apply for graduate study through the doctoral Program in Ecology (PiE) or the Department of Botany.

Research Associate/Technician.

A research associate/technician position is available at the University of Wyoming.  The research associate will be responsible for maintaining several large databases. The primary one is a literature database on tree functional traits, and two others include a tree-ring database and forest inventory database for tree species in the US. Specific duties include management of the literature database, which involves (1) mining the ecological literature for information on physiological, morphological, and allometric traits of US tree species, (2) entering relevant information into an MS Access database, (3) implementing QA/QC procedures for ensuring the integrity and quality of the data, and (4) conducting queries and analysis for post-processing of literature information. Other duties include (1) contributing to analyses and manuscript writing related to the databases, (2) help with administration of a small Mac/PC computer lab, (3) supervising students involved in data entry, (4) ordering materials and supplies, and (5) potentially helping with occasional lab or fieldwork. The above databases will be combined with process-based models to address questions such as: How do plant traits related to tree form and function vary between species? Is a species-specific representation of form and function necessary to describe community and ecosystem properties? How do we develop a general framework for predicting large-scale forest dynamics that includes species-specific trait variability and key physiological mechanisms? Qualifications: (1) a Masters or equivalent experience, with expertise in plant or forest ecology; (2) familiarity with plant physiological ecology; (3) sufficient background in statistics, including good understanding of ANOVA and regression; (4) experience working with large databases, particularly MS Access; (5) good communication and collaborative skills. Application materials: (1) cover letter stating research interests, why this position is of interest, and relevant qualifications and experience, (2) CV, and (3) names and contact information of three references. Send via email a PDF copy of the application materials to Dr. Kiona Ogle (kogle@uwyo.edu). Please submit applications by August 31, 2009. Pending final approval of funding, the preferred start date is before October 1, 2009. For more information, contact Dr. Ogle via email.