FALL 2021: PhD position in quantitative behavior and ecology @ CU Boulder
I am recruiting a Ph.D. student to work on projects centered on understanding how patterns in social behavior of mixed-species foraging collectives in situ scale up to affect the dynamics and state of ecosystems. The development of new quantitative tools to complement large datasets from the field (primarily from coral reef fishes) is a critical part of this research program and, thus, I am particularly interested in students with strong mathematics, computer science, and/or physics backgrounds who want to tackle big questions in ecology. Ideal candidates will have an interest in more than one of the following types of approaches that our research group is actively pursuing:
- machine learning and computer vision applied to tracking fish collectives in complex natural settings
- dynamical modeling of coupled populations (e.g., fishes, corals, algae)
- agent based modeling of large-scale community foraging dynamics
- agent based and/or dynamic state variable modeling of the evolutionary origins and fitness consequences of sociality in mixed-species foraging collectives
- deploying embedded sensors (e.g., remote video camera arrays) to collect data on foraging and threat avoidance behavior of coral reef fishes
Interested students can find additional information about my new lab at CU Boulder on our website (https://gillab.org/), including details on how to reach out to me: https://gillab.org/join/
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MSc and PhD positions: Modelling, data science and disease ecology
I invite applicants for M.Sc. and Ph.D. positions in Biology or Computational Science. Applicants with experience or an interest in modelling, data science, optimization, stochastic processes, epidemiology, public health, and biostatistics are encouraged to apply. A competitive salary will be offered with additional funding available for conference travel.
Applicants should email Dr. Amy Hurford (ac.num|drofruha#ac.num|drofruha). This email should include: (i) 1-2 paragraphs describing your research interests and any relevant past experience, (ii) your CV, and (iii) unofficial transcripts pertaining to your previous or ongoing studies (if possible). I will consider applications as they are received. For full consideration applicants should indicate their interest before December 15, 2020.
Memorial University is located in St John’s, Newfoundland, Canada. The city offers many unique experiences with a vibrant arts community, stunning coastline, and proximity to a variety of outdoor activities (hiking, fishing, cross-country skiing, etc: http://www.newfoundlandlabrador.com).
Graduate positions in Quantitative Ecology & Evolution of Microbes @ UCLA
I am seeking curious, energetic students to join my new lab group at UCLA, where we will explore the thermal ecology and evolution of charismatic microflora (a.k.a., phytoplankton), integrating theoretical and empirical approaches. Generally, I study the links between the physiology of individuals, the dynamics and evolution of populations, the structure and diversity of communities, and the function of marine and freshwater ecosystems. My work combines mathematical, statistical, and experimental approaches to develop a mechanistic, predictive understanding of ecology. In particular, I seek to understand the ecological effects of natural and anthropogenic environmental change (including climate change), given the ability of organisms to adapt to change. As a mentor, I am committed to building a diverse, interactive research group, where empiricists can gain quantitative skills and mathematicians can find inspiration in nature, so that together we can ask and answer deep questions about ecology.
Positions: I have openings for multiple students through UCLA’s Ecology & Evolutionary Biology program. Students who prefer focusing on theoretical or empirical aspects of ecology are both welcome. However, empiricists should have some background in math/statistics, and theorists should have some experience relating math to biology and ‘real’ data. I seek to develop independent, well-rounded students, prepared for careers both in and out of academia. Selecting a lab and graduate advisor that suits your interests and needs is critical to being successful, so prospective students are strongly encouraged to contact me to discuss opportunities.
For more information on the lab, see my website or contact me (ude.alcu|remerk#ude.alcu|remerk). Prospective students should send me a short description of their past and future research interests, a CV, and contact information for 3 references. Applications from individuals from diverse and/or underrepresented backgrounds are welcomed.
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PhD Positions in Computational and Mathematical Ecology
Kim Cuddington (http://ecotheory.uwaterloo.ca), Department of Biology.
We use large datasets, computational, statistical and mathematical approaches to answer questions about temperature for invasive species, species at risk and ecosystem engineers. Work that involves modelling or data analysis can be done while sheltering in place, and late entry to the program is still possible. Possible projects include (but are not limited to) the following:
1. Creating mathematical models of the impacts of an engineering predator on its prey
2. Incorporating autocorrelated temperature data and thermal response curves in structured population models of aquatic species at risk or invasive forest pests (e.g. Emerald Ash borer)
3. Modelling microclimate conditions (under-bark, river, plant canopy) to calculate the autocorrelation and probability of extreme temperature thresholds
4. Experimentally determining the effects of autocorrelated temperatures on thermal responses of insect invertebrates or fish
We provide four years of funding for students in a PhD program.
Please send an inquiry email providing an unofficial transcript, a brief statement of research interests in ecology, and contact information for three references (kcuddingATuwaterlooDOTca). The application for graduate studies is here (https://uwaterloo.ca/graduate-studies/application-admission/apply-online), but please contact me directly regarding the deadlines.
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PhD Training program in Sustainable Oceans at UC Davis:
2021 Update: Applications for the last cohort due Jan 14 2022 for students starting in 2022-2023 academic year
UC Davis is entering the fifth year of a $3M award from the National Science Foundation in support of a new Research Traineeship (NRT) program “Sustainable Oceans: From Policy to Science to Decisions”. Our Sustainable Oceans NRT will train the next generation of PhD marine scientists under a new paradigm that puts the policy focus on the front-end of the research and training enterprise as a means of building more effective links between the science and decisions on sustainable use of living marine resources. The basis of the new interdisciplinary paradigm is combining traditional graduate training in core disciplines and interdisciplinary courses on marine science and policy with immersion into the policy process and politics surrounding ecosystem-based fishery management.
Starting in 2018, over 5 years, we anticipate training 60 PhD students, including 30 funded trainees, from the fields of ecology, conservation biology, economics, environmental policy, geology, physiology, biogeochemistry, oceanography, and applied mathematics.
If you would like to learn more about this program, please visit https://sustainableoceans.ucdavis.edu
For general questions, please contact our Program Coordinator, Pernille Sporon Boving (ude.sivadcu|gnivob#ude.sivadcu|gnivob)
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The Hall Lab (halllab.ecology.uga.edu) is seeking to recruit Ph.D. students who are passionate about mathematical modeling of host-parasite dynamics for admission in fall 2020. Successful applicants will join multi-disciplinary teams working on exciting projects funded through the National Science Foundation’s Dynamics of Integrated Socio-Environmental Systems, Ecology and Evolution of Infectious Diseases, and Population and Community Ecology programs. Positions are available for the following three projects:
• Modeling habitat and coinfection as drivers of heterogeneity in infection processes, applied to transmission of Puumala hantavirus in voles in Finland. Project details: https://nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1911925
• Modeling the socio-ecological dynamics of land use change and infectious diseases, with application to transmission of Chagas disease and leishmaniasis in Panama. Project details: https://nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1924200
• Modeling interactions between resident and migratory populations and the consequences for parasite infection, with application to North American monarch butterflies and their protozoan parasites. This position will be co-mentored by Dr Sonia Altizer (www.altizerlab.org) Project details: https://nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1754392
Students will join the world-class Ecology graduate program at the Odum School of Ecology (ecology.uga.edu), and may also be eligible for admittance to the NSF-funded Graduate Research Training program in Interdisciplinary Disease Ecology Across Scales (ideas.ecology.uga.edu) or the Integrative Conservation Program (icon.uga.edu) at UGA. We seek motivated graduate students with strong interests in applying mathematical models to ecological and epidemiological problems. Prior experience of working with mathematical models is highly desirable. Interested applicants should send a cover letter indicating their research and training interests, and a copy of their CV, to ude.agu|llahjr#ude.agu|llahjr. Applications from students from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds are especially welcome.
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PhD positions in theoretical ecology and theoretical epidemiology at Florida State University
Prof. Michael Cortez is searching for two PhD students to join his group at Florida State University (https://www.bio.fsu.edu/~cortez/) to work on projects in theoretical ecology and theoretical epidemiology.
The position in theoretical epidemiology will involve modeling multi-host-multi-pathogen systems, as part of the NSF funded project, "Collaborative Research: Development and empirical tests of a mechanistic multi-host, multi-pathogen theory." The position in theoretical ecology focuses on modeling evolving or phenotypically plastic populations, as part of the NSF funded project, "Developing, unifying, and empirically testing theory for inducible and evolving defenses." Both projects are part of empirical-theory collaborations (Meghan Duffy at the University of Michigan and Edward Hammill at Utah State University, respectively). Both projects can involve the development and analysis of general mathematical models, with a goal of generating new mathematical theory, or the development, analysis, and parameterization of models tailored to the empirical systems.
Applications: Applicants should hold a bachelors or masters degree in the life sciences or quantitative sciences (e.g., mathematics or computational biology) and have strong quantitative skills. Excellence in academic performance, communication and writing skills are essential. Previous training and experience working with differential equations are essential. Applicants can be based in the Ecology & Evolutionary Biology graduate program in the Department of Biological Science (https://www.bio.fsu.edu/ee/) or the Biomathematics graduate program in the Department of Mathematics (https://www.math.fsu.edu/biomath/). Because of departmental admission requirements, interested candidates must contact Professor Michael Cortez before applying to either graduate program. Please send a CV, a brief statement of research interests, and the names of three references as a single pdf to cortez[at]bio.fsu.edu.
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Position as PhD Research fellow in Disease Ecology available at the University of Oslo (UiO), Norway.
We are looking for a PhD candidate interested to work with us on “Trait-based modeling of host-parasite dynamics in a changing world” at CEES, University of Oslo, Norway. The position is fully funded, for 3 years full time or 4 years including 25% teaching duties (salary NOK 479 600 – 523 200 per annum).
Supervisors: Yngvild Vindenes (main supervisor), Atle Mysterud and Hildegunn Viljugrein.
Application Deadline November 26, 2019. Suggested starting date January 2020 (this is flexible).
For more info: https://tinyurl.com/yx9odohe
