Winter ecology is an emerging frontier in the environmental sciences, with many open questions and opportunities to advance knowledge. I am recruiting a PhD student to join an NSF-funded project on the winter limnology of seasonally-freezing lakes. The successful candidate will join a multi-institutional team to study how lake ecosystems operate across the full annual cycle and over gradients of trophic status and winter severity. The student will be based at the Large Lakes Observatory, University of Minnesota Duluth and will collaborate with project co-PIs and researchers from University of Wisconsin Madison (Dr. Hilary Dugan), Carnegie Institution for Science (Dr. Stephanie Hampton), University of California Davis (Dr. Steven Sadro), and Michigan Technological University (Dr. Trista Vick-Majors).
The focus of research is open, and can include aspects of biogeochemistry, food web dynamics, and community ecology, depending on the interests of the successful candidate. This project has a large, year-round field component, with fieldwork across the US Midwest, Northern Ontario, and the Sierra Nevada. The project also has a strong Team Science element, and the successful candidate will have opportunities to collaborate and network with a large and diverse group of researchers from institutions across the US and Canada.
This is an exciting opportunity for someone with a passion for field research, interest in joining a dynamic and growing area of ecology, and desire to collaborate with a large, international group of peers.
Qualifications:
· MSc (completed by anticipated start date) in biology, environmental science, or related discipline (exceptional candidates with a BSc degree will be considered)
· Evidence of potential to publish in the peer reviewed literature
· Experience working in challenging field settings
· Lab experience (e.g., water chemistry or taxonomic analysis )
· Experience with environmental sensors
· Strong verbal and written communication skills
· Competence with data analysis using R or Python
· Evidence of ability to work independently under challenging conditions
· Leadership and supervisory experience
· Ability and desire to work as part of interdisciplinary and diverse teams
Benefits:
The position is fully funded and supported through a combination of research and teaching assistantships. Compensation includes a stipend, tuition coverage, and benefits. Graduate students at the University of Minnesota are unionized.
Start date:
The desired start date is January 2024.
Applying:
Contact me if you are interested in the position. Include your CV and a brief description of your research background, how you meet position qualifications, and why you are interested in this position.
Ted Ozersky
Ted Ozersky
Associate Professor
Large Lakes Observatory/ Department of Biology
University of Minnesota Duluth
218-726-7492
