Opportunities for Graduate Research and Training
Climate Change Impacts on Arctic Land and Water Surface Processes
Spatial and Temporal Influences of Thermokarst Failures on Surface
Processes in Arctic Landscapes
NSF Arctic System Science
Pennsylvania State University, University of Alaska Fairbanks,
University of Florida, University of Vermont, University of Michigan, and
Idaho State University
For further information, please go to:
http://thermokarst.psu.edu
Several exciting and challenging opportunities are available for
graduate and post-doctoral training in a new suite of collaborative
projects funded by the NSF Arctic System Science program (ARCSS), on
Spatial and Temporal Influences of Thermokarst Failures on Surface
Processes in Arctic Landscapes. The various components of this
collaborative effort focus on how a widespread and long-term increase in
the incidence of thermokarst failures impacts the structure and function
of arctic landscapes. Specific components focus on the composition of
vegetation, the distribution and processing of soil nutrients, and
exports of sediments and nutrients to stream and lake ecosystems. The
projects are designed to address how changing land surface processes and
formation of thermokarst failures feedback to the climate system through
energy, albedo, water, and trace gas exchange. Additional information
about this program can be found at http://thermokarst.psu.edu.
Program coordinators seek motivated graduate students and post-doctoral
fellows who have excellent quantitative and communication skills.
Successful candidates for these positions will be able to work well
independently and as a part of a larger, diverse team of scientists and
fellow students. The collaborative research projects entail field
research at remote sites in the arctic - the western Brooks Range and
the North Slope of Alaska - under conditions that can be physically
challenging. Participants in this project will be integrally involved in
incorporating their research into several education and outreach
activities as part of this project. Professional mentoring opportunities
exist within the group and through the Association of Polar Early Career
Scientists (APECS). The partners in this collaborative effort seek
diversity within the group and strongly encourage applications from
women and people from diverse racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds.
The following specific graduate and post-doctoral opportunities are
currently available:
Mechanisms of Thermokarst Failure
This graduate student position is available at Pennsylvania State
University to work on a research project that is focused on localized
permafrost degradation that results in development of thermokarst
failure features. The successful candidate will investigate the temporal
and spatial variability in surface energy and hydrological conditions on
hillslopes that promote formation of thermokarst failures.
For additional information please contact:
Dr. Michael Gooseff:
Email: mng2 [at] psu.edu
Phone: 814-867-0044
Soil Carbon and Trace Gas Dynamics
This graduate student position is available at the University of Alaska
Fairbanks to study carbon and nutrient cycling, and trace gas emissions
from thermokarst features in arctic Alaska. Preference will be given to
a PhD student, although MS applicants will be considered.
For further information, please contact:
Dr. Jeremy (Jay) Jones
Institute of Arctic Biology and Department of Biology and Wildlife
Email: ffjbj [at] uaf.edu
Phone: 907-474-7972
Plant Community Dynamics
MS and PhD student assistantships are available at the University of
Florida, Department of Biology, to study the effects of climate change
on arctic ecosystems. The project will focus on the consequences of
thermokarst - catastrophic ground subsidence due to thaw of permanently
frozen soil - for plant communities and ecosystem processes such as
productivity and nutrient cycling. This position will be located at the
University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida, during the winter and
will require extensive field work in arctic Alaska during the summer.
The candidate student has the choice of entering through either a Botany
(http://web.botany.ufl.edu/) or Interdisciplinary Ecology
(http://snre.ufl.edu/) degree program.
For further information, please contact:
Dr. Michelle Mack
Email: mcmack [at] ufl.edu
Impacts on Stream Ecosystems
This opportunity is available at The Rubenstein School of Environment
and Natural Resources at the University of Vermont, to study how
sediment and nutrient export from thermokarst failures affect stream
ecosystem communities and dynamics. Preference will be given to PhD
students, but well-prepared and experienced MS students will be
considered.
For additional information please contact:
Dr. Breck Bowden
Email: breck.bowden [at] uvm.edu
Phone: 802-656-2513
URL: http://www.uvm.edu/~wbowden
Impacts on Lake Ecosystems
This opportunity exists for a PhD or Masters student to explore how
thermokarst failures affect lake ecosystems. This opportunity is a fully
funded 5-yr program for PhD students (details at
http://www.eeb.lsa.umich.edu/eeb/graduates/index.html).
For additional information, please contact:
Dr. George Kling
Email: gwk [at] umich.edu
Geomorphic Processes
This opportunity exists at Idaho State University for an MSc or PhD
student interested in arctic river processes including sediment
transport, bed and bank stability and network response to changes in the
volume and timing of water and sediment delivery to channels. Applicants
with strengths in field observation, computational and mapping tools
(Matlab, GIS, GPS, Total Station etc.), river processes and numerical
modeling are especially encouraged to apply.
For further information, please contact:
Dr. Benjamin Crosby
Email: crosbenj [at] isu.edu
Phone: 208-282-2949
URL: http://geology.isu.edu/~crosbenj
Simulation of Long-term Landscape Dynamics
This position is available at The Rubenstein School of Environment and
Natural Resources at the University of Vermont to further develop
existing models of long-term landscape change to incorporate the
influences of thermokarst failures. This position may be filled at the
Post-Doctoral level or at the PhD level. A firm grasp of mathematical
representations of complex systems is essential and some background in
programming and systems modeling is expected, though the experience
could be in areas different from ecosystem or landscape ecology. The
successful candidate will be housed at the University of Vermont but
will collaborate closely with Dr. Ed Rastetter at the Ecosystems Center,
Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, MA.
For further information, please contact:
Dr. Ed Rastetter
Email: erastett [at] mbl.edu
Phone: 508-289-7483
Or:
Dr. Breck Bowden
Email: breck.bowden [at] uvm.edu
Phone: 802-656-2513
Human Community Dynamics
Funding is available to support an MS student at the University of
Alaska Fairbanks to study climate change effects on rural villages of
Alaska, with a particular focus on the implications of permafrost
melting. The research will require spending considerable time in
villages and using qualitative and quantitative methods to examine the
social-ecological dynamics.
For more information, please contact:
Dr. Gary Kofinas
Email: ffgpk [at] uaf.edu
The partners in this collaborative effort are Equal
Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employers. Applications from women and
people from diverse racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds are
encouraged.