Post Doc Res Assoc - Botany/Shoemaker Lab
 University of Wyoming | |
remote work
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 United States, Wyoming, Laramie | |
 Nov 13, 2024 | |
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Post Doc Res Assoc - Botany/Shoemaker Lab The University of Wyoming is delighted to receive your interest in our vacant position! We strive to connect with qualified and uniquely talented individuals to join our campus community. We would love to hear how your experiences translate to this position, the University's Mission, Vision, and Values, and encourage you to submit an application today! JOB TITLE: Post Doctoral Research Associate - Botany/Shoemaker Lab JOB PURPOSE: The Shoemaker Lab (https://laurenshoemaker.weebly.com/) in the Botany Department and Program in Ecology and Evolution at the University of Wyoming is seeking applications for a Postdoctoral Research Associate in quantitative community ecology. Our lab's research broadly focuses on integrating theory and experiments to understand the processes that structure ecological communities under current conditions and under future global change. The advertised position will synthesize a global grassland database to create a trait-based framework for predicting patterns of community synchrony across environmental gradients and top-down and bottom-up ecosystem controls. The position is 100% research with a flexible start date between January and August 2025. PROJECT OVERVIEW: Synchrony, defined as correlated temporal fluctuations, such as in species' abundances, is a ubiquitous phenomenon across ecological levels of organization, and is driven by both biotic factors and abiotic environmental drivers. At the population level, correlations in temporal abundance fluctuations across distinct locations (i.e., population synchrony) increase species' extinction risk. In communities, correlated fluctuations among species in a given location (i.e., community synchrony) decreases ecosystem stability. To date, research has largely emphasized the role of environmental variation in shaping patterns of synchrony. However, species traits and their interactive effects with environmental conditions likely play major roles in regulating synchrony, as traits mediate species interactions and responses to environmental change. By integrating multi-site time series data from a global distributed experiment (the Nutrient Network) with novel trait collection, existing trait databases, and methodological development, we aim to develop and empirically test frameworks for linking functional traits to synchrony across scales of ecological organization under both natural conditions and experimental treatments that alter the strength of top-down and bottom-up ecosystem controls. In Objective 1 we will synthesize multiple trait databases and collect new data on traits hypothesized to mechanistically affect synchrony, characterizing how trait composition responds to changing top-down and bottom-up controls and testing how bud bank, root, and seed traits relate to established plant form and function frameworks. In Objective 2 we will link species traits to spatial synchrony of populations, quantifying how multidimensional trait variation and trait-by-environment interactions result in interspecific differences in synchrony. In Objective 3 we will assess how community weighted mean traits and overall functional diversity determine patterns of community synchrony. POSITION DESCRIPTION: The postdoctoral research associate will lead analyses linking trait based approaches to patterns of community synchrony. The successful candidate will be expected to conduct cross-site analyses linking temporal patterns in community synchrony across Nutrient Network sites to functional traits, trait diversity, and trait-by-environment interactions. The advertised position is part of a recently funded collaboration between the Shoemaker lab, Magda Garbowski's Rangeland Ecology and Restoration Lab (https://magda-garbowski.weebly.com/) at New Mexico State University, and Jonathan Walter's lab (https://sites.google.com/site/jwalterecology/home) at the University of California, Davis. The postdoc will collaborate on multiple components of the project, will work closely with all team members, and will additionally collaborate in developing a distributed seminar focused on linking ecological theory to data for the Nutrient Network. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: The University of Wyoming has strong research programs in ecology and evolutionary biology across multiple departments, including Botany, Zoology and Physiology, Ecosystem Science and Management, Plant Sciences, and the Program in Ecology. ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
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REMOTE WORK ELIGIBILITY: This position is eligible for remote work and/or a flexible work schedule. Our preference is for the researcher to move to Laramie, Wyoming as we have a strong in-person community within the Shoemaker lab, but we are willing to consider remote options. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Candidates should possess a PhD in ecology and evolutionary biology, environmental science, statistics, computer science, or a related field by their start date. DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS: Strong background in community ecology, trait-based ecology, programming ability in R, and reproducible workflows are preferred. Candidates should provide evidence of excellent oral and written communication through conference presentations and submissions of previous work to peer-reviewed journals. Competitive candidates should be highly motivated, with a demonstrated ability in working both independently and in highly collaborative settings. REQUIRED MATERIALS: Complete the online application and upload the following for a complete application: cover letter, resume or C.V., links to 1-2 recent first-authored publications, and contact information for three work-related references. This position will remain open until filled. Complete applications received by 11/3/2024 will receive full consideration. HIRING STATEMENT: UW is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Educator and Employer (UW Reg 4-1). The University does not discriminate in employment or personnel practices on the basis of race, gender, religion, color, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, creed, ancestry, political belief, pregnancy, or any other protected category or participation in any protected activity. In compliance with the ADA Amendments Act (ADAAA), if you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation to apply for a position, please call 307-766-2377 or email jobapps@uwyo.edu ABOUT LARAMIE: The University of Wyoming is located in Laramie, a town of 30,000 in the heart of the Rocky Mountain West. The state of Wyoming continues to invest in its university, helping to make it a leader in academics, research and outreach. The university has state-of-the-art facilities in many areas and the community provides the advantages of a major university. Located in a high mountain valley near the Colorado border, Laramie offers both outstanding recreational opportunities and close proximity to Colorado's Front Range, a bustling group of metropolitan cities including Denver, Boulder, and Fort Collins. This beautiful mountain landscape offers outdoor enjoyment in all seasons, with over 300 days of sunshine annually. For more information about the region, please visit http://visitlaramie.org/ Job Identification: 243119 Apply Before: Job Schedule: Full Time Locations: 16 & Gibbon, Laramie, WY, 82071, US Posted Salary Range: Schedule (Hours Per Week): 40 Travel: Yes, 5% To apply, visit https://eeik.fa.us2.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/CX_1/job/243119/?lastSelectedFacet=TITLES&selectedTitlesFacet=Part-Time+Worker%253BFaculty%252FAcademic%253BClassified+Staff%253BAdministrative%252FExecutive Copyright 2024 Jobelephant.com Inc. All rights reserved. Posted by the FREE value-added recruitment advertising agency jeid-56ea56bab9a49d40a816bc6de7053539 | |