Limnology Jobs & Studentships

Notices on the availability of limnologically-oriented jobs and graduate student opportunities are accepted. There is no charge for the service at this time, which is available to SIL members and non-members. Submissions may be edited for length and clarity. Those deemed inappropriate to the SIL mandate will be rejected at the discretion of the SILNews Editor.

Submissions should include: 1) a short title describing the position (job or graduate studentship), 2) location and duration of the position, 3) closing date for applications, 4) a short paragraph describing the position, including any citizenship, educational or employment prerequisites, and 5) information on where potential applicants may obtain further information, including names of contact persons, telephone numbers, fax numbers, e-mail addresses, and web site addresses, where appropriate.

Click here to submit an advertisement for the web site.

PhD students and postdocs in Limnology/Aquatic Biogeochemistry

Duration: 4 year PhDs, 2 year postdocs
Location: Uppsala, Sweden
Close date: 22 March 2010

Five research positions in aquatic science, remote sensing, and meteorology

We are looking for post docs and PhD students in limnology/aquatic biogeochemistry, remote sensing, and meteorology for a strong research environment on inland waters and climate change.

The Swedish Research Council for Environment, Agricultural Sciences and Spatial Planning supports a 5-year Centre of Excellence on “The Color of Water ­ interplay with climate, and effects on drinking water supply” (see www.geo.uu.se/cow). Within the Centre, several post docs and PhD student positions will be recruited. The positions will be based in Uppsala, and there will be ambitious programs for integration and for the involvement of senior guest researchers.

One of the most prominent changes in Swedish lakes from climate change is increased runoff of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) from land. DOC is the major regulator of the role of lakes in the carbon cycle, including emission of greenhouse gases. The aim of the Color of Water project is to 1) develop the monitoring of the quality and quantity of DOC employing fluorescence spectroscopy as well as remote sensing, 2) develop techniques for improved drinking water treatment at changing DOC, 3) assess the role of DOC in the carbon cycle (e.g., greenhouse gas emission, C sequestration), and 4) predict the quality and quantity of DOC in a changing climate.

In the first phase of the project, the following positions are open, with deadline for applications March 22, 2010:

PhD student position in Limnology, Aquatic Biogeochemistry at the Department of Ecology and Evolution, program for Limnology, Uppsala University, focusing on regional differences in the quality of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in boreal lakes. Within the project, drivers for the differences in the DOC quality in Sweden and consequences for the global carbon cycle will be examined. For further information and application procedures, see http://www.personalavd.uu.se/ledigaplatser/526dorand_eng.html (contact person: Gesa Weyhenmeyer, gesa.weyhenmeyer@ebc.uu.se, phone +46 18 471 2711.

PhD student position in Limnology, Aquatic Biogeochemistry at the Department of Ecology and Evolution, program for Limnology, Uppsala University, focusing on the quality and reactivity of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in lakes. Natural DOC is a complex mixture of organic moieties, and characterization by specific analytical-chemical approaches is difficult. An important aim of this position is to link the properties of DOC to its dynamics in the environment, e.g. via availability for bacterial mineralization. For further information and application procedures, see http://www.personalavd.uu.se/ledigaplatser/547dorand_eng.html (contact person: Lars Tranvik, lars.tranvik@ebc.uu.se, phone +46 18 471 2722).

PhD student position in Meteorology at the Department of Earth Sciences, program for air-water and landscape science, at Uppsala University, with focus on carbon transport between inland lakes and the atmosphere. This project aims at studying the exchange of methane and carbon dioxide between lakes and the atmosphere by using the Eddy-Correlation (EC) method in combination with flux-chamber studies. . For further information and application procedures, see http://www.personalavd.uu.se/ledigaplatser/323dorand_eng.html (contact person: Anna Rutgersson, Anna.Rutgersson@met.uu.se, phone +46 18 - 471 2523).

Post doc in Aquatic Remote Sensing at the Department of Ecology and Evolution, program for Limnology, Uppsala University, focusing on remote sensing studies of lakes concentrating on colored dissolved organic matter, and its dependence on climate. The work will address operative monitoring of lake water quality at the regional scale as well as global estimates. For further information and application procedures, see http://www.personalavd.uu.se/ledigaplatser/397postdok_eng.html (contact persons: Tiit Kutser, tiit.kutser@sea.ee and Lars Tranvik, lars.tranvik@ebc.uu.se, phone +46 18 471 2722).

Post doc in Limnology, Aquatic Biogeochemistry at the Department of Ecology and Evolution, program for Limnology, Uppsala University, focusing on quality and dynamics of dissolved organic carbon (DOC). Special emphasis will be put on the issue of removal of DOC during drinking water treatment, an emerging problem in Nordic countries. The research will address how the reactivity and cycling of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) depends on climate.. For further information and application procedures, see http://www.personalavd.uu.se/ledigaplatser/399postdok_eng.html (contact person: Lars Tranvik, lars.tranvik@ebc.uu.se, phone +46 18 471 2722).

Postdoctoral Position in Evolutionary Palaeolimnology

Duration: initial appointment is for 2 years, reappointment for up to 6 years is possible
Location: Mondsee, Austria
Close date: 15 March 2010

The Institute for Limnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences is seeking to appoint a Research scientist (Postdoc) who will perform integrative research on Evolutionary Palaeolimnology in Mondsee, Austria. The Institute is located in the Salzkammergut lake area, 30 km east of the City of Salzburg. The Institute has a staff complement of approximately 25, including 10 research scientists. The successful candidate will have an outstanding research and publication record in palaeolimnology, evolutionary biology, or related fields. Research specialists that focus on adaptive evolutionary response to past and present environmental change in lakes and link to the existing working groups at the Institute (see www.oeaw.ac.at/limno/) are particularly welcome.

We seek to integrate investigations into the past with studies on the ongoing climate change scenario in the pre-Alpine and high Alpine Austrian lakes. Sound English language skills are essential; German language skills are no prerequisite, but at least some basic skills should be acquired in a reasonable time. The successful candidate will be expected to maintain a partially extramurally funded research program and to participate in supervising of graduate students. The position is full-time; initial appointment is for 2 years, reappointment for up to 6 years is possible. Tenuretrack is also possible for outstanding candidates, following an unequivocally positive assessment of performance based on established criteria of the Austrian Academy of Sciences. The initial salary level is within 45,000 to 55,000 € per annum.

Submit your application with a full CV, list of publications, short statement of research interests and, optionally, names of three referees to:

Institute for Limnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences
Herzog-Odilostrasse 101
A-5310 Mondsee
AUSTRIA
thomas.weisse@oeaw.ac.at

Joint Master: Ecocatch - Ecological Management of Catchments in Europe

Duration: 2 years (120 ECTS)
Location: Joint Master Programme, a cooperation between 8 European universities (www.ecocatch.eu/universities)
Close date: Varying dates at the different partner universities

The catchment ­ an area that is drained by a river ­ has become the basic unit for planning of a future sustainable society since the Water Framework Directive (WFD) has been adopted by EU. The WFD aims at making all water bodies of good qualitative and quantitative status and to protect and use the water resources in an ecological and sustainable way. Hence, there is an urgent need for professionals handling the implementation of the WFD.

The Ecocatch programme will make you acquainted with the ideas of the directive and familiar with the various environmental conditions prevailing in different parts of Europe. Most uniquely, you will learn to integrate the effects of all different ecosystems that the water passes through on the way from the source to the sea. You collaborate with students from different European countries, learning from each other and enjoying studying together.

The programme’s unique broad-based approach and the international European embedding of our programme means that with a European Master's degree in ‘Ecocatch’ under your belt, you will be well equipped to conduct research at universities and other research institutes (e.g. those affiliated with the National Academies of Arts and Sciences) across Europe. You can also aim for a career in central or regional government (e.g. at the ministries of environment or agriculture), at water boards, private companies or consultancies, conservation organisations or non-governmental organisations. Given that the Water Framework Directive is mandatory and is urgently required throughout Europe, the demand for graduates with a Master’s in the ecological management of catchments is considerable.

More info is available at the Ecocatch website: www.ecocatch.eu

MSc in Aquatic Resource Management

Duration: One year full time
Location: Kings College London (KCL) England and the University Marine Biological Station Millport (UMBSM) Scotland.

The course is designed for those seeking vocational employment or research opportunities within the broad field of freshwater, estuarine and marine resources, their development conservation, regulation and management. A key feature of the course is the three month project placement (internship) within an organisation engaged in aquatic management or research.

The course has developed extensive links with the Environment Agency, other government agencies and departments, environmental consultancies and water utilities who provide a wide range of visiting lecturers in addition to placement opportunities. The course also has an outstanding employment record with over 90% of graduates gaining employment in the water management or research fields.

NERC studentships and departmental bursaries are available. For further details, course brochure or application form visit:
www.kcl.ac.uk/schools/sspp/geography/masters/aquatic.html

Contact person:

Dr Tony Bark
Department of Geography
Kings College London
150 Stamford Street, London SE1 9NN
United Kingdom
Telephone: +44 (0)20 7848 4403  
Email: tony.bark@kcl.ac.uk

PhD Student, Paleoclimatology/Paleolimnology

Duration: 3 years
Location: INRS, Québec, Canada
Close date: none

This project will be part of a multi-proxy study using chironomids, pollen, diatoms, grain size analysis and pigment analysis to reconstruct climate change through the Holocene. Students can chose between chironomids, pollen or diatom analysis. The project will include extensive fieldwork from spring to autumn 2004 to develop a training set in Quebec.

Short courses (2 weeks to a few months) with other specialists can be taken to improve the students's knowledge in taxonomy (e.g., in London for chironomids; in Ontario for diatoms; in Switzerland for pollen).

This project also includes a close collaboration with hydrologists at INRS to model the effect of climate change (past and future) on lake ecosystems in Quebec. This is a good opportunity for students be part of a multidisciplinary research project.

Contact person:

Isabelle Larocque
INRS-ETE, 2800 rue Einstein
Québec
Canada
Telephone: 1-418-654-3115
Fax: 1-418-654-2600
E-mail: isabelle_larocque@inrs-ete.uquebec.ca

MSc in Freshwater and Coastal Sciences

Duration: Can be taken as a one year full-time programme or on a part-time basis.
Location: The course is jointly convened by School of Biological & Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary, University of London (QMUL) and the Department of Geography, University College London (UCL)

Aquatic ecosystems are vital global resources. However, issues such as habitat degradation, pollution, species introductions and climate change, severely threaten their ecological integrity and sustainability. The MSc in Freshwater and Coastal Sciences (FACS) aims to provide students with the necessary skills to understand and tackle these issues.

The programme is taught jointly by staff from the School of Biological & Chemical Sciences at Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) and the Department of Geography at University College London (UCL). Together these two institutions offer possibly the best range of expertise in the aquatic ecosystem sciences within any UK university. This is further complemented by the involvement of staff from other departments (UCL Biology) and organisations such as the UK Environment Agency, NERC Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (CEH), Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS), the National Park authorities.

A wide range of systems are covered, from headwater streams, through rivers, lakes and estuaries to coasts. Field work is a key feature of many modules and is continued via a substantive individual research project, providing students with key independent research skills for further PhD research and hence into academia, or for prospective employment in the applied sector.

For more information:

Mrs Maggie Moran
School of Biological & Chemical Sciences
Queen Mary, University of London, Mile End Rd
London, United Kingdom
Telephone: 44 (0)20 7882 3012
Email: sbcs-pgadmissions@qmul.ac.uk

Page revised: 10 March 2010