Limnology Jobs & Studentships
Updated: 23 December 2008

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.

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

Ph.D 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