Postdoctoral position at NCEAS

Coral Health and Monitoring Program coral at aoml.noaa.gov
Tue Jul 15 08:48:31 EDT 1997


FYI...

Date:    Mon, 14 Jul 1997 12:05:19 -0700
From:    postapp at NCEAS.UCSB.EDU
Subject: Postdoctoral position at NCEAS

POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT
Post-Doctoral Position
National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis
University of California at Santa Barbara

Consideration of applications begins July 15, 1997 and will continue
until position is filled.

The National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis (NCEAS)
invites applications for a postdoctoral position.  The applicant will
work both independently and collaboratively with a working group on
"The ecological and evolutionary dynamics of species borders".

The working group will focus on theoretical studies of species' range
limits, the integration of theoretical models with empirical patterns,
and the blending of ecological and evolutionary perspectives.
Participants in the working group included empiricists with large
cross-species distributional datasets, statisticians developing methods
to estimate range limits and spatial relations, mathematical theorists
developing spatially-explicit models of species distributions along
gradients, experimentalist focusing on the mechanisms underlying
particular range limits, and evolutionary biologists concerned with
evolution along gradients and in marginal populations.

This group expects to address a number of related questions about
species borders, such as the following: Over what time-scales are range
limits observed to be stable, or quasi- stable?  What models
(statistical and dynamic) best describe abundance profiles?  How often
are range edges, abrupt, versus diffuse or fractal?  Are there broad
empirical generalizations about the proximate factors limiting
distributional expansion and defining the 'shape' of species' borders,
or is each species a special case?  What is the relation between
spatial variation in environmental factors leading to range limits
population dynamics, and spatial variation in selection?  Can
coevolutionary dynamics lead to stable range limits?  How does the
genetic basis of characters (e.g. major gene vs. quantitative)
influence the shape and stability of species' borders?

Suitable candidates could potentially be concerned with any of these
areas or questions.  We encourage applications from both theoreticians
and empiricists, however, preference will be given to individuals with
strong mathematical and computational backgrounds and research
expertise relevant to the analysis of species' borders.  It is expected
that the successful candidate will have a demonstrable commitment to
the blending of ecological and evolutionary perspectives, the empirical
testing of theory, and collaborative research. The successful candidate
will carry out research related broadly to the aims of the working
group, and will also work closely with the working group leader, Dr.
Robert Holt, in organizing the activities of the working group (e.g.,
preparation for meetings; editing synthetic publications).

For more information on this working group, consult the Research
section of NCEAS web site (http://www.nceas.ucsb.edu).

The position is funded for a two-year period commencing in August or
September 1997 and all work will be conducted at NCEAS in Santa
Barbara.

Applicants should hold a Ph.D. in an appropriate discipline (or the
Ph.D. should be completed by the beginning of the postdoctoral
position) and have a strong background in one or more of the following
areas: ecology, biogeography, evolutionary biology, ecological
modeling, spatial analysis.

Applicants will send a letter of application with a statement of
research interest, copies of publications,  a CV, and the names (with
email addresses) of three referees.  Applications should have Species
Borders as the subject field and should be directed to
postapp at nceas.ucsb.edu or by mail to:

Frank Davis, Deputy Director
National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis
735 State Street, Suite 300
Santa Barbara, CA  93101-3351

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action
Employer




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