[Coral-List] Coral reef research fellowship

[Andrew Bruckner]

Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation Fellowship Program

The Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation (LOF) sponsors graduate
fellowships for doctoral students and post-doctoral researchers whose
research supports conservation, management and restoration of coral reef
ecosystems.  Beginning in 2009, a dedicated and hard working individual will
have the opportunity to participate in a multidisciplinary global coral reef
expedition, with research opportunities in French Polynesia, Kiribati,
Palau, Philippines, Maldives and other locations. The primary objectives of
the cruise are to characterize coral reef ecosystem health across gradients
of human and natural disturbance, determine global and local processes that
control the functioning of these ecosystems, identify and predict impacts
across gradients, and identify strategies to mitigate impacts.  Potential
areas of research include:

1) Identification of factors that impart ecological resilience to global
threats (e.g., climate change) and how these indicators vary across
gradients of human and environmental stressors; 
2) Characterization of key processes (e.g., herbivory, recruitment,
predation) that drive ecosystem health, and how diversity, productivity,
habitat structure, anthropogenic disturbances, environmental determinants
and other factors; 
3) Elucidating genetic connectivity within and between reef systems and the
roles of biological (e.g., reproductive strategy) and physical factors; and 
4) Evaluation of bioindicators that enhance the ability of corals to resist
environmental stress, such as cellular-diagnostic markers (e.g., heat shock
proteins), genetic diversity of algal symbionts and associated microbial
communities, and genetic estimates of clonal structure within reefs.

The Living Oceans Foundation Fellowship will provide up to a $35,000 annual
stipend to cover legitimate educational and research expenses such as
tuition and research field-work expenses. The fellowship recipient will be
known as the "Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation Research Fellow."
Fellows may receive up to three continuous years of financial support based
upon annual competitive reapplication.    

Candidates must have demonstrated oral and written communication skills and
have the knowledge and expertise needed to develop a dissertation topic
related to the mission of the Foundation and its role in marine
conservation. Ph.D. candidates must also meet the requirements of graduate
programs at accredited universities.  Applications must originate from the
accredited university.  Applications will include: 1) proof of enrollment or
admissions in an accredited university, 2) copies of undergraduate and
graduate transcripts, 3) an essay explaining your interest in marine
conservation, 4) a research proposal, 5) two letters of recommendation, and
6) written endorsement of your established, or prospective academic advisor.


Please see http://www.livingoceansfoundation.org and click on "fellowships"
for more information.  Applications can be submitted by email to
Bruckner at livingoceansfoundation.org  or by mail to: Andy Bruckner, Living
Oceans Foundation, 8181 Professional Place, Suite 215, Landover, MD  20785

Deadline for application: May 30, 2008

Andy Bruckner
Chief Project Scientist
Living Oceans Foundation
8181 Professional Place, Suite 215
Landover, MD  20785
OFC:  301-577-1288
FAX:  301-577-1288
bruckner at livingoceansfoundation.org
www.livingoceansfoundation.org