News
WinterNet operates a moderated email alert to its members. To distribute news via this, please email winternet@sheffield.ac.uk
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17-11-2023
Winter Forest Ecology Course
Hokkaido University, 26th February to 1st March 2024 in northern Hokkaido, Japan.
The students targeted for this course are 3rd and 4th-year undergraduate and master's course students.
During the field course, the students will learn basic and applied knowledge about snow function, above and below-ground plant ecology, soil nutrient dynamics, carbon flux, and microbial activity in winter forest.
For the detail and application, please visit
https://winter-forest-ecology.weebly.com/
Application will be accepted until 15th December 2023.
Please feel free to forward this information to those who might have interests in learning winter forest ecology in the middle of beautiful forests with heavy snow.
If you have any questions, please contact Makoto Kobayashi (makoto@fsc.hokudai.ac.jp), one of the organizers of the course.
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16-12-2022
Post-doc vacancy, Uppsala, Sweden. Deadline for application: 2nd January 2023
Johan Olofsson and I, in collaboration with Sara Hallin and Karina Clemmensen in Uppsala, are re-advertising a postdoc-position (3 years) focussing on year-round plant and microbial carbon and nitrogen cycling across the Arctic. I hope you will help us spread this information to suitable candidates!
Deadline for application: 2 January 2023
The holder of the position will investigate year-round seasonal (a)synchronies in plant and microbial carbon and nitrogen cycling in terrestrial ecosystems across the Arctic, and how these are driven by large-scale environmental and community variation.
The position is part of a large interdisciplinary project that aims to understand and quantify how processes during the arctic winter may be decisive for overall feedbacks from arctic tundra to the global climate. Arctic ecosystems store large amounts of organic carbon in plants and soil. Uptake of carbon by arctic plants is strongly limited by their access to nutrients, especially nitrogen, due to competition by microbes. Year-round carbon and nitrogen balances thus depend the activities of plant and microbial communities and their seasonality. This multidisciplinary project will involve a research team of about eleven senior and postdoctoral scientists, four PhD students and three technical staff. Together, we will advance basic knowledge of plant and microbial activities during the cold season. The project will further assess the environmental drivers and community traits that may be used to up-scale and predict effects of asynchronies on year-round carbon and nitrogen balances of tundra.
The position will be based in Abisko. More information can be found via the links above. We welcome all applications!
Ellen Dorrepaal
Associate professor
Climate Impacts Research Centre
Dept. of Ecology and Environmental Science
Umeå University
SE-98107 Abisko
Sweden
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13-05-2022
Two Post-doc vacancies, Uppsala, Sweden. Deadline for application: 27 May 2022
Dear colleagues,
Johan Olofsson and I, in collaboration with Sara Hallin and Karina Clemmensen in Uppsala, are now opening up two postdoc-positions (3 years each), and I hope you will help us spread this information to suitable candidates!
Deadline for application: 27 May 2022
https://umu.varbi.com/en/what:job/jobID:507483/
The holders of the positions will investigate year-round seasonal (a)synchronies in plant and microbial carbon and nitrogen cycling in arctic terrestrial ecosystems, and how these are driven by environmental and community variation.
The two positions are part of a large interdisciplinary project that aims to understand and quantify how processes during the arctic winter may be decisive for overall feedbacks from arctic tundra to the global climate. Arctic ecosystems store large amounts of organic carbon in plants and soil. Uptake of carbon by arctic plants is strongly limited by their access to nutrients, especially nitrogen, due to competition by microbes. Year-round carbon and nitrogen balances thus depend the activities of plant and microbial communities and their seasonality. This multidisciplinary project will involve a research team of about eleven senior and postdoctoral scientists, four PhD students and two technical staff. Together, we will advance basic knowledge of plant and microbial activities during the cold season. The project will further assess the environmental drivers and community traits that may be used to up-scale and predict effects of asynchronies on year-round carbon and nitrogen balances of tundra. The positions will be based in Abisko. More information can be found via the links above. We welcome all applications!
Ellen Dorrepaal
Associate professor
Climate Impacts Research Centre
Dept. of Ecology and Environmental Science
Umeå University
SE-98107 Abisko
Sweden
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31-03-2022
PhD position: 4-year salaried plant ecology PhD position at UiT Tromsø.
Deadline: 24 April 2022
Focus on the process and drivers of autumn leaf senescence with fieldwork on Svalbard. Deadline 24 April 2022. Start September 2022.
https://www.jobbnorge.no/en/available-jobs/job/222054/phd-fellow-in-arctic-plant-ecology
Prof. E.J.Cooper
Department of Arctic and Marine Biology,
Faculty of Biosciences, Fisheries and Economics,
UiT-The Arctic University of Norway,
N-9037 Tromsø,
Norway.
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PhD opportunity in belowground plant responses to grazing and snow cover changes in boreal ecosystems
Deadline: March 31st, 2022
I am looking for a PhD student working on belowground plant responses to grazing and snow cover changes in boreal ecosystems, and I hope you can help me spread this information to suitable candidates!
The aim of the project is to study and quantify how reindeer grazing and changes in snow cover influence plant growth and decomposition patterns above- and belowground. The holder of this position will investigate plant community composition, seasonal plant (root) growth, decomposition of plant material, root influences on carbon cycling, and how these change with altered winter conditions and reindeer grazing regimes in boreal forests and fens. Johan Olofsson (Umeå University) and Maria Väisänen (University of Oulu, Finland) will be co-supervisors for this position. More information on the position and Umeå University can be found via the link below.
The deadline for application: March 31st, 2022, and we welcome all applications!
Best wishes,
Gesche Blume-Werry
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01-03-22
Inaugural Biology of Winter Gordon Research Conference, June 5-10, 2022
Proctor Academy, Andover, NH, USA
https://www.grc.org/biology-of-winter-conference/2022/
We have had extensive interactions with the GRC staff, and GRC are committed to proceeding with the meeting this summer. The meeting will be in-person, with no online options. The GRC are adamant that they have actions in place to mitigate covid risk to participants. You can read about their measures here https://www.grc.org/_resources/common/userfiles/file/2.1%20Revised%20COVID%20Policy.pdf
So… that means that the meeting is on, and we are committed to making the meeting as good as we can, hopefully setting up for an even better meeting in 2024. We expect that the meeting will be smaller than we had hoped, but plan to take advantage of this as much as possible to make sure that we have meaningful, synthetic conversations in which we will aim to explicitly address the future of winter biology – both scientifically and in building a more inclusive winter biology community.
We do still anticipate having funds. If we’ve promised you some $$$, we’ll absolutely honour that, and we hope to provide additional support as well. We will also be using our funds as much as we can to address inclusiveness issues associated with the uniqueness of holding a meeting this summer.
If you haven’t already, you can register here https://www.grc.org/biology-of-winter-conference/2022/. We’ll need confirmation of your attendance and abstracts for posters by May 8.
Finally, we would appreciate it if you could spread the word – it’s been a long time since we started preparing for this meeting, so it’s quite likely that our list misses all sorts of emerging members of the winter biology community. Please pass on details about this meeting to whomever you think may benefit. We aim to be especially supportive of early career researchers, so we also hope you will consider bringing your trainees.
We hope you are all doing well in what continue to be challenging times,
Brent & Sapna
Co-Chairs, Biology of Winter GRC 2020 2024
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24-01-22
PhD: Biology of the active layer of the tundra and responses to changes
Simone Lang (simonel@unis.no) at UNIS is looking for a PhD candidate to work on the TERRA project investigating the biology of the active layer of the tundra and responses to changes, for example climate and grazing pressure. The announcement and project position can be found here;
Deadline 7th Feb 2022
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20-01-22
Three PhD vacancies in arctic winter processes, Abisko and Uppsala, Sweden.
With Ellen Dorrepaal, Johan Olofsson, Sara Hallin and Karina Clemmensen.
Deadline for application: 14 February 2022
1. PhD position in ecology with focus on carbon cycling in arctic terrestrial ecosystems:
https://umu.varbi.com/en/what:job/jobID:466269/
2. PhD position in ecology with focus on plant-soil-microbe interactions in arctic ecosystems:
https://umu.varbi.com/en/what:job/jobID:466297/
3. PhD position in ecology with focus on remote sensing of arctic terrestrial ecosystems:
https://umu.varbi.com/en/what:job/jobID:466304/
The three positions are part of a large interdisciplinary project that aims to understand and quantify how processes during the arctic winter may be decisive for overall feedbacks from arctic tundra to the global climate. Arctic ecosystems store large amounts of organic carbon in plants and soil. Uptake of carbon by arctic plants is strongly limited by their access to nutrients, especially nitrogen, due to competition by microbes. Year-round carbon and nitrogen balances thus depend the activities of plant and microbial communities and their seasonality. This interdisciplinary project will involve a research team of about eleven senior and postdoctoral scientists, four PhD students and two technical staff. Together, we will advance basic knowledge of plant and microbial activities during the cold season. The project will further assess the environmental drivers and community traits that may be used to up-scale and predict effects of asynchronies on year-round carbon and nitrogen balances of tundra. Position 1 and 2 will be based in Abisko (with course work in Umeå), position 3 in Umeå (with fieldwork in Abisko). More information can be found via the links above. We welcome all applications!
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16-12-19
Biology of Winter, Gordon Conference (21-26 June 2020) Waterville Valley, NH, US.
***Registration now open***
https://www.grc.org/biology-of-winter-conference/2020/
Registration fee includes accommodation and all meals. Organisers are still pursuing funding, and hope to be able to offer additional support, especially for Early Career Researchers (and primary caregivers).
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04-02-19
Professor/ Associate Professor in vegetation ecology. University of South-Eastern Norway
The Faculty of Technology, Natural Sciences and Maritime Sciences has a vacant permanent position as Professor/ Associate Professor in Vegetation Ecology from 01.08.2019
The position is attached to the Department of Natural Sciences and Environmental Health and reports to the Head of Department. The place of employment is Bø in Telemark, a small town in beautiful surroundings, within two hours travel of Oslo.
For further information, see:
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20-12-18
EGU session on Peatlands Under Pressure
We invite you to contribute your important peat and peatland related work to the session BG2.17 “Peatlands under pressure” at the EGU General Assembly 2019 in Vienna, Austria; 7 - 12 April 2019.
From pole to pole, peatlands contain up to 30% of the world’s soil carbon pool, illustrating their role in the global carbon cycle. Currently peatlands are under various pressures such as changing climate, land-use or nutrient loading with unknown consequences for their functioning as carbon sinks and stores and the uptake or release of the greenhouse gasses carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O). Simultaneously, increasing amount of restoration activities, aiming to return peatlands back to their original state are ongoing. It is, however, not clear how the carbon reservoir will react to these pressures and how resilient these ecosystems are. This session will focus on the observed or predicted changes on the biogeochemistry at peatlands, caused by climate change, nutrient loading or land-use. We invite studies concentrating, for example, on the effects of climate change on GHG flux or nutrient dynamics on pristine and managed peatlands, impact of drainage or restoration and subsequent vegetation succession on biogeochemistry, atmosphere-biosphere interaction, or studies on carbon stock changes demonstrating the impact of land-use or climate change. Experimental and modelling studies of both high- and low latitude peatlands are welcomed.
Invited speakers:
Klaus-Holger Knorr, Professor, University of Münster, Germany
Franziska Koebsch, Dr., Rostock Universität, Germany
Michael Waddington, Professor, McMaster University, Canada
Minna Väliranta, Dr, University of Helsinki, Finland
Deadline for abstract submission is 13.00 January 10th, 2019
You may submit your abstract either directly at Abstract submission or through https://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EGU2019/session/32163
Hope to see you in Vienna at EGU2019
On behalf of the convener Annalea Lohila and co-conveners, Gareth Clay, Maxim Dorodnikov, Mats Nilsson, Frans-Jan W. Parmentier
20-12-18
Tenure Track Positions in Arctic Interactions Research, University of Oulu, Finland
Are you the new generation of premier Arctic scientists with ambition for strengthening your international experience? Do you want to make new discoveries that are vital for the sustainability of the Arctic environment and our whole planet?
We are now looking for excellent and enthusiastic scientists from various research fields to join our Arctic Interactions (ArcI) research community at the University of Oulu. ArcI is a multidisciplinary research effort aimed at creating understanding and mitigating global change in the Arctic by bridging different research disciplines within natural, social and technical sciences. This international and globally significant research hub will produce new discoveries and cutting-edge research that will help solve some of the most pressing societal challenges in the Arctic.
Research areas
Our three main research themes (RT) include 1) Global change & northern environments, 2) Human-environmental relationship, and 3) Sustainable systems, resource use and development. Within these research themes we are offering tenure track positions in five different research areas:
· Biodiversity change and ecosystem health (RT1)
· Earth system sciences, ecohydrology and human societal resiliency (RT1)
· Cultural histories and traditional knowledge of resource use (RT2)
· Resource management in Arctic environment (RT3)
· Arctic architecture and environmental adaptation (RT3)
The tenure track positions are open to highly talented scientists with excellent potential for a successful scientific career. We invite strong candidates from various scientific fields, such as hydrology, ecology, biology, geography, geology, paleoclimatology, environmental sciences, environmental engineering, civil engineering, architecture, social sciences, archeology, cultural studies etc. Based on your experience and competence, you can be placed at the level of Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, Full Professor or Distinguished Professor. The positions include a start-up package for hiring a postdoctoral fellow and a PhD student.
What we offer
We are a dedicated and dynamic group of scientists working together towards a more sustainable and intelligent future. Our university’s long traditions in Arctic research and location close to the Arctic offer unique conditions for doing research. Currently, the ArcI community include 30 senior scientists with versatile expertise and background, which creates an inspiring working environment full of opportunities for wide variety of research. We foster a culture of collaboration, both within our university and with our international partner universities.
About Oulu
The City of Oulu is Northern Finland’s largest and oldest city, with a population of over 200,000. Oulu offers an easy-going living environment with good connections from anywhere. As the world’s northernmost tech hub, Oulu has a highly educated and innovative workforce, thanks to one of the biggest and most multidisciplinary universities in Finland.
How to apply
Please submit your application and relevant enclosures through our online recruitment system latest on February 28 2019. Please follow the link http://www.oulu.fi/arci to list of research areas to find individual position descriptions.
More information
Director: Prof. Bjørn Kløve, Kvantum Institute, University of Oulu, bjorn.klove(at)oulu.fi
Vice Director: Prof. Jeffrey Welker, Ecology and Genetics Research Unit, University of Oulu,
jeffrey.welker(at)oulu.fi
Coordinator: Jouko Inkeröinen, Kvantum Institute, University of Oulu, jouko.inkeroinen(at)oulu.fi
20-12-18
PhD in arctic browning, soil carbon and microbes, Universities of Sheffield and York, and Norwegian Institute for Nature Research.
Title: Arctic carbon under threat from climate extremes: how do extreme climatic events affect soil carbon and microbial communities?
Closing date: 9th Jan, 2019
Overview: Extreme climatic events can have far greater impacts on ecosystems than gradual climate change. This is particularly apparent in the Arctic, where widespread damage from extreme events is causing large-scale die-back to tundra ecosystems and driving the phenomena known as “Arctic Browning”. This die-back in tundra ecosystems caused by extreme climatic events is in stark contrast to the previous 30 year trend of increasing plant growth arising from gradual warming. While recent research on Arctic browning has focused on the very visible damage impacts seen above ground on plants, almost nothing is known of the impacts below ground on soil carbon and soil microbes. This is a major omission given arctic soils contain vast stores of carbon, and initial work suggests the release of this could be greatly affected by extreme climatic events, with consequences for feedback to climate.
This PhD will study the impacts of extreme climatic events on soil carbon cycling and fluxes in arctic ecosystems, with methods including measurements of soil carbon, assessment of CO2 fluxes using infra-red gas analysis, and C tracing techniques. It will also use state-of-the-art molecular ecology approaches (e.g. Illumina MiSeq, Nanopore, and associated bioinformatics) to determine changes in the biodiversity and functioning of the soil microbes that cycle carbon.
Based at the University of Sheffield, the project will include microbial molecular work at the University of York, with support from the University of York’s Technology Facility, and field work in northern Norway where the student will benefit from working with scientists from the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research.
This PhD is an exciting opportunity for a student with interests in the effects of climate change to develop interdisciplinary approaches to science in a topic of major current importance in arctic ecosystem research.
The PhD would therefore suit a motivated student interested in ecosystems, climate change and carbon cycling, with an enthusiasm for a mix of lab and field work.
Background reference: Phoenix GK, Bjerke JW (2016) Arctic Browning: extreme events and trends reversing arctic greening. Global Change Biology 22, 2960-2962
Apply:
01-10-18
Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, Eddy Covariance, Alaska
University of Exeter, University of Sheffield (UK), San Diego State University (USA). I
Closing date 28 October 2018.
The main purpose of this position is to over-see the operation of 5 eddy covariance towers and associated equipment on the North Slope of Alaska. The post will include a combination of field and laboratory work, supervision of graduate students and interns in the field and in the lab, eddy covariance data processing, preparation of peer-reviewed manuscripts, etc. The successful candidate will work with a team of technicians, other postdocs and graduate students in both the University of Exeter, the University of Sheffield, San Diego State University, and spend several months of the year in the field in Alaska.
Applicants should possess a PhD in a relevant field of study (ecology, biometeorology) and must have experience with eddy covariance tower operation, data analysis (including Matlab or R), and paper writing and publication. The starting salary is from £35,211 up to £43,267 on Grade (F), depending on qualifications and experience. Initial appointment is from 01/11/2018 to 29/02/2020 with potential extensions based on funding.
For more details and applications, click here.
Interested individuals should include a one page cover letter describing their research experience and publications and why they are interested in the post along with a current CV and the names and contact information of three references.
Applications should be addressed to Dr. Donatella Zona <d.zona@sheffield.ac.uk> and Prof. Walter Oechel <W.Oechel@exeter.ac.uk>
Informal inquiries Donatella Zona
11-09-18
Two Postdoctoral Fellowships (2 years each). Arctic ecosystems ecology / plant-ecophysiology / microbial ecology
Climate Impacts Research Centre (at Abisko), Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, Umeå University, Sweden
Application Deadline: 28-09-2018
Fellows will study the off-seasonal dynamics of plant and soil microbial processes in arctic ecosystems. Climate change in the Arctic is especially pronounced during autumn, winter and spring, including increases in temperature, changes in snow fall/cover and rain-on-snow events. Such off-seasonal changes in climate can affect the carbon balance of arctic ecosystems and the underlying plant and soil microbial processes but the extent remains unclear. We are looking for two postdoctoral fellows to to investigate how changes in the timing, frequency and extent of winter freezing conditions, as well as the timing of spring and autumn, affects the (off-)seasonal dynamics of plant and microbial processes in arctic ecosystems.
See further: https://www.umu.se/en/work-with-us/fellowships-and-grants/6-1485-18/
31-07-18
PhD position. Applicant designs their "dream" project. University of Gothenberg
PhD position where the student can design her/his own dream project (within some specific boundaries). Can be tuned towards a winter ecology Alpine/Polar perspective.
https://www.gu.se/english/about_the_university/job-opportunities/vacancies-details/?id=2809
For more information contact
Alpine and Polar Ecology at the University of Gothenburg (APE@GU)
27-07-18
Ph.D. fellowship, Soil organic matter in Mountain Environment: from recently deglaciated area to mature mountain ecosystem.
University of Grenoble, Laboratoire d'Ecologie Alpine.
Available immediately.
Supervisors and contacts are Pr. J. Poulenard (jerome.poulenard@univ-savoie.fr), Dir. Wilfried Thuiller (wilfried.thuiller@univ-grenoble-alpes.fr) and Dir. P. Choler (philippe.choler@univ-grenoble-alpes.fr)
17-04-18
Two PhD studentships, Modeling of snow-permafrost-vegetation interactions (closing date, 15th May 2018)
Department of Geosciences of the University of Oslo, Norway
Department of Physical Geography and Ecosystem Science of Lund University, Sweden
As part of the Norwegian-Swedish research project WINTERPROOF, two PhD studentships are available in the modeling of snow-permafrost-vegetation interactions in the Arctic and their potential to lead to climate feedbacks. One PhD position is at the Department of Geosciences of the University of Oslo, Norway, and another at the Department of Physical Geography and Ecosystem Science of Lund University, Sweden. The tools used in this project will be the land surface models CLM (in Oslo) and LPJ-GUESS (in Lund) and the focus will be from the regional to the pan-Arctic scale. The deadline for applications is May 15th.
20-03-18
PhD opportunity (closing date 26th March 2018). University of Sheffield and British Antarctic Survey
Lead Supervisor: Dr Julie Jones, Geography
Co-supervisor(s): Prof Gareth Phoenix, Animal and Plant Sciences; Dr Robert Bryant, Department of Geography; Dr Gareth Marshall, British Antarctic Survey, Cambridge, UK
Open to UK and non-UK applicants.
15-06-17
AGU 2017 Fall Meeting session: "(GC026) Drivers and Implications of Recent Changes in Arctic Greening and Browning"
Session abstract submission now open:
https://agu.confex.com/agu/fm17/preliminaryview.cgi/Session25352
The AGU 2017 fall meeting is being held in New Orleans, 11-15 December. Details here: https://fallmeeting.agu.org/2017/
31-01-17
Workshop: Event Drivers of Arctic Browning, University of Sheffield, 10th-11th May 2017
The University of Sheffield is hosting the first international workshop on "Event Drivers of Arctic Browning".
The workshop will include presentations and discussions of Arctic Browning caused by climatic and biological events, as well as break out groups on workshop outputs, collaborations and future opportunities.
Closing date for registration is 8th March 2017. Follow this link for more information.
31-01-17
Spring meeting of the BES Plants, Soils, Ecosystems group: Winter Ecology
April 6th and 7th, University of Lancaster, UK
The theme of the meeting will be to put a spotlight on the challenges and opportunities that winter presents in our research. Interests include cold climate research (arctic tundra, alpine etc) and seasonal research in temperate landscapes.The group will be working towards publishing a Perspectives piece from the proceeds of this meeting, with attendees offered the opportunity for co-authorship.
Talks are invited under the following headings:
1. Arctic and alpine ecology;
2. Seasonal dynamics in ecology;
3. Winter/snow ecology (temperate systems)
Please send abstracts to besplantsoileco@gmail.com by March 1st.
Register at the following link:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/winter-ecology-tickets-30352568349
Best wishes,
Plants Soils Ecosystems Committee
14-11-16
PhD opportunity, TeamShrub, University of Edinburgh
TeamShrub (https://teamshrub.wordpress.com/) at the University of Edinburgh is advertising an Arctic Ecology PhD position open to any UK students or EU students who are UK residents as a part of the NERC-funded E3 Doctoral Training Programme (http://e3dtp.geos.ed.ac.uk/).
Using drones to understand Arctic greening: How does phenology respond to climate and what are the implications for tundra vegetation change?
This PhD project will explore the importance of climate in explaining changing plant phenology and vegetation in Arctic tundra ecosystems.
This PhD research project will use long-term records of plant phenology, phenocam imagery (time lapse photography) and remotely-sensed drone data to test the factors best explaining variation in plant phenology including flowering abundance across the landscape and over time. The project will involve fieldwork in the Western Canadian Arctic, on Qikiqtaruk - Herschel Island and in the Kluane Region of the Yukon Territory. The project will also involve collaboration with scientists across the Shrub Hub, sTundra, ITEX and newly formed Drone Ecology research networks and will provide opportunities for the recruited student to develop their own targeted research questions within a larger project. The PhD student will gain skills in operating drone systems, image analysis, hierarchical modelling and will contribute to international data synthesis.
We aim to recruit an enthusiastic, highly motivated and quantitative student with a background in ecology, environmental sciences, ecoinformatics or a related discipline.
For more information:
http://www.geos.ed.ac.uk/postgraduate/PhD/getDocument?SerialNo=1177
08-06-16
Opportunity to collaborate on vegetation study near climate stations to improve climate-vegetation analysis.
WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF
Christian Rixen and Yann Vitasse
Please download information document for further details.
24-02-16
Master's thesis or practical training available in "Arctic-alpine plants and the microclimate"
Helsinki University, Finland
Our group "Plant Ecophysiology and Climate Change" has places for 2-3 students to carry out a research project in summer 2016. We are based at Helsinki University, Finland and the fieldwork is carried out in a subarctic mountain ecosystem in Finnish Lapland. We are studying how plant phenology, growth and stress respond to natural environmental gradients. Please click here to view the document with information and details on how to apply.
For further information, you can also contact Friederike Gehrmann: friederike.gehrmann@helsinki.fi
03-02-15
University of Gothenburg, MSc and Bsc projects on permafrost system, 2016
The University of Gothenburg have opportunities for BSc and MSc projects involving a Permafrost thaw-gradient in the Abisko region, Sweden. Field work and data collection in 2016. Download flyer for more information.
16-01-15
Master's thesis or practical training available in "Arctic-alpine plants and the microclimate"
Helsinki University, Finland
Our group "Plant Ecophysiology and Climate Change" is still taking applications until 23.1.2015 for two students to carry out a research project in summer 2015. We are based at Helsinki University, Finland and the fieldwork is carried out in a subarctic mountain ecosystem in Finnish Lapland. Please click here to view the document with information and details on how to apply.
For further information, you can also contact Friederike Gehrmann: friederike.gehrmann@helsinki.fi
13-01-15
Summer 2015: Master’s thesis or Internship (student field assistant) opportunity: Survey of alpine plants near climate stations in Switzerland
The ‘Mountain Ecosystems’ and ‘Climate Research’ teams at the Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL in Switzerland are looking for Master’s students and paid summer field assistants in the project: ‘Warmer temperatures, less snow, earlier plant development? Using a long-term meteorological network to unravel temperature and snow effects on mountain vegetation’. A field crew will visit up to 70 climate stations at high elevation (1500-3000 m asl) all over the Swiss Alps in partly remote alpine areas to record the vegetation at the stations. The field crew would consist of a postdoc, 1 or 2 Master’s students and 1 or 2 field assistants. The position should start in June 2015. The end of the season would probably be at the end of September. The person would ideally be based in Davos but can also be based somewhere else in Switzerland.
Requirements are
• Good knowledge of vascular plant species identification and the motivation to rapidly learn approx. 350 alpine plant species
• Masters/Bachelor/basic studies in Biology, Ecology, or a similar field
• Physical fitness and robustness (access mainly on foot and may span ≥1000 vertical meters)
• Experience, ability and confidence to move in trackless alpine terrain
• Motivation and patience for long working days outdoors under sometimes harsh conditions (sometimes multiple days in a row)
• Team spirit
• Driving licence and language skills are an advantage
Payment will depend on academic degree and position in this project. Expenses for food and lodging during field work will be covered.
For more information, contact Christian Rixen (rixen@slf.ch, phone +41 (0)81 417 02 14).
12-12-14
Faculty Position in Arctic Biology at The University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS)
Full/ Associate Professor in terrestrial zoology
Deadline for applications is 25.01.2015
04-12-14
New review article on winterclimate change and ecosystem response.
Cooper E.J. (2014) Warmer shorter winters disrupt arctic terrestrial ecosystems. Annu. Rev. Ecol. Evol. Syst. 2014. 45:271–95
Short film about ecosystems in change. Elisabeth Cooper's snow fence experiment is featured at 6min 40 sec.
An Antarctic perspective on ecosystem responses to winter change: Harsch MA, McGlone MS, Wilmshurst JM (2014) Winter climate limits subantarctic low forest growth and establishment. PLoS ONE 9(4): e93241. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0093241
Winter change article in International Innovation interviewing Jarle Bjerke (and WinterNet gets a mention).
12-10-14
The University of Eastern Finland is inviting expressions of interest for a possible invitation procedure regarding the following post:
FACULTY OF SCIENCE AND FORESTRY
Professor of Microbial Biogeochemistry (Position no 30650), Department of Environmental Science, Kuopio Campus
Application period closes on 5 November 2014 at 3 pm (Finnish time).
This post is re-opened. Persons who have already expressed their interest in being invited to the post will be taken into consideration when the post is filled, and no new expression of interest needs to be submitted.
The field and duties of the professorship are preliminarily defined as follows:
The research and teaching duties of the professorship focus on microbial biogeochemistry. The professor is also expected to participate in the development of teaching in molecular environmental microbiology. The most important duties of the professor include the development of the field's education, research and research training, and maintaining these at an internationally recognised level. This requires the acquisition of external funding and engaging in international cooperation in the field.
The professorship is hosted by the Department of Environmental Science at the Faculty of Science and Forestry of the University of Eastern Finland (Kuopio Campus). The position will be filled with an open-ended contract.
The salary of the position is determined in accordance with the salary system of Finnish universities and is placed on level 8 to 10 of the job requirement level chart for teaching and research staff (€ 4 617.75–5 885.99/ month). In addition to the job requirement component, the salary includes a personal performance component, which may be a maximum of 46.3% of the job requirement component (maximum € 6 755.77 – 8 611.20/month).
According to the Administrative Regulations of the University of Eastern Finland, a person to be appointed to a permanent professorship or to a professorship of over a two-year term shall be scientifically or artistically qualified, have good teaching skills and, if important for attending to the duties, practical familiarity with the field of the post.
Persons wishing to express their interest for the post are asked to enclose the following documents in the application:
1. a résumé or CV (http://www.tenk.fi/en/template-researchers-curriculum-vitae)
2. a portfolio of teaching merits compiled in accordance with the faculty's instructions or an overview of the applicant's teaching merits in CV format: http://www.uef.fi/en/lumet/tiedekunnan-ohjeistuksia
3. a list of publications (http://www.aka.fi/en-GB/A/Funding-and-guidance/How-to-apply/Appendices/List-of-publications)
4. a short description (2-4 pages) of the merits and activities relevant to the post, including the applicant's views on how to develop the field's research and teaching.
Expressions of interest should be addressed to the Faculty of Science and Forestry and delivered to the registry office at the Joensuu Campus or the Kuopio Campus:
University of Eastern Finland
Joensuu Campus, Registry, P.O. Box 111, FI-80101 JOENSUU, FINLAND (Visiting address: Yliopistokatu 2, Aurora building), or
Kuopio Campus, Registry, P.O. Box 1627, FI-1627 Kuopio, FINLAND (Visiting address: Yliopistonranta 1 E, Snellmania building).
The application period closes on 5 November 2014 at 3 pm (Finnish time).
Further enquiries:
Professor Maija-Riitta Hirvonen
Head of Department
University of Eastern Finland
Faculty of Science and Forestry
Department of Environmental Science
Tel. +358 50 3525160
Email: maija-riitta.hirvonen@uef.fi
Further information regarding the application procedure can be obtained from Executive Head of Administration Arja Hirvonen (tel. +358 44 716 3422, email: arja.hirvonen@uef.fi)
17-10-14
Postdoc position in Switzerland on phenology of alpine plants
Closing date Nov 5, 2014
The ‘Mountain Ecosystems’ and ‘Climate Research’ teams at the Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL in Switzerland are looking for a Postdoctoral Researcher in the project: ‘Warmer temperatures, less snow, earlier plant development? Using a long-term meteorological network to unravel temperature and snow effects on mountain vegetation’. We take advantage of a unique and extensive set of climate monitoring stations in the Swiss Alps that provides c. 20 years of climate, snow and plant growth data. We plan to extend the approach to other regions of the Alps or world. You will investigate how temperatures and snow cover influence plant phenology along geographical gradients within the network of climate stations to determine how changed climate conditions such as accelerated snowmelt control phenology and the distribution of plants. You will publish your results in international journals. The position is funded for the duration of 2 years and should start in January 2015. The work location is Davos, Switzerland.
A PhD in the field of biology, ecology or botany is required and you must have experience in field work and statistical analyses particularly in R. You are able to handle and analyze large and long-term data sets and you are fluent in English. You are a team player, possess good oral and written communication skills, good organizational ability and can work efficiently.
The WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF in Davos is part of the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL and thus part of the ETH Domain. WSL focuses on the sustainable use and protection of landscapes and habitats, and a responsible approach to natural hazards. WSL employs approximately 500 people, of whom 130 work at SLF in Davos.
Please apply online (see link below) by sending your complete application to Jasmine Zimmermann, Human Resources WSL/SLF. Christian Rixen, phone +41 (0)81 417 02 14, e-mail rixen@slf.ch, and Martine Rebetez, phone Tel. +41 (0)32 718 18 12, will be happy to answer any questions or offer further information. To be assured of full consideration, please apply by November 5, 2014.
To apply online, press the “apply now” button at the end of the job ad at
https://apply.refline.ch/273855/0445/pub/2/index.html
30-09-14
1) Two postdoc positions at CIRC, Abisko, Sweden
2) PhD position, University of Tromsø, Norway
1) Two Postdoc positions
Application deadline: 24 October 2014
The Climate Impacts Research Centre (Umeå University) in Abisko, north Sweden is looking for two Postdocs (2 years each) in the Ecology / Biogeochemistry / Microbial Soil Ecology of permafrost ecosystems. Large uncertainties exist about the impacts of climate change on the world’s stock of soil organic carbon, especially the large amounts stored in permafrost soils. Thawing of previously frozen ground may expose this carbon pool to microbial degradation and turn arctic soils from long-term carbon sinks into sources of greenhouse gasses. This project aims to investigate how climate and ecosystem processes control carbon dynamics in permafrost soils.
Please find more information via
http://www8.umu.se/umu/aktuellt/arkiv/lediga_tjanster/4-975-14.html
or contact Ellen Dorrepaal (ellen.dorrepaal@emg.umu.se).
2) PhD Position
Application deadline: 12 October 2014
Plant Ecology
University of Tromsø
Tromsø, Norway
The Faculty of Biosciences, Fishery, and Economics at the University of Tromsø (UiT) the Arctic University of Norway, seeks candidates for a PhD position in plant ecology. The position is attached to the Department of Arctic and Marine Biology (AMB) and the research group of Northern Populations and Ecosystems. The appointment is for three years starting 1 March 2015 and is based in Tromsø, Norway.
The position is financed by The Norwegian Research Council, within the project entitled "SnoEco: Effects of snow depth and snow melt timing on Arctic plant ecology." The project will investigate the effect of changes in snow depth in winter and snow melt timing in spring on plant productivity and reproduction in the high-Arctic. A manipulative field experiment will be carried out in Adventdalen, Svalbard to simulate winter climatic change, responses at the soil and plant level will be measured, and implications for various trophic levels will be drawn.
The candidate should ideally hold a Master's degree in plant ecology or biology with plant ecological specialism (or equivalent), and have experience with field observations and experiments. Working knowledge of statistical methods and a proven ability for scientific writing are required. The successful applicant should have the ability to carry out fieldwork in adverse weather conditions, work independently, and contribute to teamwork. Experience with Arctic ecosystems, insight into nutrient cycling and trophic level interactions, and an interest in learning new lab techniques are considered advantageous. The applicant must have a good command of English, both written and verbal.
Application deadline: Sunday, 12 October 2014.
The application should include a PhD project description including aims, methods, timeframe, and expected outcome.
For further information, full description of the position, and application instructions, please use the search term "105362" at:
http://www.jobbnorge.no/en/available-jobs
Or, contact:
Elisabeth Cooper
Email: elisabeth.cooper@uit.no
Phone: +47-77-64-52-24
16-05-14
Video of “WINNIT” winter warming project lead by The Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Tromsø
The link below takes you to a short video about NINA’s new winter warming project WINNIT (Winter disturbance and nitrogen deposition: Unraveling the mechanisms behind ecosystem response to combined effects of climate and pollution). An English language version is expected soon, but even if your Norwegian isn’t up to it, the images and aerial shots of the experiment are worth a look.
http://www.forskning.no/artikler/2014/april/386941/
NINA also has a new website for their winter climate research, that includes the WINNIT project, plus EWWA (Extreme Winter Warming in the High North and its biological effects in the past, present and future) and WICLAP (Ecosystem stress from the combined effects of winter climate change and air pollution - how do the impacts differ between biomes?). Again, an English language version is expected shortly.
http://www.nina.no/Prosjekter/Vinterklima.aspx
31-03-14
Post Doc Position: plant ecology and remote sensing, Tromsø University
Faculty of Biosciences, Fishery and Economics
Application deadline: 22 April 2014.
Applications shall be marked: Ref. 2014/1366
The Faculty of Biosciences, Fishery and Economics has a Postdoctoral Research Fellow position vacant in plant ecology. The position is attached to Department of Arctic and Marine Biology (AMB) and the research group of Northern populations and ecosystems.
The position of Postdoctoral Research Fellow is a fixed term position for a period of three years and financed by the Norwegian Research Council within the project “The effect of snow depth and snow melt timing on arctic terrestrial ecosystems”
This post-doctoral researcher position, expected to start in June 2014, will investigate the role of snow cover on plant growth in the arctic using a combination of field measurements and remote sensing.
For more details see the attached advert and: www.jobbnorge.no
For further information, please contact: Professor Elisabeth Cooper, tel . +47 77645224,
elisabeth.cooper@uit.no or Associate professor Lennart Nilsen, tel. +47 77646314, lennart.nilsen@uit.no