wildlife

We are seeking enthusiastic undergraduates and recent college graduates who are interested in summer field research in Alaska. The overall objective of our research program is to understand the ecosystem and global consequences of potential future changes in arctic vegetation. Successful applicants will assist with fieldwork in our tussock tundra site and laboratory work consisting of tasks such as plant sorting and data entry. In addition, successful applicants will attend weekly seminars on the research at the station, will develop their own individual research projects on a topic related to the program and their own interests, and will present their work at an informal symposium at Toolik Field Station.

The focus of this experiment is to understand the mechanisms by which winter processes affect the summer growth of vegetation, and the consequences of shrub expansion under a warming climate for biogeochemical cycling of C and N. We have set up snowfences in tussock tundra, low shrub tundra, and taller shrub tundra, in order to assess how increased winter snow affects mineralization of N overwinter and growth and recovery from snow-loading of shrubs and other vegetation in the following summer. We labeled plots on both sides of these snowfences with 15N in summer 2006 to see whether additional snow promotes overwinter mineralization of N, and if so, whether shrubs preferentially take up this N. We harvested plant biomass and soils from this experiment in 2007, and will harvest again this coming summer. In addition, we will continue measurements of shrub response to, and recovery from, mechanical loading by snow. This project will improve our understanding of land surface changes currently occurring in the Arctic, and their potential impacts on climate. Successful applicants will be based at Toolik Field Station, north of the Brooks Range in arctic Alaska http://www.uaf.edu/toolik/, which is the focus of research by nearly 100 scientists who work on a variety of terrestrial and aquatic ecology projects.

For more information, contact Dr. Syndonia Bret-Harte: syndonia@lter.uaf.edu
There are 2 positions, each of which pays a stipend of $440 per week (before taxes). These positions are open only to US citizens who are currently undergraduates or have graduated after December 2007.
Both positions will begin in June and end in late August of 2008.

Class background in plant ecology, botany, ecosystem ecology, statistics, and computer science would be an advantage. Experience
in field or laboratory, experience with data analysis, and experience working in a remote field site is preferred. You should have skills with plant identification, data collecting and recording, data manipulation in Excel, and data analysis. Applicants must be willing to work in the field, occasionally under adverse weather conditions. Competent, careful, emotionally mature, and enthusiastic people desired! We want the work to be both fun and challenging. We encourage applications from women and minorities. A valid U.S. Driver's license is required, and successful applicants must provide a copy of their social security cards at the time of employment.

You must apply for these jobs on-line. To apply, please go to https://www.uakjobs.com and click on "Create Application" link to select a User Name and Password and to create your application. Then, go to http://www.uakjobs.com/applicants/Central?quickFind=62449.

You need to submit a cover letter that explains why you are interested in the program and how it fits into your long-term >education and career goals. Also, describe your background and include anything that you think would convince us that you are the most appropriate person for this position. You must also submit a C.V. or Resume and the names, telephone numbers, and email addresses of three professional references. If need assistance, please contact UAF Human Resources at 907-474-7700 or stop by:
3295 College Road, Room 108,
Fairbanks, AK 99775-7860 between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday (closed noon -1 p.m.).

Applications will be reviewed beginning April 4, 2008.