Student Position Announcement
Research Aide
Institute of Arctic Biology
University of Alaska Fairbanks
Toolik Field Station, Brooks Range, Alaska
Review of Applications Will Begin: Thursday, 16 April 2009
For further information, please search for posting number 0057445 at:
https://www.uakjobs.com
Or contact:
Syndonia Bret-Harte
Email: ffmsb [at] uaf.edu
The Institute of Arctic Biology (IAB) at the University of Alaska
Fairbanks (UAF) seeks enthusiastic undergraduates and recent college
graduates who are interested in summer field research in Alaska. The
overall objective of the research program is to understand the ecosystem
and global consequences of potential future changes in arctic
vegetation. The Research Assistant will be based at Toolik Field
Station, north of the Brooks Range in arctic Alaska
http://www.uaf.edu/toolik. One position is available, which pays a
stipend of $436 per week (before taxes). It will begin in early June and
end in late August of 2009.
The successful applicant will assist with fieldwork at the tussock
tundra site and laboratory work consisting of tasks such as plant
sorting and data entry. In addition, research assistants will attend
weekly seminars on the research at the station, will develop his or her
own individual research projects on a topic related to the program and
his or her own interests, and will present his or her work at an
informal symposium at Toolik Field Station.
The focus of research this summer is to understand how plant species
traits affect ecosystem processing of C and N, and how changes in the
species abundance may alter C and N cycling under a warming climate.
Researchers have been collecting data on plant traits from a suite of
species growing in different tundra ecosystem types, and will finish
that collection this summer. Data are being compared with similar plant
traits collected in ecosystems at a range of latitudes across the
Americas, to assess the contribution of functional diversity to
ecosystem processing of C and N under land use and climatic change.
The successful applicant will also assist with other projects, including
one focused on 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.
Researchers have set up snow fences 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.
Vegetation growth will continue to be followed in this study, and will
continue measurements of shrub response to, and recovery from,
mechanical loading by snow. This project should improve understanding of
land surface changes currently occurring in the Arctic, and their
potential impacts on climate.
Finally, the successful applicant will help with a project focused on
understanding the contribution of vegetation and disturbance to
landscape-level fluxes of carbon, water, and energy in tundra
ecosystems.
Eligibility:
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. Applicants 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 are
desired. The work is designed to be both fun and challenging. 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.
Applications from women and minorities are encouraged.
To apply, please complete the online application by searching for
posting number 0057445 at https://www.uakjobs.com. You must 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. You must also
describe your background and include anything that would convince the
reviewers that you are the most appropriate person for this position.
You must also submit a CV or resume and the names, telephone numbers,
and email addresses of three professional references. For assistance
with the application, 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 Thursday, 16 April
2009.
UAF is an AA/EO Employer and Educational Institution.
For further information, please contact:
Syndonia Bret-Harte
Email: ffmsb [at] uaf.edu