Position Title: Post Doctoral position in Quantitative Ecology

Duties & Responsibilities: We seek an outstanding individual to conduct data analysis and model development in the labs of Joe von Fischer and Colleen Webb for a project on the interface of microbial ecology, biogeochemistry and ecosystem ecology. In this project, we are working to test the hypothesis that improved knowledge of microbial community composition will improve the predictive power of ecosystem models. Our study system is methane uptake by grassland soils across the Great Plains of the U.S. Here, we are making measures of methane uptake in the field, characterizing ecophysiological responses of the methanotroph communities in the lab, sequencing methanotroph functional genes to characterize methanotroph community composition, and quantifying site properties that may lead to patterns in methanotroph biogeography. Ecologically, our approach corresponds to the characterization of environmental gradients, measures of performance and characterization of traits at the community level. The successful candidate will lead analysis of this hierarchical data using appropriate statistical methods and coordinate hand off of those findings for ecosystem model simulation. The candidate is expected to work closely in a collaborative group. The position is for 1 year with potential for renewal with satisfactory performance.

Position Qualifications: Required qualifications: PhD or equivalent by the time of job start in ecology, statistics or another appropriate field. Preferred qualifications: Documented ability to bring projects to completion. Evidence of intellectual leadership, familiarity with Bayesian model approaches, familiarity with Microsoft Access databases, experience working collaboratively in a group setting. Good communication skills and excellent quantitative skills. Also prefer experience with one or more of the following: microbial ecology, biogeochemistry, DNA sequence analysis, phylogenetics.

Salary Range:

Benefits: Colorado State University, which has a total enrollment of over 26,000 full-time students, is located in Fort Collins, 60 miles north of Denver. The community of about 140,000 is situated along the front range of the Rocky Mountains. Other major employers in the community are Hewlett-Packard, LSI Logic, Celestica, Agilent Technologies, Advanced Energy, Kodak, Anheuser-Busch, and Poudre Valley Hospital. There are also several state and federal research agencies in Fort Collins that contribute to the intellectual environment of the university. The University of Colorado in Boulder, the University of Colorado Health Science Center and Denver University in Denver, and the University of Wyoming in Laramie, are all within a one-hour drive. In addition to the cultural activities sponsored by the University, the community offers a center for performing arts, a symphony orchestra, repertory theater, choral society, and dance company. The city operates an indoor Olympic-size pool and ice arena, other indoor and outdoor pools, five public golf courses, and sponsors, through its Parks and Recreation Department, many leisure-time activities. Rocky Mountain National Park and Roosevelt National Forest are within 30 miles of Fort Collins. Fort Collins has an excellent school district and is considered one of the best places in the US to raise a family. Finally, Fort Collins is a perennial in the top 10 best places to live. Last year Money Magazine ranked Fort Collins as the sixth “Best Place to Live” in America.

Web Site:

Application Address: To apply: upload CV, cover letter, research statements and three letters of reference to https://cns.natsci.colostate.edu/employment/JvFPdoc/ Letters of reference can be uploaded directly by letter writers, following instructions on the web page. For full consideration, applications must be received by February 15, 2013. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Contact Email: jcvf@mail.colostate.edu

Application Deadline: 2/15/2013