EES NEWSLETTER
WEEK OF FEBRUARY 27, 2024
Earth & environmental sciences & geographical & sustainability sciences joint seminar - 3/1/2024 - 3:30 - 5PM, 106 gilmore hall
please note this week’s seminar is in 106 gilmore hall (refreshments will be available in 115B TH before seminar)
Presenter: Dr. Jessica Meyer - Assistant Professor, UI - ESS
Title: Characterizing water and solute exchanges between groundwater and human impacted lakes and streams
Abstract: Although groundwater and surface water are often conceptualized and managed as separate resources they are typically very closely linked via the exchange of water, solutes, and energy. Although these linkages are well known they are not always well understood. This is particularly true in complex hydrogeologic settings and/or with respect to new and emerging contaminants. This presentation will describe two separate studies focused on characterizing water and solute exchange between groundwater and surface water. The overall objective of the first study is to describe the spatial and temporal variability in water and iron exchange between a ferruginous, meromictic kettle lake and the underlying groundwater system in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Improving our understanding of the scale and variability of these exchanges is critical to constraining the coupled biogeochemical cycling of iron and carbon in ferruginous, meromictic lakes in previously glaciated terrains. The overall objective of the second study is to determine if and how groundwater participates in the attenuation of complex mixtures of wastewater effluent derived contaminants in Muddy Creek, a small effluent dominated stream in Coralville, Iowa. The contaminants of interest include pharmaceuticals, neonicotinoids, and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Advancing our understanding of attenuation mechanisms for these complex mixtures in streams like Muddy Creek will contribute to our overall understanding of wastewater impacts on receiving streams in temperate environments, which are increasing due to urbanization and climate change. The results of both studies highlight the importance of opening up the ‘black box’ of the groundwater system with a diverse set of field measurements (e.g., geologic, hydraulic, biogeochemical) made at multiple scales to advance our understanding of water and solute exchange in these systems.
Presenter: Dr. Caglar Koylu - Associate Professor, UI - GSS
Title: Analysis of U.S. internal migration using population-scale family tree data, 1789-1930
Abstract: Analysis of long-term migration data is crucial for understanding the changing nature of the drivers of migration, regional disparities, demographic changes, and climate variability. Specifically, in the context of the U.S., the study of long-term migration is distinct because the European settlement was significantly influenced by land resources and economic prospects, highlighting the unique role of geographic and demographic expansion in shaping the nation's complex history, mindful of the profound effects on Indigenous populations. The increasing availability of digitized historical sources on genealogy websites have enabled numerous individuals to assemble and share their family trees. Only a handful of research teams have leveraged extensive datasets of user-contributed family trees, and cleaned, connected and deduplicated them to generate population-scale family trees to investigate social processes, particularly migration. In this presentation, Dr. Koylu will shed light on his team’s efforts to construct the largest connected family tree to date, connecting 40 million relatives spanning across several centuries and continents. He will delve into the innovative techniques that harness the power of geographic information science to analyze and visualize big family tree data. These efforts enable the assessment of how representative the tree data is of the overall population in the U.S., the exploration of migration patterns and kinship networks across geographic space and time and provide valuable insights and historical context crucial for understanding the ongoing socio-economic and demographic transformations.
reminders:
- Plans of study - grad students due at grad college: 3/5/2024
- Early registration - summer 2024: 3/4 - 3/8/24
- Spring break: 3/10 - 3/17/24
- Early registration - fall 2024: 4/8 - 4/26/24
- Last day to drop a course - undergrad/grad: 4/15/24
- Last day to withdraw without collegiate approval - undergrad/grad: 4/15/24
- Final exam reports due - grad - 4/16/24
- Single thesis deposit (5pm CST) - 4/23/24
- Close of classes: 5/3/24
- Final exam week: 5/6 - 5/10/24
- Commencement: 5/9 - 5/12/24
- First day of summer classes - 5/13/24
Students, Faculty, & Alumni: Distinguished Alumni Award nominations!
Since 2019 your Earth and Environmental Science Alumni Board have announced a Distinguished Alumni Awardee. A “Distinguished Alumni” is alumni with a B.S., M.S., or Ph. D. who is recognized from making significant contributions to earth and environmental sciences throughout their careers, and personified service to and passion for the discipline and community, including public outreach. All nominations are kept on file so no nominee is ever “lost” in the review and selection process. The Distinguished Alumni is announced each year at Homecoming.
Please send your nominations to Lee Phillips, EESB Chair (plphilli@uncg.edu), Brian Hartman (brianshartman@gmail.com), Chair of the Alumni Outreach Committee, which oversees this award process, and Amy Sullivan, alumni and Past EESB Chair (cajes@mindspring.com) who coordinates nominee documentation. From that point the Alumni Outreach Committee will move forward with the review and documentation process. Let’s honor our awesome alumni!
Faculty Research
CLAS earth and environmental sciences professor emeritus shares details of Atlantic Ocean research expedition
Mark Reagan, professor emeritus in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, spent last summer on an expedition to drill the seafloor near the Mid-Atlantic Ridge.
graduate student defenses
- 3/5, Tuesday, 1:30PM (CST) - Samuel Hudziak [PhD Oral Comps] - 115B Trowbridge Hall [faculty advisor: David Peate]
- 4/3, Wednesday, 11AM (CST) - John J. Nguyen [Master’s Defense] - 339 Iowa Memorial Union [faculty advisor: Christopher Brochu]
- “A Reassessment of Asiatosuchus grangeri Mook, 1940 and its Implications on the Evolution of Paleogene Crocodiles”
- The genus Asiatosuchus has historically been used as a wastebasket taxon to refer to any basal crocodile from the Paleogene. These species represent some of the closest extinct relatives to all modern crocodiles. Here we sought to reassess the species Asiatosuchus grangeri Mook, 1940, a crocodile from the middle Eocene of China. Fossil specimens of this species were reexamined to create a detailed description from which to conduct a morphology based phylogenetic analysis. A. grangeri was found to be somewhat more derived than previously thought, and less closely related to other species that have previously been referred to the genus. The results of this analysis may also point towards an Asian lineage of early crocodile which persisted from the Late Cretaceous up to the Eocene. Further studies are required among basal crocodiles to both resolve the remaining degree of uncertainty in their phylogenetic relationships and incorporate these findings with molecular data of extant species.
- “A Reassessment of Asiatosuchus grangeri Mook, 1940 and its Implications on the Evolution of Paleogene Crocodiles”
- 4/3, Wednesday, 1PM (CST) - Brandon Botha [Master’s Defense] - 349 Iowa Memorial Union [faculty advisor: Emily Finzel]
- Title TBD
- 4/16, Tuesday, 9:30AM (CST) - Nathanael Kilburg [Master’s Defense] - 345 Iowa Memorial Union [faculty advisor: David Peate]
- “Age and Petrogenesis of the Matlock ‘Keratophyre’ in Northwest Iowa”
- Mineral exploration cores drilled in 1963 into a magnetic anomaly by the New Jersey Zinc Company in northwest Iowa found the ~2.7 Ga Otter Creek layered mafic intrusion stratigraphically overlain by the ~1.78 Ga Matlock “Keratophyre” (MK). The MK was logged in two of the drilled Matlock cores: C-5 and C-6. The MK was described as a dark gray porphyritic rhyolite unit in the subsurface Precambrian basement of Iowa that grades downward from a crystal-poor tuff (core C-6 and top of core C-5) into a volcanic flow breccia that contains mafic clasts from the underlying 2.7 Ga Otter Creek Layered Igneous Complex (core C-5). This project involved gathering new petrographic and compositional data to investigate the nature and petrogenesis of this highly altered, mixed rhyolite-basalt unit. A PXRF was used to survey compositional variations in the cores to aid sample selection for whole rock geochemistry and U-Pb zircon geochronology (high-Zr core sections). Zircon was recovered from two Matlock C-5 core sections, but the sample of crystal-poor tuff (C-6 core section) was barren. Zircons analyzed by LA-ICP-MS at the Arizona LaserChron Center yielded concordia ages of 1803 ± 4 Ma (sample C5 488-9) and 1810 ± 9 Ma (sample C5 1067), suggesting the MK is older than the previous estimate (~1.78 Ga). The ICP-MS data on 24 whole rock samples shows that the MK is not a keratophyre unit but instead a high potassium rhyolite that has been highly altered and variably leached in alkali elements, and that there are three distinct rhyolite units within the MK unit based on incompatible and immobile element ratios, such as Zr/Nb and La/Sm. The PXRF and whole rock geochemical data highlight an unusual amount of mafic clasts. These whole rock geochemical data and new in-situ zircon U-Pb ages provide additional context about the southern margin of the Superior Craton.
- “Age and Petrogenesis of the Matlock ‘Keratophyre’ in Northwest Iowa”
- 6/6, Thursday, Time TBD (CST) - Samson Bruxvoort [Master’s Defense] - Location TBD [faculty advisor: Bill McClelland]
- Title TBD
JOB OPPORTUNITIES
UNDERGRAD / ENTRY-LEVEL
Closing date: Mar 22, 2024
The Department of Environmental, Earth, and Atmospheric Sciences (EEAS) at the University of Massachusetts Lowell offers a PhD program in Earth System Science and an MS program in Environmental Geoscience and Atmospheric Science. Several open graduate research and teaching assistantships are available for motivated students starting in Fall 2024. Positions are open in the areas of climate science and modeling, biogeochemistry, urban ecology, hydrogeology, and weather forecasting. Please see our full list of graduate degrees: https://www.uml.edu/Catalog/Graduate/Sciences/Environmental/Default.aspx
The University of Massachusetts Lowell (also known as UMass Lowell) is an urban public research university in Lowell, Massachusetts, with nearly 1,150 faculty members and 18,058 students. EEAS offers unique interdisciplinary study programs encompassing Geosciences, Meteorology, Hydrology, and Environmental Chemistry. EEAS offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in Earth System Science and Environmental Sciences, with concentrations in Environmental Studies, Geosciences, Sustainability and Atmospheric Sciences. Graduate School admission policies are found under https://www.uml.edu/grad/
Salary: University negotiated salary rate, commensurate with experience, full benefits available
Closing date: Mar 21, 2024
The School for Marine Science and Technology at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth invites applications for a Research Technician to work on problems relating to oceanographic and atmospheric research. Position responsibilities include conducting research operations, preparation/calibration/testing of research instrumentation in the laboratory, field and at-sea deployment, coordination of vessels and other field equipment, and other related field tasks. The successful candidate will also assist with data analysis, presenting results and assisting with grant proposal preparation and administration.
Initial appointment will be for up to 12 months. Renewals will be contingent on performance and availability of funding.
A minimum of a Baccalaureate degree in a related field is required, a Masters degree in oceanography, engineering, or related discipline is preferred. Hands-on experience in an area related to the research activity is also required, as is the ability and willingness to work irregular hours.
Applicants must be US citizens or have authorization to work in the United States.
Interested applicants that meet the requirements are encouraged to review the SMAST Code of Conduct and Diversity Statement (https://www.umassd.edu/media/umassdartmouth/smast/lab-pdf-files/SMAST-Code-of-Conduct-and-Diversity-Statement.pdf).
To apply please submit a letter of interest, current resume and the contact information for three professional references at: http://careers.umassd.edu/dartmouth/en-us/job/522128/research-technician-estuarine-ocean-sciences
Review of applications is ongoing.
Iowa Wildlife Camps is Hiring for Summer 2024!
Iowa Wildlife Camps hires undergraduate and graduate students, classroom teachers and informal educators to work at camp. Students earning a degree in any field, especially those with an interest in education, environmental studies, or any sciences, are encouraged to apply.
Iowa Wildlife Campus is hiring Camp Instructors, Camp Assistant Coordinators, and Camp Coordinators for multiple locations:
For candidates looking to stay near the Iowa City area, there are positions available to teach for 9 weeks (June 10 - Aug 9) at the University of Iowa's Field Campus, Macbride Nature Recreation Area.
For candidates looking to explore outside of the Iowa City area, there are positions available to teach at Iowa State Park Camps. Wildlife Camps will be in 6 unique State Parks for 1-week camps. Candidates can apply to work for just one week at a specific State Park Camp, or multiple weeks at various State Park Camp locations. State Park Camp staff have the opportunity to camp at the State Parks during their week of teaching or opt for their own accommodations (if they live locally, have friends/family they would like to stay with in the area...etc.).
If you know people who might be interested in these summer opportunities, please share our current job openings! Attached is a pdf flyer to share and linked below are the job descriptions:
Wildlife Camps Program Coordinator
Feel free to email Ellen Carman, Iowa Wildlife Camps Director at ellen-carman@uiowa.edu with any questions.
iowa statewide school of the wild seasonal instructor
OVERVIEW: School of the Wild is a statewide initiative to increase outdoor learning experiences for elementary and middle school students across Iowa. The University of Iowa’s College of Education in partnership with Iowa schools, county conservation boards, and many other local conservation organizations across the state work together to bring School of the Wild to students. School of the Wild strives to provide all students with a meaningful, outdoor learning experience that develops a sense of awareness and appreciation for the natural world, and in turn, leads them to act with positive stewardship for all things wild.
SEASONAL INSTRUCTOR RESPONSIBILITIES
- Provide daily instruction and support during School of the Wild programs at park locations across the state and at Macbride Nature Recreation Area. This includes outdoor recreation and conservation-based activities.
- Travel to provide support and provided equipment for School of the Wild locations across the state of Iowa using a university vehicle.
- Work as a team to develop lesson plans, learning experiences, and environmental programming.
- Participate in planning meetings with staff, teachers, naturalists, and other partners to communicate, plan, and schedule educational programs.
- Assist with managing the care and safety of the participating students.
- Provide excellent customer service to all School of the Wild clients and guests.
- Self-motivated, energetic, and willing to be flexible in duties and interactions with students.
- Maintain a positive attitude at all times.
- Will be hiking 3-4 miles each day and may be required to lift up to 40 pounds.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- High School Diploma or GED.
- Ability to be approved to drive University of Iowa vehicles
- Experience working with youth in outdoor environments
- Experience working in formal and/or informal education settings
- Knowledge of and experience educating young people (ages 10-14) with a variety of needs and abilities.
- Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with a team.
- Ability to think quickly in fast-paced situations.
- Demonstrate patience, organization, and a desire to see others succeed.
- Capable of organizing and leading activities and redirecting disruptive behavior to facilitate learning.
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- College major or degree in fields related to environmental education (sciences, education, etc.).
- Willingness to acquire a commercial driver’s license (CDL) and bus driver certification.
WORK HOURS
- Monday – Friday, 8:30 am – 2:30 pm and willingness to work longer hours when necessary to account for travel time to and from School of the Wild locations (30-40 hours per week).
- March 18 – May 24, 2024
TRAINING REQUIREMENTS
- Criminal Background Check upon hire
- CPR/AED/First-Aid certification or ability to obtain upon hire
- University of Iowa Minors on Campus online training
- University of Iowa Blood Pathogen training
- University of Iowa Heat Stress Prevention training
- University of Iowa First Amendment (Free Speech) training
RATE OF PAY
- Starting at $17 per hour to commensurate (depending on education and experience)
PROFESSIONAL/POST-GRAD
Salary: University negotiated salary rate, commensurate with experience, full benefits available
Closing date: Mar 21, 2024
The School for Marine Science and Technology at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth invites applications for a Research Technician to work on problems relating to oceanographic and atmospheric research. Position responsibilities include conducting research operations, preparation/calibration/testing of research instrumentation in the laboratory, field and at-sea deployment, coordination of vessels and other field equipment, and other related field tasks. The successful candidate will also assist with data analysis, presenting results and assisting with grant proposal preparation and administration.
Initial appointment will be for up to 12 months. Renewals will be contingent on performance and availability of funding.
A minimum of a Baccalaureate degree in a related field is required, a Masters degree in oceanography, engineering, or related discipline is preferred. Hands-on experience in an area related to the research activity is also required, as is the ability and willingness to work irregular hours.
Applicants must be US citizens or have authorization to work in the United States.
Interested applicants that meet the requirements are encouraged to review the SMAST Code of Conduct and Diversity Statement (https://www.umassd.edu/media/umassdartmouth/smast/lab-pdf-files/SMAST-Code-of-Conduct-and-Diversity-Statement.pdf).
To apply please submit a letter of interest, current resume and the contact information for three professional references at: http://careers.umassd.edu/dartmouth/en-us/job/522128/research-technician-estuarine-ocean-sciences
Review of applications is ongoing.
Physical Scientist - US Geological Survey - Lakewood, Colorado
$96,600 - $115,000 Per Year - Full Time
The Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center (GGGSC) is advertising a permanent Physical Scientist GS-1301-12/13 in Lakewood, CO. The work conducted by GGGSC addresses intra-Bureau, inter-Departmental, other federal, state, and international programs. The primary mission of GGGSC is to apply its expertise in geology, geophysics, and geochemistry to interdisciplinary projects that address socially important scientific issues in support of the USGS Science Strategy. Center scientists also work closely with other federal and state governmental agencies, as well as with other nations, on a variety of technical and scientific topics. The ultimate goal is to make scientific knowledge public and to contribute to the resolution of issues through accurate and impartial scientific research on earth science topics (e.g., mineral resources, environmental effects of mineral development, geological effects on ecological and human health, and geological hazards) in a manner that is useful for policy formulation and decision-making at appropriate levels of local, state, and federal government.
The primary function of this position is to conduct mineralogical and elemental analyses using advanced analytical techniques such as x-ray diffraction (XRD), wavelength dispersive x-ray fluorescence (WDXRF), and portable x-ray fluorescence (PXRF). The incumbent manages the daily operation of an X-ray laboratory utilizing knowledge and skills in the fields of geology, mineralogy, and geochemistry. The incumbent ensures all methods and techniques meet or exceed center, mission area, and Bureau quality management system criteria. The goal is to provide high quality data that contribute to a better understanding of mineralogy in support of USGS science.
The announcement is open 2/21 - 3/11/2024.
Visiting Assistant Professor of Geology - Centenary College of Louisiana - Shreveport, Louisiana
Centenary College of Louisiana invites applications for a two-year position at the rank of Visiting Assistant Professor in the Geology Department beginning August 2024. We are seeking candidates who are interested in teaching geology in a liberal arts environment and involving undergraduate students in research experiences. Recent Ph.D.’s and ABD’s are encouraged to apply. The teaching responsibilities will depend on the background of the successful candidate but should involve some subset of Physical Geology, Environmental Geology, Historical Geology, and Sedimentary Geology; a special topics course in the successful candidate’s field of interest is also a possibility. Special consideration will be given to those with experience in environmental and/or surface geology with practical experience in GIS.
Centenary plans to invite applications in Fall 2025 for a tenure-track position at the rank of Assistant Professor in the Geology Department. The successful candidate for the Visiting position may be eligible to transition to Tenure-Track.
Applicants should submit a letter of application, curriculum vitae, unofficial transcripts, and the names, telephone numbers, and email addresses of three references. Candidate materials should address experience and/or commitment to teaching and mentoring undergraduate students from diverse backgrounds and to advancing the College’s commitment to diversity. Official transcripts, three letters of recommendation, and a background check are required before a candidate can be hired. Review of applications will begin March 1.
To apply, send application materials to hr@centenary.edu or:
Department of Human Resources Centenary College of Louisiana 2911 Centenary Boulevard
Shreveport, Louisiana 71104 Email: hr@centenary.edu
Salary: $70234-$91301 (USD)
Closing date: Mar 21, 2024
POSITION SUMMARY: The USDA Agricultural Research Service, Southwest Watershed Research Center is seeking applicants for a postdoctoral position focused on hydrologic and erosion modeling and enhanced infiltration parametrization for modeling of rangelands, woodlands, and dry forests. The incumbent will use existing data to develop (1) model frameworks for predicting runoff and erosion processes on woodlands following disturbances and management actions, (2) improved quantitative understanding of infiltration/runoff/erosion relationships across diverse landscapes/conditions, and (3) new approaches to integrate infiltrometer and other datasets into infiltration parameterization for various models.
EXPECTED RESULTS: Respective advances will enhance/improve modeling capabilities for a suite of models and thereby provide improved decision-support tools for assessing hydrologic function and erosion rates, predicting responses to conservation practices, and guiding respective management on rangelands, woodlands, and forests.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS: Candidates must have a PhD in Hydrology, Water Resources, Data Science, or related field by appointment start date. The successful candidate will have evidence of: (1) experience in hillslope and/or watershed hydrologic and erosion processes and/or modeling, (2) experience in interpreting and quantitatively evaluating hydrologic data and model inputs and outputs, and (3) a demonstrated ability to publish research in appropriate outlets. US Citizenship is required.
PREFERED QUALIFICATIONS: Successful applicants should be highly motivated and willing to work independently and as a part of a multi-disciplinary team with excellent written and oral communication skills. The preferred applicant will have knowledge in one or more of the following subject areas with respect to rangelands, woodlands, and/or forest ecosystems: data science, ecohydrology, disturbance ecology, fire ecology, landscape responses to management practices, plant community dynamics, soil science, and/or watershed management.
APPOINTMENT: The position will be hired at the level of Postdoctoral Research Associate (Research Hydrologist, Term GS-11, Salary Range US$70234-US$91301) for a period not to exceed 2 yr.
TO APPLY: Interested individuals should contact Dr. Jason Williams (Research Hydrologist, jason.williams@usda.gov) by sending a very brief description of interest and a CV by 20 March 2024.
INTERNSHIP, RESEARCH, SCHOLARSHIP, FELLOWSHIP, & GRANT OPPORTUNITIES
INTERNSHIP
Salary: Partial financial support is avail. for a limited number of individuals when hosted in-person at JPL
Closing date: Mar 22, 2024
NASA 36th Annual Planetary Science Summer School. Offered by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, PSSS is a 3-month long early career development experience to help prepare the next generation of planetary science and engineering mission leaders. Participants learn the process of developing a science hypothesis-driven robotic space mission in a concurrent engineering environment while getting an in-depth, first-hand look at mission design, life cycle, costs, schedule and the trade-offs inherent in each. Science and engineering doctoral candidates, recent Ph.D.s, postdocs, junior faculty, and non-research master’s degree students, who are U.S. Citizens or legal permanent residents (and a very limited number of Foreign Nationals from non-designated countries), are eligible.
To apply and learn more about the NASA Science Mission Design Schools: http://go.nasa.gov/missiondesignschools
The Department of Mineral Sciences at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History is seeking two interns (undergraduate or recent graduate) to work in the rock collection this summer.
Broadening Participation in Earth Science Collections Management (BPESCM) is a full-time, 10-week, in-person internship located in the National Rock & Ore Collection with the Department of Mineral Sciences at the National Museum of Natural History. We seek to engage students and recent graduates from cultural, economic, and educational backgrounds currently underrepresented in the museum field who are interested in a career in collections management or museums more broadly.
Applications are due March 1, 2024 at 11:59 PM EDT.
Applicants will be notified on or before April 1, 2024 if they have been selected for this internship. Two interns will be selected.
The internship will take place from May 28 to August 2, 2024 at the National Museum of Natural History in Washington, DC. Interns must work on site at the museum for about 40 hours per week during the internship. Because multiple interns will be participating in this program, the start and end dates are inflexible.
The stipend for the internship is $12,000 but interns are responsible for finding their own housing. If you know of any undergraduates or recent graduates who might be interested in this opportunity, they can find more information, including instructions for how to apply, under the Internship heading here. The application deadline is March 1.
For questions about the internship, please contact Adam Mansur (mansura@si.edu).
Closing date: Mar 20, 2024
The Division of Marine Science of the University of Southern Mississippi (USM) invites applicants for a Ph.D. study in internal gravity waves (Physical Oceanography) starting in summer/fall 2024. Internal waves are generated by tides and wind and propagate through the world’s oceans. Their turbulent dissipation contributes to water mass mixing, which is relevant for the overturning circulation, global climate, and the dispersal of sediments, nutrients, and chemicals. We seek a skilled and motivated individual to work on the National Science Foundation funded project “Collaborative Research: Probing internal gravity wave dynamics and dissipation using global observations and numerical simulations” (OCE 2319143). The student’s work involves 1) the validation of internal waves in a 1/48th degree MIT global circulation model (MITgcm) simulation with observations such as altimetry and 2) the diagnosis of internal wave processes (e.g., dissipation, mixing, and wave-wave and wave-eddy interactions). The study provides opportunities to collaborate with project scientists of the University of Michigan, Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Funding is available for travel to collaborators and conferences. Strong skills in physics, math, and coding in MATLAB, Python, and/or Fortran are crucial. The project requires working in a Linux environment on the JPL supercomputers. Candidates must possess an M.S. degree (preferred). The TOEFL (or equivalent) is required for non-native English speakers. DMS graduate assistants are supported with an annual resource package of at least $40,000, including a tuition waiver and a stipend starting at $25,200 per academic year with benefits.
Interested candidates should contact Dr. Maarten Buijsman at maarten.buijsman@usm.edu and attach a resume or curriculum vitae, GRE score (not mandatory; if available), college transcripts (unofficial acceptable), and a brief statement of research interests.
USM is a Carnegie Research University and has been designated as Mississippi’s flagship university for marine science. The Division of Marine Science is part of the School of Ocean Science and Engineering (SOSE) and is located at the John C. Stennis Space Center on Mississippi’s Gulf Coast. Stennis is a “federal city” that boasts the world’s largest concentration of oceanographers and hydrographers, housing offices for scientists associated with NASA, the U.S. Navy, NOAA, and USGS. Division faculty expertise is multidisciplinary and includes biologists, chemists, geologists, physicists, hydrographers, and engineers. Learn more at https://www.usm.edu/ocean-science-engineering/.
Graduate Assistantship - U of Texas at Arlington - Civil Engineering
Salary: Salary depending on experience
Closing date: Mar 22, 2024
Fully funded PhD research assistantships available at UT Arlington's Hydrology and Water Resources Lab (HWRL), Hydrometeorology and Remote Sensing Research Group.
Desired qualifications:
- Master's degree or equivalent in hydrology, atmospheric science, physics or applied math (bachelor's degree holders with excellent quantitative skills and work experience will be considered)
- Proficiency in at least one of widely used programming and scripting languages, such as R, Python, Java, C++
- Training in statistics and or machine learning algorithms
- Exposure to meteorology and remote sensing
Potential research topics include hydroclimatic predictions, risk analysis, remote sensing of atmosphere and terrestrial water, and earth system modeling.
Please contact Dr. Yu Zhang (yu.zhang@uta.edu), director of HWRL, for further information.
FELLOWSHIP
The Department of Earth Sciences, University of Toronto, Canada, invites applications for the Roger E. Deane Postdoctoral Fellowship in any field of the Earth Sciences. The Department is interested in supporting innovative research and excellent early career geoscientists to work in collaboration with one or more faculty members.
Applicants must contact potential supervisors in advance to discuss areas of common interest and proposal ideas. Applicants must obtain approval from a proposed supervisor to apply. Only applicants who have secured a potential supervisor willing to supervise will be considered. Faculty who may be eligible and available to supervise are listed here:
https://www.es.utoronto.ca/people/faculty/
Note that not all supervisors are taking on new lab personnel. Contact potential supervisors prior to applying.
About this award: This endowed award was created thanks to a bequest from Dorothy M. Deane, widow of the late Prof Roger E Deane, an alumnus of the Department of Geology, University of Toronto (U of T). Prof Deane obtained a PhD in 1949 under the supervision of Prof Alexander Maclean, and returned to U of T as a faculty member in 1955, pursuing research in the areas of glacial geology and Pleistocene paleoenvironments. Prof Deane served as the inaugural Director of Research at the U of T Great Lakes Institute which eventually contributed to the founding of the U of T School of the Environment. Prof Deane died in a tragic boating accident near Tobermory, Ontario in 1965 while undertaking field work.
Salary: CAD$61,000 per year
Term: The term is 1 year, with the possibility of renewal for 1 additional year. This is a full-time, in-person position.
Expected start date: Start date is flexible between September 2024 and December 2024.
Application deadline: April 18 2024, 11:59 PM Eastern time
Selection criteria: Applicants must have a PhD in Earth Sciences, Geology, Environmental Science or closely related field at the time of taking up the appointment.
The winner will be selected on the bases of academic excellence, merit of the proposal, and potential to contribute to the geosciences. Applications will also be evaluated on how the proposal merges the specialties of the applicant and the proposed supervisor, so submitted proposals should cover greater scope than a reiteration of the applicant’s doctoral work. Bringing new perspectives to the Department, and bringing experiences and meaningful plans for connecting to groups that have been historically marginalized in the geosciences, are also criteria that will be considered in our evaluation of excellence.
How to apply:
A complete application includes:
- Cover letter with the potential supervisor(s) name clearly stated (1 page maximum)
- Research proposal (2 pages single spaced at most, excluding references)
- Updated Curriculum Vitae
- The names, addresses, email addresses and institutional affiliations of three referees. Referees will only be contacted for shortlisted candidates.
- A statement on the applicant’s contribution and/or commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion in the geosciences (1 page maximum or included in the cover letter).
Please combine your files into one PDF file, and submit electronic applications to: jobs@es.utoronto.ca (subject line: Deane Postdoctoral Fellowship)
Employment as a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Toronto is covered by the terms of the CUPE 3902 Unit 5 Collective Agreement.
This job is posted in accordance with the CUPE 3902 Unit 5 Collective Agreement.
The University of Toronto is strongly committed to diversity within its community and especially welcomes applications from racialized persons / persons of colour, women, Indigenous /Aboriginal People of North America, persons with disabilities, LGBTQ persons, and others who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas.
Closing date: Mar 22, 2024
Applications for a Post-doctoral Research Scientist will be accepted effective immediately.
The Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI www.stri.si.edu) and the Stroud Water Research Center (https://stroudcenter.org/) seek a post-doctoral scientist in watershed hydrology to join the Agua Salud Project research team in Panama. Agua Salud maintains eight experimental watersheds established to better understand hydrology related ecosystem services provided by tropical forests in a seasonal climate and how they change with land use and climate change. Experimental watersheds include 13 instrumented weirs where stream flow measurements have been collected every 5 minutes for up to 15 years. Watershed land use treatments include 1) mature tropical forest (2 independent watersheds), 2) cattle pasture, 3) naturally regenerating secondary forest, 4) native species plantation, 5) teak plantation, 6) silvopasture, 7) invasive grass (Saccharum spontaneum), 8) land use mosaic. Additional weirs help track stream flow post clearing without cattle. The site also includes a metrological station and rain gauge network.
The Agua Salud experimental watersheds serve as a critically important tropical research facility, have contributed to past advances in fundamental hydrological theory, and are increasingly relevant to understanding watershed hydrologic response to land use and climate change. We seek a post-doctoral scholar eager to collaborate with us and expand the scientific impact of Aqua Salud. The successful candidate will work with existing long-term data sets as well as help oversee continuing stream flow data collection, curation, and management. Responsibilities will include participation in the evaluation of existing hydrology infrastructure. Existing long-term stream flow data is available for the post-doctoral scientist to work with in publications but will require modest assessment and potentially significant processing prior to publication. The scientist will also be expected to lead research on methods development and testing of methods for rapid and cost-efficient assessment of stream flow recovery with reforestation.
Candidates should have strong field, analytical, and writing skills, a record of successful publication, and experience with or willingness to work on multidisciplinary teams. Training will be provided for planned analyses, with latitude for related independent research and professional development. The project provides up to three years of funding, with the third year of funding determined by performance in years 1 and 2. There are opportunities for multiple lead author publications, and ownership of future research directions. There are funds to support travel to international meetings. The location is at STRI in Panama but with potential visits to the Stroud Water Research Center outside of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA to work with Dr. Melinda Daniels, the co-supervisor. STRI fosters a lively, collaborative research community, with 32 Staff Scientists, a similar number of post-doctoral fellows, and over 1,200 international scientists visiting annually. Ability to communicate with a wide range of people in a multicultural environment will be considered.
Applications will be evaluated as they are received. The successful applicant will begin by June 2024; however, the position will be held open for the right applicant.
To Apply: Interested candidates should submit a single PDF file including cover letter, curriculum vitae, statement of research accomplishments and interests, significant publications, and the names and contact information of three references to Jefferson Hall and Melinda Daniels at hallje@si.edu. The position is open until filled; review of applications will begin on 15 March 2024.
At STRI, we value and embrace diversity in all its forms. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment that welcomes and celebrates individuals from various backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. We believe that diversity fosters innovation, creativity, and collaboration, which are essential to our success.
We encourage individuals of all races, ethnicities, genders, sexual orientations, ages, abilities, and backgrounds to apply for Postdoctoral Research Fellow at STRI. We provide equal opportunities and maintaining a fair and respectful recruitment process for all candidates. If you require accommodations during any phase of the application or interview process, please let us know, and we will be happy to assist.
STRI is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.
UPCOMING EVENTS
CAMPUS EVENTS
The Hubbell Environmental Law Initiative (HELI) at the University of Iowa College of Law is hosting a series of events this spring semester that will explore the implementation of the Inflation Reduction Act in Iowa, climate resilience and justice, international environmental enforcement, and land conservation in Iowa and the Midwest region after Sackett v. EPA.
Registration is available for each event at the links below. Each event has a virtual and in person attendance option. All events are free and open to the public.
With questions, contact the HELI team at lawmail-HELI@uiowa.edu.
March 18: 12:45 - 1:45PM: International Perspectives on Environmental Enforcement: Plastics, Climate, Monitoring Technologies, Environmental Justice and More
- On Monday, March 18, 2024 join HELI in welcoming LeRoy Paddock (77JD) to campus to reflect on the work occurring at the International Network for Environmental Compliance and Enforcement, in preparation for the International Summit on Environmental Compliance and Enforcement in Queensland, Australia in November 2024. Lee will focus on plastics, climate, monitoring, and environmental justice.
- Food and beverages will be available for those who register in advance. Registration for this event is open here
- In April 2024, HELI will convene partners from the national, regional, and local scales for a series of panels discussing land conservation in Iowa and the Midwest region after Sackett v. EPA. The exact date is TBA, but will be announced soon.
- Food and beverages will be provided for those who register in advance. Registration for this event is open here
Hawkeye experience grant for summer 2024
For summer 2024, undergraduates can apply for up to $4,000 in funds to support their living expenses while they participate in an experience in one of these categories (Internship at a for-profit, non-profit, or government entity; Internship via the Office of Study Abroad; Service-learning/Community Engagement; Research or Creative Scholarship; or Field Experience).
WORKSHOPS
4TH ANNUAL RESILIENT SUPPLY OF CRITICAL MINERALS WORKSHOP - AUGUST 7 - 8, 2024, MISSOURI S&T
Missouri S&T is excited to host the fourth annual workshop on “Resilient Supply of Critical Minerals.” The workshop series brings together interdisciplinary stakeholders from academia, industry, and government. Our goal is to provide a long-term collaborative platform to help implement action and disseminate research on critical minerals.
Registration opens April 2024
2024 Topical Sessions including:
- The Critical Mineral Potential of the US: Evaluation of existing and exploration for new resources
- Critical Minerals Workforce Development: How to grow the US critical minerals workforce
- Mineral Processing & Recycling: Maximizing critical mineral recovery from existing production streams
- Policy & Supply Chain Economics: Reshoring critical mineral production
Workshop sponsor: National Science Foundation
4TH ANNUAL RESILIENT SUPPLY OF CRITICAL MINERALS WORKSHOP - AUGUST 7 - 8, 2024, MISSOURI S&T
Missouri S&T is excited to host the fourth annual workshop on “Resilient Supply of Critical Minerals.” The workshop series brings together interdisciplinary stakeholders from academia, industry, and government. Our goal is to provide a long-term collaborative platform to help implement action and disseminate research on critical minerals.
Registration opens April 2024
2024 Topical Sessions including:
- The Critical Mineral Potential of the US: Evaluation of existing and exploration for new resources
- Critical Minerals Workforce Development: How to grow the US critical minerals workforce
- Mineral Processing & Recycling: Maximizing critical mineral recovery from existing production streams
- Policy & Supply Chain Economics: Reshoring critical mineral production
Workshop sponsor: National Science Foundation
WANT TO SHARE SOMETHING IN THE WEEKLY EES NEWSLETTER?
The EES Department newsletter is published every Tuesday during the academic year, outside of semester breaks. If you would like to add an event, club meeting, or other item of interest, please submit an email to clas-ees@uiowa.edu, with the subject heading "Newsletter Item," on Fridays by noon, and your submission will be added to the following Tuesday's newsletter.