ecology @ guelph's ecoblog

Research Assistant (Windsor)

The VanLaerhoven laboratory within the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Windsor invites applications for a Research Assistant Position. The VanLaerhoven laboratory examines questions of food web interactions between insects, foraging and movement decisions of natural enemies and community dynamics and assembly with respect to applications in agriculture, forestry and forensic science.

The successful candidate will contribute to the VanLaerhoven laboratory through management of equipment and supplies, maintenance and updating of laboratory reference library and management of the entomology collection. Additional duties will include data entry, filing and word processing. The holder of this position may also be assigned duties assisting in experimental set-up, data collection or forensic casework as needed. Candidates must have an undergraduate degree in a biological or related discipline. Preference will be given to applicants with experience in laboratory management and/or experience/training in either entomology or forensic science. Candidates should be familiar with Microsoft Word and Excel. Preference will be given to candidates with experience with Lotus Notes and End- Note.

Applications will include:

• A letter of application, describing the applicant's relevant experience, including a statement of citizenship/immigration status
• A detailed and current curriculum vitae
• Undergraduate transcripts
• A criminal background check from the Windsor Police Service
• Three current letters of reference, forwarded by the referees, or in sealed envelopes with signatures across the seal.
• To ensure full consideration, complete applications should be submitted by June 1, 2009 to: Dr. Sherah VanLaerhoven Rm 119 Bio, Dept. of Biological Sciences University of Windsor, 401 Sunset Ave, Windsor ON N9B 3P4 Office: (519)253-3000 x2713 email: vanlaerh@uwindsor.ca

Applications may still be received after the deadline date. If you are unable to submit the application by the deadline date, you should contact and alert Dr. VanLaerhoven that you intend to submit an application after the deadline date. If you are viewing the advertisement after the deadline date, you should contact Dr. VanLaerhoven to find out the status of the search and discuss the possibility of submitting an application. The acceptance of a late submission is at the discretion of Dr. VanLaerhoven.

Three studentships at Windsor

The VanLaerhoven laboratory within the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Windsor invites applications for two M.Sc. and 1 Ph.D. student openings.

The VanLaerhoven laboratory examines questions of food web interactions between insects, co-existence of species, foraging and movement decisions of natural enemies and community dynamics and assembly with respect to applications in agriculture, forestry and forensic science.

The successful M.Sc. candidates will conduct research in the areas of either:
1) waste management technology with Black Soldier Flies, or 2) mechanisms of community assembly relating to Forensic Entomology.

The successful Ph.D. candidate will conduct research in the area of understanding mechanisms of omnivory in multiple resource based systems.

Candidates must have an undergraduate or master's degree in a biological or related discipline.  Preference will be given to applicants with entomology and ecology coursework or experience.

Applications will include:

• A letter of application, describing the applicant's relevant experience, including a statement of citizenship/immigration status
• A detailed and current curriculum vitae
• Undergraduate and Graduate (if applicable) transcripts
• Three current letters of reference, forwarded by the referees, or in sealed envelopes with signatures across the seal. To ensure full consideration, complete applications should be submitted by June 1, 2009 to: Dr. Sherah VanLaerhoven Rm 119 Bio, Dept. of Biological Sciences University of Windsor, 401 Sunset Ave, Windsor ON N9B 3P4 Office: (519)253-3000 x2713 email: vanlaerh@uwindsor.ca

Applications may still be received after the deadline date. If you are unable to submit the application by the deadline date, you should contact and alert Dr. VanLaerhoven that you intend to submit an application after the deadline date. If you are viewing the advertisement after the deadline date, you should contact Dr. VanLaerhoven to find out the status of the search and discuss the possibility of submitting an application. The acceptance of a late submission is at the discretion of Dr. VanLaerhoven.

Fitter (York, UK) seminar

Professor Alastair Fitter, FRS is Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research and Professor of Ecology at the University of York.  His research focusses on the interactions between roots and mycorrhizal fungi, and the role that these play in carbon cycling and community structure.  He is a Fellow of the Royal Society, a Past President of the British Ecological Society, a member of NERC Council and an editor of the journal New Phytologist. (From the IMC09 website.)

Professor Fitter will give a lecture titled: Evolutionary Ecology of Mychorrhizal Fungi, Tuesday April 28th at 1pm in SCIE  3317

Professor Fitter's website

Ecosystems Services Conference – Call for Posters

Water-Ecosystem Services, Drought, and Environmental Justice:

The 1st Millennium Conference of the Ecological Society of America November 9-12, 2009, Athens, Georgia
 http://esa.org/millenniumconf/2009/

 

 

CALL FOR POSTERS

Deadline for Submission: Thursday, May 28, 2009

 

The Conference Committee is calling for the submission of poster abstracts that relate to water-ecosystem services, drought, or environmental justice.  Abstracts that address connections between these three themes are especially encouraged. Authors may take a research, policy, or education approach to the topic applied to any geographical region. Approximately 30 poster abstracts will be selected from this open call.

 

ABOUT THE CONFERENCE

The 1st ESA Millennium Conference will have about 100 invited attendees. For each accepted poster abstract, there will be one invitation to attend the Conference and present the poster. There will be no registration fee, but attendees will be responsible for their own travel and lodging. Funding is currently being sought to support the attendance of students invited to present a poster at the Conference.

 

SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS

To submit your poster abstract, please follow this link:

http://eco.confex.com/eco/mc09/mcpost/papers/index.cgi.

 

If you have any questions, please contact Aleta Wiley, Science Programs Assistant at the Ecological Society of America, at aleta@esa.org, or refer to the Conference website, http://esa.org/millenniumconf/2009/.

Darwin's Legacy Conference (McMaster)

Darwin's Legacy: Natural Selection as an Organising Principle in Science

 McMaster University campus from May 25 to May 29 2009.


REMEMBER TO REGISTER FOR THE CONFERENCE IF YOU PLAN TO ATTEND. _______________________________________________________________________

The Origins Institute (OI) at McMaster University is celebrating the sesquicentennial for Darwin's masterpiece, by staging a major international conference, May 25-29.

As the Associate Director for the OI and chair for the conference Scientific Organizing Committee, I am honoured and pleased to invite you to this event.

I copied below information about the planned conference. Addtional information can be accessed at

http://origins.mcmaster.ca/conferences.php

Conference registration fees include continental breakfasts, breaks (coffee, tea, water, and pastries), and lunches.

The Origins Institute will cover costs for parking or reimburse costs for local transportation.

The OI was founded in 2004 as a transdisciplinary academy to explore fundamental questions in science through 6 origins themes (space-time, elements, structure in the cosmos - stars, planets, galaxies, life, species & biodiversity, humanity).

Additional information about the OI may be accessed at

http://origins.mcmaster.ca

The OI emphasises transdisciplinary research and all talks will be delivered in a manner that will accommodate the broad scientific audience and topics that will be featured at the conference. _______________________________________________________________________

SCHEDULE The conference will comprise 9 half-day sessions and social activities. Each session will include one keynote addresses (approximately 50 minutes, plus 10 minutes for discussion), one invited speech (approximately 25 minutes, plus 5 minutes for discussion), and shorter contributed talks. Two poster sessions also will be held.

May 25, morning - Darwinian Science

May 25, afternoon - Selection (Natural, Sexual, and Kin) Mark Rausher

Social Reception (May 25, evening)

May 26, morning - Paleontology James Valentine

May 25, afternoon - Evolution & Development Brian Hall

May 26, evening - Public Lecture Steve Benner

May 27 morning - Cognition, Language, & Culture Christof Koch

May 27, afternoon - Social Outing (Niagara Falls)

May 27, evening - Winery Dinner

May 28 - Speciation & Adaptation Hopi Hoekstra

May 28, afternoon - Molecular Evolution Steven Benner

May 28, Conference Banquet (Royal Botanical Gardens)

May 29, morning - Emergent Complexity

May 29, afternoon - Origin of Life & Astrobiology David Deamer

May 29, evening - BBQ