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From: ECOLOG-L <[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>> on behalf of Syndonia Bret-Harte <[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>>
Reply-To: Syndonia Bret-Harte <[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>>
Date: Thursday, November 17, 2016 at 3:42 PM
To: ECOLOG-L <[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>>
Subject: [ECOLOG-L] Seeking two graduate students to work on shrub effects on C and N cycling in arctic tundra
Resent-From: Jim Schneider <[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>>
Resent-Date: Thursday, November 17, 2016 at 3:46 PM

The Institute of Arctic Biology, University of Alaska Fairbanks has openings
for two graduate students (M.S. or Ph.D.) to work with Syndonia Bret-Harte
and Roger Ruess on a new NSF-funded project on shrub feedbacks to C and N
cycling in arctic tundra. In the Arctic, a widespread shift from tundra to
deciduous shrub-dominated vegetation appears to be underway, which could
have profound implications for regional climate, C balance, and
biogeochemical cycling. Because much of the world’s soil C is stored in
arctic and boreal regions, changes in the Arctic’s C budget may feed back
strongly to global climate. Because biogeochemical C and N cycles are linked
tightly in arctic ecosystems and plant production is strongly N-limited,
shrubs affect soil C through their effects on near-surface soil N, via both
SOM turnover and N inputs. One student (M.S. or Ph.D.) will focus on shrub
growth and impacts on N uptake and near surface N cycling, and will be
advised by Bret-Harte. One student (M.S.) will focus on characterizing shrub
impacts via nitrogen fixation associated with Siberian alder, and will be
advised by Ruess. Students will have an opportunity to develop their own
research questions within the overall framework of the project. We expect
that Bret-Harte and Ruess will serve on both students’ graduate committees,
and that we will work together in the field.  Research sites will be
accessed from the Toolik Field Station (see http://toolik.alaska.edu/).
Students will be supported through a combination of research assistantships
and teaching assistantships.  Students will start fieldwork in the summer of
2017, and coursework in the fall of 2017.  For more information, please
contact Syndonia Bret-Harte by email at [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>.  You must
also apply for graduate study to the Department of Biology and Wildlife at
University of Alaska Fairbanks (see
https://www.bw.uaf.edu/graduates/index.php for application requirements);
the deadline for applications is January 15, 2017.