Oferta de beca predoctoral en Canadá: Paleoecología

MSc or PhD Research Opportunity in Paleoecology in Coastal British Columbia

I am looking for students interested in pursuing research at the MSc or PhD
level to start in the summer or fall of 2008 in the Department of Geography
at the University of Victoria (UVic) http://www.geog.uvic.ca/.

I am currently setting up a new research lab at UVic - the Earth Systems
Ecology Lab. Earth systems ecology aims to understand the interactions
among organisms, ecosystems and earth processes by integrating knowledge
and approaches from the life and earth sciences. The integration of earth
science with ecology is critically important to address the many challenges
associated with global environmental change, and more information is
urgently needed on the nature, rate and magnitude of ecosystem response to
environmental change. The main approach of my lab is to examine ecological
dynamics and interactions between the biosphere, geosphere and climate
using techniques such as pollen analysis that provide a long-term
perspective on vegetation dynamics. My research focuses on the development
and dynamics of vegetation communities since the last glaciation, the
climatic and non-climatic factors that drive these vegetation dynamics, and
the response of plant communities to past climatic change. The main
geographical focus of the lab is the Pacific coast of Canada, a region
characterized today by temperate rain forest and dominated by large,
long-lived conifers.

Prior experience in this area of research is an asset, but is not
necessary. Applicants should be highly-motivated, with a strong background
in ecology, geology or physical geography. Funding for these graduate
positions is flexible with regard to the research topic. Guaranteed funding
is available through a combination of fellowships, research assistantships
and teaching assistantships.

The University of Victoria is consistently ranked as one of the top
comprehensive universities in Canada. Victoria is a lovely city of 350,000
characterized by warm, dry summers and cool, rainy winters. It is an
exciting time to join the Department of Geography as we are moving into a
new building. Lab space is custom-designed and well-equipped for research
in any aspect of paleoecology. Other research groups in the Department
include the UVic Tree-Ring Lab, Whale Research Lab and Spectroradiometry Lab.

Students interested in any aspect of paleoecology are encouraged to contact
me via email (tlacours@uvic.ca) to discuss their background and interests.


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Terri Lacourse, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Geography
University of Victoria
Victoria, BC V8W 3P5
CANADA

Email: tlacours@uvic.ca
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