[DIALOGnews] DIALOG and DISCCRS News 07/14/2006
Susan Bennett
bennetsk at whitman.edu
Fri Jul 14 15:55:25 CDT 2006
DIALOG and DISCCRS News
07/14/2006
************************************
TABLE OF CONTENTS
RESOURCES
NOAA 2005 Annual State of the Climate Report, prepared for Bulletin
of the American Meteorological Society
http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/research/state-of-climate/
state-of-climate.html
Past Global Changes (PAGES) Job Database Online. All paleoscience
jobs announced through the PALEOCLIMATE, PALEOLIM, CRYOLIST and
ArcticInfo listservers can now be found online in the PAGES Job
Database at:
http://www.pages-igbp.org/services/jobs/index.html
AGU ASLA 06-12: House Passes NSF/NOAA/NASA
(see below)
FORUM
Input into NSF Strategic Plan, 2006-2011 (7/17/06)
(see below)
SCIENCE NEWS
Scientists worry decaying seaweed , early red tide will suck life
from Gulf, estuaries
http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2006/jul/10/
scientists_worry_decaying_seaweed_early_red_tide_w/?local_news
The Messenger [This is a nice piece about Jim Hansen]
http://www.technologyreview.com/read_article.aspx?
id=17057&ch=biztech
Warming and Earlier Spring Increases Western U.S. Forest Wildfire
Activity
A key research paper published July 6 in Science Express,
suggests that climate change in the western United States has
amplified forest wildfire activity in the region over the last 35
years. See http://www.scienceexpress.org, for the article and a
related Perspective that discusses the findings.
Wildfire Increase Linked to Climate
(see below)
Alpine glaciers could all but disappear within this century
(see below)
U.S. Emits Half of Car-Caused Greenhouse Gas, Study Says
(see below)
Rogue Giants at Sea
(see below)
Male Scientist Writes of Life as Female Scientist
(see below)
SUMMER PROGRAMS, COURSES, INTERNSHIPS, MEETINGS, OPPORTUNITIES
2007 AAAS Annual Meeting will address climate change and other topics
related to "Science and Technology for Sustainable Well-Being" next
February in San Francisco.
http://www.aaas.org/meetings/Annual_Meeting/
JOBS
Researchers needed, Climate Project at Institute for Global
Environmental Strategies (IGES), Kanagawa, Japan
http://www.iges.or.jp/en/news/saiyo/recruit18/
Assistant Professor, Environmental Policy and Institutions -
University of California at Santa Cruz
http://chronicle.com/jobs/id.php?id=0000463711-01
Post doctoral position to work on climate change and insurance at
Carnegie Mellon, Wharton and UBC. Requires knowledge of climate
science. Desire knowledge of policy analysis, insurance, etc.
Details at http://cdmc.epp.cmu.edu/post_doc.pdf
2006 Request For Applications - Calfed Science Fellows Program
(see below)
Writers Wanted For Job Search Diaries - Chronicle Of Higher Education
(see below)
Postdoctoral Research Position In “Plankton, Physiology,
Biochemistry And Ecology “ At Virginia Institute Of Marine Science
(see below)
Post-doc at Yale Univ (USA) Ocean, Atmosphere and Climate dynamics.
(see below)
Post-doc, Univ of Leeds (UK) Institute Energy and Resources Research
Institute
(see below)
Ph.D student/post-doc at ICG-II (Germany)
(see below)
Post-doc & PhD students at Alfred Wegener Inst for Polar & Marine Res
(Germany)
(see below)
Post-doc, LOCEAN/IPSL, Univ Paris VI (France) The oceanic response to
the North Atlantic Oscillation
(see below)
Postdoc at MeteoSwiss (Switzerland) at MeteoSwiss, Zurich,
Switzerland: Probabilistic Prediction of Extreme Weather Events
(see below)
Senior Program Officer, Energy Program at the International Institute
for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) to contribute to the Global
Energy Assessment (GEA ), a major new initiative.
(see below)
Assistant Prof: Biogeographer - Kansas State University Dept. of
Geography
(see below)
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Resources
AGU ASLA 06-12: House Passes NSF/NOAA/NASA
Funding Bill
Authored by Cathy O'Riordan, AGU
On 29 June 2006 the House passed the FY2007 Science, State,
Justice, and
Commerce spending bill, H.R. 5672. The legislation would provide $59.8
billion in discretionary spending for the departments of Commerce,
Justice and
State and several independent agencies, approximately $2.6 billion
more than
appropriated for fiscal 2006 and $137 million more than the President's
FY2007 budget request.
The bill appropriates $6.02 billion to the National Science
Foundation (NSF),
$439 million, or 7.9 percent, more than last year and an amount
intended to
fully fund the NSF portion of the President's American Competitiveness
Initiative (ACI). Within the recommendation for NSF, the bill
provides $4.6
billion for Research and Related Activities (RNRA) this is equal to
the
President's request and represents an increase of $334.5 million, or
8 percent,
above FY2006. For the Education and Human Resources (EHR) Directorate,
the bill allocates $832.4 million an increase of $16.2 million over
the request.
The NSF Major Research Equipment and Facilities Construction (MREFC)
program would be funded at $237.45 million just $3 million below the
request. All other MREFC projects new starts and ongoing projects
(such as
the ALMA radio telescope project, EarthScope, the ocean drilling
vessel, the
National Ecological Observatory Network -- NEON, and the NSF's Ocean
Observing Initiative) -- are funded at levels proposed in the FY2007 NSF
budget request.
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) would
receive
$16.71 billion, $462 million more than last year, but $83 million
less than the
President's FY2007 request. The bill would fund the President's
Vision for
Space Exploration, the Exploration Systems account, at $3.83 billion.
The
measure would also provide $824.4 million for aeronautics research;
about
$100 million above the budget request but still below the FY2006
level of
$884.1 million.
The bill funds the Science Mission Directorate at $5.40 billion,
about $75
million above the request and about $151 million, or 2.9 percent,
above the
FY2006 level. The additional $75 million for science at NASA is to be
distributed in the following way: +$50 million for research and
analysis which
is to be allocated among all the themes of the Science Mission
Directorate; $15
million to initiate planning for a mission to Europa; and $10 million
for
continued technology development associated with the Terrestrial
Planet Finder
project. The Appropriations Committee report included language
expressing
concern about damage inflicted on research institutions that result from
NASA's "abrupt and unexpected" termination of peer reviewed science
projects. The Committee also expressed concern that the reductions from
planned rates of growth in Science funding appear to have fallen
disproportionately on smaller missions such as the competitively-run
Explorer
Program. Within the funding level provided, the Committee encouraged
NASA
to consider a restoration of funding to smaller missions and to fund
already-
competed missions to the extent possible.
The bill would fund the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA), at $3.39 billion, 13.3 percent below the FY2006 level, and $293
million below the President's request. NOAA Research the Office of
Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR) is funded at of $328.5 million,
$9.8 million below the President's request a request already more
than 8
percent below the FY2006 level. Within the OAR recommendation for
NOAA, the Committee provided $130 million for the newly reorganized
Competitive Research Program for climate change research this is an
increase of $4.3 million over the request; the phased array radar is
funded at
the request level of $3 million; and the Committee provided the full
request
for High Performance Computing and Communications ($12.9 million) and
Research Supercomputing ($10.4 million). The Committee's recommendation
fully funds the National Weather Service at $882.3 million, including $5
million for the Space Environment Center. The vast majority of NOAA's
funding reductions came from programs within the National Ocean Service
and other OAR marine science programs.
During floor debate on the spending bill, Members of Congress
resisted efforts
to divert funding from the President's Moon-Mars initiative,
including one
attempt led by Rep. Wayne Gilchrest (R-MD), on behalf of the House
Oceans
Caucus, to divert approximately $770 million to support ocean and
coastal
research programs at NOAA. Rep. Frank Wolf (R-VA), chairman of the SSJC
Subcommittee, opposed the amendment, but acknowledged the need to
address the NOAA funding shortfall. Rep. Ralph Hall (R-TX) also opposed
the amendment and recognized the need to increase funding for NOAA, but
could not advocate a withdrawal from the NASA account. Prior to a vote,
Rep. Gilchrest withdrew the amendment.
On 11 July, the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce,
Justice,
and Science marked up their version of the spending bill. While full
details
are not yet available, the subcommittee report would provide:
-$16.8 billion for NASA ($126 million above the FY06 enacted level)
-$4.43 billion for NOAA ($536 million above the FY06 enacted level)
-$5.99 billion for NSF ($410 million above the FY06 enacted level)
The full Senate Appropriations Committee markup is scheduled for
Thursday,
13 July, at 2pm EST. If you live in a state represented by a Member
of the
Senate Appropriations Committee, please call your Senator and urge
them to
support the FY2007 House figure for NSF, and increased funding for NASA
and NOAA. If you are unsure who your Senators are, visit
http://www.senate.gov and use the pulldown menu in the top right
corner of
the page.
For the complete text and summaries of the bill, please see the
Library of
Congress' Thomas system at http://thomas.loc.gov/.
To watch the hearing live on 13 July, visit http://
www.capitolhearings.org and
click the title of the hearing.
***************************************************
Forum
Input into NSF Strategic Plan, 2006-2011 (7/17/06)
June 23, 2006
Dear Colleague:
The National Science Foundation is again asking for your input on our
next NSF Strategic Plan. Last December, we asked for your thoughts on
the current plan and the changing environment for science and
engineering (S&E) research and education. That input together with
comments from NSF staff, our Advisory Committees, and the National
Science Board (NSB) led to development of the draft plan (see
www.nsf.gov/about/performance/nsfplandraft.pdf </about/performance/
nsfplandraft.pdf>) now available for review by the public at large
and the communities we serve. The draft FY 2006-2011 Strategic Plan
communicates NSF’s vision, goals, objectives, priorities and
strategies over this time period.
Your comments are requested by July 17, 2006 through the website
at www.nsf.gov/about/performance/input.cfm </about/performance/
input.cfm> or by e-mail to strategicplaninput at nsf.gov
<mailto:strategicplaninput at nsf.gov>. In particular, NSF requests
comments on the following questions to assist us in finalizing the
new plan:
What are the strengths and weaknesses of the draft plan?
Does NSF’s draft Strategic Plan effectively communicate NSF’s
investments and priorities in supporting the S&E community? If not,
what is lacking and specifically how can it be improved?
[Please note that the photos and graphics in the current version
are primarily place holders. We realize that they are low resolution,
not readable, etc. If you are an NSF investigator and would like to
volunteer an image from your research that would better illustrate
one of the themes, please submit through the above email address.
Please limit the size of any image or graphic you send to 1MB or
less. If we decide to use your image, we will contact you for the
appropriate permissions and for a high resolution version. ]
After review in August by the NSB and the Office of Management
and Budget, the final version of the Strategic Plan will be sent to
Congress and posted on our website by September 30, 2006.
Your assistance in this very important task is appreciated.
Sincerely,
Arden L. Bement, Jr. Director, Kathie L. Olsen Deputy Director
http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2006/nsf06037/nsf06037.jspa
***************************************************
Science News
Wildfire Increase Linked to Climate
from the Los Angeles Times (Registration Required)
Rising temperatures throughout the West have stoked an increase
in large wildfires over the past 34 years as spring comes earlier,
mountain snows melt sooner and forests dry to tinder, scientists
reported Thursday.
More than land-use changes or forest management practices, the
changing climate was the most important factor driving a four-fold
increase in the average number of large wildfires in the Western
United States since 1970, the researchers concluded.
The average spring and summer temperatures were more than 1.5
degrees higher in Western states between 1987 and 2003 than during
the previous 17 years. In fact, the seasonal temperatures were the
warmest since record-keeping started in 1895, the researchers said.
http://www.latimes.com/news/science/la-sci-
wildfire7jul07,1,23214.story?ctrack=1&cset=true
http://tinyurl.com/fcngn
********************
Alpine glaciers could all but disappear within this century
AGU Release No. 06-26
"Alpine glaciers to disappear within decades?"
Authors: Michael Zemp, Wilfried Haeberli, Martin Hoelzle, Frank
Paul: Glaciology and Geomorphodynamics Group, Department of
Geography, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Citation: Zemp, M., W. Haeberli, M. Hoelzle, and F. Paul (2006),
Alpine glaciers to disappear within decades?, Geophys. Res. Lett.,
33, L13504, doi:10.1029/2006GL026319.
WASHINGTON - The European Alps could lose some 80 percent of
their glacier cover by the end of this century, if summer air
temperatures rise by three degrees Celsius [five degrees Fahrenheit].
And if temperatures increase by five degrees Celsius [nine degrees
Fahrenheit], the Alps would become almost completely ice-free by
2100. These are the conclusions of numerical modeling experiments by
scientists from the University of Zurich, Switzerland. The study will
be published 15 July in Geophysical Research Letters, a journal of
the American Geophysical Union.
Scientists consider glaciers to be among the best natural
indicators of climate change and, therefore, monitor them closely.
Rapidly shrinking glacier areas, spectacular tongue retreats, and
increasing mass losses are clear signs of the atmospheric warming
observed in the Alps during the last 150 years.
Michael Zemp and colleagues in the Department of Geography of the
University of Zurich note that in the 1970s, about 5,150 Alpine
glaciers covered a total area of 2,909 square kilometers [1,123
square miles]. This represented a loss of about 35 percent of glacial
area from 1850 to that time. Accelerated loss of ice cover since then
has resulted in a total loss of 50 percent of the 1850 area,
culminating in a volume loss of 5 to 10 percent of the remaining ice
during the extraordinary warm year of 2003.
According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
(IPCC), an increase in summer air temperature of one to five degrees
Celsius [two to nine degrees Fahrenheit] and a precipitation change
between minus-20 percent and plus-30 percent by the end of the 21st
century is a plausible scenario. The University of Zurich researchers
say that for each one degree Celsius [two degrees Fahrenheit]
increase in mean summer temperature, precipitation would have to
increase by 25 percent to offset the glacial loss.
"Our study shows that under such scenarios, the majority of
Alpine glaciers might disappear within the coming decades", says
glaciologist Zemp, lead author of the study. With an increase in
summer temperature of more than three degree Celsius [five degrees
Fahrenheit], only the largest glaciers, such as the Great Aletsch
Glacier [in Switzerland], and those on the highest mountain peaks
could survive into the 22nd century. "Especially in densely populated
high mountain areas such as the European Alps, one should start
immediately to consider the consequences of such extreme glacier
wasting on the hydrological cycles, water management, tourism, and
natural hazards," he says.
The study was funded by the European Union, through the Swiss
Federal Office of Education and Science.
Figures
Dr. Zemp has provided five explanatory figures, which are not,
however, part of his GRL paper. They may be seen at:
http://www.geo.unizh.ch/~mzemp/press/pressrelease_zemp_en.htm
********************
U.S. Emits Half of Car-Caused Greenhouse Gas, Study Says
By Janet Wilson, Times Staff Writer
June 28, 2006
Americans drive more in vehicles with lower fuel standards, says
an environmental group. American cars and pickup trucks are
responsible for nearly half of the greenhouse gases emitted by
automobiles globally, even though the nation's vehicles make up just
30% of the nearly 700 million cars in use, according to a new report
by Environmental Defense.
Cars in the U.S. are driven more miles, face lower fuel economy
standards and use fuel with more carbon than many of those driven in
other countries, the authors found. According to the report by the
environmental group, due out today, U.S. cars and light trucks were
driven 2.6 trillion miles in 2004, equal to driving back and forth to
Pluto more than 470 times.
The report's authors hope their findings will bolster efforts in
Congress to require federal regulators to raise fuel economy
standards for vehicles and set a mandatory cap on greenhouse gases
from all sources. Numerous studies have linked carbon dioxide
emissions from burning of fossil fuels such as gasoline to global
warming.
One surprising finding was that small cars emitted more carbon
dioxide than SUVs, 25% of the total compared with 21%. That is
because there are more older small vehicles with higher emissions
still in service, said lead author John DeCicco, a mechanical
engineer specializing in automobile research.
"Even though SUVs get worse fuel economy and burn more gas,
there's roughly twice as many small cars in operation," he said.
That will change in a few years based on car scrapping rates, he
predicted, with SUVs bought over the last 10 to 15 years taking the
lead, even if consumers begin buying small cars again because of
sharply higher fuel prices.
"As Americans we're going to be living down the SUV boom for a
long time," he said. "The implication is that we can't turn the
emissions problem on a dime…. It takes a generation."
The study concludes that vehicles manufactured by the nation's
Big Three automakers — General Motors, Ford and DaimlerChrysler —
produce the most emissions, with Toyota ranked fourth.
Nearly one-third of the emissions came from vehicles made by GM.
GM spokesman Dave Barthmuss said he had not seen the report and
did not know whether the company's cars created the highest
percentage of greenhouse gas emissions. But he added that if it was
true, it would make sense because GM sold the most cars.
"Certainly the fact that we have the most cars on the road
contributes, I'm sure, to these findings," he said. "As the world's
largest automaker it's no surprise."
He said the company was committed to cutting greenhouse gas
emissions through continued research and development of alternative
fuels and technologies to replace gasoline and the internal
combustion engine. He said the company would like to see greenhouse
gases completely eliminated eventually with the development of
hydrogen-powered fuel cell vehicles that could be available for
commercial sale within 10 years.
Automakers said they were surprised to hear that small cars
emitted more carbon dioxide than SUVs. In addition to the fact that
there were more on the road, Barthmuss said, "if you get 30 miles to
the gallon … people will drive more, drive farther. The more fuel
efficient the vehicle, the more inclined you are to drive. And the
more you drive, the more fuel you burn. It's almost a Catch-22."
DeCicco said: "We're not trying to paint a bull's-eye on GM's
hide…. Everyone has a role to play, from the auto manufacturers to
Joe the consumer buying a new car."
He said the study was designed to show for the first time the
huge amount of carbon dioxide released by American cars and to
stimulate passage of tougher laws and policies aimed at reducing it.
The Senate last year passed a nonbinding resolution to cap emissions,
but bipartisan efforts to pass a law have thus far failed.
Rep. Henry A. Waxman (D-Los Angeles) last week introduced a
version that would freeze allowable levels of greenhouse gas
emissions in 2010, reduce them by 2% each year through 2020, then
reduce them further by 5% annually through 2050.
The act would achieve the targets through a cap-and-trade program
along with measures to advance renewable energy, energy efficiency
and cleaner cars.
Auto industry spokesmen did not respond to requests for comment
on such a cap. The companies have fought efforts to pass tougher
federal fuel economy standards and is suing California and several
other states to block state-by-state tailpipe emission laws.
Carbon emissions
By vehicle class, 2004
(Figures in parentheses are in million metric tons of carbon
equivalent)
Small cars (77): 25%
SUVs (67): 21%
Pickups (60): 19%
Midsize cars (54): 17%
Vans (29): 9%
Large cars (26): 8%
*Note: Numbers do not add up because of rounding.
Source: Environmental Defense
********************
Rogue Giants at Sea
from the New York Times (Registration Required)
Enormous waves that sweep the ocean are traditionally called
rogue waves, implying that they have a kind of freakish rarity. Over
the decades, skeptical oceanographers have doubted their existence
and tended to lump them together with sightings of mermaids and sea
monsters.
But scientists are now finding that these giants of the sea are
far more common and destructive than once imagined, prompting a rush
of new studies and research projects. The goals are to better tally
them, understand why they form, explore the possibility of forecasts,
and learn how to better protect ships, oil platforms and people.
The stakes are high. In the past two decades, freak waves are
suspected of sinking dozens of big ships and taking hundreds of
lives. The upshot is that the scientists feel a sense of urgency
about the work and growing awe at their subjects.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/11/science/11wave.html
http://tinyurl.com/qq7r3
********************
Male Scientist Writes of Life as Female Scientist
from the Washington Post (Registration Required)
Neurobiologist Ben Barres has a unique perspective on former
Harvard president Lawrence Summers's assertion that innate
differences between the sexes might explain why many fewer women than
men reach the highest echelons of science. That's because Barres used
to be a woman himself.
In a highly unusual critique published yesterday, the Stanford
University biologist -- who used to be Barbara -- said his experience
as both a man and a woman had given him an intensely personal insight
into the biases that make it harder for women to succeed in science.
After he underwent a sex change nine years ago at the age of 42,
Barres recalled, another scientist who was unaware of it was heard to
say, "Ben Barres gave a great seminar today, but then his work is
much better than his sister's."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/12/
AR2006071201883.html
http://tinyurl.com/ep89y
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Jobs
Planktonnet: Great listserv for aquatic-science jobs
To subscribe to the list, send an empty email to:
planktonnet-subscribe at yahoogroups.com
Or, visit http://groups.yahoo.com/group/planktonnet/ and click on
'Join this group'
2006 Request For Applications - Calfed Science Fellows Program
CALFED Science Program
California Sea Grant College Program
The CALFED Science Program, in cooperation with California Sea
Grant, is seeking applications from highly qualified predoctoral
students and postdoctoral researchers who are interested in a career
in multidisciplinary, multi-institutional, field-based research in
riverine and estuarine systems. For 2006, the Science Program is
interested in research that addresses the four priority topics as
outlined in the CALFED Science Program 2006 Proposal Solicitation
Package (PSP) or specific needs identified by CALFED implementing
agencies.
PSP Priority Areas
* Environmental Water
* Auatic Invasive (Exotic) Species
* Trends and Patterns of Populations and System Response to a
Changing Environment
* Habitat Availability and Response to Change CALFED Implementing
Agency Science Needs
* Environmental Water Account (EWA)
* Drinking Water Quality
* Pelagic Organism Decline (POD)
ELIGIBILITY - Prospective Predoctoral Science Fellows, at the
time of application, must be in or have recently been admitted to a
PhD program in natural resources, environmental sciences, coastal,
aquatic or related studies at any accredited US institution of higher
education.
Prospective Postdoctoral Science Fellows must hold a PhD or
complete a PhD before
The starting date of the fellowship in a doctoral degree program in
environmental sciences or in a related field appropriate to priority
areas.
US citizenship or residency is required.
AWARD - The fellowship will provide support for up to three years
for both predoctoral and postdoctoral fellows in the form of a grant/
award that includes funds for a stipend ($45,000/yr-postdoctoral;
$25,000/yr-predoctoral) and for research-related expenses (up to
$25,000/yr-postdoctoral; $14,500/yr-predoctoral).
SELECTION - Selection will be made competitively from
applications submitted to the California Sea Grant College Program by
August 31, 2006. In 2006, approximately five postdoctoral and three
predoctoral fellowships will be awarded to begin approximately by
November 1, 2006.
APPLICATION/CONTACT - For complete details and application
instructions, please refer to the CALFED Science Fellows Program -
2006 Request for Applications, on the Sea Grant web site:
http://www.csgc.ucsd.edu/EDUCATION/CALFED/CBDA_RFA2006.html
If you have specific questions or require additional information
contact: CALFEDfellow at seamail.ucsd.edu
********************
Writers Wanted For Job Search Diaries - Chronicle Of Higher Education
Earn $500 per column. The Chronicle's Careers section is looking
for graduate students, postdocs, faculty members, and administrators
who will be on the job market in the 2006-7 academic year and would
be interested in keeping a diary of their job search. Submissions
must be sent by August 18 to this email address: jobdiary at chronicle.com
Since 1998, we've featured the job-market stories of academics in
a variety of disciplines. They've written regular, first-person
accounts throughout the year of their attempts to find a faculty or
administrative job in academe, and in a few cases, a nonacademic job.
(You can read their columns at http://chronicle.com/jobs/news/
archives/author_list_fp.html on the site.)
If you have a flair for writing, here's an opportunity to use it
and get paid. We select about 8 to 12 diarists a year; each writes
three to five columns over the course of the year about his or her
job search. Besides doctoral students and Ph.D.'s who are looking for
their first tenure-track job, we welcome submissions from other
academics who plan to spend this year hunting for a new position,
including adjunct faculty members, professors already tenured or on
the tenure track, and administrators. If you are part of a dual-
career academic couple, you are welcome to write a diary together.
What you need to do: Send us a sample column submission by August
18. If selected, your column will be published on our site in the
fall as the first entry in your job-search diary. We pay diarists
$500 per column published. The sample column should be between 1,000
and 1,500 words, written in a conversational, journalistic style. It
should set the scene for your upcoming job search. It should tell us
about your background, career goals, constraints, and job situation
in the context of broader issues involving the job market and
academic culture. Humor is a plus. Be creative, but not with the
facts; we are interested in true stories, not fictionalized ones.
Some diarists write under their own names, while others choose to
use pseudonyms. Either way, we will need to know your name,
institution, and discipline. Please make that information clear when
you e-mail your submission. Diary entries will be edited for grammar,
style, taste, and length.
E-mail your submissions and questions by August 18 to:
jobdiary at chronicle.com
You may paste your column submission directly into an e-mail
message, or send it as an attachment in Microsoft Word.
Thanks for your interest.
Denise Magner, Senior Editor, Chronicle Careers,
denise.magner at chronicle.com
********************
Postdoctoral Research Position In “Plankton, Physiology,
Biochemistry And Ecology “ At Virginia Institute Of Marine Science
The successful candidate will participate in the NSF-funded
project investigating the biochemical mechanisms and processes
involved in nutrient upgrading/modification and transfer at the algal-
protist interface and the little understood “trophic upgrading”
effects among heterotrophic protists, using biochemical and tracer
techniques. A PhD degree in Marine science or related fields and
strong background in plankton biochemistry, physiology and ecology
are required. Preference will be given to candidate with knowledge in
nutrient transformation and transfer dynamics among trophic levels
with skills and experiences in fatty acid and sterol analyses using
GC/MS and HPLC. Excellent oral and written skills are required. The
position is available as soon as September 1, 2006. The postdoctoral
appointment is a one-year contract, renewable for a total of two
years. Employment benefits include health insurance, TIAA retirement
plan and leave time. Salary will be dependent upon the level of
experience. For best consideration, please submit your application,
including a clear statement of your interest in this position, a CV
and the contact details of three academic referees to Dr. Fu-Lin E.
Chu (chu at vims.edu), Virginia Institute of Marine Science, College of
William & Mary, Gloucester Point, VA 23062. Further information about
our research group can be found on our web page at http://
www.vims.edu/env/people/faculty/chu.html
********************
Post-doc at Yale Univ (USA) Ocean, Atmosphere and Climate dynamics.
A new postdoctoral position in Ocean, Atmosphere and Climate
dynamics is available at Yale University, Department of Geology and
Geophysics (http://www.geology.yale.edu, http://
earth.geology.yale.edu/~avf5/). Particular fields of research include
tropical ocean-atmosphere interactions, ENSO modeling, decadal
climate variability, oceanic circulation and the role of ocean in
climate, physical and paleo oceanography, climate change. The work
will involve a combination of numerical modeling, analyses of proxy,
observational and/or GCM data, and analytical approaches.
Collaboration with scientists of GFDL, in Princeton NJ, is expected.
A Ph.D. in physical oceanography, atmospheric sciences or related
disciplines is required. Familiarity with oceanic and/or atmospheric
general circulation models is a big plus. Funding is currently
available for two years but may be extended in future. The review of
applications will begin immediately and will continue until the
position is filled. To apply sent your CV, a brief statement of
interest, names of three referees and one reprint or print to this
address:
Professor Alexey Fedorov
ATTN: Postdoctoral search
Department of Geology and Geophysics
Yale University
KGL, P.O. Box 208109,
New Haven, CT 06520
********************
Post-doc, Univ of Leeds (UK) Institute Energy and Resources Research
Institute
Applications are invited for a postdoctoral research fellowship
in the Institute Energy and Resources Research Institute at the
University of Leeds supported by the UK Home Office. The post will
form part of a cross University collaboration studying the short
range dispersion of tracers through urban street networks via a
variety of on street monitoring and computer modelling work. Other
research partners include the Universities of Surrey, Reading,
Bristol and Imperial College. The overall aim is to characterise
street level wind and dispersion conditions with respect to
prevailing meteorological conditions and to explore conditions that
may lead to high exposures following a potentially hazardous release.
The Leeds Research Fellow will be responsible for the preparation and
deployment of sonic anemometry and high frequency data logging
equipment during several field campaigns as well as subsequent field
data analysis and interpretation. The Leeds fellow should expect to
collaborate closely with the other research partners.
Applicants should have a PhD in Physics, Atmospheric Science or
Engineering and some experience of meteorological instrumentation,
data logging and analysis. Some previous experience of turbulence
analysis would be a particular advantage.
The appointment will be for 24-30 months depending on the time of
appointment and starting salary.
University Grade 6 (£20,235 - £27,194 p.a.)
Informal enquiries to Dr. A.S. Tomlin, email A.S.Tomlin at leeds.ac.uk,
tel. +44 (0)113 343 2500, Fax +44 (0)113 2467310.
Application packs are available from Mrs Sheilagh Ogden, tel 0113
343 2508 email s.j.ogden at leeds.ac.uk
Closing date 25 July 2006
********************
Ph.D student/post-doc at ICG-II (Germany)
At the ICG-II, research center Jülich, Germany, we seek an
outstanding PhD student or postdoc in the field of atmospheric
chemistry to model the global atmospheric hydrogen cycle. The
modelling work will be done with a state-of-the-art three-dimensional
chemistry-climate model and comprise the analysis of emissions and
deposition, model evaluation with field data, and trend and budget
analysis of atmospheric hydrogen. The contract can start in October
2006 or earlier, depending on the availability of the applicant.
Further information can be found at:
http://www.fz-juelich.de/icg/icg-ii/offers/openings/hydrogen_cycle
Dr. Martin G. Schultz
ICG-II Research Center Jülich
m.schultz at fz-juelich.de
ph: +49 2461 612831 (or +49 40 41173 308)
********************
Post-doc & PhD students at Alfred Wegener Inst for Polar & Marine Res
(Germany)
The AWI conducts numerical ocean modelling in order to better
understand the general ocean circulation and the processes involved,
with special emphasis on the circulation around the Antarctic and the
production of deep and bottom waters there. One of our main tools is
a finite-element general ocean circulation model, in which we
assimilate measured data. To support this activity and to extend the
application to research on tides and tsunamis, section 'Ocean
Circulation' at the Climate System Department is looking for two
oceanographers, meteorologists, mathematicians (Reference number 37/
III). The employment is subject to the regulations of the federal
salary scale as far as they are applicable at the AWI.
Requirements: PhD and very good knowledge in oceanography or
another discipline relevant to ocean modelling. Good mathematical
skills and experience with FORTRAN/UNIX are necessary. Knowledge in
data assimilation, numerical modelling or finite-elements methods are
an advantage.
All positions are limited to three years.
You may obtain further information from Dr. Jens Schroeter
(jschroeter at awi-bremerhaven.de), phone +49 471/4831-1762.
The AWI aims at increasing the number of female scientists.
Therefore, qualified female scientists are explicitly required to
apply. In case of equal qualifications the AWI will try to give the
job to a female scientist.
Severely disabled applicants will be preferred in case of equal
professional and personal qualifications. Please consider the
information on our homepage (www.awi-bremerhaven.de) under 'jobs'.
The AWI supports balanced work-life career development via a
variety of alternatives. In Bremerhaven, the AWI offers places in a
day-nursery.
Applications with the usual documents (CV, photographs,
certificates and performance records) are to be sent, mentioning the
reference number, until 20 Juli 2006 to:
Alfred-Wegener-Institut fuer
Polar- und Meeresforschung, Personalabteilung,
Postfach 12 01 61, 27515 Bremerhaven
http://www.awi-bremerhaven.de
********************
Post-doc, LOCEAN/IPSL, Univ Paris VI (France) The oceanic response
to the North Atlantic Oscillation
In the frame of the EU FP6 project DYNAMITE (Understanding the
DYNAMIcs of the Coupled ClimaTE System , see http://
dynamite.nersc.no), LOCEAN/IPSL is opening a postdoctoral position.
Deeper understanding of the intrinsic variability and stability
properties of the main climate variability modes is needed to assess
confidence in the detection, attribution and prediction of climate
change, to improve seasonal predictions, and to understand the
shortcomings of current prediction systems. DYNAMITE will explore the
fundamental dynamical mechanisms of two of the most important modes
of climate variability: the North Atlantic Oscillation/Arctic
Oscillation (NAO/AO) and the El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO).
The postdoctoral work will be to contribute to our understanding
of the processes that determine the response of the large-scale
circulation of the North Atlantic Ocean, both its horizontal gyre
component and its meridional overturning component, to variations in
the NAO. The Meridional Overturning Circulation (MOC) makes a major
contribution to the northward heat transport of the Atlantic Ocean,
and it is thought that variations in the MOC on decadal timescales
can modulate climate. MOC variations are driven partly by variations
in wind-stress and partly by anomalous buoyancy fluxes, especially
over the high latitude regions of deep oceanic convection. LOCEAN
participates in coordinated experiments in which coupled ocean/sea-
ice GCMs are forced with idealised surface wind stress and flux
fields representative of NAO variability. The post doc will
investigate the coupled ocean-sea ice processes that govern the
formation of salinity anomalies in the arctic, the influence of the
NAO on deep convection in the North Atlantic, and their subsequent
impact on the MOC. The changes in the northward flux of warm and
salty Atlantic surface water, and their back interaction on the
formation of deep water will also be analysed.
The position will be hosted by LOCEAN, University Pierre and
Marie Curie (Paris VI) (see http://www.lodyc.jussieu.fr/), which is
part of the Institut Pierre Simon Laplace (IPSL). Candidates should
have a Ph.D in ocean or / and atmosphere dynamics, and /or research
interests and experience in any aspect of large-scale ocean dynamics
or ocean modelling.
The position could be opened on October 1, and will end in
February 2007. Salary will depend on qualification and follow CNRS
scales.
Applicants should submit a CV, a description of research
interests, and the names and e-mail of three references to Prof.
Claude Frankignoul (cf at lodyc.jussieu.fr)
For more information, contact:
Prof. Claude Frankignoul
LOCEAN, case 100, Universit Paris 6, Tour 45-55, 4 tage
4, Place Jussieu 75252 Paris Cedex 05, France
tel 33(0)144272732 fax 33(0)144273805
cf at lodyc.jussieu.fr
********************
Postdoc at MeteoSwiss (Switzerland) at MeteoSwiss, Zurich,
Switzerland: Probabilistic Prediction of Extreme Weather Events
MeteoSwiss, the Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology,
provides services according to the Swiss meteorological legislation
to the public as well as for the benefit of private and commercial
customers. In the framework of the Swiss project NCCR Climate
(National Center of Competence in Research - Climate) for our
contribution "PRECLIM - Climate and Operational Prediction" at
MeteoSwiss we are looking for a
Post-Doctoral Research Associate
Your task is to analyse and enhance the capabilities of a
probabilistic regional weather forecast model. The results will help
to understand the predictability of extreme events, will improve
current operational forecasting systems and will enable optimally
calibrated weather forecasts. Extreme events, especially heavy
precipitation events in the Alpine area, will be analysed in an end-
to-end user approach in co-operation with hydrological applications
(e.g. within the project MAP D-PHASE). You will present the results
achieved in peer reviewed scientific journals and at international
conferences.
The position requires a PhD in the field of meteorology or
climatology and ideally experience in numerical weather prediction,
statistics, and computer programming along with the ability to deal
with large, complex data sets. Good oral and written skills in German
and English are required. Knowledge of French would be an asset.
Applicants should be not older than 35 years at the time of
application. Applications from women will be particularly appreciated.
We are looking forward to a motivated team player who appreciates
working in a scientific project of great importance for the security
relevant meteorological and hydrological forecasts and warnings in
the Alpine region.
Working place: Zurich, Switzerland
Starting date: 1 September 2006 or later
The position is limited to 2.5 years.
For more information, please contact Dr. Philippe Steiner,
philippe.steiner [at] meteoswiss.ch, +41 44 256 96 44.
Applicants should send their documentation by surface mail and no
later than the 25th of August 2006 to MeteoSwiss, Personal und
Ausbildung, Postfach 514, Kraehbuehlstrasse 58, 8044 Zurich,
Switzerland.
http://www.meteoswiss.ch/web/de/meteoschweiz/job_karriere/jobs.html
********************
Senior Program Officer, Energy Program at the International Institute
for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) to contribute to the Global
Energy Assessment (GEA ), a major new initiative.
The Energy (ENE) Program at the International Institute for
Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) is one of the leading research
groups worldwide in the analysis of long-term interactions between
energy, development, and the environment. IIASA is an
interdisciplinary, non-governmental, independent international
research organization, located in Laxenburg, Austria.
The GEA was established by IIASA in late 2005 to help decision
makers address the challenges of providing energy services for
sustainable development while ameliorating existing and emerging
threats associated with: security of supply; lack of access to modern
forms of energy for development and poverty alleviation; local,
regional and global environmental impacts; and securing sufficient
investment.
The GEA will be a major activity spanning a number of years, and
will be produced by bringing together leading international experts
from academia, business, governments and intergovernmental and non-
governmental organizations. IIASA and partners are currently
developing further the Assessment, which will be formally launched
later in 2006. More information about the GEA and ENE Program is
available at:
http://www.iiasa.ac.at/Research/ENE/index.html.
Tasks
Support the management of the GEA
Organize and coordinate the review process for the GEA, including:
a. Reviewing and editing scientific and technical documents for
GEA reports
b.Recruiting and liaising with expert reviewers Manage the
organization of meetings of the GEA Council, Executive Committee and
chapter working groups Coordinate activities promoting the GEA, such
as meetings and other events Draft research, funding and other GEA
proposals Prepare letters and dissemination/communication material,
such as presentations Contribute to scientific research for the GEA
and ENE Program.
Profile
Advanced degree (PhD or equivalent) in economics, policy, energy
engineering/economics, and/or environmental management
Excellent written English essential
Strong understanding of major global energy issues and analyses
Ten to 15 years of relevant experience (i.e., in the field of
energy, development or environment policy) in at least two of:
academia; industry; government; or NGOs
Experience in other global assessment activities, such as the
Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, the International Assessment of
Agricultural Science and Technology for Development, or assessment
activities of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
Strong organizational skills; flexible and adaptable in
responding to deadlines in a high-pressure environment; ability to
work in an international team with colleagues from diverse backgrounds
Appointment Terms
The successful candidate will be offered an initial fixed-term
contract for 1 year, beginning in the second half of 2006, with the
possibility of extension. The salary is competitive and commensurate
with experience. It is exempt from taxation in Austria, but subject
to the principle of income aggregation. The appointment includes
moving and settlement allowances.
Preference will be given to applicants who are nationals of IIASA
member countries.
Applications from women are encouraged.
Applications
To apply send a cover letter, resume, plus names, addresses
(including e-mail), telephone and fax numbers of three work-related
references, as well as copies of two recent publications/papers
(articles, research papers, model documentation, proposals, minutes
of meetings, etc.) to:
Walter Foith, Head of Human Resources
International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA)
Schlossplatz 1, A-2361 Laxenburg, Austria
Fax: (+43) 2236/713-13
E-mail: foithw at iiasa.ac.at
Review of applications will begin immediately.
Closing date for applications: 31 August 2006.
For further information, please contact Prof. Dr. Nebojsa
Nakicenovic. IIASA Fax: +43 2236/713-13.
For general information about our institute and its research
activities, please visit our IIASA Web site.
********************
Assistant Prof: Biogeographer - Kansas State University Dept. of
Geography
KANSAS, MANHATTAN 66506-2904. The Kansas State University
Department of Geography invites applications for a tenure-track
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR position beginning August 2007. For this new
faculty line, we seek a physical geographer with expertise in
hydrology or biogeography to complement our existing areas of
strength. Cutting-edge skills in GIS and/or quantitative modeling of
spatial complexity are highly desirable, and applicants should have
an appreciation for the study of coupled human and natural systems.
Visit http://www.kstate.edu/geography/ for information about the
department.
Candidates must have completed a Ph.D. by the time of the
appointment, and be able to demonstrate the potential to develop a
strong research program, including the pursuit of extramural research
grants, collaborative research, and publication in highly-ranked
journals. Candidates are expected to value diversity in all of its
dimensions and consider different technical and cultural perspectives
in solving problems appropriate to a land grant institution.
Excellence in undergraduate and graduate teaching and advising is
expected, as is a commitment to work with a wide range of
constituents and diverse student populations.
Submit an application letter that describes your qualifications
and the contributions you could offer to the department. Please also
provide a curriculum vita, evidence of scholarship and teaching
effectiveness, a plan for extramural funding, plus names and contact
information for three referees. Review of applications begins 15
October 2006 and will continue until the position is filled. Kansas
State University is an equal opportunity employer and actively seeks
diversity among its employees. Paid by Kansas State University.
Apply to: Dr. Charles W. Martin, Search Committee Chair,
Department of Geography, 118 Seaton Hall, Kansas State University,
Manhattan, KS 66506-2904
*************************************************
This newsletter has been developed by C. Susan Weiler to distribute
information of potential interest to recent PhDs engaged in
interdisciplinary aquatic science or climate-change research, and to
build an international sense of community among recent grads. It
provides an international forum for the exchange of information and
opinions regarding research, professional and social issues. The
views and opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the
funding agencies or sponsoring societies. Dr. Weiler reserves the
right to edit or reject material submitted to the list.
Please submit announcements of interest to recent PhDs to
phd at whitman.edu. Send a short message in the body of an e-mail
message, and link to any appropriate websites. Do not send attachments.
Moving? Send address changes to dialog at whitman.edu or
disccrs at whitman.edu
**********
C. Susan Weiler, Ph.D.
Office for Earth System Studies Tel: 509-527-5948
Whitman College Fax: 509-527-5961
Walla Walla, WA 99362
weiler at whitman.edu
Programs for Recent PhDs http://aslo.org/phd.html
DIALOG poster http://www.aslo.org/phd/dialogposter.pdf
DISCCRS poster http://www.aslo.org/phd/disccrsposter.pdf
Workshop Report, Meeting the Needs of
Interdisciplinary Ph.D. Graduates in a
Changing Global Environment
http://marcus.whitman.edu/~weilercs/biocomplexity/
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