Date:    Mon, 28 Aug 2000 14:02:13 -0400
From:    Nadine Lymn 
Subject: TWO POSTDOCTORAL FELLOW POSITIONS

TWO POSTDOCTORAL FELLOW POSITIONS AVAILABLE
Princeton-Cornell Project on
"Biocomplexity: The Emergence of Ecosystem Patterns"

We seek two Postdoctoral Fellows to participate in a five-year NSF funded =
collaboration between research groups at Princeton University and Cornell =
University.  This project addresses the question: "How do extraordinarily =
constant patterns emerge at the scale of ecosystems, from the tremendous =
(and evolving) biotic and abiotic complexity that defines these ecosystems?=
" =20

Our work will focus on macroscopic patterns and processes in the cycling =
of nutrients and water, and how these emerge from (and feed back upon) =
local interactions between organisms and their environments.  Some of =
these emergent patterns are unique to particular environments, but others =
- such as ratios of nutrients - show remarkable regularity within wide =
classes of ecosystems.  We will address both the similarities and =
differences, with an emphasis on differences between terrestrial and =
aquatic ecosystems.  Our focus will be on the interplay between biotic =
evolution and the cycling of nutrients, trace elements, and water, and how =
system resiliency is maintained in changing environments.

1. Position in Ecosystem Nutrient Cycles (Lars Hedin, Cornell):
We expect the applicant to have a good understanding of ecosystem nutrient =
dynamics, and a strong conceptual interest in linking ecosystem-scale =
patterns to properties of communities, organisms, and local environments.  =
The Fellow will assist in the assembly and interpretation of databases on =
broad ecosystem patterns, the collection of new information from forests =
in southern Chile and elsewhere, and will interact with collaborators at =
Princeton on linking models to the observed macroscopic patterns. =20

Applicants should send a statement of qualifications, curriculum vitae, =
and three letters of reference to Lars O. Hedin, Dept. Ecology and =
Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853 or to loh1@corne=
ll.edu.  Cornell University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action =
employer.  Applications from women and minorities are encouraged.

2. Position in Ecological Systems Modeling (Simon Levin and Steven Pacala, =
Princeton):
The applicant should have good understanding of ecosystem dynamics in =
either terrestrial or aquatic systems, and facility with mathematical =
modeling and computer simulation.  The Fellow will assist in the developmen=
t of modeling approaches, and interact with empirical colleagues at =
Princeton and Cornell. =20

Applicants should send a statement of qualifications, curriculum vitae, =
and three letters of reference to Simon Levin, Dept. of Ecology and =
Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton NJ 08544-1003.  =
Princeton University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.  =
Applications from women and minorities are encouraged.