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Current opportunities in EEB program


Postdoctoral position with Dr. Kelly Ramirez:
Job Description
The Biological Sciences Department at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) has an opening for a Postdoctoral Research Associate focusing on quantifying the genomic and functional variability of the soil microbiome across dryland ecosystems and advancing the basic understanding of microbial controls on carbon pools in drylands under global change pressures. 
Conduct novel microbiome analyses, combined with an arid-focused soil health assessment framework, and innovative greenhouse and incubation experiments to develop a microbial explicit soil organic carbon (SOC) cycling model. Join a multidisciplinary team between UTEP and the University of Arizona as part of a USDA NIFA AFRI microbiome project. You will be working with Kelly Ramirez (UTEP), Albert Barberán (UA), and Joseph Blankenship (UA). Ample opportunities for research integration and development of relevant skills.
What you will do:
  • Integrate theories, measurements, and models of microbiome functional components and soil organic carbon dynamics. 
  • Design and run an incubation experiment to be used in corresponding microbial-explicit C model. 
  • Create, track, and manage timelines and related tasks to ensure effective implementation of the project goals and objectives.
  • Manage and mentor graduate students and undergraduates associated with the project. 
  • Assist PI and co-PIs to ensure projects are delivered on-time, within scope, and within budget.
  • Communicate regularly with the project team. 
  • Present results at relevant scientific conferences (e.g. AGU, ESA, ASM).
  • Publish work in peer-reviewed journals.
  • Contribute to grant proposals and project reports. 
  • Other duties as assigned. 
Additional Responsibilities as needed:
  • Contribute to microbiome community and functional analyses. 
  • Contribute to development of greenhouse experiment to assess feedbacks between dryland plants and their microbiome under drought and grazing conditions 
  • Contribute to meetings and workshops with stakeholders and project participants. 
  • Share technical laboratory and model development expertise with collaborators in interdisciplinary teams.
Requirements:
  • Recent Ph.D. in microbial ecology, soil science, biogeochemistry, earth sciences, or related field.
  • Expertise in microbial community analyses and/or process modeling of soil carbon cycles. 
  • Demonstrated ability to work independently and collaborate with multiple project investigators and team members; demonstrated communication skills.
  • Expertise in relevant types of laboratory analyses as well as processing soil for microbial analysis.
  • Ability to manage data sets and perform quality control for outliers and instrument problems.
  • Committed to safe and inclusive working conditions, in the field and lab.
  • Familiarity with principles of environmental microbiomes, soil carbon cycle, and microbial traits and processes involved in the carbon cycle.
  • Proficiency in R, python, or other software for model development and for handling and organizing data.
Desired Qualifications:
  • Experience with sample prep for high-throughput sequencing.
  • Experience with laboratory experiments such as incubations.
  • Experience with analyses of microbial community dynamics.
  • Experience with modeling soil carbon and microbial dynamics.
Application Instructions:
Desired start date is January 2025 but earlier or later start dates will be considered. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Send application documents to ksramirez4@utep.edu.
  • Cover Letter - Describe your interest in this position and the relevance of your background in 1-2 pages.
  • Curriculum Vitae (CV), including publication list.
  • PDFs of up to 3 of your relevant publications.
  • Complete contact information for 3 references. 
Notes:
  • This is a full-time 2 year, postdoctoral appointment.
  • This position may be subject to a background check. Any convictions will be evaluated to determine if they directly relate to the responsibilities and requirements of the position. Having a conviction history will not automatically disqualify an applicant from being considered for employment.
  • Work will be primarily performed at: the University of Texas at El Paso, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, and remote with prior negotiation.

 

Assistant Professor - Quantitative Community Ecologist

The Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) invites applications for a tenure-track assistant professor position for a Quantitative Community Ecologist. We are seeking highly collaborative candidates with expertise in community ecology, particularly of natural communities, who integrate quantitative methods into their research, including but not limited to advanced statistical methods, mathematical/theoretical frameworks or modeling. We particularly encourage applicants who have experience in or can adapt their research focus toward communities found in arid and desert regions. The anticipated appointment date is fall 2025. The successful candidate is expected to (1) establish an extramurally funded research program; (2) teach and mentor undergraduate, masters, and doctoral students; and (3) show strong potential for collaboration across ecology and evolutionary biology (EEB). For more information, please see: http://utep.interviewexchange.com/jobofferdetails.jsp?JOBID=180697

 

Assistant Professor – Wildlife Biologist

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Connect With Us

The University of Texas at El Paso
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Biology Building
500 W University
El Paso, Texas 79902

E: vlougheed@utep.edu
P: (915) 747-5844