Happy Holidays

Dear GSA Geobiology and Geomicrobiology division members,

Your new division officers would like to wish you a very happy holiday season and a geobio-ful 2019. I think we're all ready for the winter break (a.k.a. prime science/lab/writing time!).

We would also like to remind you to renew your GSA membership for 2019 (if you have not done so already). As you renew your membership, please do not forget to select GBGM (Geobiology and Geomicrobiology) as your division; the first one is free, so what do you have to lose? By doing so, we can continue to provide you with excellent lunches and stellar topical sessions. We are also working to get the GBGM division listed as a division you can donate to on the renewal page so hopefully early in 2019, if you have some spare change and want to support the division, look for us in the donation dropbox! 

All the best for 2019!

Rowan, Vicky, Simon, Trinity, David, Lydia, Amanda, and Andrew

2018/2019 GBGM Division Representatives

Hello GBGM community,
We would like to introduce the new Representatives for the GSA Geobiology and Geomicrobiology Division. Most members will serve 2-year terms, but we often have student officers serve shorter or longer terms.

Division Chair: Rowan Martindale (the University of Texas at Austin)

I am delighted to take on the responsibilities of GSA Geobiology and Geomicrobiology Division chair. I have served the division for the past four years (Secretary and Vice Chair) and have enthusiastically watched the division grow and expand our voice into social media. I look forward to continuing to promote diversity and early career geobiologists as well as supporting your interests in the division and geo(micro)biology within the geological community.

I am an Assistant Professor in the Department of Geological Sciences (Jackson School of Geosciences) at the University of Texas at Austin and my research involves both field and lab work, from large-scale mapping to thin section analysis of microfossils. Recent research in my lab has been focused on reef paleoecology, exceptional fossilization of marine communities, and the geobiology of carbon cycle perturbation events (e.g. ocean acidification and dysoxia in deep time).

Vice Chair: Victoria (Vicky) Petryshyn (University of Southern California)

Hi everyone, I look forward to serving as the GBGM Vice Chair; I have been a faculty member in the Environmental Studies Program at USC since 2016. I’ve had a wonderful time serving as GBGM’s treasurer for the past four years, and am grateful for the opportunity to continue to serve as your Vice Chair. Our division has seen many gains recently, especially in increasing membership among students, early-career scientists, and underrepresented groups. I feel it is especially important to reach out to those who are just starting their scientific pursuits in order to give them a sense of community. This is a rapidly evolving field, and I am excited to work with the rest of the Executive Committee in increasing our visibility at GSA and in the larger scientific community.







Past Chair: Simon Darroch (Vanderbilt University)

I am a geobiologist and assistant professor at Vanderbilt University in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, with a research program focused on understanding major changes in the complexity of Earth-Life systems. I am proud of all the advances the GBGM has made during my time as Vice Chair and Chair and I look forward to continuing to to serve the community as Past Chair.











Secretary: David Gold (University of California, Davis)

I am delighted to join the GSA Geobiology and Geomicrobiology Division as your new secretary. I am a new Assistant Professor in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences at the University of California, Davis. My work focuses on paleogenomics, or the use of genetic data to study geobiological questions. I’m particularly interested in the rise of animals through the Neoproterozoic /Cambrian boundary, with a focus on the evolution of biomineralization and the synthesis of geochemical biomarkers. I also raise animals in the lab to study their biology, including jellyfish and sea sponges.

This is my first time working for GSA. I see this secretary position as an opportunity to learn about the role committees play in the organization, and to develop my skillset for future service. I love geobiology because of its interdisciplinary nature. There are so many exciting geological questions that could be investigated with biological data, but they haven’t been pursued because the two scientific disciplines communicate less often than they should. My goal is to facilitate greater collaboration between geologists and geneticists, making sure that we take advantage of the rapidly-changing tools in molecular biology to probe questions related to Earth’s history.



Treasurer: Trinity Hamilton (University of Minnesota)

I am excited to be the new Treasurer for the GSA Geobiology and Geomicrobiology Division. GBGM is a growing community of interdisciplinary scientists spanning career tracks with a significant membership comprised of early career scientists and grad students. As an early career scientist with a non-traditional path to Geobiology and Geomicrobiology, I look forward to the opportunity to promote collaboration and community in the Division along with the other officers.

I am an Assistant Professor in the Department of Plant and Microbial Biology at the University of Minnesota. My lab employs an interdisciplinary approach to examine the role of microbes in pivotal events in Earth history and how biologically-mediated processes are recorded over evolutionary time. We study microbial phototrophs in environments that mimic conditions of Earth’s past using next-generation sequencing technologies to examine physiology, function, and evolutionary history. Through these studies, we aim to answer outstanding questions in microbial ecology and evolution including the form and function of the Earth’s earliest phototrophs and the contribution of these organisms to biogeochemical cycling in Earth’s past, present, and future.


GBGM Division Representative: Lydia Tackett (North Dakota State)

Hi everyone, my name is Dr. Lydia Tackett and I am the GBGM Division Representative (a roll I also filled in 204-2016). My research focuses on the paleoecology of shelly marine animals from the Late Triassic, particularly how they adapted to changing levels of predation, how they were affected by the Manicouagan bolide impact, and what ecological and taxonomic consequences these transitions had on the extinction events in the latest Triassic. To evaluate this areas of research, I collect large samples of fossiliferous sedimentary rock from various field localities, interpret depositional environments with sedimentology in the field, using microfacies, and microfossils, and correlate sequences using biostratigraphy and isotope chemostratigraphy.


Student Representative (2017-2019): Amanda Godbold (University of Southern California)

My name is Amanda Godbold, I am a graduate student at the University of Southern California. I am the student representative for the GSA Geobiology and Geomicrobiology division. I am honored to be a part of this division alongside some amazing academics in the field of Geobiology and Geomicrobiology. My research interests are in conservation paleobiology, which applies deep-time information to current issues surrounding conservation. The overarching goal of my research is to gain a deeper understanding of marine refugia (i.e. ecosystems that provide relief from environmental stress). Currently, my research focuses on the ecologic stability of reef ecosystems during times of environmental stress. I am using methods derived from geochemistry, computer science, statistics, paleontology and modern ecology to address these research objectives. 


Student Representative (2018-2020): Andrew Putt (University of Tennessee Knoxville)

I am excited for this opportunity to serve the GBGM community as one of your student representatives!

My research investigates the fundamental survival strategies of the smallest size fraction of metabolically active microbial organisms. We research the unique and diverse metabolic relationship of the microbial community to the radionuclides, heavy metals, and other compounds found in the contaminated Y-12 National Security Complex aquifer in Oak Ridge, TN. Research updates and educational bioremediation topics can be found at (www.theremediator.net), and open access publications from our lab can be found at (http://hazenlab.utk.edu/publications.php). I am a Ph.D. student in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences at the University of Tennessee Knoxville, a Graduate Research Intern at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and a junior scientist in the U.S. Department of Energy ENIGMA (Ecosystems and Networks Integrated with Genes and Molecular Assemblies) research consortium. Before my current graduate studies I worked in the private pharmaceutical testing sector as an associate microbiologist, was an Undergraduate Research Fellow with the American Society for Microbiology, and received a B.S. in Environmental Biology and a B.S. in Watershed Management Geoscience from Mansfield University in PA.

2018 student presentation award winners

It is our pleasure to announce the winners of the 2018 student presentation awards. As usual, we were all impressed with the quality and diversity of research conducted by our student members! Presentation feedback will be sent out in the next week or so (hopefully while everything is still fresh in your memory).

We would like to express our deepest gratitude to our members who judged this year's competition. Without your feedback and support, this endeavour would not be possible. We are also very grateful to our student representative Amanda Godbold and Dylan Wilmeth for coordinating everything.
There were many interesting talks and posters at this year's GSA Meeting, so thank you to everyone who participated. The many excellent entries always make it difficult to choose winners, but here are the presentations that rose to the top.

Oral presentation winners:

Kathryn Mudica - Bioaccumulation Of Legacy Pollutants Using Lontra Canadensis (North American River Otter) As A Bioindicator

Erynn Johnson - 3D Printing Reveals Strengths And Weaknesses Of Prey Shape During The Mesozoic Marine Revolution


Poster presentation winners:
Broc Kokesh - Phenotypic Trajectory Analysis Reveals Temporal Divergence Of Shell Shape In Bivalves From Adjacent Marine Lakes

Maggie Stephenson - From Palm Savannahs To Hardwood Hammocks And Back: Palynology Of The Paleocene-Eocene Manawianui Drive Section, Bastrop County, TX


Honourable Mention:
Alison Cribb - Ecosystem engineering in the Ediacaran Nama Group, Namibia as a test for biological driver extinction of the Ediacara biota


As with previous years, we'll be handing out prizes at GBGM awards luncheon next year (GSA 2019). 

We'd like to thank all of the students who contacted us and put their names forward for consideration; it was a real privilege to see and hear about the work you've been doing, and we encourage you to enter again next year. Recognizing the excellent work of our members is the most important aspect of the GBGM division, so please stay in touch. It is wonderful to see the faces of the student population of GSA GBGM and there is a bright future ahead for this group!

All the best,

Rowan, Vicky, David, Trinity, Lydia, Simon

GSA GBGM Division Executive Committee

Faculty Position in Stratigraphic Paleontology, Yale University

The Department of Geology & Geophysics at Yale University invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor appointment in the area of stratigraphic paleontology. Relevant fields include, but are not restricted to, organism-sediment interactions, controls on fossilization through time, macrostratigraphy, paleoecology and paleoenvironments, and evolution in a stratigraphic context.

They seek candidates with outstanding prospects for research, scholarly leadership, and teaching excellence who will complement the existing strengths of the Department. A successful applicant will develop and implement independent, externally-funded research programs including a strong field component, teach and advise students, and facilitate interdisciplinary research.

Applicants should submit a letter of application, a curriculum vitae including a full list of publications, a statement of research, a statement of teaching interests, and four confidential letters of reference. Applications should be submitted online at http://apply.interfolio.com/50510.  This an extension of an existing search for which review of applications will commence after November 1, 2018. 

 For information regarding Yale Geology and Geophysics, visit our web site at http://earth.yale.edu. Yale University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer. Yale values diversity among its students, staff, and faculty and strongly welcomes applications from women, persons with disabilities, protected veterans, and underrepresented minorities.

Assistant professor in Geology, Geobiology, and/or Geochemistry- Harvard University

The Department of Earth & Planetary Sciences (EPS) invites applications for an open faculty position spanning the broadly defined fields of Geology, Geobiology and/or Geochemistry as they pertain to reconstructing and understanding the history of the Earth. This is a tenure-track appointment at the assistant level. They seek to attract an outstanding individual to establish an innovative research program and teach both undergraduate and graduate students. They are especially interested in individuals whose work spans the intellectual interests of Harvard faculty, including—although not limited to—the interactions between life, evolution, (bio)geochemistry, tectonics, and marine or terrestrial environmental change over geologic time. There is also the opportunity to work with sister departments such as Organismic and Evolutionary Biology and the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences.

A doctorate or terminal degree in the broad area of Earth history is required by the expected start date, currently July 1, 2019. We also seek candidates who have a commitment to teaching. We value diversity in our faculty and are committed to building a culturally diverse intellectual community. We particularly encourage applications from historically underrepresented groups, including women and minorities.

Please submit applications online at: https://academicpositions.harvard.edu/postings/8387. Required materials include a cover letter, curriculum vita; a statement of research and teaching interests; four representative publications; and the names, institutional affiliations, and e-mail addresses of three references. Review of applications will begin November 1, 2018, and conclude when the position is filled.

Further information about EPS is available at http://www.eps.harvard.edu/. Address questions about the position to Professor David Johnston (johnston@eps.harvard.edu) and about the application process to Chenoweth Moffatt (moffatt@eps.harvard.edu).

Assistant Professor of Marine Ecology (Gettysburg College)

Position Summary
The Department of Environmental Studies at Gettysburg College invites applications for a tenure-track, Assistant Professor in Marine Ecology beginning August, 2019. Candidates should be committed to teaching undergraduates in an interdisciplinary department and have an active research program. The successful candidate will teach marine ecology, introductory marine science courses to non-majors, as well as upper level courses in their area of expertise. The teaching load for this position will be five courses annually (3/2 load), where either a lecture or laboratory section is considered to be one course.
Gettysburg College is a highly selective liberal arts college located within 90 minutes of the Baltimore/Washington metropolitan area. The College is a member of the Marine Science Education Consortium (MSEC) and has access to facilities at Duke University Marine Lab.

Qualifications
Candidates must have a doctorate (or be ABD) in Marine Ecology or a related field. We seek an individual with demonstrated teaching or mentoring experience and an active research program. Preference will be given to those who can involve undergraduate students in their research. We strongly encourage applications from candidates who can demonstrate through their teaching, scholarship, or service that they can contribute to the diversity and inclusive excellence of our community.

Application Details
Please visit our website to submit your electronic application: http://gettysburg.peopleadmin.com/postings/2713 including a cover letter, curriculum vitae, a statement of teaching and research experience and goals, and the current email addresses for three professional references (at least one of whom can comment on your teaching effectiveness). Professional references will be contacted by Gettysburg College to submit letters of recommendation electronically. Review of complete applications will begin October 5, 2018 and will continue until a successful candidate is found. Inquiries can be addressed to Dr. Andy Wilson (awilson@gettysburg.edu).

Assistant Professor - Vertebrate Paleontology- UC Berkeley

The Department of Integrative Biology (IB) and the University of California Museum of Paleontology (UCMP) at the University of California, Berkeley invite applications for a full time tenure-track position in vertebrate paleontology at the Assistant Professor level. Potential start date is July 1, 2019.

IB and the UCMP are world-renowned for their dedication to understanding the evolution, systematics, paleoecology, geological history, and paleobiology of life on Earth using field studies, museum collections, and laboratory research. We seek exceptional candidates working in any area of vertebrate paleontology, and on any vertebrate group, whose research emphasizes collection, laboratory, and/or field-based studies within a comparative context. Possible research areas include (but are not limited to) the evolution of major adaptations, functional morphology, microevolutionary and/or macroevolutionary patterns and processes, response of vertebrate taxa and fauna to global climate change through time, paleophysiology, paleoecology, comparative morphology, developmental paleobiology, and the application of phylogenetics to major evolutionary problems. The successful candidate will be expected to maintain a strong externally funded active field and/or laboratory research program, to contribute to building and using UCMP collections, and to participate in UCMP research, education, and programmatic needs. Candidates will also contribute to teaching in the undergraduate and graduate curricula of the Department of Integrative Biology, develop a first-class research program that trains graduate and undergraduate students, and possesses a commitment to education, outreach and service.

Required Minimum Basic Qualifications:
* Enrolled in a Ph.D. degree or equivalent international degree program
Additional Qualifications:
Ph.D. (or equivalent international degree) must be held by start date
Evidence of contributions made to advance diversity, equity and inclusion
Preferred Qualifications:
PhD in vertebrate paleontology/paleobiology, or some related field
Ability to communicate effectively
Highly motivated
Interested in undergraduate and graduate teaching, public outreach, and museum collections

Applications must be received by October 15, 2018. To apply, please go to the following link: https://aprecruit.berkeley.edu/apply/JPF01857. 
 Please direct all questions to Integrative Biology Academic Personnel ib_recruit@berkeley.edu.

Assistant Professor in sed/strat and/or paleobiology, Towson University, MD

The College of Jess and Mildred Fisher College of Science and Mathematics invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position in the Department of Physics, Astronomy and Geosciences beginning August 2019.

Qualifications:
PhD in a relevant area is required. Postdoctoral experience is preferred. Possess a strong commitment to excellence in teaching, show potential for a productive research/scholarly program, and pursue external funding to support research programs involving undergraduate and graduate students. Preference will be given to candidates with research and teaching interests in the areas of sedimentology and stratigraphy and/or paleobiology. Candidates with a background in hydrogeology, in environmental or low-temperature geochemistry, or in geophysics and whose interests overlap with the priorities already listed will also be considered.

Responsibilities:
Faculty are assigned an instructional workload of six (6) course units per academic year for the first year. Beginning the second year the workload reverts back to the standard instructional workload of seven to eight (7-8) course units per academic year, with the possibility of a decrease in instructional workload based upon research needs. This position supports the Geology program with the potential to interact with students in the interdisciplinary graduate and undergraduate programs in Environmental Science and Studies. Teaching responsibilities will include introductory and upper–level geology courses and may include graduate–level environmental science courses. The candidate will likely teach a graduate-level environmental geology course in alternate years.

Application Process:
Electronic applications should be submitted as a single PDF file. Applications should include a cover letter, curriculum vitae, two-page statement on teaching philosophy, and two-page statement on research interests. Three letters of reference should be directly submitted separately to: Dr. David Schaefer; GEOLsearch@towson.edu

Review of applications will begin on October 5, 2018 and will continue until the position is filled. 
Additional information can be found here: https://careers.insidehighered.com/job/1589158/fcsm-n-3212-assistant-professor/

2018 Division Awards for outstanding research

Every year the GBGM executive committee selects exceptional scholars to receive awards for their accomplishments in research, education/mentoring, and service in geobiology. This year we had an exceptional list of nominees so thanks to all those who nominated someone!

We are pleased to announce that the 2018 awards go to Paula Welander and Jim Schiffbauer (pre-tenure), Beth Orcutt (post-tenure), and Andy Knoll (distinguished career). Please checkout their brief biographies below.

Pre-Tenure Award Recipient: Paula Welander (Stanford University)

Paula Welander is a microbiologist with interests in understanding the biosynthesis and physiological function of “molecular fossils” or lipid biomarkers in extant microbes. Paula received her undergraduate degree in kinesiology from Occidental College in Los Angeles. She obtained her PhD in microbiology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign where she studied methanogenesis with Prof. Bill Metcalf.  Paula then pursued postdoctoral studies on the biosynthesis of hopanoids, lipid produced by bacteria that also function as geological biomarkers, at MIT with Prof. Dianne Newman and Prof. Roger Summons. She joined the Stanford faculty in 2013 where she has continued her molecular work on lipid biomarkers in extant bacteria and archaea.

Pre-Tenure Award Recipient: James Schiffbauer (University of Missouri)

Dr. Schiffbauer is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Geological Sciences and Director of the X-ray Microanalysis Core at the University of Missouri. Schiffbauer’s academic background spans both biology and geology, and his research interests center on how accurately the history of life can be interpreted through the fossil record. Specifically targeting the taphonomy of complex multicellular fossils from the dawn of animal life at the Ediacaran–Cambrian transition, Schiffbauer uses advanced microscopy methods, including analytical scanning electron microscopy and tomographic x-ray microscopy, to help resolve which features of fossils represent true biological signal as opposed to those that are instead preservational noise.

Post-Tenure Award Recipient: Beth Orcutt (Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences)

Dr. Beth Orcutt is a Senior Research Scientist at the Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences in East Boothbay, Maine. Orcutt’s research focuses on understanding microscopic life at and below the seafloor, to resolve the importance of microbes in global chemical cycling while also revealing how life can survive in extremes for future astrobiology investigations. Having spent over 560 days at sea on 35 different field missions, Orcutt is an expert in ocean exploration technology.

Distinguished Career Award Recipient: Andrew Knoll (Harvard University)

Andrew Knoll is the Fisher Professor of Natural History at Harvard University, where he has taught for the past 36 years.  Knoll has longstanding interests in life and environments on the Archean and Proterozoic Earth, but he has also worried about Phanerozoic plant, animal, and phytoplankton evolution.  Much of Knoll’s paleontological and biogeochemical research derives from careful fieldwork, including successions in the Arctic, Siberia, China, Australia, and – virtually, at least – Mars.

Please join us in congratulating these four exceptional scientists at the GSA Geobiology Division Award Presentation during the 2018 GSA in Indiana.

GSA Topical Session: New Voices in Geobiology (4-7 Nov. 2018, Indianapolis)

Dear colleagues,

We encourage you to submit an abstract for our topical session: “New Voices in Geobiology (T29)” to be held at the GSA Annual Meeting in Indianapolis, Indiana, November 4-7, 2018.

The goal of this session is to bring together new research (and new researchers) focusing on the interplay between geologic and biologic processes with a special emphasis on new field sites, novel materials/methods, and the development/refinement of proxies. We particularly encourage early career faculty, postdoctoral researchers, and graduate students to submit abstracts to this session. Overall we hope to bring together scientists specializing in geobiology, biology, (geo)microbiology, paleobiology/paleontology, inorganic and organic geochemistry, paleoecology, paleoclimatology, and sedimentology to generate new, interdisciplinary ideas and collaborations at the intersection of these fields. 

The GSA abstract website is now open for submissions and the abstract deadline is midnight August 14th, 2018. Feel free to contact us if you have any further questions. Please forward this on to colleagues or students who may be interested in this session. 

We hope to see you at GSA!

The GSA Geobiology & Geomicrobiology Division Executive Committee

Paleontological Field Methods Course

Looking for a paleontology field course for summer 2018? 

Check out: Paleontology Field Methods & Research (Univ Wash BIOL475A/ESS 449A;  3, 4, or 5 credits). This is the same course that Greg Wilson has taught in the past and is held in the type area of the Hell Creek Formation in northeastern Montana (made famous as the type location for T. rex and the epicenter of the K-Pg extinction debates)

Overview: This is a one-month (June 18 – July 17, 2018) introduction to paleontological field methods and research, in which students develop skills in collecting, analyzing, and interpreting field data and designing research projects by participating in ongoing paleontological research on the Cretaceous-Paleogene mass extinction. Topics include excavation of fossils, identification and curation of fossils, collection/interpretation of stratigraphic and taphonomic data, and report writing.
Note that this is a University of Washington course BUT it is open to students from other institutions. In the past, approximately half of the students were from universities and colleges other than UW.

Course Details:
Lecture/Lab: 2 weeks (June 18-21, July 12-17) with intro lectures on principles in field paleontology, geology, and taphonomy as well as the scientific context of the research. Lab sessions to introduce the fossil vertebrates, curate collected fossil specimens, analyze data, and present final reports.
Fieldwork: 2.5 weeks (June 22 – July 11) at the Hell Creek State Park in NE Montana learning basic paleontology and geology field techniques, collecting fossils (verts, inverts, plants), gaining context of ongoing research, and engaging in group research projects.
Costs : Lab fee of $120, program fee of $850 to cover transportation, meals, lodging, and equipment for fieldwork, and UW tuition (see www.summer.uw.edu/registration-costs/tuition-fees/)
Entry Code: Students who wish to register for the class should contact instructor Dave Grossnickle (dmgrossn@uw.edu) for an entry code.

A PDF flyer can be found here: http://faculty.washington.edu/gpwilson/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/BIOL-475A-flyer-broad2018.pdf

2018 Division nomination deadline extended

A huge thanks to all of you who have sent us nominations for the 2018 GBGM division awards - they're excellent, and much appreciated! Although we now have nominees in each ctaegory (pre-tenure, post-tenure, and distinguished career), we still feel that we would like a larger pool to choose from in a couple of the categories (because we know that there are more amazing people out there!).

As a result, we are extending our nominations deadline to April 15th.

If you know of someone who you feel is deserving, please nominate them. Please use this nomination form to identify exceptional researchers who you think should be recognized, along with a justification (max. 500 words). Final nominees will be selected by the GBGM committee from amongst this pool, and awarded based the nominee’s complete portfolio (i.e., research, mentoring, service, and leadership). 

You can find all the nomination information (plus past awardees) here: http://gsageobiology.blogspot.com/2018/03/help-us-choose-2018-awardees.html

Invertebrate Paleontology Collection Manager - Drexel University

The Invertebrate Paleontology Department of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University is searching for a Collection Manager. The Academy is the oldest natural science research institution and museum in the Americas, and is situated within Philadelphia’s scenic Museums District on the Ben Franklin Parkway. The Invertebrate Paleontology collection consists of over 1 million specimens, ~ 75% of which are fossil mollusks, including ~5,000 types, with strengths in Mesozoic and Cenozoic mollusks from the US Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plains and from Britain.

 

Qualifications: Candidates should have at least a Master's Degree in either museum studies, invertebrate paleontology, vertebrate paleontology, or zoology. Candidates with a Bachelor's degree and extensive experience will also be considered. Experience in collections operations and digitization initiatives are required. Familiarity with collections management software, such as Specify or Arctos, and with national and international collections digitization efforts, such as iDigBio, ALA, GBIF, is desirable, as is experience in grant writing for collections management.

 

For Further Details on the Position and to Apply: Applicants may see the full job posting and must apply online at www.drexeljobs.com/applicants/Central?quickFind=83107  

Applicants will need to provide a CV, letter of interest, and, if selected for the second round, names and contact information for three references. The position is open until April 30 2018.  Questions about the position should be directed to Dr. Jocelyn Sessa (jsessa@drexel.edu)

 

The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University is especially interested in qualified candidates who can contribute to the diversity and excellence of the academic community.

Help us choose the 2018 Awardees

Dear GSA GBGM,

Every year the GSA Geobiology and Geomicrobiology division selects three exceptional researchers to receive pre-tenure, post-tenure, and distinguished career awards (for details on past awards, see the GBGM website, or see below). This year (2018), the division has decided that our members should play a more prominent role in choosing exceptional scientists for these awards. We are requesting nominations from our GSA GBGM members in order to create a more diverse and inclusive nominee pool, both in terms of academic fields, and demographics.

Please use this nomination form to identify exceptional researchers who you think should be recognized, along with a justification (max. 500 words). Final nominees will be selected by the GBGM committee from amongst this pool, and awarded based the nominee’s complete portfolio (i.e., research, mentoring, service, and leadership). Please submit your nominations by April 2nd, 2018.

We're grateful for your participation in this process - we know that your time is valuable, but this is one of the most important things the division does, and we think the community (not just us) should have a stronger say.

All the best, and we hope to being seeing your nominations soon!
Simon, Rowan, Vicky, Lydia, and Carie

Previous Award Winners:

Pre Tenure Award

2017: Christopher Reinhard
2016: Erik Sperling
2015: Arpita Bose
2014: Rob Sansom
2013: David Johnston
2012: Alexis Templeton
2011: David Fike

Post Tenure Award

2017: Susannah Porter
2016: Tanja Bosak
2015: Tim Lyons
2014: Sara Pruss
2013: Kurt Konhauser
2012: Barbara Sherwood-Lollar
2011: James Hagadorn

Distinguished Career Award

2017: Marilyn Fogel
2016: Dawn Sumner
2015: Elizabeth and Rudy Raff
2014: Shuhai Xiao
2013: Stan Awramik
2012: Jack Farmer
2011: Derek Briggs

Awards before career-stage differentiation

2010: John Grotzinger, Rich Lane, Nora Noffke;
2009: Anna Louise Reysenbach, Mary Droser, and Ken Eriksson

Invertebrate Paleontology Summer Internship - AMNH (applications due March 16th)

The Division of Paleontology at the American Museum of Natural History is offering a small number of full-time, 8-week internships for graduate or undergraduate students in geology, invertebrate paleontology, life sciences, museum studies, or related fields (June 11, 2018 start). The interns will participate in an IMLS-funded project to curate the Mapes collection in the Invertebrate Paleontology department at AMNH.

A description of the Mapes collection at the AMNH can be found here:

http://www.amnh.org/our-research/paleontology/collections/fossil-invertebrates/royal-mapes-collection

A summary of the IMLS-funded project to curate the Mapes collection can be found here:

https://www.imls.gov/grants/awarded/ma-30-15-0491-15

The interns will work with collection management staff to rehouse, conserve, catalog and database specimens. A stipend will be provided as support over the internship period.

Required Qualifications: 

Applicants should be enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate degree course, or about to apply to a graduate course in invertebrate paleontology, life sciences, museum studies, or related fields. Ability to work with paleontological research collections, ability to perform tasks requiring physical strength and high manual dexterity, proficiency in the use of Mac and PC based software, good organizational, excellent interpersonal skills, and ability to work independently. Experience working in museum collections a plus.

Interested parties should apply online:

pa495.peopleadmin.com/applicants/Central?quickFind=52732

Applications must be received no later than March 16, 2018. Applications cannot be accepted via email or snail mail. Due to the high volume of applications, we cannot respond to email inquiries about application status. Applicants will only receive notification if they qualify for an interview.

The American Museum of Natural History is one of the world's preeminent scientific and cultural institutions. Since its founding in 1869, the Museum has advanced its global mission to discover, interpret and disseminate information about human cultures, the natural world and the universe through a wide-ranging program of scientific research, education and exhibition. The Museum is renowned for its exhibitions and scientific collections, which serve as a field guide to the entire planet and present a panorama of the world's cultures.

The American Museum of Natural History is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The Museum does not discriminate due to age, sex, religion, race, color, national origin, disability, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, or any other factor prohibited by law. Qualified candidates of diverse ethnic and racial backgrounds are encouraged to apply for vacant positions at all levels. Please be advised that due to the high volume of applicants, we are only able to contact those candidates whose skills and background best fit the needs of the open position.

International Geobiology Course 2018

The International Geobiology Course (June 12th to July 17th, 2018) is an intense, multidisciplinary summer course that explores the co-evolution of the Earth and it’s biosphere, with an emphasis on how microbial processes affect the environment and leave imprints in the rock record. Participants get a hands-on learning experience in cutting-edge geobiological techniques including molecular biology, microbiology, geochemistry, and sedimentology and work in research groups to solve real research questions.

Themes for this years’ course include:

1. Molecular biology and biogeochemistry of Mono Lake, with an emphasis on microbial elemental cycling in this unusual alkaline lake.
2. Microbial processes and biogeochemical cycling of sulfur.
3. Geobiology of modern microbes living on organic-rich shales.

This year the course will be directed by Alex Sessions, Woody Fischer, and Victoria Orphan, and will remain in a format similar to previous years. It begins with a field trip up the eastern Sierra Nevada to visit hot springs, Cambrian rocks, and Mono Lake, and back down to the coast near Ventura to study sulfur springs and tar seeps, and a world-famous exposure of the Monterey Formation. Two weeks of lab rotations at Caltech will introduce students to cutting-edge analytical techniques, followed by two weeks at the Wrigley Marine Science Center on Catalina Island.

Applications are due Friday February 9th

For more information about how to apply, check out the website (http://web.gps.caltech.edu/GBcourse/) or the flyer.

Propose Geobio Sessions for the 2018 GSA meeting

Help us promote Geobiology at the 2018 GSA in Indianapolis (Nov. 4-7)! Submit a relevant session proposal or short course that we can sponsor! Details below.

CALL FOR PROPOSALS

We look forward to highlighting the Indiana area geology as well as the wider world of geoscience research at the GSA 2018 Annual Meeting & Exposition in Indianapolis. We challenge you to propose a Short Course and/or a Technical Session that will teach your colleagues and promote discussion about the incredible geological research going on today in so many different areas. If you have a particularly groundbreaking and dynamic topic in mind, consider proposing a Pardee Session to bring a special focus to your idea.

EXCHANGE the geology

… by organizing and chairing a technical session.
Technical Session deadline:1 Feb. 2018

Proposals are being taken for both Pardee Keynote and Topical Sessions.

Propose a Session

SHARE the geology

… as an instructor through a Short Course.
Short Course proposal deadline:1 Feb. 2018

Courses run the Friday and Saturday before the Annual Meeting and are typically a half day to two full days.

Propose a Short Course

Lectureships- UCL (UK)

Two lectureship positions at Earth Sciences, University College London, UK

The Department of Earth Sciences invites applications for two lectureship posts from 1st September 2018 in any area of the Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences. Applicants whose research will contribute to areas of strategic importance, and complement and strengthen the current research portfolio within the department are particularly welcome. We are seeking to appoint outstanding individuals with academic standing, vision and proven expertise who will provide leadership in their field of expertise, develop world-class research programmes and contribute to advanced teaching and knowledge exchange activities.

The postholder will have a PhD in a relevant discipline as well as experience in research, teaching or other employment in Earth, Environmental or Planetary Sciences.

Successful candidates will also have an outstanding record of academic research, a strong publications portfolio, a track record of success in income generation from public and/or commercial sources, and will be able to work collaboratively with an inter-disciplinary approach.

Deadline 23 February 2018
UCL vacancy reference: 1705691

For more information see: http://www.jobs.ac.uk/job/BHF095/lectureship-in-earth-sciences/
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/human-resources/working-ucl/jobs-ucl