Ph.D. Research Assistantship: Systematics and Taxonomy of Horse flies

We are seeking applicants to fill a PhD graduate research Assistantship to study horse fly (Diptera:Tabanidae) systematics and evolution as part of a National Science Foundation PEET Award (Partnerships to Enhance Expertise in Taxonomy).

Tabanid PEET homepage: (http://www.inhs.illinois.edu/research/tabanid/)
NSF Award: (http://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward.do?AwardNumber=0731528)

Candidates should have a strong interest in systematics and revisionary taxonomy; previous experience in entomology, morphology, bioinformatics, outreach, or molecular systematics is a plus. In addition to their taxonomic work on Tabanidae, each trainee will be asked to specialize in one of three general areas: bioinformatic techniques, computational/analytical phylogenetics, or natural history teaching and outreach. Additionally, the student must satisfy requirements for admittance to the NSCU Entomology graduate program. Prospective students should have good written and oral communication skills, good personal skills, familiarity with computers and be willing to travel overseas.

North Carolina State University has one of the top rated Entomology programs in the Nation. As a node of the Research Triangle, NCSU also benefits from a large community of Evolutionary biologists and close proximity and affiliation with the National Evolutionary Synthesis Center (NESCent). The student will become part of the Wiegmann Diptera Systematics research team at NCSU. (http://www4.ncsu.edu/unity/users/b/bwiegman/public_html/labweb/)

To apply, please send an email to Brian Wiegmann (bwiegman@ncsu.edu), cc: (simorita@ncsu.edu) with the subject line "Application for PEET studentship" and include:

1. CV (max 2 pages)
2. Contact details for two references (email and mailing address)
3. A short paragraph describing your interest in the Tabanid PEET project

For more information, please contact Dr. Wiegmann (bwiegman@ncsu.edu) or Dr. Morita (simorita@ncsu.edu).

Participate in the Public Review of the Darwin Core Standard

Open Invitation: We invite all who may contribute and/or consume biodiversity information to examine the proposed Darwin Core Standard during the Public Review period from 11th July through at least 10th August 2009.

TDWG is pleased to announce the commencement of the Public Review of Darwin Core - a standard for sharing biodiversity information. You will find the proposed standard is a living document with a history, an anchor in the Dublin Core, and mechanisms to grow and change. Since being officially put forward as a draft standard in February 2009, Darwin Core has undergone a peer review, a review by the TDWG Executive, and multiple revisions.

How to Participate: Visit the Darwin Core Progress site for the latest background information on the process and critical links to content and participation. To discuss ideas with others or offer comments that are not targeted for action, please subscribe and contribute to the tdwg-content mailing list. Recommended actions or issues should be submitted to the Issue Tracker of the Darwin Core so that they may be assigned, prioritized, and tracked. This Public Review process will be archived along with all other documentation in the TDWG Standards Track. Questions about the process should be directed to the Review Manager, Gail Kampmeier (gkamp(at)illinois.edu).

Please share this opportunity for public comment and review with others you think may be interested. This project is of vital importance not only to this National Science Foundation PEET project on the Tabanidae, but to other NSF projects documenting biological diversity as well.

Acknowledgements: As Review Manager, I would like to express my gratitude to the authors, John Wieczorek, (MVZ), Markus Döring (GBIF), Renato De Giovanni (CRIA), Tim Robertson (GBIF), Dave Vieglais (KUNHM) for the enormous efforts made in bringing the Darwin Core standard to this point; to the initial anonymous peer reviewers, and to Lee Belbin and the rest of the TDWG Executive for their advice, support, and encouragement in this process; and to GBIF for tipping the scales by bringing together the authors in a workshop that led to this submission.

Links:

• Darwin Core Progress
• Darwin Core content
• Subscribe to tdwg-content
• Issue Tracker
• TDWG
• Other TDWG Standards
• TDWG Standards Track (in OJS)
• Dublin Core's Metadata Initiative in Science

Tabanid PEET working group meeting

The Tabanid PEET group gathered in Raleigh, NC 25-27 May 2009 for a working group meeting, with a concentration on databasing, planning for the future, and introducing Daniela Elena Ramirez as one of the newest students on the project. The meeting was joined by F. Chris Thompson to talk about integration of the tabanid names and the BDWD.

The group (l-r: Gail Kampmeier, Keith Bayless, Shelah Morita, Chris Thompson, Brian Wiegmann, Daniela Ramirez; not present was the Aussie contingent: David Yeates, Bryan Lessard) enjoyed dinner at the 42nd Street Oyster Bar in Raleigh.