The Graduate Student Senate Awards were held on April 4. Check out all the winners from EEB!
Graduate Research Mentor of the Year: Associate Professor Elisabeth Schussler
Excellence in Teaching: Justin Hendy (Small Lab)
Excellence in Research: Sara Lipshutz (Derryberry Lab)
Excellence in Service: Alannie Grant (Kalisz Lab)
The 19th Annual Knoxville EarthFest will be held on Saturday, April 28 from 10am-5pm at the Knoxville Botanical Garden.
There will be talks and activities like helping build bat boxes. The GREBE (Graduate Students in Ecology, Behavior, and Evolution) Outreach Committee will have a booth. It’s going to be super fun, especially for kids, so plan to come out! Check out the EarthFest website for all the details.
Professor Louis Gross was honored with the 2018 SEC Faculty Achievement Award this week. The award recognizes professors from the 14 Southeastern Conference schools who have outstanding records in teaching and scholarship. Honorees from each university receive an honorarium and become their university’s nominee for SEC Professor of the Year, to be awarded later this spring.
The full press release can be viewed at news.utk.edu.
At the heart of a liberal arts education is the intersection of science and art. In his new book, Elements of Chance, Art Stewart, adjunct professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, presents science-flavored poems for scientists.
“Poetry and science are not at odds with one another,” Stewart says. “Rather, these two great constructs support each other, arm in arm.”
Evidence of the interconnectedness exists in several forms – from the patterns of a pinecone that match those of the Fibonacci sequence to using high-powered equipment to examine the beginning of the universe or life itself. Science and poetry, or art in any form, requires humans to use all five senses to examine and observe in order to come to a conclusion.
“The task of communicating science through poetry has been challenging because many scientists ignore poetry and many poets, insofar as possible, avoid science,” Stewart says.
One opportunity for students at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, to examine the beauty of science through poetry is the ORISE Science Poetry Contest.
STEM is a familiar phrase to most people, but a new acronym is gaining momentum: STEAM, or science, technology, engineering, ART, and math. To recognize this interconnectedness, ORISE is sponsoring a science-poetry competition during April, which is also National Poetry Month.
“I’ve been at the task of trying to nudge science a bit closer to the arts, and the arts a bit closer to the sciences, for nearly 20 years, through poetry,” Stewart says. “I look forward to seeing what the students come up with and hope our EEB students take this opportunity to participate.”
The contest is open to all high school and university students. Visit the website to learn more.
In addition to the regular course offerings this fall, the following new courses may be of interest!
| Course Number | Credits | Schedule | Course Title | Instructor(s) | Poster |
| Psych 601
CRN 52384 Psych 482 CRN 51071 |
3 | Fri, 9:05 am -12:05 pm
Austin Peay 411 |
The Function, Evolution, and Neuroscience of Play | Burghardt | Psych601 |
| FWF 325 | 3 | Tu/Th 9:40 am – 12:25 pm
113 Plant Biotech |
Wildlife Vegetation and Habitat | Kwit | FWF325 |
Undergraduate field research: amphibians and microbes in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, CA.
OVERVIEW
An NSF Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) fellowship is open for an undergraduate student to participate in a project studying Sierra Nevada amphibians affected by a chytrid fungal pathogen, and the role of the skin microbiome in disease resistance. The aim of this research is to understand if symbiotic microbes on the skin of frogs explain why some frog populations are able to co-exist with the fungal pathogen, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), while other frog populations suffer catastrophic declines. The successful candidate will work closely with a senior researcher to conduct surveys of frog population persistence, pathogen infection status, and symbiotic microbes. This work entails strenuous long-distance hiking, back-packing, handling of sensitive amphibians, and collection of microbial skin swabs. The incumbent will receive experience and training in field ecology, disease ecology, and microbial ecology.
SUPPORT, DATES, LOCATION
This fellowship includes a stipend of $500/week. Housing is provided at the Sierra Nevada Aquatic Research Lab (SNARL). Limited funds for travel are available. Dates of the field work are approximately July 15 through August 30. Exact dates to be determined.
QUALIFICATIONS AND ELIGIBILITY
To be considered for this position, you must have have extensive backpacking experience, including backpacking at high elevations (>10,000 feet). Must be able to safely carry a heavy pack long distances over rugged terrain, be comfortable spending days to weeks in the backcountry, working in remote areas often in uncomfortable conditions (e.g., inclement weather, mosquitoes, no access to phone, internet, running water while in the backcountry) and be in excellent physical condition. You must have a strong work ethic and a passion for field research, as well as the sensitivity and attention to detail required for handling fragile amphibians and microbial samples. Must have own backpacking equipment, including broken-in boots, tent, and pack. The ideal candidate will have a strong interest in microbial ecology or disease ecology.
You must be an undergraduate student (enrolled in a degree program in biology, ecology, or related field, part-time or full-time, leading to a baccalaureate or associate degree); students graduating in Spring 2018 generally are not eligible. Must be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or permanent resident. Students from underrepresented groups and institutions with limited research opportunities are especially encouraged to apply.
APPLICATIONS
Applications should include the following: current transcripts (unofficial OK), resume, 3 references (include reference’s name, position, affiliation, and context from which he/she knows you), and a statement of interest specifically describing (1) why you are interested in the position; (2) your qualifications, including field research and experience backpacking at high elevations and in remote areas (be specific about when, where, under what conditions you have experience); (3) your professional goals; (4) specify your dates of availability.
Where to send applications:
Send all application materials, PREFERABLY AS A SINGLE PDF FILE, to Andrea Jani. Name the application file with the applicant’s name. For example: Doe_Jane.pdf.
ALL APPLICATION MATERIALS MUST BE RECEIVED BY FRIDAY, MARCH 23, 2018. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
Alaska REU
We are seeking enthusiastic undergraduate researchers interested in summer field research in Alaska for two Research Experience for Undergraduates
(REU) positions in the Bret-Harte and Ruess labs at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Our overall research objective is to understand the consequences of potential future changes in arctic vegetation for arctic ecosystems and the rest of the world. In this project, we are focusing on the mechanisms by which increasing abundance of large deciduous shrubs in tundra ecosystems may alter the near-surface cycling of C and N, and feedbacks to further vegetation change. You will assist with fieldwork in arctic tundra and laboratory work consisting of tasks such as plant sorting and data entry.
You will collaborate closely with the principal investigator, graduate students, and technicians to develop an independent research project of your own that will build on the ongoing research, and will present your work at an informal symposium at the Toolik Field Station. In addition, you will attend weekly seminars on the research at the station. One student will be based at the Toolik Field Station, north of the Brooks Range in arctic Alaska (http://toolik.alaska.edu), which is the focus of research by nearly
>100 scientists who work on a variety of terrestrial and aquatic ecology
projects. The other student will be based in Fairbanks, Alaska, with frequent trips camping in the boreal forest, and some time at Toolik Field Station. Both positions will last approximately 10 weeks, starting in mid-June, though there is some flexibility.
Class background in plant ecology, botany, ecosystem ecology, statistics, and computer science would be an advantage. Experience in field or laboratory, experience with data analysis, and experience working in a remote field site is preferred. You should have skills with plant identification, data collecting and recording, data manipulation in Excel, and data analysis. You must be willing to work in the field, occasionally under adverse weather conditions. A valid U.S. drivers’s license is preferred. Competent, careful, emotionally mature, and enthusiastic people desired! We want the work to be both fun and challenging. You must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident and currently enrolled in an undergraduate degree program, with graduation expected no sooner than fall 2017. You must provide a copy of your social security card at the time of employment. Women and minorities are especially encouraged to apply.
If you are interested in this position, send 1) a copy of your resume, including the names and contact information for 3 references, 2) a list of your coursework in biology, ecology, chemistry, and math/statistics, and 3) a cover letter than explains why you are interested, describes your background and research experience, and includes anything that you think would convince us that you are the most appropriate person for this position, to Syndonia Bret-Harte, msbretharte@alaska.edu by March 25, 2018. We will contact you to discuss the position.
Summer Research Assistant: Conservation Biological Control and Sustainable Agriculture
Title: Biological Science Aide Series: 0404 Grade: GS2 or GS3 Vacancy Announcement Number: Seasonal L/A Location: USDA-ARS Northern Plains Agricultural Research Lab, Sidney, Montana
Job Description/Duties: The USDA, Agriculture Research Service, Northern Plains Agriculture Research Laboratory in Sidney, MT is seeking an enthusiastic and hardworking individual to serve as a biological science aide on projects examining the influence of landscape structure and crop diversity on pest insects and their natural enemies (e.g. ladybeetles, parasitoid wasps). The research is focused on developing ecologically-based, sustainable and environmentally friendly approaches to pest management in agricultural systems. This position will involve a mixture of field work (~50%), and lab work to sort samples and identify insect pests and their natural enemies (~50%). The successful candidate will gain hands on experience with insect field sampling methods, set up and maintenance of field experiments and insect rearing and identification techniques, as well as the chance to work with the diverse insect fauna associated with cropping systems in a team oriented research environment.
Salary: $11.68 (GS-2) or $12.74 (GS-3) per hour depending on experience and education. The candidate will receive overtime pay when working above the base work schedule of 40 hours a week. Housing is not covered, but dorm-style shared housing is available on location for ~$148 per month, including utilities.
Dates: May-September 2018 (this is a 16-week appointment with the possibility of extension). Please specify your available start and end dates in your application.
Qualifications: The candidate must be a US citizen, with a valid driver’s license. Additionally, the candidate should be physically fit, and comfortable spending time outside in uncomfortable field conditions (hot, biting insects etc.). Willingness to work long days, and weekends when necessary is also a must. Undergraduate course work in ecology or entomology, and previous field and lab work experience is preferred but not required.
Application process: Please send cover letter, resume and names and contact information of two references (electronically) in a single file to Dr.
Tatyana Rand (tatyana.rand@ars.usda.gov).
Open Period: Evaluation of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. For more information on our research program visit our website at www.ars.usda.gov/plains-area/sidney-mt/northern-plains-agricultural-research-laboratory/ or contact us directly.
USDA is an equal opportunity employer.
Reasonable Accommodation: If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, or have questions regarding reasonable accommodation and/or accessibility for any part of the application and hiring process, please contact the Disability Program Manager on 202-720-6161 or through the DC Relay Service on 202-855-1234 (TDD).
Rock Climbing-Based Undergraduate Field Research Assistant College of Food, Agriculture and Environmental Sciences
Get real-life field experience, rock climbing skills, and have fun!
When: May 2018 – August 2018
About the Assistantship: This individual will be assisting with fieldwork and data collection in the Red River Gorge, Kentucky. Duties include top-rope belaying (keeping rock climbers safe using a rope system), lead belaying, and setting up safe anchor and rappel systems on bolted anchors. This individual may also take plant samples, help designate plots used for data collection, use ground-based remote sensing techniques to capture high-quality images of plot areas, and organize this data.
Education/Skills/Experience:
Required:
– Able to live in a front-country campsite for most days of the week
– Comfortable being on rappel for a significant period of time
– Have access to basic camping equipment (sleeping bag, ground pad, backpack)
– Have access to basic climbing equipment (rope, shoes, harness, belay/rappel device)
– Has access to a form of transportation
Preferred:
– Able to lead belay/top-rope belay
– Able to rappel with multiple rappel devices
– Able to sport-climb at a 5.10 level
– Has experience doing fieldwork
Lodging: We will be staying at Miguel’s Pizza Campground located in Slade, Kentucky for research days.
Miguel’s Pizza is a restaurant, campground, gear shop combination, complete with showers, laundry, running water and bathrooms. Camping will be in tents.
Training: There is a ropes-systems training for this position if the applicant is unsure, or unclear, of the safety systems described in the assistantship description.
Compensation: This assistantship is eligible for research credits through The Ohio State University.
Monetary compensation is possible, but not guaranteed at the moment.
Contact: Please contact Jordan Reding at jordreding@gmail.com with a resume and a few sentences on why you are interested.
Arizona REU
Are you an undergraduate student who is interested in ecology, plant biology, and sustainability? The Hall Lab at Arizona State University is looking for an enthusiastic and motivated undergraduate student to participate in research activities in urban ecology during the summer of 2018. The participant will work with faculty, graduate students, and technicians to explore how and why people manage their yards, and the consequences of those choices for biodiversity and outdoor water use. The student will work with team members to conduct field work in residential yards and Sonoran Desert parks across the Phoenix Metropolitan Area.
Metro Phoenix, Arizona, is situated in the northern Sonoran Desert, which is home to the iconic saguaro cactus and charismatic desert animal species. ASU is located in Tempe, a lively and vibrant college town with accessible public transportation and amenities.
This REU opportunity is a 10-week program that runs from mid-May to mid- August, 2018. The successful applicant will be awarded a $5,000 stipend, and up to $3,000 for room and board. Additionally, funding is available for the REU student to prepare and present a poster at the January 2019 CAP LTER All Scientists Meeting in Tempe, AZ.
About the Project
The Hall Lab at Arizona State University explores ecological patterns and processes in human-dominated ecosystems to find solutions that will benefit people and nature. As part of a NSF-funded Macrosystems grant, the Hall Lab seeks to explore patterns of biodiversity and ecosystem services in urban areas. Documenting the social drivers and benefits of native and other plant species will help to inform city managers about sustainable urban practices.
Project Timeline
During the first three weeks of the REU program, the student will work on directed readings of the literature, and will “apprentice” with members of our teams. By the end of three weeks, we expect the student to complete a draft proposal of her/his research project. The following several weeks will be dedicated to collecting and analyzing data under our guidance.
During the final two weeks, the student will write a report of her/his work and prepare an oral presentation of project findings for our research group.
Minimum Qualifications
The successful candidate must:
Desired Qualifications
Eligibility
Undergraduate student participants supported with NSF funds in either REU Supplements or REU Sites must be U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, or permanent residents of the United States. An undergraduate student is a student who is enrolled in a degree program (part-time or full-time) leading to a baccalaureate or associate degree.
How to apply
Please send cover letter, resume or CV, and unofficial transcripts to Laura Steger (e-mail: Lsteger@asu.edu) by April 13, 2018.
REU at the HJ Andrews Experimental Forest LTER
Oregon State University
We are seeking applicants for an NSF-funded Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) position in summer 2018 to do tree physiology research at the H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest LTER on the west slope of the Oregon Cascades near Blue River, Oregon. This project will focus on characterizing the physiology of old-growth and second growth Doug-Fir trees, as well as their response to environmental conditions, using a combination of lab experiments and field observations. This research will contribute to a larger Ph.D. project on the impacts of heat waves and drought on Pacific Northwest forests, as well as facilitate research into needle endophytes. The student will be encouraged to participate in tree climbing, sample collecting, data analysis and lab experiments.
The position will be based at the H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest and travel will be required for short trips to Oregon State University (Corvallis, Oregon). The Andrews Forest was established in 1948 as an US Forest Service Experimental Forest, and since 1980 is one of the National Science Foundation’s Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) sites. The field station has modern apartments with full kitchens, a well-equipped computer lab, and wireless internet (see http://andrewsforest.oregonstate.edu for more information on the site, facilities and research programs at the HJ Andrews Experimental Forest). The landscape is home to iconic Pacific Northwest old-growth forests of cedar and hemlock, and moss-draped ancient Douglas firs; steep terrain; and fast, cold-running streams.
The goal of this program is to provide undergraduate students an opportunity to participate in 10 weeks of mentored, paid, independent research. The program includes a weekly seminar series and an opportunity for the student to interact with a multitude of scientists, OSU faculty, federal scientists, and graduate students conducting research in the area. Participants will work with the PI of the project (Dr. Chris Still) and a PhD student (Adam Sibley) on the grant. The REU student will conduct supervised and guided research and be encouraged to tailor the research project to his/her own individual interests.
This position lasts for 10 weeks, starting in June (dates flexible) and going through mid August 2018, working at least 40 hours/week. The student will be responsible for 1) meeting all requirements of the mentors and 2) writing a final research report on his/her research experience. Housing and a weekly stipend of $550 will be provided ($5500 total). There are also some funds to defray the cost of travelling to the H. J. Andrews Experimental Forest.
Position Requirements: Applicants should have a valid driver’s license, the ability to carry a heavy pack (40+ lb) and be comfortable spending long days on their feet in the field. The position will involve working in inclement weather. Students with experience and/or interest in plant physiology, field measurement techniques, tree climbing, and data analysis are particularly encouraged to apply. Eligibility is limited to currently enrolled undergraduates that have a graduation date no sooner than fall 2017. All applicants must be U.S. Citizens or permanent residents. Women, underrepresented minorities, and persons with disabilities are especially encouraged to apply.
To apply: Please submit a brief cover letter (1 page) indicating your interest, experience and professional goals after graduation, curriculum vitae or resume, transcripts (unofficial are acceptable) and 3 professional references (names, addresses, phone number, and email address) as 1 document to: adam.sibley@oregonstate.edu and chris.still@oregonstate.edu . Please include in the subject: HJA REU 2018 Application. Only complete applications will be considered. Review of applications will start Apr. 1, 2018 and continue until a suitable candidate is identified.
Summer Research Assistant Job: Conservation Biological Control and Sustainable Agriculture
Title: Biological Science Aide (GS2 or GS3)
Location: USDA-ARS Northern Plains Agricultural Research Lab, Sidney, Montana
Job Description/Duties: The USDA, Agriculture Research Service, Northern Plains Agriculture Research Laboratory in Sidney, MT is seeking an enthusiastic and hardworking individual to serve as a biological science aide on projects examining the influence of landscape structure and crop diversity on pest insects and their natural enemies (e.g. ladybeetles, parasitoid wasps). The research is focused on developing ecologically-based, sustainable and environmentally friendly approaches to pest management in agricultural systems. This position will involve a mixture of field work (~50%), and lab work to sort samples and identify insect pests and their natural enemies (~50%). The successful candidate will gain hands on experience with insect field sampling methods, set up and maintenance of field experiments and insect rearing and identification techniques, as well as the chance to work with the diverse insect fauna associated with cropping systems in a team oriented research environment.
Salary: $11.68 (GS-2) or $12.74 (GS-3) per hour depending on experience and education. The candidate will receive overtime pay when working above the base work schedule of 40 hours a week. Housing is not covered, but dorm-style shared housing is available on location for ~$148 per month, including utilities.
Dates: May-September 2018 (this is ~a 16-week appointment with the possibility of extension). Please specify your available start and end dates in your application.
Qualifications: The candidate must be a US citizen, with a valid driver’s license. Additionally, the candidate should be physically fit, and comfortable spending time outside in uncomfortable field conditions (hot, biting insects etc.). Willingness to work long days, and weekends when necessary is also a must. Undergraduate course work in ecology or entomology, and previous field and lab work experience is preferred but not required.
Application process: Please send cover letter, resume and names and contact information of two references (electronically) in a single file to Dr.
Tatyana Rand (tatyana.rand@ars.usda.gov).
Open Period: Evaluation of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. For more information on our research program visit our website at http://bit.ly/2Hst9xV or contact us directly.
USDA is an equal opportunity employer.
Reasonable Accommodation: If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, or have questions regarding reasonable accommodation and/or accessibility for any part of the application and hiring process, please contact the Disability Program Manager on 202-720-6161 or through the DC Relay Service on 202-855-1234 (TDD).
We are seeking highly motivated undergraduates broadly interested in plant-insect interactions to assist with on-going research examining the basis of plant host use by yucca moth species. The research includes recording pollination behavior, mating behavior, feeding by larvae, as well as measurement of insect morphology and plant morphology.
Student Experience: Students will work in a laboratory and outdoor setting. Moths are nocturnal and active from twilight to midnight. Students will learn how to handle moths, conduct behavioral recordings, basic experimental design, and will receive training in species interactions. Depending on student motivation, there is the possibility to design and implement an independent project. The student will join a group of undergraduates, graduate students, and faculty conducting research on the patterns of host use by yucca moth pollinators (althofflab.syr.edu).
Requirements: Ability to stand for long periods of time, and work in changing weather conditions. Good communication skills and ability to work in a team-setting is essential.
Application process: Please submit a CV, detailing any relevant skills, unofficial transcripts, a one to two paragraph rationale for your interest in the position, and the names and contact info for two references to Dr. David Althoff at dmalthof@syr.edu.
Application evaluation will begin May 5th and will continue until the position is filled.
Please direct questions about the position to Dr. Althoff at the above e-mail.
Funding: Students will be paid $12/hr for eight to ten weeks depending on the field season.
**Under-represented groups in STEM are strongly encouraged to apply**
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UT’s Sheldon lab in collaboration with the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians Fisheries and Wildlife Management is seeking an undergraduate education coordinator for a summer research program. Please forward to qualified undergraduates:
We are seeking an undergraduate education coordinator to facilitate a summer research program (late May to mid-July) with high school students in the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians. The coordinator will develop and lead lessons related to climate change and the natural history of native beetles. The coordinator will also help guide students through a hands-on field research project, data analyses, and presentation of findings. Lastly, the coordinator will help organize field excursions with our collaborating wildlife biologists to provide a diversity of STEM experiences for students. The Sheldon lab and EBCI Fish and Wildlife have the expertise and know-how, so students should not be discouraged if they are new to a particular subject—like beetle natural history, for example. Housing will be provided on-site in Cherokee, NC and the coordinator will be compensated with a summer stipend. Highly qualified undergraduates will have a record of excellence in STEM education through teacher-education courses and/or outreach hours with K-12 students.
For more information, check out —this website— which contains recruitment materials for the high school student participants. Interested undergraduates should contact Amanda Wilson Carter at acarte82@utk.edu. We would like to fill this position as soon as possible, so don’t delay!
EEB Department Head Susan Kalisz has been elected as President 2020 of the American Society of Naturalists. Congratulations!
Alumnus Tadashi Fukami (PhD 2003) has also been elected to the leadership of ASN, as Secretary 2019-2021.
EEB Assitant Professor Mona Papes will give a seminar in the Geography department on Thursday, March 29. Click here to view the poster.
Why Geography Matters to Ecologists: Geographical Patterns of Biodiversity
Thursday, March 29th in the Burchfiel Geography Building Room 301. Reception with cookies and coffee to start at 3:30, talk from 4:00-5:00.
In this talk, I will provide an overview of my research interests, focused on using ecological niche modeling and spatial data to study species’ distributions. To
illustrate my research interests, I will discuss studies (in progress or completed) aiming to detect plant species richness, plant traits, and estimate the
potential distribution of invasive species. In the last part of my talk, I will introduce the Spatial Analysis Lab, an interdisciplinary recharge center established last year in NIMBioS through a partnership between Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Geography, NIMBioS, and the College of Arts and Sciences.
Hiring – undergrad summer researchers at the KBS LTER
The Kellogg Biological Station Long-term Ecological Research (http://bit.ly/kbslter) program investigates the ecology of agricultural landscapes. We have two summer Research Experiences for Undergraduate (REU) positions open. These positions are based at Michigan State University’s main campus in East Lansing, MI.
Job: Summer Research Assistant on Frogs in Pennsylvania
Amphibian ecology research assistants needed
We are looking to hire research assistants to work on a project investigating the effects of climate change, stress and disease on amphibian populations. The positions will involve conducting field surveys and/or assisting with animal husbandry. Applicants must be available to work from May-August 2018, and the positions may be extended. Preference will be given to applicants pursuing or possessing undergraduate degrees in biology or related fields.
Job description.
Field and mesocosm and animal husbandry assistant in Linesville, PA: We are looking to hire 3 assistants to help with both field surveys of amphibians and maintenance of amphibians colonies in Linesville, PA at the University of Pittsburgh’s field station, the Pymatuning Laboratory of Ecology. The animal husbandry will involve maintaining and monitoring a large-scale mesocosm experiment, including taking measurements, checking water levels/quality, and transporting metamorphosing animals, as well as maintaining animals in a field laboratory. The field research will involve amphibian surveys both at night and during the day at multiple sites per month. Previous experience in husbandry and field research is desirable. A valid drivers license is required. Positions are paid hourly and housing in Linesville, PA is provided.
To apply, please send a cover letter, resume or CV, and contact details for two references to Dr. Laura Brannelly laura.brannelly@pitt.edu by March 16th, 2018. Please indicate for which position you are applying.
If interested in the broader research of the group, please visit our website at
summer Research Experience for Undergraduates, Arizona
Research Experience for Undergraduates opportunity Arizona Summer 2018
A summer undergraduate researcher position is available to join a team based in Arizona studying the effects of floods and droughts on food chain length and ecosystem processes in desert streams. The undergraduate researcher will contribute to field work including measuring whole-stream metabolism, maintaining continuous observations of stream nitrate and organic matter collected by sensors, and quantifying food chain length by sampling stream food webs. The student will also learn to identify stream invertebrates and their trophic role in food webs. See harmslab.org & sabo.lab.asu.edu for further information about the research.
Applicants should have a demonstrated interest in ecology and enthusiasm about both field and lab-based work, including multi-day field trips under hot, desert conditions. Coursework in biology, ecology, chemistry and math or statistics is needed to successfully contribute to the research.
Applications from students expressing interest in conducting an independent research project will receive priority, as will those with previous research experience, particularly with techniques relevant to aquatic ecology.
To apply for the position, please send a single pdf document to Dr. Tamara Harms (tkharms@alaska.edu) by March 16, 2018 including: 1) letter summarizing research interests and experience, 2) list of relevant coursework, and 3) CV. The student will be paid a stipend for the position, which runs May/June-Aug/Sept.
NSF REU position – plant evolutionary ecology – Rocky Mountain Biological Station
Jill Anderson at the University of Georgia is searching for an enthusiastic undergraduate with a strong interest in evolutionary ecology for field research in an NSF REU position (National Science Foundation, Research Experience for Undergraduates) from June- August 2018. We study the ecological and evolutionary consequences of climate change for natural plant populations. We focus on research on Drummond’s rockcress (Boechera stricta in the plant family Brassicaceae), a mustard plant native to the Rocky Mountains.
Our studies take place around the Rocky Mountain Biological Lab (http://www.rmbl.org/), which is located in Gothic, Colorado near the wildflower capital of Colorado (Crested Butte). We quantify plant fitness and traits to ask whether climate change could disrupt long-standing patterns of local adaptation, and to test whether phenotypic plasticity will enable populations to persist in the short-term. We perform large-scale reciprocal transplant experiments to examine patterns of adaptive evolution and natural selection in contemporary landscapes. Since fall 2013, we have planted >150,000 seeds and seedlings into five experimental gardens ranging in elevation from 2500 m to 3340 m (8202 feet to 11000 feet). Our summer research involves intensive monitoring of these experimental plants to record data on germination success, survival, growth, reproductive success, as well as life history and morphological traits. We conduct most of our work in the field, with a small proportion of indoor lab work.
The successful candidate will assist with ongoing fieldwork. In addition, there are many opportunities for students to develop independent projects associated with our overall objectives, including studies on: 1) population divergence in ecologically-relevant traits, especially drought, UV tolerance, and herbivore resistance; 2) phenotypic plasticity at multiple spatial scales; 3) population density and species composition of the herbivore community that attacks Drummond’s rockcress; 4) flower color polymorphism; and 5) the importance of maternal effects in biological responses to climate change.
We are offering a stipend of $500/week for a full time REU student (40 hours/week) for 10 weeks. The exact start and end dates are flexible. We will cover room and board at the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory and reimburse travel expenses up to $500.
Fieldwork will involve hiking to experimental gardens through rough terrain (1-3 miles one- way daily).
The University of Georgia is committed to maintaining a fair and respectful environment for living, work, and study. To that end, all qualified applicants from individuals with a strong interest in evolutionary biology will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status, or age. The application consists of a cover letter listing your qualifications, a CV/ résumé and contact information for two references, all of which can be emailed to Dr. Jill Anderson at: jta24@uga.edu Applications are due by March 16th, 2018.
Feel free to contact Dr. Anderson if you have any questions about the position. Additional information about our work can be found at:
http://andersonlab.genetics.uga.edu/Home.html
summer undergraduate technician University of Alaska Fairbanks
Summer Undergraduate Technician
Fairbanks, Alaska
Summer 2018
A summer undergraduate technician position is available to join a team studying resilience of boreal forest ecosystems to fire and permafrost thaw at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. The technician will contribute to field work including installing and maintaining a network of sensors measuring oxygen, nitrate, and organic matter in streams. Field work will also include tracer experiments measuring nutrient uptake and gas exchange in streams. The student will learn laboratory-based methods for analytical chemistry and will contribute to visualization and analysis of biogeochemical data from streams. The student will have the opportunity to conduct an independent research project.
Applicants should have demonstrated interests in ecology and enthusiasm about both field and lab-based work. Coursework in ecology, chemistry, environmental science, and math or statistics is required to successfully contribute to the research. Applications from students with previous research experience, particularly with techniques or instrumentation relevant to aquatic ecology, as well as experience working within a collaborative group will receive priority.
To apply for the position, please send a single pdf document to Dr. Tamara Harms (tkharms@alaska.edu) by March 20, 2018 including: 1) letter summarizing research interests and experience, 2) list of relevant coursework, and 3) CV. The student will be paid a stipend for the position, which runs May/June-Aug/Sept.
LUMCON Summer 2018 REU Site Program Applications Due March 20th
LUMCON’s 2018 Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Program:
Interdisciplinary Research Experiences in Changing Coastal Environments
The Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium (LUMCON) (www.lumcon.edu) invites highly motivated undergraduates to apply for Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) positions in our NSF-sponsored summer 2018 REU program in Interdisciplinary Research Experiences in Changing Coastal Environments.
REU participants will spend ten weeks (June 4th – August 10th) at LUMCON conducting independent research projects with guidance from scientific mentors / mentor teams and participate in a series of career and skill- building workshops and activities while interacting with peers participating in other aspects of LUMCON’s summer programs. Each student is paired with a scientific mentor(s) based on mutual research interests. The REU program is designed to give students a meaningful, hands-on research experience that takes advantage of state-of-the-art methods and technologies available at LUMCON. This summer, mentors are interested in supporting interns to conduct research in a number of topic areas, including: biogeochemistry, behavioral ecology, microbial ecology, invertebrate diversity and ecology, aquaculture and fish physiology, ecosystem ecology, coastal geology and hydrology, wetland science, and oil spill impacts. More information on the program and details on potential mentors and projects can be found at http://lumcon.edu/REU.
Candidates must be available for the entire ten week period. Successful applicants will receive a $500/week stipend; room and board at the Marine Center in Cocodrie, LA; funds to support transportation to and from LUMCON; and funds to support their research.
The ideal candidate should be interested in pursuing a career in coastal and/or marine science, creative, hard-working, detail orientated, dedicated, and comfortable working as part of research team. Experience with field or laboratory research is a plus but not necessary. To be eligible you must be returning to an undergraduate degree program in the fall (e.g., if you will graduate in May or June, you are NOT eligible). Students from underrepresented groups in sciences, from small colleges, and first generation college students are encouraged to apply.
Application deadline: March 20th 2017.
Instructions for completing application packages which include (an online application form, copies of unofficial transcripts, contact information for two academic references, CV/resume, and a one page statement that describes your interest in the REU position, academic goals, and any previous research
experience) can be found at http://lumcon.edu/REU.
Questions about the program and/or application process should be addressed to LUMCON’s REU Site Program Director, Dr. Brian Roberts, at reu@lumcon.edu.
Summer Research and Land Mgt. Internship Opportunity in Southern NY
College Internship in Suburban Ecology
Mianus River Gorge
Program Description: Mianus River Gorge, a conservation organization and 900-acre nature preserve in southern New York, offers 8 week summer internships for college students interested in the conservation of natural areas in urbanizing landscapes.
— Each intern will work alongside Gorge staff and graduate students on a variety of projects including wildlife monitoring, non-native species management, and GIS applications.
— Interns will work with and supervise high school students in our authentic research program (Wildlife Technician Program).
— We work with our interns to provide a learning experience that fits their interests and long-term educational goals.
— Stipend: $25/day or combination of school credit and stipend (depending on university requirements).
— Internships last for a period of 8 weeks. 10-week internships may be available in 2018. Internships typically run from June to July, but some flexibility is possible.
— We usually need to give preference to local students or those that can commute daily to Bedford, NY, as summer housing is not always guaranteed.
Projects for 2018 include:
o Monitoring coyotes, black bear, and other wildlife in Westchester, NYC, and Fairfield
o Vegetation sampling, monitoring, and restoration
o Initiating design and construction of a new educational trail
o Invasive species control and other land management work
o Data management, GIS work, and analysis on several long-term projects
Applicant Eligibility
More info and application forms are below:
http://www.mianus.org/research-and-education/internships-in-suburban-ecology/
http://www.mianus.org/research-and-education/undergraduate/internship-application/
Questions, please contact research@mianus.org or 914.234.3455
Seeking field assistant for summer 2018
Field assistant for summer 2018
Overview: Two research groups at Duke University are seeking a shared research assistant for fieldwork in plant and insect ecology and evolution.
This is a unique experience for students enthusiastic about plant ecology to gain experience working on two different projects in one summer! The projects are non-overlapping in time; there is opportunity for leisure time between project dates, or if the technician desires to stay at the field station for the duration of the summer, start dates for project 2 are flexible.
Location: Our research is conducted at and around the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory, located in southwestern Colorado (www.rmbl.org). We will provide all transportation to and from the field station and from the station to research sites.
Dates: June 18 – June 29 (project 1) and July 16 – August 10 (project 2; somewhat flexible) 2018
For a PDF version of the project descriptions, please visit:
Project 1 Summary: The time of the year when a plant begins to grow, produces flowers, and loses its leaves is important for successful reproduction, survival, and potentially future growth. Plants rely on environmental cues, such as temperature and the amount of sunlight, to time these life cycle events. Therefore, the time when a plant begins to flower can be very sensitive to climate change. For example, snow has been melting earlier in the season in sub alpine regions than the recent past as a result of warming temperatures. Since the time of flowering for some plants occurs shortly after snow melt, they track these warm temperatures and emerge or flower earlier in the season. Interestingly, not all plants respond similarly to the same environmental signals; some flowering species do not flower any earlier. As each plant species responds differently to earlier snow melt, species that didn’t flower together in the past have the potential to overlap now. If plant species grow and flower at the same time, they could compete for resources (water, nutrients, soil). Our research examines the link between climate change, the timing of life cycle events in plants, and how they compete for resources. We propose to manipulate flowering phenology of plants in resource competition experiment. We will observe how competition for soil and light resources between two co-flowering species changes under early snow melt conditions. The results from this research have the potential to help us predict how climate change may affect species interactions in the future. For more information, visit:
Project 2 Summary: In the Mitchell-Olds lab at Duke University (https://sites.duke.edu/tmolab/), we study plant evolution, ecology, and genetics. We are broadly interested in understanding how the diverse traits present in natural plant populations have arisen via natural selection, and what the consequences of trait variation are for ecological interactions.
Much of our research is centered around understanding how chemical anti-herbivore defenses have evolved in the wildflower species Boechera stricta. We have ongoing experiments monitoring how interacting selective pressures of herbivore consumption and drought stress influence the evolution of defensive chemicals, and for discovering the genetic basis of plant chemistry as well as other complex traits (e.g. flowering time, mutualistic plant-insect associations, plant architecture, fitness). Our technician would help with data collection and experimental maintenance on both of these projects (see “Expectations” below).
Expectations: The field assistant will be asked to aid in data collection, entry, and analysis for both projects. This includes assisting in demographic data collection on perennial plants, assessing phenology of plants in pre-existing plots (project 1) and measuring plant survival, growth, flowering, reproduction, and herbivore damage, as well as taking environmental measurements such as soil moisture (project 2). Fieldwork can be strenuous and often involves long days in the sun and hiking. Applicants with previous experience doing fieldwork are encouraged to apply, but no prior experience is required and we will happily train first-timers with a strong interest in ecology.
In addition to helping with fieldwork five days per week, the technician will be expected to be an active participant in the research community, which includes attending weekly seminars at RMBL, attending in a weekly lab meeting, and participating in discussions about scientific articles and ongoing research projects in the lab.
Compensation: This is an unpaid position, although housing and travel expenses will be provided. Transportation from RMBL to all field sites will be provided (car or hiking). The technician will be required to pay for their own food expenses, but all other costs (housing and station fees) will be covered.
Application: Please send a short cover letter and resume to both Rebecca Dalton (rmd34@duke.edu) and Lauren Carley (lnc14@duke.edu) by March 20, 2018.
Links:
rebeccadalt.weebly.com
sites.duke.edu/tmolab/
Internship: Four DataONE Summer Internship Opportunities
We are excited to announce four great internship opportunities as part of our annual DataONE Summer Internship Program.
Undergraduates, graduates and recent postgraduates are invited to apply to work with DataONE for nine weeks between May and July 2018. Full details of the program, eligibility requirements and project descriptions can be found at www.dataone.org/internships. Applications are due by March 23rd 2018.
Summer research position examining Asian long-horned beetle impacts on New England forests
The University of Vermont, Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources is seeking an undergraduate research assistant to assist on a field study examining the impacts of Asian long-horned beetle on mixed hardwood forests in central Massachusetts. The students will work with a multidisciplinary team of graduate students and scientists from the University of Vermont, U.S. Forest Service Northern Research Station, and Harvard Forest.
Applicant requirements: Applicants should have a background in forestry, natural resources, environmental science, ecology or biology. A working knowledge of tree identification and common forest measurements is strongly desired. Applicants must be willing and able to work efficiently in remote forested settings as part of a research team. Applicants must also be able to hike through varied terrain to reach study areas and be willing to work long hours outdoors.
Responsibilities: Work will involve extensive field work, including the collection of vegetation and woody debris data. The position begins early June 2018 and ends mid/late August and will be based out of the Harvard Forest in Petersham, MA. Housing expenses will be provided. Hourly wage will vary from $11-$12 depending on work experience.
Interested candidates should e-mail a letter describing their background, qualifications and interests along with a resumé to Emma Sass (Emma.Sass@uvm.edu) by March 23, 2018.
By Brooks Clark (’16)
Among the pleasures of working in UT alumni relations are the occasions when long, lost alums or their families come back to campus and we get to revisit the old sights and introduce them to the new show. Last summer, Tom and Claire Huffaker, a son and daughter-in-law of Carl Huffaker (’38, ’39), made their first visit to see the university that Huffaker, who died in 1995, had remembered fondly. They had made their pilgrimage to Knoxville to learn more about a story that was an important part of their family lore.
As Carl Huffaker had always told it, he had graduated from high school in Kentucky in 1933, worked a half year for Civilian Conservation Corps, part of FDR’s New Deal, and then a few months for the Tennessee Valley Authority, another part of FDR’ New Deal, preparing land for inundation behind Norris Dam, which was then under construction about 30 miles north of Knoxville. Huffaker, a farm boy fascinated by insects, wanted to enroll in UT’s entomology program, one of the better programs in the region. But he couldn’t afford out-of-state tuition.
Huffaker said he met with UT’s president and proposed that, if he were allowed to pay in-state fees, he would make Tennessee proud. “You seem like a fine young man,” the president had replied. “You have a deal.” Tom and Claire Huffaker didn’t know the name of the kindly president or any other details about this meeting in 1934—only that it made the rest of Carl Huffaker’s life possible and caused him to speak fondly of UT.
Huffaker had gone on to earn two UT degrees—his bachelor’s in entomology in 1938 and a master’s in plant ecology in 1939. He earned his PhD in entomology/ecology from Ohio State in 1942 and taught entomology at the University of California at Berkeley for five decades, carrying out groundbreaking research and becoming a national leader in his field.
Since I had worked for TVA and valued its history, especially from its inception in the darkest days of the Depression, I was especially interested in showing the Huffakers around campus. When I met Tom, I learned quickly that he had been born and raised in Berkeley, California, where his father had been a longtime professor. I was pleased to learn that Tom was not only born in the same year that I was, 1956, but he was also, a “late hatch (pioneer language),” as his father put it in a family remembrance—born a few years after his older siblings.
We started at the Hill, where Carl Huffaker had had his entomology classes and labs. When we passed the John C. Hodges Library, I noted that Huffaker would have taken freshman English from Hodges or a professor following Hodges’ innovative method of marking papers that in 1941 became the Harbrace College Handbook. When we came to Neyland Stadium, where freshman English papers had for decades been stored in a vault, Tom mentioned that his father had worked in a dining hall that served the football team, a job that came with one healthy meal per day. Huffaker often recalled in later years that, lacking any money, for the rest of each day after his meal at the dining hall, he was always hungry. In those Depression years, others had it worse, but his childhood had prepared him well to get by in tough times.
Huffaker had been born in Monticello, Kentucky, on September 30, 1914, the fifth of six sons of Dewitt and Elizabeth Huffaker. Dewitt was shot to death when Carl was three, leaving Elizabeth to raise her boys alone. Augmenting the income from the family farm as a county clerk—the county’s first female elected official—she was determined to provide her sons the wherewithal to rise above their rural poverty.
While his brothers were unruly mountain boys, Huffaker had suffered a torn Achilles tendon as child, which left him physically impaired and inclined to studiousness, even after he had the tendon repaired as a young adult. As a child, he grew intrigued by the pigeons that roosted in the barn, which led to a lifelong passion for pigeon racing. Huffaker had also been intrigued by the impact of pests on agriculture. In a Monticello High biology class, he took special note when he read a statement by US Department of Agriculture entomologist Leland Ossian Howard that his field would need many young people in future years.
With jobs scarce in 1933, Elizabeth had signed her son up for a six-month tour with the Civilian Conservation Corps after high school. Huffaker and some of his friends were sent to California, where he built campgrounds and did fire-lookout scouting in an isolated back canyon close to Glendale. Of his $30 monthly pay, he was given $5. The rest was sent home to his family, as was the CCC custom of the day.
When Huffaker returned home, his mother presented him with his $150 of earnings and instructed him to go out and get an education. She also signed him up for another New Deal program, the TVA, and its first project, Norris Dam, in Clinton, Tennessee. “My first job was to work in the reservoir clearance program,” wrote Huffaker. “Because of my interest in entomology and botany, I was assigned to survey the whole 800-mile reservoir shoreline for malarial mosquitoes and debris collected on the banks, which was important to the malarial mosquito breeding.”
Drawn to the University of Tennessee’s entomology program, Huffaker enrolled that fall but found that, with just $150 he could not afford out-of-state tuition.
Tom asked me what the difference would have been in 1934. I asked Research Librarian Alesha Shumar, who sent us pages from the UT Record. Out-of-state tuition was then $171 a year, plus $75 in registration fees. Tuition was free to in-state students. Registration fees were $45. Dorm rooms were $25-$30 per month for all male students.
With a little research, I also found that the president Huffaker met with was Harcourt Morgan. Perhaps by lucky happenstance, Morgan was a professor of entomology (and zoology) and one of the three charter directors of TVA. It seemed likely to me that Huffaker had impressed Morgan by describing his TVA work in mosquito remediation the summer before. Huffaker was certainly lucky that, in his TVA role, Morgan was a visionary of sorts, committed to revolutionizing the economy, the river system, the soil, and the farming practices of the Tennessee Valley.
In 1936, while still a student, Huffaker had married Saralyn Knight, a Maryville College student he met while they were both working on Norris Dam. Huffaker worked at night in a blue-printing machine laboratory and spent three summers, beginning in 1937, working on malaria control for TVA. They had a son, Ronald, in 1938, another son, Hal, in 1940, and a daughter, Carolyn, in 1942, when Huffaker earned his PhD from Ohio State.
During the war years, Huffaker worked on antimalaria efforts in Colombia, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic. “Carl was amazing in his ability to analyze large amounts of complex experimental data and quickly reach accurate, sensible conclusions,” said a colleague.
Huffaker joined the University of California in 1946. His first assignment, in partnership with the US Department of Agriculture, was to lead the effort to biologically control the Klamath weed, also known as St. John’s wort, which had become a scourge on California range lands. By introducing insects that fed exclusively on the weed, they were able to eradicate the problem. It was the first of many of Huffaker’s innovations in biological pest control that led to incalculable benefits to agriculture, especially in California.
He was among the first entomologists to study the use of DDT to control mosquito populations. Then, after DDT was banned, he played a pioneering leadership role in developing and introducing his seminal proposal on Integrated Pest Management, or IPM. In a six-year project that drew on the expertise of hundreds of scientists from various disciplines and culminated in the 1978 proposal “The Principles, Strategies, and Tactics of Pest Population Regulation and Control in Major Crop Ecosystems” outlined a methodology for, as described by George Kennedy in the summer 2004 issue of American Entomologist, “improved, ecologically oriented pest-management systems that optimized long-term costs and benefits of crop protection to the farmer, society, and the environment.”
The Huffaker Project, as it came to be known, “played a seminal role in training IPM scientists and building the infrastructure necessary for the continued development and adoption of IPM in the United States.” A member of the National Academy of Sciences, Huffaker published hundreds of papers. He retired from Berkeley in 1984 but remained active on campus until his death on October 10, 1995.
As we returned to Tyson Alumni House, I thanked the Huffakers for the opportunity to show them around UT. “My father loved this place, and what it did for him,” said Tom. “He said he would always make Tennessee proud, and I think that throughout his life he wanted to make sure that he did. We wanted to visit UT partly to say that our family has never forgotten what Tennessee did for my father, and we never will.”
After their visit the Huffakers made a gift to UT, matched by Tom’s employer, Exxon-Mobil, to go toward scholarships for entomology students.