Undergrad Research Opportunities 12/11/16
1) NIMBioS REU
The National Institute for Mathematical and Biological Synthesis (NIMBioS) is now taking applications for its Summer Research Experiences for Undergraduates and Teachers (SRE). The program will be held June 5 – July 28, 2017, on the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, campus. Undergraduate majors in biology, math, and related fields, as well as high school teachers in biology and mathematics, will live on campus and work in teams with UT professors, NIMBioS researchers, and collaborators to conduct research. This year’s research projects include modeling bird mating patterns, seasonality in multi-host systems, La Crosse encephalitis spread, immune system response in host-virus conflict, and a project to develop computer games for teaching biology. Stipend and housing are provided along with some funding for travel.
Application Deadline: February 15, 2017
For more information, visit http://www.nimbios.org/sre/
For more information about NIMBioS, go to http://www.nimbios.org or contact Kelly Sturner, NIMBioS Education and Outreach Coordinator, at ksturner@nimbios.org or Suzanne Lenhart, NIMBioS Associate Director of Education and Outreach, lenhart@math.utk.edu Interested high or middle school math or science teachers should send an email to Dr. Lenhart.
2) Seasonal Jobs at USDA Forest Service
Looking for a summer adventure? Interested in working for the Forest Service? Want to explore the Pacific Northwest? Take a look at seasonal job opportunities: http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/r6/jobs/?cid=fseprd512302
3) The Minority Science Writers Internship Program at Science
2017 Application Available Online
October 16 – February 1!
The AAAS Pitts Family Foundation Minority Science Writers Internship is for undergraduates who are interested in journalism as a career and who want to learn about science writing. In addition to improving their skills, the program seeks to make a dent in the demographics of the profession: Although science is a global activity, the journalists who cover it don’t reflect that diversity.
Funded by the Pitts Family Foundation, the internship takes place each summer at the Washington, D.C. headquarters of AAAS’s Science magazine, the largest interdisciplinary journal in the world. Interns spend ten weeks at Science under the guidance of award-winning reporters and editors practicing what science writers do for a living. They have a chance to meet leading scientists, attend conferences and hearings, and cover breaking news. Interns are expected to contribute to all facets of the news operation, including writing bylined articles for the print magazine and online news service, engaging in social media, and contributing to other news products.
Interns receive a weekly stipend as well as the cost of a round-trip ticket to and from Washington, D.C. The internship runs from early June to mid-August. This year’s application deadline is Feb. 1, 2017. To be eligible, applicants must be enrolled in an undergraduate academic program at the time they submit their application.
https://www.aaas.org/page/aaas-minority-science-writers-internship
4) Paid Undergrad Research Project in Belize
UT and the University of Florida are launching a new paid undergraduate research and extension project in Belize. Student fellows will commit for 2 summers to conduct research and extension projects with a faculty mentor from UT or the UF on tropical agricluture, forestry, wildlife, economics, or human dimensions of wildlife conservation. We are seeking applications from first and second year students as well as Juniors who intend to graduate at the end of Summer 2018 or December 2018. More information and details on the application process can be found in this flier. This project is open to all US universities and we encourage you to share with your friends.
5) Amphibian Field Technicians needed
The U.S. Geological Surveys Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative Northeast program will be hiring 2-4 student contractors/field technicians in 2017. Technicians will be hired for the spring & summer period (early March through July 2017). Technicians may have the possibility of extension for work during the 2017 fall field season (September through October) dependent on availability of funding.
These technicians will conduct amphibian surveys in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, New Jersey and the District of Columbia. The technicians will work on a team that surveys for amphibians within National Parks and National Wildlife Refuges in the Mid-Atlantic region, including work in the mountains of Shenandoah National Park. Surveys will include wetland-associated amphibians as well as stream salamander and terrestrial salamander populations. Field work involves identifying, catching, measuring, and marking amphibians, as well as collecting water quality and environmental data.
The students will be required to conduct field surveys using techniques including visual encounter surveys, dip netting, stream transect searches, temporary removal sampling, and conducting a mark-recapture study using visual implant elastomer. All fieldwork will be conducted as part of teams of 2-4 people, so a demonstrated ability and desire to work effectively with a group is imperative. Additional assistance conducting surveys involving the federally endangered Shenandoah salamander and experiments with captive amphibian populations may also be required.
The position requires completion of academic coursework related to wildlife biology. Previous field experience with amphibians common in the Northeast US is highly recommended. The position requires the use of GPS units, digital cameras, and computer software for data entry and presentation (e.g. Microsoft Excel, Access). Technicians may also be asked to mark amphibians with injectable florescent elastomer and take voucher specimens related to amphibian disease studies. Most of the work is outdoors, sometimes under harsh or hot conditions or in rain/snow.
Technicians must be in good physical condition, as the job requires long hours in the field (including some night-time surveys) and hiking with up to 25 pounds of equipment for extended periods of time on rocky, steep terrain. The technicians must be willing to go on overnight field trips to Shenandoah National Park, VA, and other parks throughout the northeastern US, which will typically last 4-12 days at a time. Accommodations for overnight field work will be provided. Technicians must be able to work at least 40 hours per week. Technicians are responsible for all costs of transportation to and from Patuxent.
Government vehicles will be provided for all field work initiated from Patuxent. Housing costs are not included, but some housing may be available at the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center; please contact Andrew Dietrich if you have questions. Every attempt will be made to assist technicians in finding affordable housing in the area. Approximate wages are $13-16/hour; overtime pay is not provided.
Only applicants who are current or recent students (graduated within 12 months of the positions start date) are eligible for these student contractor positions. Foreign students are not eligible for these positions.
Principal Duty Station:
USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center
12100 Beech Forest Road
Laurel, Maryland 20708-4038
To apply, send the following to Andrew Dietrich at the above address or via email (adietrich@usgs.gov; preferred) by January 9th, 2017:
1) Letter of intent (please specify when you will be able to start working)
2) Resume, including previous field experience, list of relevant course-work, contact information, and two or three reference contacts
3) One piece of evidence of current or recent (within past 12 months) enrollment in degree-seeking program (e.g., unofficial transcript, enrollment verification, or a current registration card; transcripts are preferred). Candidates who graduated prior to May 2016 are ineligible.
If you have questions, feel free to contact Andrew at 301-497-5842.
Program Coordinator: Evan H. Campbell Grant, PhD NE Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative: USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Conte Anadromous Fish Laboratory, 1 Migratory Way, Turners Falls MA 01376=20
phone: 413.863.3823 fax: 413-863-9810