• Request Info
  • Visit
  • Apply
  • Give
  • Request Info
  • Visit
  • Apply
  • Give

Search

  • A-Z Index
  • Map

Ecology & Evolutionary Biology

  • About
    • Bylaws
    • Give to EEB
    • Alumni
  • People
    • Faculty
    • Emeritus
    • Graduate Students
    • Adjunct
    • Postdocs
    • Lecturers
    • Research Staff
    • Administrative Staff
  • Undergraduate Students
    • EEB Concentration in Biology
    • EEB Minor
    • Honors
    • Course Descriptions
    • Naturalists Club
    • Fellowships
    • Be successful in EEB
  • Graduate Students
    • Graduate Student Handbook
    • FAQs
    • Applying to Grad School
    • GREBE
    • Funding
  • Research and Outreach
    • Research Highlights
    • Undergraduate Research Opportunities
    • Outreach Events
  • Collections and Facilities
    • UT Herbarium
    • UT Etnier Ichthyology Collection
    • Hesler Biology Greenhouses
    • Natural History Collections Course
    • Fellowships and Awards
    • Biology Field Station
  • News & Seminars
    • Current Seminars
    • News
    • Newsletter
Home » Texas
Tag: Texas

Undergrad Research Opportunities 03/20/2017

March 22, 2017 by armsworth

1) Field technician position: Wild bee research

We are seeking a research assistant to conduct fieldwork this spring for a project on how forest habitat loss affects wild bee species. This project is part of the PhD research of Colleen Smith, who studies in Rachael Winfree’s lab at Rutgers University (https://winfreelab.com/people/).

The successful candidate will sample wild bees at forests throughout New Jersey between April 1 and May 31, 2017. The job requires long days in the field (approximately 13 hours/ day) and extensive driving. The job is full-time (40 hours/ week), and we are offering $13 to $15/hour, depending on experience.

Qualifications: Fieldwork experience, ability to work independently, positive attitude and dedication to doing good-quality work during long field days, bachelor’s degree in Ecology or related field.

The applicant must possess a valid driver’s license and a car. All mileage will be reimbursed.

To apply, please send a cover letter and C.V. with your GPA and contact information for two references to Colleen Smith (colleen.m.smith@rutgers.edu), subject line “Wild bee field technician position.” Review of applicants will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.

2) REU Opportunity: disease, climate change, amphibians

The Voyles Lab at the University of Nevada, Reno is seeking an undergraduate student to participate in the NSF-funded REU program studying amphibian disease dynamics. The selected student will spend up to 10 weeks on a combination of lab and fieldwork. The research is focused on host-responses to infection that may help guide amphibian conservation and recovery strategies. The student will work collaboratively with a postdoctoral researcher and graduate students under the guidance of Dr. Jamie Voyles (U. Nevada, Reno) and Dr. Corinne Richards-Zawacki (U. of Pittsburgh).

This project aims to understand the distribution of the amphibian disease chytridiomycosis, which has been linked to global amphibian declines. Fieldwork will involve amphibian call surveys, collecting disease swabs for diagnostic tests, and collecting amphibian skin compounds. Additional work may involve collating climatic data from regional weather stations, producing data summaries, and conducting statistical analyses. The student will also have the opportunity to conduct independent research, be involved with data analysis and writing for publication.

Prospective applicants should note that this position involves considerable physical challenges, that may include hiking long distances with field equipment, working in hot temperature conditions at both day and night, and be able to tolerate extended periods in a vehicle driving between field sites. Some camping and field cooking may be required. The position includes a stipend as well as funds for housing and travel.

Qualifications: Required – United states citizens or permanent residents – Must be enrolled in an undergraduate program for fall of 2017. Students who have received their bachelor’s degrees, will graduate in Spring 2017, or are no longer enrolled as undergraduates are not eligible to participate. – Driver’s license and previous experience with 4-wheel drive.

Desired – Prior research experience in microbiology, physiology or ecology, including laboratory and field research. – Experience backpacking and camping. – Patience, a strong work ethic, appreciation for details and strong interpersonal communication skills. – Ability to use GPS and read maps for navigation. – Experience catching and handling amphibians

To apply, please send a Letter of Interest, CV, and contact information for three recommenders to: Jamie Voyles and Mason Ryan (see email contacts below). Deadline to apply: 24 March 2017. For questions, please contact: Jamie Voyles
 jvoyles@unr.edu
http://voyleslab.weebly.com/, Mason Ryan mjryan42@gmail.com

3) Internship Opportunities: DataONE Summer Internship Program

Please be reminded that the DataONE Summer Internship Program is still accepting applications until March 17th 2017. We have six different project opportunities for prospective interns: •     Project 1: Markdown-based Semantic Annotation of Workflow Scripts •             Project 2: DataONE Messaging: Creating Marketing for DataONE Stakeholder Communities •  Project 3: Prospective and Retrospective Provenance Queries Using YesWorkflow, RDF, and SPARQL •             Project 4: Exploration of Search Logs, Metadata Quality and Data Discovery •      Project 5: Improving DataONE’s Search Capabilities Through Controlled Vocabularies •            Project 6: Development of an Open Source Units of Measure Knowledge Graph The DataONE Summer Internship Program runs from May through July for a period of 9 weeks and is open to undergraduate students, graduate students, and postgraduates who have received their degree within the past five years. The internship project can be conducted remotely and offers a stipend of $5000.

For full information and to apply, visit https://www.dataone.org/internships.  You will also find a link to other internship opportunities offered by DataONE leadership and partners.

4) Field tech positions studying plant-pollinator interaction networks in southwestern US

The Ponisio Lab is seeking two field technicians to conduct fieldwork for a new experiment investigating pollinator interactions in the Madrean Sky Islands. This long-term project will explore how interaction patterns at the individual, species, and network levels affect ecosystem resilience and function, and how the assembly history of a community influences those patterns. This is a collaborative project with Shalene Jha at the University of Texas and Terry Griswold at the USDA Logan Bee Lab. Our non-profit partner is Robinson Sudan at New Leaf.

We will be sampling plant-pollinator communities in southeastern Arizona and northern New Mexico from mid-June to August 2017. A typical field day will involve either driving or hiking to sampling sites in high-elevation meadows, collecting pollinators for approximately four hours, and pinning samples back at the campsite. We intend to camp for around five days at a time, then return to one of two field stations (Southwestern Research Station in Arizona and Sevilleta Field Station in New Mexico). We will work in teams of two, and rotate the teams around the sampling sites.

Responsibilities •             Field monitoring and collection of pollinators •   Processing insect specimens in the lab including pinning bees, labeling samples •   Data entry into spreadsheets •             Periodic monitoring of trap nesting surveys or other miscellaneous pollination experiments Qualifications Required •    Interest in botany, entomology, conservation biology and field ecology •          Previous field or lab experience or coursework related to botany and/or entomology •     Attention to detail (will be collecting and working with original data) •               Highly motivated and able to work independently •         Basic computer skills (Word, Excel) • Ability to work in field under sunny conditions for long hours •    Car camping and/or backpacking experience •            Valid Drivers License Preferred •               Bachelors degree in relevant field •  Previous experience studying pollinators, especially native bees and/or monitoring other insect populations •    Previous field experience in the southwestern U.S. The salary for this position is $2641- $3082 monthly, depending on previous experience.

Candidates should apply for this position by March 27, 2017 by emailing Kaysee Tom at kathleen.c.tom@gmail.com with “Field Tech Application – YourLastName” as the subject line, e.g., “Field Tech Application – Ponisio.” Please include a cover letter, C.V., and the names and contact information for 2-3 references.

5) Summer Field Technician: Prescribed burning effects on lowland brush ecosystems

Job Title: Field technician Location: Northern Minnesota, USA Duration: 4-6 months (May 15 – August 31) Job Type: Seasonal Application Deadline: 03/31/2017

Job Description: Two (2) technicians are needed for a study of brushland vegetation response following prescribed burning in northern Minnesota. Our research objective is to examine the effects of season of burning on brushland habitat quality and use. The technicians will join a graduate student researcher to conduct vegetation surveys and fuel assessments. We are looking for applicants who will take pride in collecting high-quality ecological data without supervision, under challenging field conditions (i.e., strenuous hiking in brushy wetlands; long hours of sun, heat, and humidity; ticks, mosquitoes and biting flies galore), with a hard- working, team-oriented attitude, and preferably with a good sense of humor. The season will run from May 15, 2017 through end of August 2017, and there is some flexibility to the start and end dates depending on whether and technician availability. The project will be based out of the UMN Cloquet Forestry Center. While the primary responsibility of the technicians will be work related to the study of brushland vegetation, other projects and field opportunities will likely be available throughout the summer.

Qualifications: Minimum qualifications include a background, or seeking degree, in Natural Resources, Forestry, Ecology, Wildlife or related major or equivalent experience; ability to work in challenging terrain and navigate in the field using GPS; ability to closely follow vegetation survey and fuel assessment protocol and data entering instructions; experience with plant identification in the Lake States; and willingness to spend long days in the field working and hiking through brushy, wet environments. This habitat is difficult to move through, so prior experience working in difficult terrain is a plus. This job requires people who enjoy living and working closely with others, are resourceful and creative, have high attention to detail, are able to follow precise protocol, comfortable going with the flow with a sometimes unpredictable work schedule and possess a positive attitude for long days. Surveys require driving between multiple sites and applicants must possess a valid driver’s license.

Compensation: $12/h @ approximately 40/week from May through August. Housing is provided if needed at a minimal cost (~25$/week).

To Apply: Persons interested in interviewing for a position should email a letter of interest and current CV with names and contact information (phone and email) for two references to Lori Knosalla at knosa003@umn.edu.Please include YOUR LAST NAME and “BRUSHLAND TECH” in the email subject line.

6) Summer Field Technician: Floodplain Forest Restoration

Location: St. Paul, MN, USA Duration: May-August Job Type: Seasonal Application Deadline: 03/22/2017 or until filled

Job Description: One (1) technician is needed for a study of reed canarygrass treatments and floodplain forest tree planting. One goal is to develop more effective reed canarygrass control measures that reduce the grass’s coverage. The second is to study the effects of site treatment across a range of environmental factors. The third is to examine differences in natural tree regeneration across site treatments and the range of environmental factors tested. The fourth is to study tree seedling establishment, survival and growth across different stock types, site treatment strategies, and the range of environmental factors studies. The technician will join a graduate student researcher to collect data including: estimate percent cover of reed canarygrass, record differences in environmental factors, measure tree growth, and enter field data as a team and independently. Our office is based in St. Paul, MN and field sites are in southeast Minnesota. A vehicle will be provided for transportation between the office and field sites. We are looking for applicants who will take pride in collecting and entering high- quality ecological data, are hard-working, and have a team-oriented attitude. May involve occasional work on other projects in Minnesota associated with the Montgomery lab at the University of Minnesota.

Qualifications: Minimum qualifications include undergraduate standing in Natural Resources, Forestry, Ecology, Wildlife or related major or equivalent experience; a valid driver’s license, good driving record, and ability to drive for at least two hours at a time; ability to work in challenging terrain (full sun, high humidity, wet, mucky ground); ability to closely follow tree measurement and percent coverage protocol and data entering instructions; attention to detail and accuracy in data collection; and willingness to spend long days in the field working and hiking through dense ground vegetation and wet environments with biting insects. This job requires people who have high attention to detail, are able to follow precise protocol, and possess a positive attitude. Must be willing to occasionally camp near field site for field work.

Compensation: $12/hour for 40 hours/week. If applicants prefer part-time employment (e.g. <40h/week) please indicate that preference in the application.

To Apply: Persons interested in interviewing for a position should email a letter of interest and resume with names and contact information (phone and email) for two references to Maria DeLaundreau at dela0271@umn.edu. Please include YOUR LAST NAME and “FLOODPLAIN TECH” in the email subject line.

7) Volunteer Field Assitant in Avian Evol Ecol in Sweden May-June

PERIOD:  1.5-30.6.2017 LOCATION: Gotland, Sweden

PROJECT Maternal effects play a key role in shaping offspring development and are a source of phenotypic variation. Understanding the proximate mechanisms underlying maternal effects is crucial. I am looking for a volunteer field assistant/intern to a collaborative project on the role of maternal (egg) hormones shaping offspring development and fitness in the collared flycatcher (Ficedula albicollis). The work will be conducted in May and June in a nest-box population on the island of Gotland, Sweden. It is also possible to make part of the data collection into an intern project.

DUTIES The field assistant/intern will be conducting nest-box monitoring and capturing, ringing and measuring chicks/ adult collared flycatchers, together with the rest of the team (international). Potentially also blood-sampling. The field work will include long days (sometimes in bad weather) and work during weekends, thus the candidate needs to be prepared for that.

QUALIFICATIONS Suitable candidates should be hard-working, independent and organized, possess good communication skills and fluent English. Candidates should have a valid driving lisence.  Experience in field work with birds, and bird handling/ringing is a definite asset.

WE OFFER We will train the volunteer/student for the fieldwork and bird handling. Travel costs (from Europe) and costs of accommodation (room shared with another assistant/student) will be covered. The candidate will join an enthusiastic team of researchers and students (French, Finnish, Taiwanese). The study populations are located on the beautiful island of Gotland!

If you are interested, please contact me asap and include your CV and a short motivation letter. Suvi Ruuskanen (suvi.ruuskanen@utu.fi)

8) Field Research Positions for post-fire vegetation monitoring in Yosemite National Park

A Crew Lead and one Crewmember positions are available for post-fire vegetation research projects in Yosemite National Park, with some work in neighboring National Forests, with the O’Hara and Stephens labs at UC Berkeley. The crew will collect data on a suite of vegetation characteristics as part of several studies on fire effects. Applicants must be willing to work a flexible schedule that varies between 4 10-hour work weeks and some longer trips of up to 8 10-hour days. The 4-month field season will begin Tuesday May 30th.

The duty station will be at the Sierra Nevada Research Institute Yosemite Field Station in Wawona, California. The field station has bunk-style housing for $300/month (details on the station can be found here). Work will be a mixture of day trips, backpacking trips and a few car camping trips. Must be comfortable camping for extensive periods, working in remote locations without cell coverage, in inclement weather and sometimes uncomfortable conditions (e.g. shrubby burned sites in full sun), all while maintaining a positive attitude and attention to detail! Day-to-day work schedules are likely to include long days when visiting more remote sites. Applicants must be comfortable hiking up to 5 miles off trail per day in rough, uneven terrain, and backpacking with 50lb packs on maintained trails. Hazards include steep slopes, snakes, ticks, falling timber, and illegal marijuana plantations. But it will also be a fun summer outdoors! All employees must complete CPR & Wilderness First Aid on their own time.

Duties and Required Qualifications

Crew lead: $17-18/hour, depending on experience Duties:  Crew lead is responsible for organizing day-to-day work plans, ensuring work plans are accomplished, managing crew safety and logistics, and maintaining good communication with project lead.  Crew lead will also coordinate schedules with other field crews as needed. Required Qualifications –Leadership experience in vegetation data collection –Experience identifying plants to species using dichotomous keys & knowledge of California flora –Experience navigating off trail using map and compass and GPS units –Strong organizational skills –Bachelor’s degree in Biology, Botany, Natural Resources or related field

Crewmember: $15-16/hour, depending on experience Duties: Work as a team to collect data using a suite of sampling protocols. Desired qualifications –Previous experience on field crews and/or a field measurements course –Experience identifying plants to species using dichotomous keys & knowledge of California flora

To apply Please compile a single pdf document with: –a one-page cover letter that includes the position you wish to be considered for and dates of availability –a one-page resume –contact information for three references

Send single pdf document to Kristen Shive at rimfire.2014@gmail.com, with the position you want to be considered for in the subject line (Crew lead, Crewmember or Both). Your application will not be considered if these directions are not followed in full.  Applications will be reviewed and the top-rated applicants will be contacted for an interview. Questions should also be directed to rimfire.2014@gmail.com.

9) REU position in desert stream ecology at ASU

We are seeking two summer undergraduate researchers to participate in a project investigating how variation of streamflow affects energy transfer through stream food webs. The goal of the Food Chain Length (FCL) project is to link the mechanisms of temporal variation in streamflow and intensity of disturbance regimes to FCL in aridland streams. Ongoing research conducted in streams across Arizona includes repeated measures of variation in food chain length, ecosystem metabolism, nitrate concentrations, and experimental nitrogen pulse manipulations. Additionally, we are investigating how flood pulses of water and nitrogen stimulate production in the riparian ecosystem by measuring changes in soil processes, primary producers, and consumers.

Students will contribute both to the field campaign and laboratory sample processing. Students will also collaborate closely with the principal investigator, graduate students, and technicians to develop an independent research project that will build on the ongoing research. Fieldwork will consist of traveling to rivers across the state of Arizona for aquatic biological surveys, water quality measurements, sensor maintenance, and requires spending long days in the desert during the Arizona summer, often carrying heavy equipment. Lab work will consist of processing samples for stable isotope analysis, invertebrate sorting, and soil microbial activity and nutrient assays.

Applicant requirements: Students must have demonstrated interest in ecology. The position lasts 12 weeks, preferably starting in early May, though exact dates are flexible and is based at Arizona State University. Application is restricted to currently enrolled undergraduates that graduate no sooner than fall 2017. All applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents.

Desired qualifications: Previous experience with laboratory or field-based research; coursework in biology, ecology, chemistry, and math/statistics; enthusiasm about conducting both field and lab work, with occasional long days in the field or multi-day field trips; valid U.S. driver’s license. Women, underrepresented minorities, and persons with disabilities are especially encouraged to apply.

To apply: 1) letter summarizing research interests and experience, 2) list of relevant coursework, and 3) CV to Dr. Tamara Harms (tkharms@alaska.edu) by March 21, 2017

10) Hiring: Vegetation Monitoring Position in Minnesota

This position serves to assist in a collaborative effort in a statewide vegetation monitoring project being established and led by the Minnesota Biological Survey; a program housed within the MN Department of Natural Resources.  Field work will include driving and hiking to often remote sites, navigating to sites using GPS units, establishing plots according to monitoring protocols, and collecting quantitative data on plant species and other aspects of ecosystems such as soils and coarse woody debris. Plant identification skills, as well as the use of dichotomous keys will be required.

Periods of very demanding fieldwork under potentially arduous conditions will be followed by periods of administrative work during the winter months. Tasks such as data entry from field forms, identifying and preparing collected plants for identification, and assisting with preparing data for analyses will take precedent. Other tasks include verifying potential plot locations using GIS, contacting landowners and site managers for permission to collect data, and assisting with data entry or GIS mapping of other ongoing projects.

This position is the first of two temporary positions being posted. The anticipated end date is June 28, 2019. Extension of the position is dependent on funding.

For more information and to apply, go to https://www.mn.gov/mmb/careers/ and click on “External Applicants”.  In the keyword search box, enter the job listing number 11898 and follow the instructions at the bottom of the posting. The closing date for this posting is March 21, 2017. If you have questions about the position, contact Hannah Texler (hannah.texler@state.mn.us; 651.259.5048) or Erika Rowe (erika.rowe@state.mn.us; 651-259-5134).

11) Undergrad Field Research UCR Entomology/Microbiology

The Purcell lab in the Department of Entomology at UCR seeks motivated undergraduate students to contribute to summer research projects.  Members of the Purcell lab study the behavioral, ecological and genetic basis of evolutionary transitions in social organization in insects such as ants.  One project in particular will require 1-2 undergraduate research assistants this summer. Recent research is expanding what we know about the role of the gut microbiome in ecology. Amanda Hale, a PhD student in the Purcell lab, is investigating the role of gut microbiome plasticity in facilitating the success of invasive species.  This project will consist of field collections of ants from different natural and urbanized areas in thesouthern California region, lab maintenance of experimental colonies, and genetic lab work. Collections will be time sensitive, requiring on-site camping in the field and motivated students with strong time-management skills. Experience with camping, hiking and other outdoor activities will be an asset.   Students will gain skills in insect identification, field work, sterile lab technique, dissections, and experimental design.  Exceptional students who demonstrate their skills and work ethic in lab may be able to run their own experiment, earn research credit, or earn a salary as a research assistant.  If interested, please contact Amanda Hale (ahale004@ucr.edu) for more information.  Application materials will include a resume/CV and contact information for two references.  These will be due no later than April 10.

12) Summer Research Positions in Silviculture and Applied Forest Ecology in Northern New Hampshire

Summer Research Positions in Silviculture and Applied Forest Ecology in Northern New Hampshire Project: The University of Vermont, Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources is seeking two summer research assistants to assist on a large-scale study in northern New Hampshire examining the effectiveness of different adaptive silvicultural strategies at sustaining northern hardwood forest ecosystems in the face of climate change and invasive species impacts.  These positions would be working on a multi-disciplinary team on a collaborative project between the University of Vermont, Dartmouth College, and the U.S. Forest Service Northern Research Station based in the beautiful landscapes contained within Dartmouth College’s Second College Grant in northern New Hampshire.

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. &#8232;Responsibilities: Work will involve extensive field work, including collection of soil, vegetation, and woody debris data. These positions begin late May/early June 2017 and end mid/late August and will be based out of Milan, NH.  Housing will be provided in the form of cabins within the Second College Grant and hourly wage will vary from $10-$12 depending on work experience.

Interested candidates should e-mail a letter describing their background, qualifications and interests along with a resumé to Matthias Nevins (matthias.nevins@uvm.edu) by March 28, 2017.

13) Recreation Internship – Rawlins, WY: Conservation and Land Management Internship Program

Agency: United States Bureau of Land Management Location: Rawlins, WY Start Date: Mid to Late April 2017 Application Closing Date: Friday, March 26, 2017 Internship duration: 5 months To apply: http://www.clminternship.org/applying Position Reference Code (must be included when applying): WYREC2017

We are looking for a highly qualified individual for a 5-month internship with the Conservation and Land Management (CLM) Internship Program.

The intern will serve as a developmental trainee Outdoor Recreation Planner for one or more specifically assigned outdoor recreation programs (e.g. Wilderness, National Conservation Lands, Off-Highway Vehicles, Visitor Services, Visual Resources, Travel, Transportation, Wild & Scenic Rivers, Accessibility) in the Rawlins, WY Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Office. The intern will be primarily responsible for carrying out limited planning projects and assignments that involve the application of basic principles, concepts, and methods of outdoor recreation planning. Specifically the intern will be responsible for campground inspections & fee collection, maintaining recreation sites, and answering visitor’s questions through in-person interaction. The intern will receive detailed guidance on specific tasks, as well as training covering critical aspects of each assignment. In some cases, the position may complete segments of an assignment or project of broader scope. The position will provide the intern the opportunity to learn about the implementation of all existing regulations, policies, and directives, as well as with BLM Washington Office (WO) program direction.

Work can be in remote areas in rough terrain for extended periods of time and experience operating 4×4 vehicles is required. Southern Wyoming frequently receives extended periods of high winds and temperatures can change quickly between extreme heat and cold. Individual should have experience in communicating with the public in a customer service setting.

Qualifications: This position requires a bachelor’s degree in natural resources management, biology, or related fields with experience in recreation. The selected intern will have to be able to work successfully as an individual or as part of a team. Good communication, equipment, and computer skills will be a necessary and important part of the job. The intern should have experience using handheld GPS devices, and have basic map reading skills. Other experience should include the use hand tools and some basic power tools.

**Please note that you MUST include the Position Reference Code, WYREC2017, when you complete the online application.

14) Summer Job: USGS biological science technician for annual brome research project

The USGS Northern Prairie Wildlife Center is seeking biological science technicians for the 2017 summer field season of the Annual Brome Prescribed Fire project. The position begins approximately May 29, 2017 and will end approximately August 19, 2017.  The Annual Brome Prescribed Fire project is an experimental comparison of the effectiveness and costs of various treatments for controlling invasive annual brome grasses in northern mixed-grass prairie. DUTY STATION:  Wind Cave National Park, Hot Springs, SD. DUTIES: The incumbent will perform a variety of tasks to gather and manage field data necessary to meet objectives of an invasive plant ecology research project in the northern Great Plains. The incumbent is assigned to the Center’s Black Hills station, with principal responsibility for collecting data related to cover, composition, and diversity of northern mixed-grass prairie vegetation. Specific study elements involved include measuring plant cover by species; recording species richness; and measuring litter depth and stem density. The incumbent works under the general supervision of a Principal Investigator, who outlines the objectives, responsibilities, and priorities to be met. The incumbent (1) navigates to data collection sites, (2) follows protocols in daily data collection, (3) cares for and maintains equipment, and (4) maintains data. The incumbent acts daily as a member of a field crew and performs correct use of field forms and techniques, organizes field equipment, confirms quality and accuracy of data, and alerts supervisor to procedural, technical, and logistical problems. The incumbent applies and adapts existing methods to accomplish project objectives. The incumbent works independently in most phases of duties and updates the supervisor occasionally to ensure coordination of all phases of the project. The supervisor and other Center staff are available to offer guidance, but the incumbent is responsible for the work. Completed work receives general review by the supervisor.

QUALIFICATIONS:  For the GG-4 level:  Beyond high school, 6 months field party experience OR 2 years sub-professional experience OR 1 year college study related to biology. HOW TO APPLY:  By 5:00 p.m. CDT on March 24, 2017, submit a cover letter stating that you are applying for the position in announcement number NPWRC- 2017-08, a resume, and (if applicable) transcripts via email or fax following the directions at https://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/node/3821.

15) Research technician position working with ants

The Invasive Species Research Group at the Brackenridge Field Laboratory, University of Texas at Austin is looking to hire a research technician.  The position will involve a mix of field and laboratory based investigations into the ecology and natural enemies of tawny crazy ants and imported fire ants.  Posting number: 17-03-02-01-4480. We are looking for someone to start as soon as possible. The posting will close by March 24th.

LRA III – Salary: Proposed Salary Minimum: $22,884 – Proposed non-published maximum limit: $26,000

General Position Notes: Job is a mixture of field and laboratory based investigation. Job requires frequent overnight travel to field sites in remote regions of Texas. Camping out will be required at some sites. Work will be outside during Texas summer. Experimental protocols will require a non- standard work schedule. Work will often involve long days and short weeks, working evenings, mornings and/or weekends.

Purpose: Technician will follow the direction of the lead investigator to carry out studies examining the biology and ecology of tawny crazy and natural enemies of this ant, including microsporidian pathogens and phorid fly parasitoids. Driving a UT vehicle is an essential function of the position. Essential Functions •     Function 1: Perform field assays of tawny crazy ant, and native ant abundances and experiments on species interactions and ecology. •               Function 1 Percent Time: 30.00 %             •            Function 2: Conduct laboratory experiments investigating the biology of a microsporidian pathogen and a phorid fly parasitoid of this ant. •       Function 2 Percent Time: 25.00 % •         Function 3:  Conducting experiments into the chemical ecology of ant species interactions. •   Function 3 Percent Time: 25.00 % •               Function 4: Staining and counting microsporidian spore loads in infected ants using compound microscope.  Sort, identify and record ants and other arthropods from pitfall traps. Identify ants and phorid flies to species level and other arthropods to order level. Function 4 Percent Time: 10.00 % •               Function 5: Record all data in field datasheets, and enter data into spreadsheets. Use GPS to set out transects and record features. Store and label specimens in alcohol vials or in pinned collections. Curate materials and maintain records. •               Function 5 Percent Time: 10.00 % Essential Functions Percent Time Total: 100.00 %

Required Qualifications High school graduation or GED. A combination of two years of experience in a natural science field, or a technical laboratory. A strong work ethic and attention to detail. Ability to work outside throughout the summer and carry loads over rough ground. Tolerance of heat and insect stings / bites. Fine motor skills. Commitment to safety. Equivalent combination of relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate: Yes

Preferred Qualifications Bachelors or masters degree in biological science. Strong background and interest in entomology and ecology. Experience in field ecological studies and experiments. Experience with insect identification. Experience with micro- dissection and microscopy. Laboratory experience in chemistry. Experience with molecular lab procedures. Computer skills including familiarity with spreadsheet manipulation, analysis and graphing in Microsoft Excel. Experience using GPS. Excellent organizational, interpersonal and communication skills needed. Ability to perform as a member of a dynamic research team.

16) Field Technicians – Osprey Recovery in Illinois

I am looking for four field technicians with strong work ethics to assist with the osprey hacking program in Illinois as part of the osprey recovery effort for this state-endangered species.

The positions, based at different sites, have the following responsibilities: * Daily Observations – conducts daily behavioral observations of osprey chicks at the hacking site to ensure their well-being.  Makes notes of presence of potential predators or competitors in the vicinity of the hacking site. * Daily Tracking – conducts daily tracking of ospreys once they fledge and notes their locations before migration. * Food Preparation and Feeding – conducts daily preparation of fish and feeding to the hacked ospreys. * Planning and Coordination – conducts regular fish pick-ups from the project partners.  Coordinates with the field personnel at the other hacking site for project purposes when required. * Daily Reports – contributes to daily reports regarding the behaviors, locations, and fish consumption by ospreys.  Makes notes of any other notable events related to the birds. * Maintenance – assists with the maintenance and clean-up of the hacking tower after the season, as well as the maintenance and inventory of the field gear and equipment.

Qualifications for the positions: Successful candidates must have a B.S. degree in environmental science, wildlife, biology, or related field.  Experiences working with birds of prey, as well as paddling skills, are highly preferred.  Proficiency with Microsoft Office, ArcGIS, and GPS is highly desirable.  Successful candidates must be a team- player, demonstrate strong communication skills, follow instructions well, and pay attention to detail.  Candidates must have a commitment to field personnel and equipment safety.  Individuals must have and maintain a valid driver’s license as well as be able to work outdoors in extreme weather conditions and for long hours.

Application: Review of applications will start immediately until the positions are filled. Starting date: June 30, 2017. Anticipated ending date: October 6, 2017. Salary: $440-$500 per WEEK (depending on the skills and experiences). Housing or camping gear (except sleeping gear) are provided.

To apply, please send the following (via email) to Dr. Tih-Fen Ting at tting1@uis.edu: 1)  Cover letter addressing background and extent of qualifications; 2)  Resume, including contact information for three references; and 3)  Transcripts (unofficial or scanned copy acceptable).

17) Field Technicians – Franklin’s Ground Squirrel in Illinois

I am looking for three field technicians with a strong work ethic to join my team for the Franklin’s ground squirrel project in Central Illinois.  The field technicians need to be effective and skillful in data collection, including trapping, tagging, and tracking of Franklin’s ground squirrels.  Field technicians know how to operate and adjust, when necessary, various instruments for data acquisition and are required to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing.

Duties and responsibilities include: Trapping – Conduct daily trapping of Franklin’s ground squirrels at multiple sites over the field season. Tagging – Implant a passive integrated transponder (PIT) to each newly captured squirrel for identification and fit radio-collars to targeted juveniles. Tracking – Conduct daily radio-tracking of juvenile Franklin’s ground squirrels on foot or in vehicle depending on the movement patterns and dispersal distances of individual squirrels.  Record locations of the squirrels with the GPS units through triangulation or homing.  Follow the squirrels until they immerge. Daily Reports – Submit daily reports on the trapping, tagging, and tracking of Franklin’s ground squirrels. Maintenance – Assist with the maintenance, clean-up, and inventory of the field gear and equipment for trapping, tagging, and tracking of Franklin’s ground squirrels.

Requirements: Successful candidates must have a B.S. degree in environmental science, wildlife, biology, or related field.  Experiences in radio-telemetry and working with small mammals in the field are highly preferred.  Proficiency with Microsoft Office, ArcGIS, and GPS is highly desirable.  Successful candidates must be a team-player, demonstrate strong communication skills, follow instructions well, and pay attention to detail.  Candidates must have a commitment to field personnel and equipment safety.  Individuals must have a personal vehicle, maintain a valid driver’s license, and be able to work outdoors in extreme weather conditions for long hours.

Application: Review of applications will start immediately until the positions are filled. Starting date: May 15, 2017. Anticipated ending dates: August 18, 2017 (for two positions) and October 31, 2017 (for one position).

Salary: $440-$500 per WEEK (depending on the skills and experiences), plus mileage reimbursement for radio-tracking.

To apply, please send the following (via email) to Dr. Tih-Fen Ting at tting1@uis.edu. 1.  Cover letter addressing background and extent of qualifications; 2.  Resume, including contact information for three references; and 3.  Transcripts (unofficial or scanned copy acceptable).

Filed Under: intern, REU, Undergrad News Tagged With: amphibian, ants, Arizona, Austin, bee, bird, brome, California, DataONE, Entomology, fire, ground squirrel, Illinois, intern, microbiology, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, osprey, REU, Riverside, Rutgers, Sweden, technician, Texas, undergrad, USDA, USGS, Wyoming, YosemiteBerkeley

Undergrad Research Opportunities 02/28/2017

March 1, 2017 by armsworth

1) REU Opportunity Summer 2017: “Research Experience for Undergraduates in Chihuahuan Desert Biodiversity”

The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) Department of Biological Sciences invites applicants for the NSF sponsored Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) in Chihuahuan Desert Biodiversity.  This is a10 week summer program.  The goal of this program is to provide undergraduate students with experience in hypothesis-driven collaborative research utilizing field based and/or laboratory methods and fully engage students in projects associated with the ecology and evolution influencing Chihuahuan Desert biodiversity.

The program provides: • High quality research experience in ecology and evolutionary biology in the field and/or lab • Research opportunities at the Indio Mountains Research Station (IMRS), a 40,000 acre facility controlled by UTEP • One-on-one and group mentoring from active research faculty in multidisciplinary fields • Training in bioethics and other relevant professional skills • $5250 stipend for 10 weeks • Housing in shared apartments and field station • Travel reimbursement of up to $600

Deadline March 6. For more information on the program, research projects or to apply please visit: http://science.utep.edu/cdb-reu/

2) Research technician, Georgia Coastal Ecosystems LTER

The Georgia Coastal Ecosystems Long-Term Ecological Research program seeks a Research Technician II to support field and laboratory research on the GA coast. Tasks include measuring plant and invertebrate populations, measuring water quality, monitoring sediment dynamics, downloading and maintaining climate and hydrological instruments, and data entry. Applicants should have a BS in an environmental field, some field experience, and some boating skills. For more information about the GCE LTER program go to http://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/

3) Ecology Field Research Interns

B4WARMED (Boreal Forest Warming at an Ecotone in Danger) is a manipulative experiment that warms plants and soil in the field to examine tree seedling response to warming with respect to physiology, phenology, growth, and survival.  For more information: https://forestecology.cfans.umn.edu/research/climate-change.

Position overview: We seek one independent and mature field assistant with a background in biology, ecology, environmental science, forestry, or a related field for a paid field research internship ($10/hr).  The positions start in late March and go until early November start dates are flexible. In general, an internship lasts about 4 months. Typical workdays are eight hours Monday through Friday, however tasks may require early morning, evening, or weekend work. A valid driver’s license is required. The intern will work and travel mostly independently and occasionally in a pair or small group. Maturity to work autonomously and for long hours is required.

Responsibilities: •            Work independently to collect biotic and abiotic data in field and lab settings in accordance with established protocols •          Measure seedling growth, germination, physiology, and phenology •            Measure soil characteristics and microbe activity •             Routine maintenance of field sites and research equipment. •     Data entry using Excel and Google Drive •   Travel frequently between sites •             Employ experimental drought treatment •       Aiding principle investigators and graduate students as needed.

Desired qualifications: 1) Eagerness to work hard in an outdoor setting. 2) Capacity to collect data following established protocols. 3) Familiarity with plant and tree species of northern Minnesota. 4) Willingness to work well and live with alone and with others in a remote area. 5) Demonstrated ability to work under changing weather conditions and with large swarms of insects. 6) Ability to adapt to a frequently changing schedule with frequent travel.

Field work will be split between research sites at the Cloquet Forestry Center in Cloquet, MN (http://cfc.cfans.umn.edu/) and the Hubachek Wilderness Research Center near Ely, MN.  Both research sites are in beautiful forested settings and provide access to the natural areas of northern Minnesota including the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. An individual’s home base will be at either of these locations, though travel between sites will be required depending on project needs. University vehicles are used for such travel. On-site housing with furnishing and a kitchen will be available for $150/month.

Highest priority will be given to applications arriving by April 1.

Please send cover letter (including available working dates), one-page resume, and contact information for two references electronically to:

Artur Stefanski stefa066@umn.edu  University of Minnesota 1530 Cleveland Ave N. St Paul, MN 55108 USA

4) Research Technician Position

We seek an energetic, motivated research technician to participate in experiments on the ecology, physiology, and genomics of switchgrass. This is an exciting opportunity to participate in integrative research studying the genetic basis of ecological processes in an important native grass species. The position will be administered through the University of Texas at Austin (www.utexas.edu) and stationed with Philip Fay’s group at the USDA Grassland, Soil, and Water Lab in Temple, TX (https://www.ars.usda.gov/plains-area/temple-tx/grassland-soil-and-water-research-laboratory/people/philip-fay/).

Please direct any questions about the position to Robert Heckman (robert.heckman@utexas.edu).

5) Two Research Assistant positions in entomology, Hong Kong

Two Research Assistant positions in entomology are available within the School of Biological Sciences and The Swire Institute of Marine Science at The University of Hong Kong (HKU). The position offers a two-year contract with competitive salary and benefits with an immediate starting date (or as soon as possible). The candidate must have a B.Sc. in entomology, ecology, biology, or related field. Any previous experience and/or specific interests for entomology will be highly valued for the position; in particular experience in sampling and/or specimen curation and identification for one or several of the following insect groups: Lepidoptera (moths), Lampyridae, and Hymenoptera (ants, bees and wasps). Good spoken and writing English skills are necessary.

Project description Mangroves represent one of the most threatened habitat globally with a poorly characterized biodiversity. The project will focus on an extensive biodiversity survey of mangroves in Hong Kong with a focus on both marine and terrestrial organisms. The two positions advertised here focusing on the entomofauna are part of interdisciplinary project surveying the fauna and flora of local mangroves led by Dr. Stefano Cannicci, Prof. Gray A. Williams and Dr. Benoit Guénard.

Successful applicants will be responsible for setting up sampling sites, using various collecting methods (Malaise traps, baiting, beating, artificial nest traps…), sorting and curating the specimens collected, performing identification and data entry within the project’s database. Candidates should thus posses excellent organization skills and be able to work for long hours in the hot and humid environments experienced in subtropical habitats; as well as showing diligence to complete intense entomological surveys (hundreds of thousands of specimens are expected); with a particular focus on three taxonomic groups: Lepidoptera (moths), Lampyridae, and Hymenoptera (ants, bees and non- parasitoid wasps). The entomological material collected will constitute the basis for the development of a reference collection and database in Hong Kong.

Interested candidates should initially email a letter of interest with a resume with relevant experience and contact information for two reference contacts to Dr. Benoit Guénard (bguenard@hku.hk). Application should be received before March 15th 2017.

Information about the research conducted in the Insect Biodiversity and Biogeography lab, Hard Rock Ecology Lab and Mangrove Ecology and Evolution lab are available at the following addresses: http://benoitguenard.wordpress.com/
https://www.biosch.hku.hk/research/ecology-biodiversity-2/ https://stefanocannicci.wordpress.com/

6) Summer Research Technician – Role of Birds in Lyme Disease, May 15 to August 29, 2017

Description: A paid opportunity is available to participate in research related to the role of birds and rodents in the ecology of Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases The intern will gain knowledge and field experience while working on a long-term project studying the dynamics of infection in birds and mice on Block Island, RI. Responsibilities and learning opportunities include: bird mist netting, conducting bird point count surveys, small mammal trapping, collecting ticks from animals and the environment.

Requirements: Ability to identify common northeastern birds by sight and sound and previous experience doing bird point count surveys are required. Candidates must have completed, or be in the process of completing, a Bachelor’s degree in a biological science; must possess a valid driver’s license; and be able to hike outdoors while carrying equipment.

Logistics: The position will be based on Block Island, RI. Housing and transportation will be provided. Project PI: Maria Diuk-Wasser. If interested please send a resume, cover letter, and the names and emails of two references to mad2256@columbia.edu

7) Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) Position In Stream Ecology and Biogeochemistry

Carbon dynamics of overlapping consumer hotspots in stream ecosystems.  A research experience for undergraduates is available at the University of Oklahoma for the summer of 2017 with Drs. Caryn Vaughn and Thomas Parr to study stream consumer contributions to carbon biogeochemistry. This REU is part of our NSF funded project “Shifting hotspots – How do consumer aggregations interact to influence resource heterogeneity and fluxes in streams?”

The successful candidate will join a team of researchers looking at the effects of overlapping fish and mussel consumer aggregations on nutrient recycling rates, flux, and stoichiometry, and their implications for ecosystem functions like primary production. The student will work as part of this team in a greenhouse facility on the OU campus in Norman, OK and in the field in Southeastern Oklahoma. The student will also develop an independent project leveraging existing field sites and resources to complement this ongoing research.

The ideal candidate should be broadly interested in pursuing a career in Ecology or a related field, eager to learn new skills, hard-working, and detail oriented. The student will start on June 1st, 2017 at OU in Norman, OK (earlier start dates are negotiable). We will provide a stipend of $500/wk for 12 weeks ($6,000/summer) and funding to attend and present the work at one conference.

Eligibility: Students must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Students who have received their bachelor’s degree or who are not currently enrolled as students at an institution are not eligible.

Students interested in this position should apply by March 31st 2017, but we will accept applications until a suitable candidate is identified. To apply, please send the following: 1. Resume or CV 2. A 1-2 page statement describing your interest in the position, career goals, and previous research experience. 3. Contact information for 2-3 references. 4. Unofficial copy of transcripts (including courses in progress).

Please send applications to: Thomas Parr (thomas.parr@ou.edu) Contact: Dr. Thomas Parr or Dr. Caryn Vaughn (cvaughn@ou.edu) with any questions. http://carynvaughn.com/research/

8) Seasonal Field Technician Positions Studying Vegetation and Pollinator Networks in Longleaf Pine Savanna

We seek to fill multiple field technician positions for a large-scale experiment testing how the restoration of longleaf pine ecosystem in the Southeastern United States impacts pollinator networks and the vegetation community. Primary job duties will include field, laboratory, and office tasks required for vegetation and pollinator sampling. The research for this field season has 2 major goals: 1) conducting a survey of diverse ground cover plant species across many experimental plots in the field and 2) collecting, processing, and identifying insect pollinators from blooming plants in order to construct plant- pollinator networks.

The ideal start date for this position would be in early June 2017, and it will last for approximately 6 months. Pay rate will be $10-12 per hour, commensurate with experience.  The technician will work at the Savannah River Site, live in a town near the site (Aiken or New Ellenton, SC, or Augusta, GA), and will join a team of Lars Brudvig, Rufus Isaacs, Jason Gibbs, and the lead technician (Sabrie Breland) based at The Savanna River Site. Housing is not provided, but low-cost options are available. Successful candidates will have, or be working towards, a bachelor’s degree in ecology, biology, or a related discipline. Previous field research experience is required, previous entomological or botanical field experience is highly desired. The successful applicant must be able to endure hot, humid conditions and long hours in the field.

To apply, please email a resume and a letter including descriptions of past experience that highlight entomology/botany/ecology experience, why this position is interesting or important to you, dates of availability, and contact information with email addresses for three references to Sabrie Breland (sabriejrb@gmail.com) with subject line “Seasonal technician application”. Review of application materials will begin immediately; applications received after March 31 will not be considered.

9) Research Experience for Undergraduates in Stream Ecology – Michigan Tech, Summer 2017

The Marcarelli Aquatic Ecosystem Ecology Lab is searching for a motivated student in Ecology, Biology, or Environmental Science for a NSF Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) position. The student will work closely with Dr. Marcarelli and her graduate students to study the balance between nitrogen fixation and denitrification in streams and rivers.  The REU student will design a research project, conduct field work, analyze samples and data, and synthesize findings related to the core questions of this project:

  1. How do nitrogen cycle processes co-exist in small streams, large rivers, and adjacent wetlands? 2. How does nutrient enrichment shift the balance among nitrogen cycle processes? 3. How does community composition of algae and microbes relate to rates of nitrogen cycle processes?

There will be opportunities to conduct field work in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, participate in undergraduate research workshops, and present research results to the Michigan Tech community and possibly at a national conference.

The candidate must be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States and enrolled as an undergraduate student in Fall 2017.  The REU is expected to last 10 weeks (start/end date negotiable but should occur between June 1 and August 31 2017) with a total stipend of $5,000 and an additional $1,000 to offset the cost of summer lodging, which is available on campus at Michigan Tech.

To apply, please submit a cover letter (include a statement of interest, future plans, confirmation of eligibility, and preferred start/end dates), an up-to-date CV or resume, a recent transcript (unofficial is fine), and names and contact information for two references to Dr. Amy Marcarelli (ammarcar@mtu.edu). Application review will begin immediately and continue until position is filled.

Visit our lab webpage for a more in-depth view of our research and to meet the members of our team. http://marcarelli-lab.bio.mtu.edu/home

10) Jobs: Summer Lab/Field Technician Positions (Ohio)

The Gardiner Lab in the Department of Entomology at The Ohio State University is looking to hire several lab/field technicians for the coming field season. We are a landscape ecology lab based in Wooster, OH but we primarily conduct our research in the urban ecosystem of Cleveland, OH. Our NSF-funded research focuses on designing sustainable urban green spaces that are both cost-effective and better for the environment.

As one of our undergraduate researchers, you will gain both field and lab experience.

In the field, you might help establish experimental plots, set up insect traps, collect plant or insect samples, or maintain plots. Back at the laboratory, you might prepare equipment for different field work experiments, sort through samples and look for spiders or beetles, pin insect specimens, or help rear native bee larvae. We work hard, rain or shine, to collect our samples and are looking for undergraduates who can work effectively in outdoor settings, maintain positive attitudes, and who are detail orientated. A valid driver’s license is required.

At the end of your summer at the Gardiner Lab you can expect to gain: -An increased knowledge of Ohio’s diverse insect and plant communities -Skills in collecting unique arthropods including spiders, long legged flies, and bees -A resume-building research experience and potential letters of recommendation for future jobs

Pay: $9.50/Hour (up to 38 hours/week) Location: Wooster, OH @ OARDC Timing: mid-May to mid-August, 2017 Email Chris Riley at riley.595@osu.edu for more information or to submit your completed application! Applications Due March 20th! For best consideration please submit prior to this deadline but we will be reviewing applications on a rolling basis after the due date.

11) Seasonal Technicians- Wetlands, Riparian Systems, Mapping, and Botany (3 – 4 positions), Utah

Title: Seasonal Technicians- Wetlands, Riparian Systems, Mapping, and Botany (3 – 4 positions) Work Location: Utah Geological Survey, Salt Lake City, UT Pay Rate: $12 – $14/hr; one technician with strong botany skills may be paid a higher rate Closing Date: March 12, 2017 Employment Period: End of May through end of September, with one or more technicians continuing past end date

Position Description:  The Utah Geological Survey is hiring seasonal technicians for a variety of aquatic projects, including: 1.     Conducting wetland field assessments to evaluate wetland health and refine an assessment protocol. Major tasks include taking water quality samples with a hand-held meter, describing soil profiles, and evaluating qualitative measures to describe wetland condition. An incumbent with suitable skills may also assist with collecting plant community data. Work will be with a two-person crew. 2.  Collecting basic data on springs and stream segments. Major tasks include using aerial imagery to identify target survey locations, navigating to both backcountry and front country locations, and collecting basic information on aquatic condition at springs and streams. Work will typically be carried out solo, but the incumbent will have access to an emergency beacon. 3.               Collecting stream geomorphology data. Major tasks include assessing cross-sections of a stream to identify bank stability, channel features, and riparian buffer. Work will be with a two-person crew. 4. Assisting with wetland mapping. Major tasks include conducting field reconnaissance to evaluate wetland boundaries and then mapping wetlands using field notes and aerial imagery in ArcGIS. 5.      Assisting with other duties as needed, such as data entry/data checking, map making using ArcMap, and drafting figures for scientific publication.

Likely all technicians will have the opportunity to participate in all of the above tasks, though technicians will be assigned a primary task based on their qualifications. Most of the field work will take place as day trips from our office in Salt Lake City, but some overnight travel may be necessary for some projects. Work days will typically consist of four 10+ hour days per week, but other schedules may sometimes be required. This position is a great opportunity to visit seldom-seen parts of Utah and to develop expertise in a variety of wetlands and aquatic systems across the state.

Required Qualifications: 1.           Completion of at least three years of education towards a bachelor’s degree in geology, ecology, biology, wetland science, botany, wildlife biology, or other related field. 2.     Ability to work independently with guidance and ability to collect data accurately and with attention to detail. 3.             Willingness and ability to work long hours and unusual schedules (including overnights), travel extensively, drive a State of Utah vehicle, hike moderate distances through occasionally rough terrain, and tolerate exposure to extreme heat, rain, biting insects, and other field nuisances.

Preference will be given to individuals with coursework or professional experience in at least one of the following areas (please mention in cover letter): 1.      ArcGIS (especially map making and digitizing from aerial imagery). 2.      National Wetland Inventory data and the Cowardin classification system. 4. Stream geomorphology concepts. 5.        Plant identification, especially wetland plants. 6.            Background in wetlands, streams, riparian areas, and/or aquatic systems. 7.         At least one season of field experience or demonstrated ability to conduct work outdoors. 8.            Collection practices for water quality data. 9.      Describing soil profiles and identifying hydric soil indicators. 10.               Photoshop/Illustrator      To apply, submit resume, cover letter, three references (with phone numbers), and available start date to Ryhan Sempler at the Utah Geological Survey, rsempler@utah.gov. Applications will be accepted through March 12.

12) Job: Field technician surveying Eastern Massasaugas in Ohio

A full-time seasonal position is available to assist with surveys and habitat assessments for the Eastern Massasauga (Sistrurus catenatus) as part of an Ohio Division of Wildlife sponsored conservation program with The Ohio State University. Work will entail establishing artificial cover transects; searching for and capturing snakes; collecting demographic and morphometric data; collecting scale and blood samples; inserting passive integrated transponders (PIT); and recording locations using a GPS unit. Habitat assessments will include recording data on vegetation composition/structure and refugia. Work will take place mainly in Northeast Ohio and shared housing will be provided in rural Ashtabula County.

Duration: May 8 – August 11, 2017 Pay: $10.12-$11.50/hr

Attributes of a successful applicant include:

Willing and able to work long hours in inclement weather (heat, rain, etc.) with exposure to mosquitoes, biting flies, ticks, and noxious plants. Committed to maintaining a safe work environment. Dedication to accurate and thorough data collection. Ability to lift 50 lbs. and navigate rough terrain. Possess a valid driver’s license, insurance, and their own reliable transportation.

To apply, go to the OSU job board at: https://www.jobsatosu.com/postings/76597 (Job ID 425750) Please submit the following: Cover letter indicating you meet the job requirements and your available start and end dates, if different than those posted. Resume that includes details of any previous experiences (paid or unpaid) relevant to the current position; Names, phone numbers, and email addresses of two references.

13) Field technician positions in Great Smoky Mountains National Park

The Department of Forestry and Natural Resources at Purdue University is hiring two technicians to assist with vegetation plot sampling in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Supervisor: Mike Jenkins Approximate hours a week:  40 Duration of Position: Mid-May to August 2017 Compensation: $10.35/hour

Job Description: Field technicians will assist with vegetation data collection on vegetation monitoring plots in Great Smoky Mountains National Park for a graduate student whose research examines forest community response to the hemlock woolly adelgid. This job will require spending the summer in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Fieldwork will include woody vegetation identification and sampling in plots throughout the park, as well as collecting environmental data. The position will require hiking through rough terrain and frequent backcountry camping. Housing will be provided.

Qualifications: Woody plant identification skills required Experience with backcountry navigation using GPS, topographic maps and compass desired Previous field work experience preferred Backpacking experience desired Must possess a valid driver’s license Must be able to work outdoors in remote conditions, in rough terrain and under inclement weather conditions Must be in good physical fitness

Deadline to Apply: 3/15/2017 or until positions are filled

To apply: Send cover letter, résumé (including contact information for two references), unofficial transcript, and dates of availability to Meghan Mulroy (mmulroy@purdue.edu) or Mike Jenkins (jenkinma@purdue.edu)

14) REU in plant invasions

The Wright lab at Duke University will be hiring an REU student to work on our project investigating the effects of the invasive grass, Microstegium vimineum, on native ecosystems.  The student will develop an independent project that is nested within a larger collaborative project between Duke, Indiana and the University of Florida.  Possible topics include investigating the effects of the invasive species on native plant biodiversity or arthropod communities across a range of invasion intensity.

The program will start on May 22nd and last 10 weeks and we will provide a stipend. If you are interested, please send your CV, a letter describing your interest in the project, and the names and contact information of 2 references to Justin Wright (jw67@duke.edu).

15) Native Bee Ecology Lab Hiring Seasonal Field Technician for Spring/Summer 2017

Position: Seasonal Field Technician in Ecology Project: Effects of floral resource dynamics on bumblebee colonies and populations Location: University of California Davis Employer: University of California Davis Dates: Mar 27 to Aug 4 Pay: $15.46 per hour (Lab Assistant 1)

Application Deadline: March 10th, 2017 (we encourage early submissions)

We are seeking: a highly motivated, detail-oriented individual to work as a full- time field technician from Mar 27 to August 4 at the University of California at Davis on an NSF-funded project exploring the effects of resource dynamics on bumble bee colony and population dynamics. This project is collaboratively run by Neal Williams (UC Davis) and Elizabeth Crone (Tufts University). The technician will be based in the Williams lab at UC Davis and will work closely with 3 other team members, including two postdoctoral researchers.

Project Background: In the past decade, there has been a groundswell of interest in the effects of landscape change on pollinator populations and communities, especially those of bees. This interest is fueled by concerns over pollinator declines and implications for plant pollination globally. Bumblebees are a particularly important group of social insect pollinators that are also of conservation concern. We are exploring how resource dynamics affect colony- level demography and foraging dynamics of Bombus vosnesenskii. To do this, we are carrying out a field experiment in which colonies are exposed to different resource conditions – some will be given supplemental food resources, while others will have access only to ambient resources in the local environment. We are tracking the weights of all experimental colonies across the season, and will also be collecting pollen samples from individual bees as they return to the nest. Up to 48 colonies will be placed across 12 field sites that are located up to 1.5 driving hours from the UC Davis campus. Most sites require no more than an hour of driving to access. A University vehicle will be available for the technician to use for fieldwork.

Qualifications: The field technician will participate in all aspects of data collection for this field experiment. Employee must be willing to drive multiple hours in a day to access field sites and to move between field sites. Responsibilities will include weighing live colonies and handling live bees. Previous experience conducting field research (through employment and/or education) is required. Individual must be capable of working outdoors in the summer heat and comfortable working with live bee colonies. Applicants must be willing to work independently and as a part of a team. Excellent organizational skills are a must. Candidate must possess a valid driver’s license and a good driving record. See official job posting for further details.

TO APPLY: Your official application, to include a cover letter and 1-2 page resume, should be submitted through UC Davis (Requisition # 03018517). Cover letter should convey specific relevant research experience and describe interest in the current project.  If you have questions about the position, please contact Rosemary Malfi (postdoc) by email: rlmalfi@ucdavis.edu.

Filed Under: intern, REU, Undergrad News Tagged With: B4Warmed, bees, California, Entomology, Georgia, GSMNP, Hong Kong, intern, invasive, LTER, Lyme Disease, Michigan, Ohio, Oklahoma, REU, Rhode Island, Smokies, South Carolina, technician, Texas, Upper Peninsula, Utah

Undergrad Research Opportunities 1/24/17

January 25, 2017 by armsworth

0) Doris Duke Conservation Scholars Program

We would like to let you know about an exciting new program here at the University of Michigan–the Doris Duke Conservation Scholars Program (DDCSP UM). DDCSP UM is an exciting two-year research and internship opportunity for bright, curious undergraduate students interested in conservation, nature, and the environment. The program is aimed at bringing more undergraduates currently underrepresented in the environmental field into the conservation arena.

If you know any undergraduate students at your school or other colleges and universities who have a specific interest natural sciences, environmental studies/science, or conservation, we urge you to share with them the attached flyer.

In addition to a $4,250 stipend, accepted students will also receive room and board and travel expenses to and from Ann Arbor, Michigan each summer.

Please note that the application deadline is February 8, 2017. The program dates are June 4-July 29, 2017. Detailed program information and application are available on our website at http://ddcsp-umich.com.

Please feel free to contact us at (734)936-0900 if you would like to discuss the DDCSP UM program further or e-mail us at ddcsp-snre@umich.edu. Thank you for your assistance.

Undergrad Research Opportunities 1/23/17

1) Summer 2017 Marine Mammal Research Internship

The IMMS Research Internship Program located in Gulfport, MS, is designed as a way for students interested in a career in marine science to gain valuable research experience in a real-world setting. Interns will participate with multiple projects involving bottlenose dolphins, sea turtles and diamondback terrapins.

As an intern, you will be trained in all aspects of dolphin photo-id research, sea turtle satellite tracking, and other current research projects at IMMS. Interns will also participate in other operations at IMMS including stranding response, education, and animal care. Our goal is to give Interns a well-rounded experience in a variety of areas while providing expert training and experience in marine science research.

Interns must:

  • Commit to a minimum of at least 12 weeks. The internship can be extended depending on work performance.
  • Be available to work Mon-Fri and must be available for all boat trips. Some field days may fall on the weekends.
  • Have strong sense of responsibility, work ethic, attention to detail, and ability to admit mistakes.
  • Produce high quality research efforts and exhibit strong interpersonal skills.
  • Principle Duties include: data entry, searching and cataloging journal articles, learning all research protocols, cropping and sorting photo-id fin images, learning to use photo-id programs such as Darwin (fin matching software), and FinBase (Microsoft Access), boat based field research (21’ and 31’ boats), and learn how to use ArcGIS
  • Secondary Duties involve: Assisting with animal care staff, attending marine mammal necropsies, responding to marine mammal and sea turtle strandings, and assisting with educational tours.

Applicants must be:

  • able to spend many hours on the water and on shore in sometimes extreme seasonal conditions. Seasonal temperatures range from over 100 °F in summer to 30 °F in winter. Field days typically exceed eight hours and occur at least two or three times a week.
  • 18 or older and must have a genuine interest in marine research.
  • Actively pursuing a college degree or be a recent graduate in
  • oceanography, marine science/biology, biology, or a related field. Previous research experience in any capacity is a plus.
  • Able and willing to fulfill all duties outlined for this Internship Program. This is an unpaid position and Interns are responsible for their own housing and transportation. Once accepted, IMMS staff will be able to assist Interns in suggesting suitable housing options and locations.

Deadline to Apply for the Summer Session (5/1/17 – 7/21/17 and 6/5/17 –

8/25/17) is March 1, 2017. Please visit https://imms.org/internship/ for application and full details

2) Kellogg Biological Station applications now open!

We are recruiting undergraduate students for our NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) positions (http://www.kbs.msu.edu/education/undergraduate-program/research-experiences-for-undergraduates-reu/).

The REU application deadline is March 1st, 2017. You can learn more about KBS research and learning opportunities by going to www.kbs.msu.edu !

3) 2017 MOSAICS in Science internship

Applications for the 2017 MOSAICS in Science internship are now being accepted through February 6, 2017. The Great Lakes Research and Education Center will be hosting a Pollinator Steward intern at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore this summer. The Pollinator Steward will gain hands on experience in both research and science outreach by 1) initiating a pilot native pollinator stewardship program and 2) collecting updated data on native bee diversity in the park.

This position is offered through the National Park Service’s Mosaics in Science Internship Program in partnership with Environment for the Americas and Greening Youth Foundation. The Mosaics in Science (MIS) Diversity Internship provides college students and recent graduates 18-35 years old that are under- represented in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) career fields with on-the-ground, natural resource science-based, work experience in the National Park System. Each internship is comprised of working eleven weeks in a park followed by a four day career workshop held in Washington, D.C.

TO APPLY for this position and learn more about the Mosaics program, visit http://www.mosaicsinscience.org/ . Applications will be accepted now through February 6.

4) Tropical Forest Ecology Internship – Mariana Islands

Position: Forest ecology interns with the Ecology of Bird Loss Project (3 positions)

Location: Mariana Islands (Guam, Saipan, Tinian, Rota)

Appointment: 9 months, starting date flexible, between March 1 and June 1, 2017

Project Description: Nearly all native seed dispersers have been extirpated from the island of Guam, largely due to predation by the invasive Brown Treesnake. The Ecology of Bird Loss Project (www.ecologyofbirdloss.org) aims to determine the full impact of seed disperser loss on Guam’s forests – including impacts on individual species and to forest structure – and the potential for different dispersers, both native and non-native, to restore function. Our research examines the ecological role of seed dispersers through comparisons of dynamics on Guam to those on nearby islands (Rota, Tinian, and Saipan) where birds are present.

Duties of the interns: Interns will participate in a variety of field research endeavors including long-term seedling experiments, forest inventories in intact and degraded forest plots, and nursery experiments. Interns will be based on Saipan and Guam with travel to other islands. Specific duties may include: mapping and identifying trees (including seedlings), collecting seeds, propagating plants in a nursery, planting and monitoring seedlings, collecting tree phenology data, and entering data. Field crews work 8-10 hours a day, 5-6 days a week. Interns must be able to commit to working on the project for 9 months with a start date between March 1 and June 1, 2017.

Requirements: The successful applicant must be able to pay attention to detail, work well individually and as part of a group, and be flexible. Research in the Mariana Islands involves working in high heat and humidity, walking over rough terrain sometimes carrying heavy and awkward loads (i.e. rolls of chicken wire, flats of seedlings, water), and tolerating the tedious, and at times monotonous, work necessary for all scientific endeavors. Successful applicants must learn how to identify trees (including seedlings) quickly and accurately. If a candidate is allergic to bees, he/she must carry a bee sting kit and be trained in its use, as the chances of getting stung are high. Relevant field experience and prior independent research experience is desired. The intern must be a US citizen with a valid US driver’s license.

Payment and benefits: Interns will receive valuable training and experience in the field of conservation biology and field ecology research – a great way to both determine whether graduate school in the life sciences is for you and to gain the necessary experience for a competitive application to graduate school. Successful applicants will also receive a round-trip ticket from any major airport in the US to Saipan or Guam, housing on all islands, transportation to and from field sites, and a monthly stipend of $650.

To apply: Email a single pdf document including a cover letter, resume, and contact information for 3 references to ecologyofbirdloss@gmail.com. The subject line should read “EBL Intern Position”. The cover letter should describe your previous research experience, career goals, and why you are interested in this position. In addition, please specify your desired and potential start dates. Applications must be submitted by midnight EST on Saturday, January 28, 2017.

5) Summer 2017 Student Contract Positions – Biological Technicians

The USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center in Laurel, Maryland is seeking to hire three full-time temporary student contractors to assist with the North American Breeding Bird Survey program (www.pwrc.usgs.gov/BBS), a long- term, continental avian monitoring program. Tasks will include working with wildlife survey data, performance of quality assurance and quality control procedures on biological data, data entry, assisting with database management, photocopying and filing, preparation of maps and assisting in preparation of administrative correspondence. Interested applicants should submit their resume and cover letter by February 15, 2017.

Statement of Work

  1. Types of services required: During the summer field season, approximately 3100 BBS routes are sampled by participants skilled in avian identification. These data are then processed and analyzed by USGS to inform avian conservation efforts in the U.S. and Canada. Tasks will include processing incoming data and materials, performing data entry and quality control procedures using web-based technologies, tracking progress, assisting with database management, photocopying, scanning and filing materials, map preparation, and corresponding with participants.
    1. Required expertise/skills:
    2. Applicants are required to have completed two years of undergraduate course work (student must be at least a second semester sophomore).
    3. Applicants must be majors in a biology, ecology, environmental science or related disciplines.
    4. Applicants must be able to communicate effectively in English both verbally and in writing.
    5. Applicants must have knowledge of computer software used to summarize and visualize data (i.e. Excel and Access).
    6. Knowledge of North American birds is not required but considered a plus.
  2. Eligibility requirements: To be eligible for a student contract position, applicants must be either a currently enrolled student or a recent graduate. To qualify as a student, the applicant must be enrolled at least half-time in a degree-seeking program at an accredited college or university. Former students who graduated more than 10 months ago or who left school without graduating are not eligible to work under these contracts. Applicants will be required to show proof of their student status (or recent graduation). USGS employees, their spouses, and children are not eligible to participate in this program. U.S. citizens are eligible. Non-U.S. citizens may be eligible to participate, depending on their immigration status and the applicable regulations of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (formerly Immigration and Naturalization Service). Foreign students in the U.S. under F-1 visas are usually not able to participate in this program, due to USCIS restrictions against off-campus work.
  3. Description of working conditions: Work will be performed in an office environment located on the USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center campus in Laurel, Maryland. Extended periods of computer use will be required. This is not a field or laboratory position.
  4. Compensation: The student contractor will be paid $16.71 per hour. Student contractors are paid only for hours worked (no holiday or leave benefits). Student is responsible for all costs of transportation to and from the principal duty station location. The Government does not provide housing, meals or other living expenses while working at the principal duty station. Official travel away from the duty station is not expected.
  5. Principal Duty Station: USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, 12100 Beech Forest Road, Laurel, Maryland 20708-4038. Student contractors may enter the building only during business hours or when project manager is present.
  6. Additional information: Number of students required is three. Estimated number of hours for the position is 544 (full-time for summer). There is a possibility of additional part-time hours continuing into the fall semester. The approximate start date is May 29, 2017. The approximate end date is August 25, 2017. There is flexibility in start and end dates to accommodate variations in academic calendars.
  7. How to apply: Send resume and cover letter to Keith Pardieck via email (kpardieck@usgs.gov). Applications must be received on or before February 15, 2017. In your cover letter include an explanation of how you meet the eligibility requirements, your expected graduation date, and discuss your experience as related to sections 1 and 2 above.

6) Summer REU opportunity in marine science

Research in Subtropical Marine Ecosystems, May 31 – August 4, 2017 Nine research fellowships will be available for the summer of 2017, for undergraduate students to conduct independent research projects on topics such as:

  • Biogeochemistry, nutrient cycling
  • Watershed processes, land-sea interactions
  • Estuarine ecology, Community ecology
  • Seagrass and marsh ecosystems
  • Zooplankton and phytoplankton ecology
  • Fish ecology and physiology
  • Coastal and organic geochemistry

The Marine Science Institute is located in Port Aransas, on 72 acres on the Gulf of Mexico. REU projects will take advantage of the wide variety of coastal habitats near the Institute, such as shallow bays, hypersaline lagoons, seagrass beds, mangroves, marshes, and estuaries, including the 185,000-acre Mission-Aransas National Estuarine Research Reserve. The 10-week summer program begins with a full-day research cruise on the R/V Katy and ends with a symposium in which students will present their research results.

  • Eligibility: Students must be currently enrolled as an undergraduate, and be U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the U.S. and its possessions.
  • Stipends: Students will receive a summer stipend of $5000 for the 10-week program, full room and board, a research allowance, and a travel allowance.
  • APPLY! http://reu.utmsi.utexas.edu for forms and instructions
  • Deadline for applications is February 13, 2017.

7) Undergraduate Internship in Tropical Ecology and Evolution – Summer 2017

We are now accepting applications for the Summer 2017 internship in Tropical Ecology and Evolution at El Verde Field Station, Puerto Rico. The internship will run from May 29 – August 4.

The program will offer students the opportunity to have hands-on experience fields such as:

  • Aquatic insect ecology
  • Bat ecology
  • Caddisfly (Trichoptera) biology
  • Plant population biology
  • Tropical Lepidoptera diversity
  • Invasive rodent ecology

Students receive a stipend for the ten weeks duration of the program. Round- trip plane ticket from home institution to Puerto Rico will be reimbursed, up to a maximum of $600. The program will cover housing at El Verde Field Station. The National Science Foundation and the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras campus, fund the program.

The program is limited to undergraduate students pursuing a bachelor degree at a college or university during summer 2017 that are US citizens or permanent residents. Application deadline: 15 February 2017! Application materials and further information can be found at http://reu.ites.upr.edu/

8) Plant-pollinator research assistant needed – Mojave Desert

Description: We are looking for an enthusiastic and passionate person to assist on a Masters student research project based out of the Mojave Desert, California. The project focuses on plant facilitation in stressed environments and involves research on shrubs and cacti, and their surrounding annual plant community. Specifically, we are looking at how these plants interact with each other via pollinators and how these interactions change with distance and density. Most of the work will include assisting in conducting surveys on shrubs, cacti and annual plants, setting up video equipment, collecting pollen and seed samples, and in-situ observation and collection of pollinators.

Requirements: Candidates must be reasonably fit and comfortable with frequent hiking and working in the sun and heat. Ecological background, basic insect identification and field work experience a plus.

Dates: mid-March to mid-May 2016, exact dates to be determined.

Included: Flight, transportation within California, accommodation, food (volunteer position)

Send a cover letter outlining your interest in the position and resume to Jenna Braun (braunj@yorku.ca).

9) Avian-related jobs and internships, NJ Audubon

SHOREBIRD FIELD TECHNICIANS (2) needed 16 April through 30 June 2017 for ongoing research on shorebird migration ecology along New Jersey’s Delaware Bay shore. Delaware Bay is recognized as an internationally important staging area for shorebirds during spring migration. Duties include extracting birds from mist-nets, banding, weighing and measuring birds, recording data, point counts, surveying for color-banded birds, and data entry. Mist-netting and bird banding experience necessary. Ability to identify shorebirds of the eastern U. S., color- band resighting experience, and proficiency with MS Excel or Access preferred. Applicants must be able to work independently or as part of a team, flexible to work irregular hours or six days/week, in occasionally hot and buggy conditions. Start date can be flexible. Salary $1800-2200/month depending on experience. Must have own vehicle and clean driver’s license. Housing and reimbursement for gas provided. Send cover letter indicating position of interest, resume outlining relevant experience, and three references (including email address and phone number) as a single pdf document by email to hr.research@njaudubon.org. Please include “Delaware Bay” in the Subject line to be sure that your application is routed to the correct department. Application deadline 15 February. NJ Audubon is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

RUFFED GROUSE SURVEY TECHNICIANS (2) needed March 16th through May 15th 2017 to conduct Ruffed Grouse surveys in northwestern New Jersey. Duties include conducting point count surveys using distance sampling methodologies, habitat surveys, and data entry. Point count experience, the ability to identify Ruffed Grouse and other birds of the eastern U.S. by sight and sound, and proficiency with GPS and range finders required; knowledge of MS Excel and ArcGIS preferred. Applicants must be able to work independently in the field and be willing to work irregular hours (i.e. early mornings and occasional weekends). Salary $1,800 – $2,200 per month, depending on experience. Must have own vehicle, and a valid, clean driver’s license. Housing and mileage reimbursement will be provided. Send cover letter indicating position of interest, resume outlining relevant experience, and three references (including email address and phone number) as a single pdf document by email to hr.research@njaudubon.org. Please include “Ruffed Grouse” in the Subject line to be sure that your application is routed to the correct department. Application deadline 15 February. NJ Audubon is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

SHRUB/SCRUB BIRD FIELD TECHNICIANS (2) needed May 1st through August 15th 2017 for research on shrub/scrub bird ecology in northern New Jersey. Duties include conducting point count surveys in the NJ Highlands using distance sampling methodologies, vegetation sampling, data entry and some data analysis. Point count experience and the ability to identify birds of the eastern U.S. by sight and sound required. Proficiency with GPS and range finders required, and knowledge of MS Excel and ArcGIS preferred. Applicants must be able to work independently, move materials and to lift 25 lbs as needed and be willing to work in occasionally hot and buggy conditions and potential rough terrain. Salary $1,800 – $2,200 per month, depending on experience. Must have own vehicle, and a valid, clean driver’s license. Housing and mileage reimbursement will be provided. Send cover letter indicating position of interest, resume outlining relevant experience, and three references (including email address and phone number) as a single pdf document by email to hr.research@njaudubon.org. Please include “Shrub/Scrub” in the Subject line to be sure that your application is routed to the correct department. Application deadline 1 March 2017. NJ Audubon is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

NEWARK BIRD FIELD TECHNICIAN needed 1 April through 31 May 2017 for research evaluating building/bird interactions in Newark, NJ. Modern tall building in US cities, including Newark, have the potential to cause significant mortality to migrant birds. Duties include but are not limited to pre-dawn surveys around buildings to document grounded birds, transporting injured birds to the rehabilitator and data management. Proficiency with MS Excel and Word software a must. Familiarity with birds of the northeastern US and use of hand- held GPS preferred. Applicants must be able to work independently or as part of a team, and work irregular hours, including occasional weekends. Salary $1800 – $2200/month, depending on experience. Housing available if needed; mileage reimbursement provided. Must have a valid and clean driver’s license. Send cover letter indicating position of interest, resume outlining relevant experience, and three references (including email address and phone number) as a single pdf document by email to hr.research@njaudubon.org. Please include “Newark” in the Subject line to be sure that your application is routed to the correct department. Application deadline 10 February. NJ Audubon is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

GEORGE MYERS FIELD NATURALIST INTERN needed 23 March to 22 December 2017 Successful applicant develops a full spectrum of skills through hands-on participation in various educational, research and conservation projects at New Jersey Audubon’s Cape May Bird Observatory (CMBO) and Nature Center of Cape May (NCCM), Cape May, NJ. Cape May is renowned as one of the world’s greatest hotspots for animal migration, as well as being a popular summertime vacation destination and beach resort. The combination of the two offers great opportunities for wildlife research and education through public outreach. New Jersey Audubon fosters the application of sound scientific principles and practices to address conservation issues related to vertebrate and invertebrate fauna, and the natural habitats with which they are associated. Major responsibilities include educational programming/field trips/workshops for visitors, children’s programming at summer nature camp, assisting with center interpretive displays, develop brochures and materials for web/blog sites. Familiarity with bird migration, birding, marine species and coastal ecology a plus. Bachelor’s degree in wildlife biology, ecology, environmental science or similar field preferred. Motivated self-starter who is also a team player; excellent oral and written skills required. Strong computer skills, and ability to relate to a diverse range of people and exercise cultural competence and inclusion; willingness to work irregular hours under sometimes difficult conditions and ability to walk over uneven terrain for long distances. Must have own vehicle and a valid, clean driver’s license. Salary $1500/month. Housing provided. Send cover letter indicating position of interest, resume outlining relevant experience, and three references (including email address and phone number) as a single pdf document by email to hr.cmboseasonal@njaudubon.org. Application deadline 15 February 2017. NJ Audubon is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

10) Summer Job – Field Research in Northern Alaska

We are seeking undergraduates or college graduates interested in research to understand ecosystem function in soils, streams, and lakes, and how arctic tundra will respond to climate change.

Job Description: Paid research assistants will collect and analyze field samples at sites located in the foothills of the Brooks Range in Northern Alaska. Job duties include sample collection, field measurements, and lab analyses at the Toolik Lake Field station. Fieldwork involves hiking in remote areas while carrying heavy packs of field equipment. Additional responsibilities include chemical analyses and data processing. This position offers an excellent opportunity to gain research experience in ecology and meet outstanding research scientists from around the world. Room and board are provided. This position is associated with the National Science Foundation Arctic Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) program.

To apply: Please send 1. your resume, 2. a 1-page description of your background (include relevant course work, field experience, academic and career goals), 3. the names and contact information of 3 references to: Dr. George Kling, gwk@umich.edu. Experience in ecology, chemistry, and microbiology is desirable. Employment will be approximately June 10 – August 30, 2017.

Additional information about the Arctic Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) project is available at http://arc-lter.ecosystems.mbl.edu/ and information about Toolik Field Station is available at http://toolik.alaska.edu/ We will begin reviewing applications on 1 February 2017 and continue until all positions are filled.

11) Student intern positions – Columbian ground squirrels

We are looking for 4 interns interested in taking part in a field ecology project on Columbian ground squirrels. Two interns will begin Apr 10, 2017 and two will begin May 1, 2017. All four internships will finish on Aug 31, 2017. The project investigates the ecology of Columbian ground squirrels. As a member of the study, interns will be involved with monitoring the phenology (when animals emerge from hibernation), reproduction and survival of individuals. Fieldwork will involve live-trapping and handling of animals, radio-telemetry, behavioural observation and assistance with the measurement of physiological (metabolism) traits on free-ranging animals. This is an excellent opportunity to gain training and experience working with a collaborative research team on a long-term study of a wild mammal. Opportunities for independent research projects are also available.

All fieldwork is carried out in the spectacular Rocky Mountains of southwestern Alberta, Canada, home to some of the most majestic wildlife in North America. Interns will have the opportunity to interact with, and learn from, other researchers working with ground squirrels on a diversity of projects in behavioural and population ecology. Additionally, a number of other researchers in the area are studying a range of species, from insects to large mammals.

If you wish to apply for one of these posts then please send a CV with a cover letter and contact details for three references (with e-mail addresses), by email to Jeff Lane (usaskcgsproject@gmail.com) by February 15, 2017.

https://artsandscience.usask.ca/profile/JeffreyLane#/profile

12) Research Opportunities with the Echinacea Project

Are you interested in gaining field research experience and learning about the ecology and evolution of plants and plant-animal interactions in fragmented prairie? The Echinacea Project is offering several summer and year-long research internships for students and soon-to-be graduates. We have diverse potential projects for students with backgrounds or interests in plant ecology, pollination biology, evolution, statistics, conservation, and computer science. In the past, interns have completed projects on a variety of topics including pollination biology, prairie restoration, and plant-herbivore interactions.

No experience is necessary, but you must be enthusiastic and hard-working. You will survey natural plant populations, measure plant traits in experimental plots, hand-pollinate plants, observe & collect insects, and assist in all aspects of research. Housing is provided and there is a stipend. Undergraduate students have the opportunity to do an independent project as an REU participant.

Information about our offerings for summer 2017 and the 2017-2018 year are here: http://echinaceaproject.org/opportunities/. Review of applications will begin on February 23rd for REU internships and on March 2nd for other positions. The team and I are happy to answer any further questions.

13) Undergrad Internships @ NEON: Apps due 10 Feb

NEON is accepting applications for a variety of research internships for undergraduates in summer 2017. Please share this information with potentially interested undergraduates. From helping to design sensor assemblies to testing sampling protocols and analyzing data, interns work alongside staff mentors and explore career options in weekly professional development seminars and networking events with interns from other scientific programs based in Boulder, CO.

  • During this 11-week paid summer program, interns work 40 hours a week
  • earning a competitive wage.
  • Furnished apartments are provided at no cost to interns.
  • Round-trip airfare from anywhere within the U.S. and Puerto Rico and a
  • regional bus pass that meets most local transportation needs are provided.
  • Applications are due 10 February, 2017.
  • For more details, visit http://bit.ly/NEONIntern17g

14) 2017 Summer REU Program at Virginia Institute of Marine Science

The REU Site program for Coastal Marine Science at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) invites applicants to apply for a 10 week summer research experience that places 12 undergraduates with faculty mentors. Internships are available in many areas of marine science, including marine biology and ecology; biological, geological, chemical, and physical oceanography; environmental science; fisheries; and resource management. Participants will receive a summer stipend and food allowance. Accommodations in the dorms at the College of William & Mary are provided, as well as transportation between the campuses.

The Virginia Institute of Marine Science, located in Gloucester Point, Virginia, is one of the largest coastal and estuarine science institutions in the world, with more than 55 faculty and a graduate student body of more than 85. VIMS houses state-of-the-art oceanographic instrumentation and analytical facilities, a large fleet of coastal research vessels, a world-class marine science library, and is within close proximity to a variety of habitats ranging from freshwater tributaries to the coastal ocean.

During the summer students will meet every week for a seminar that features a guest speaker discussing topics such as: Scientific Reading, Writing and Peer Review; How to Apply to Graduate School: Tips from the Faculty Who Read the Files; Alternatives to Life in Academia: A Panel Discussion; How to Give an Effective Scientific Presentation; and Ethics in Science. Other group activities include 3 field trips. We traverse the coastal plain environment, from a freshwater system that feeds into the Chesapeake Bay, through the estuary proper and out to the Atlantic Ocean along the shoreface of the Delmarva Peninsula. When we travel to the VIMS Wachapreague Laboratory on Virginia’s Eastern Shore, we spend a full day exploring nearly pristine coastal habitats, including an open coast beach on a barrier island, mud flat, salt marsh, and oyster reef. During a research cruise in the York River estuary aboard the VIMS research vessel Bay Eagle, there will be opportunities to try state-of-the-art oceanographic instrumentation, to pull in a trawl net full of fish and crabs, and to learn a bit about vessel navigation. When we kayak the tidal freshwater reaches of the Chesapeake Bay, expect to see an abundance of wildlife and learn how land-use practices in the watershed affect the local estuary and coastal ocean.

Application deadline is February 10, 2017. Complete information about the program is available by visiting http://www.vims.edu/education/college/summer_intern/index.php

Filed Under: intern, REU, Undergrad News Tagged With: Alaska, Alberta, Audubon, birds, Canada, Conservation, Duke, Echinacea, Great Lakes, IMMS, intern, Kellogg, mammal, Mariana Islands, marine, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Mojave, MOSAICS, NEON, Puerto Rico, REU, Rocky Mountains, squirrels, Texas, USGS, VIMS, Virginia

Undergrad Research Opportunities 1/9/17

January 11, 2017 by armsworth

1) Amazonian Peru Research Internships Now Available

Fauna Forever, a non-profit organization leading projects in the rainforests of the Peruvian Amazon since 1997, is looking for field research interns to assist its international team of conservation biologists, botanists, science photographers, geographers, and educators with numerous field research projects (biodiversity, ecosystem services, climate change), natural resource management planning, native community development, green business development, and global outreach initiatives.

At present we are particularly keen on identifying interns (students or recent graduates) who would like to assist us with Neotropical herpetology (amphibian and reptile), ornithology, botany, science photography, and community-based natural resource management projects for periods of between one to three months, starting any time after 1st March 2017. In addition, for those students looking to undertake an independent research project, perhaps as part of their thesis or dissertation requirements, we have identified a series of studies the results of which would contribute to our work (please find the list of studies below). Expert training in field study methods and post-doctoral-level supervision of projects is provided by our team.

Note: Due to the limited nature of our central funds, successful intern applicants will need to cover their in-country costs associated with food, accommodation, local transport, training and supervision, wifi access, equipment use, etc. in Puerto Maldonado (our base-camp city) and at field sites. A 6-week stay for instance would cost around US$3,000 (US$71 per day). We strongly encourage data collected by student interns to be published in peer-reviewed journals. All field assistants are also acknowledged in our own publications. Knowledge of Spanish is not required, as all of our staff speak English. Energy, enthusiasm, attention to detail, and working well as part of a diverse, international team, is a must!

For more information, to request an application form, and to send us your CV/Resume, please contact us at info@faunaforever.org

Applications can also be made via our institutional Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/notes/fauna-forever/application-form-volunteers-and-interns/1041868142502124).

2) Paid Summer Research (REU) at UMich Biological Station

The University of Michigan Biological Station (UMBS) is now acceptingapplications for its Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program, “Climate Change in the Great Lakes Region.”

Our REU summer program runs for nine weeks (June 20 – August 19, 2017) at the U-M Biological Station on Douglas Lake in beautiful northern Michigan. Each REU participant will: — Work closely with a research mentor on a project of mutual interest. — Design, conduct, analyze, and report on their research project with guidance from the mentor and the two program co-directors. — Participate in workshops and group discussions designed to provide the background knowledge and technical tools needed to carry out interdisciplinary scientific research. — Contribute to the body of knowledge that can help address many of Earth’s most important environmental challenges.

COMPENSATION: Participants receive: a stipend of $5,000; free room and board at the Station; and a travel allowance.

DEADLINE: The deadline to apply is Wednesday, March 1, 2017.

Application and details at: *http://lsa.umich.edu/content/michigan-lsa/umbs/en/students/research- opportunities/reu-program.html* <http://lsa.umich.edu/content/michigan-lsa/umbs/en/students/research- opportunities/reu-program.html> The University of Michigan Biological Station is located on Douglas Lake near Pellston, Michigan at the tip of the lower peninsula. Surrounded by more than 10,000 acres of undeveloped university-owned property, Students have quick access to many unique habitats in the region including dune, alvar, bog, and old-growth forest. UMBS also has two atmospheric gas sensing towers for monitoring forest and atmospheric gas. More information is available at http://www.lsa.umich.edu/umbs.

3) Flathead Lake Bio Station Summer Session 2017 Student Opportunities

Immersive field ecology experiences in Western Montana www.facebook.com/UMFLBS

Since 1899, the Flathead Lake Biological Station of the University of Montana has been offering transformative field ecology courses in spectacular western Montana.  2017 is going to be the best summer yet!

We have nine great courses on offer in both aquatic and terrestrial realms that will be of interest to students ranging from “sophomores-to-be” (Field Ecology) to upperclassmen to early grad students. Here are some relevant pieces of info:

–   many scholarships are available –   early registration discount (Deadline: January 15, 2017) –   “buddy program” discount for students who sign up together –   small classes with great faculty –   immersive learning featuring field methods as well as interactions with natural resource professionals –   two new courses for 2017: Aquatic Microbial Ecology & Drones for Water Assessment –   credits easily transferable to other colleges/universities

Students who have completed a first-year college curriculum involving biology, some chemistry, and some math are eligible for our 5-credit Field Ecology class after which they can take subsequent courses that summer.  In any case, students can enroll with permission of instructor so they should contact us if they have questions.  For more summer session details, see the website at http://flbs.umt.edu/education/default.aspx.

4) Assistants needed for fieldwork in the Peruvian Amazon

The research team at ARCAmazon–the Alliance for Research and Conservation in the Amazon–is seeking volunteers and interns to assist with the setup and roll-out of a long-term wildlife, land-use and climate change research project in the remote Peruvian Amazon. Participants will work alongside and learn from experienced field researchers and local guides. Data will be collected about local wildlife, human activities and land use in the Las Piedras watershed.

Initial fieldwork will look at the human impacts on (i) groups of endangered Black Peruvian spider monkey (Ateles chamek), (ii) big trees of the lowland Amazon, (iii) mammal and macaw clay-licks, and (iv) large and medium sized terrestrial mammals. Fieldwork commences in February of 2017 and will be repeated in following years. Recommended time for participation is 1-3 months, though shorter and longer placements can be considered.

Limited placements will be offered on an application basis. Successful applicants are expected to cover their own living costs which has been calculated into an all-inclusive participation fee. The fee includes all board and lodging for the participant, airport pickup and briefing, local transport to and from remote field sites, research equipment, training, supervision and emergency support. There is a full time chef, comfortable accommodation, even running water! 1 month (30 days): $2,345 2 months (60 days): $3,955 3 months (90 days): $5,130

To apply, please visit: www.conservetheamazon.org/peruvian-amazon- volunteer-internship-programs/apply/

For more information, please contact David Johnston: david@conservetheamazon.org | david@conservetheamazon.org

5) EcoREU 2017 at University of Arkansas – applications welcome!

Assessment and Sustainable Management of Ecosystem Services at the Nexus of Food, Energy, and Water. This REU focuses on field- and lab-based research in areas including watershed management, biofuels, sustainability and more. Projects are supervised by UA Faculty and vary from year to year based on the most current work being conducted at UA.

The University of Arkansas, located in Fayetteville, AR, will support the training of 10 degree-seeking undergraduate students for 10 weeks during the summer of 2017 (May 22 to July 28).  Room and board will be provided as well as a $5500 stipend during the program.

This opportunity specifically welcomes Native American undergraduates from Native-serving two-year colleges, four-year universities, and research universities.  However, all undergraduates are welcome and encouraged to apply.  Students will participate in structured lectures combined with laboratory and field research, and cultural enrichment activities that emphasize the process of science, the ethic of sustainability, sustainability of food, water, and energy systems, and the cultural connections of ecology with tribal traditions. Students will develop and complete an independent research project with the aid of their mentor(s), attend and present at a professional meeting, and complete a manuscript.  Students will participate in responsible conduct of research training and ethics modules interspersed throughout the program.

TO APPLY please submit an online application (https://fulbright.uark.edu/departments/biology/undergraduate/eco-reu/). Two letters of recommendation need to be emailed or mailed directly from letter writers.  Student participants will be selected by a committee composed of project principal investigators (PIs) and mentors.  Women, minority, and disabled students are strongly encouraged to apply. More information about the program is available by visiting http://ecoreu.uark.edu , or by contacting the PI (Dr. Michelle Evans-White at mevanswh@uark.edu) or the co-PIs (Dr. Brian Haggard at haggard@uark.edu and Dr. Marty Matlock atmmatlock@uark.edu).

6) Position: Invasives Strike Force Crew Member

The Invasives Strike Force (ISF) is a program of the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference, a non-profit organization focused on the stewardship of more than 2,150 miles of hiking trails throughout southern New York and northern New Jersey.  Our ISF crew completes invasive species surveys, control work, and leads volunteer removal teams throughout the region. The ISF crew works with a wide range of park partners at multiple sites throughout southern NY and northern NJ and will be supported by an existing base of volunteers and the Director of Land Stewardship. We are seeking 3 individuals who share our passion for conservation and the outdoors to join our crew.  The crew will perform both manual removal and chemical treatment of invasive plants. All crew members will become NY Pesticide Apprentices and NJ Pesticide Operators and may then be eligible to take exams for licensing.  Crew members may also assist with training workshops to teach volunteers.  Occasionally crew members may represent the Trail Conference at public events to recruit volunteers.

Plant identification and eradication training will be provided (some experience is preferred).   This is primarily an outdoor position and will include periods of camping for multiple days at work sites. Crew members will manage data and write reports on weekly activities.  Weekend work is required – days off will be during the week.

Service Location: Lower Hudson Valley Region of New York and Northern New Jersey

Term of Service: 675 hour term of service, May 18 through September 18, weekend work required

Duties and Responsibilities: •    Become certified in New York and New Jersey pesticide application and follow all applicable rules and regulations regarding the use of pesticides •    Keep accurate, timely and detailed records of activities •    Prepare reports on work completed and log data collected •    Work professionally at all times with crew members, community volunteers, and park partners. •    Lead and co-lead invasive removal volunteer work days •    Conduct independent invasive removals and treatments along hiking trails, including mechanical removal and/or application of herbicides •    Conduct surveys of hiking trails for a targeted set of invasive plants, includes use of hand-held GPS. •    Assist with training volunteers on invasive plant identification and removal techniques •    Informally educate the public about invasive plants and recruit volunteers •    Properly use and care for tools and equipment and follow all safety precautions

To Apply: Go to https://www.nynjtc.org/corpsmembers Applications accepted until the positions are filled, with preference given to those received before February 20th. To Learn more about our Invasives programs go to: https://www.nynjtc.org/invasives

7) Seasonal invasive species volunteer positions on remote Pacifc island – Johnston Atoll

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is seeking four (4) volunteers to begin in early May 2017 for up to 8 months to join the 14th Crazy Ant Strike Team (CAST 14) Expedition to Johnston Atoll National Wildlife Refuge to continue work towards eradicating an infestation of the Yellow Crazy Ant (YCA) and to monitor seabirds and other wildlife. Johnston Atoll is located in the central Pacific Ocean about 720 nautical miles west-southwest of Honolulu and is uninhabited except for the four volunteers and one crew leader.

Applicants must be willing and able to work 48 hours per week. Must be physically fit and able to walk 10 miles a day over variable terrain, lift and carry 50 lbs, ride a bicycle, swim, be able to perform repetitive stooping and bending motions and be able to perform all duties in various weather conditions including high heat and humidity, strong winds, and rain. Must have excellent interpersonal skills and be able to work well independently as well as closely in a small group. All CAST members must follow all pesticide and safety protocols. Qualified applicants MUST possess a valid passport that will not expire before June 2018. Possession of a valid U.S. driver’s license is preferred.

Applications will be reviewed as they are received and the positions will remain open until filled. Interviews may begin as early as late January so candidates are encouraged to apply early. Contact Katrina Scheiner with any questions at katrina_scheiner@fws.gov.

8) Positions Available: Native Seed Interns for BLM in Las Vegas, NV

Member will provide national service at Bureau of Land Management, a host site for the Nevada Conservation Corps AmeriCorps Program. The Great Basin Institute, in cooperation with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), is recruiting two Native Seed Interns to join our AmeriCorps program to conduct seed collecting and ecological restoration activities throughout BLM Southern Nevada District lands

Please follow this link to apply directly through our online portal: http://crcareers.thegreatbasininstitute.org/careers/careers.aspx?rf=ECOLOG&req=2016-ACI-026

Field work involves hiking off designated trails or routes, across rugged terrain, up to 10 miles per day, but more typically 2-4 miles per day. Weather conditions will vary from cold winds or rain in the early spring to temperatures over 100F in the summer. The use of global positioning systems (handheld GPS units), computers, PDAs, digital cameras, and on- and off-road vehicles are an essential part of the job. Camping under primitive conditions at remote locations on data collection trips will sometimes be required. Incumbents must also be willing to spend days at a time working at a computer during periods of data entry and analysis.

This is an AmeriCorps position, and candidates will receive a living stipend of $8,700 for the season. This is not an hourly wage or a salary and is paid to members every other week throughout the service term. Upon completion of AmeriCorps service, members shall receive an additional education award in the amount of $2,865 that can be used for paying off qualified student loans or paying tuition for a Title IV accredited college.

The interns will be based out of the BLM Southern Nevada District office, which is located in northwest Las Vegas, NV. The Southern Nevada District Office manages more than three million acres of Mojave Desert in Clark and Nye counties. The scenery varies from dramatically colorful geologic landforms and largely unspoiled panoramic vistas of Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area to remote and rugged wild landscapes of Gold Butte Back Country Byway.

9) Botany Intern Needed at Capitol Reef National Park, Torrey, UT

The Great Basin Institute, in cooperation with the National Park Service (NPS), is recruiting one Botany Intern to join our AmeriCorps program. The Botany intern will be a member of a 3-4 person crew assisting natural resource staff with plant surveys and monitoring demographic plots for three federally listed plant species. Plant surveys will consist of walking across the landscape searching for plants and recording their locations and other pertinent information using a Trimble GPS unit data dictionary. Cacti data will also be collected in demographic monitoring plots and stored in a GPS data dictionary. Office work will consist of downloading data from the GPS units into an ArcGIS geodatabase, labeling photos, and organizing datasets in an Excel spreadsheet.

Please follow this link to apply directly through our online portal: http://crcareers.thegreatbasininstitute.org/careers/careers.aspx?rf=ECOLOG&req=2017-ACI-003

A general knowledge of plants of the southwest would be helpful but is not required. Survey work involves hiking off designated trails or routes, across rugged terrain, up to 10 miles per day, but more typically 2-6 miles per day, and may also require field camping and possibly backpacking. Weather conditions will vary from cold winds or rain in the early spring to temperatures nearing 100o F in the summer. Other challenging field conditions include high winds and gnats or other biting insects. Experience driving four-wheel drive vehicles on high clearance, dirt roads would be beneficial, but is not essential.

Interns may also assist natural resource staff with spotted owl and peregrine falcon surveys, invasive plant control and/or cultural resource monitoring. Interns will be supervised by the park Biologist.

10)  Highstead Accepting Applications for Summer Ecology Intern

Highstead, a regional land conservation and ecological research center is accepting applications for one field ecology intern to participate in Highstead’s long-term research and monitoring program in the summer of 2017.  Major projects include resampling the herbaceous layers of (1) 8 deer exclosure and paired control plots in disturbed (blowdown + salvage log) and undisturbed forest in southwestern CT; (2) 8 deer exclosure and paired control plots at the Harvard Forest Hemlock Removal Experiment in central Massachusetts. Additional projects will include (3) resampling wetland vegetation plots as part of a Phragmites removal project at Highstead and, time permitting, (4) a pilot study looking at the effects of beaver on riparian forest structure and composition.  The intern will gain extensive experience with forest vegetation sampling techniques and woody and herbaceous plant identification.  Positions will be predominantly field-based but will also include data entry, some herbarium work (mounting pressed specimens), limited data analysis, and preparing a 15-20 minute final presentation for Highstead staff.  The internship will be based in Redding, Connecticut, but will include travel and overnight stays to conduct field work at the Harvard Forest in central Massachusetts.

Qualifications: Upper level undergraduate or recent graduate in botany, ecology, or related field.  Applicants should have previous experience with field work.  Successful applicants must (1) have a keen interest in the study and intensive identification of woody and herbaceous plants including grasses and sedges (2) be enthusiastic about conducting intensive fieldwork in hot, humid and sometimes rainy weather; in a landscape with deer ticks; and in forest understories with downed trees and thick, often spiny shrub layers (3) be very detail-oriented to collect careful and accurate data in challenging field conditions, collect and press unknown plant specimens, and enter data into a database; and (4) have the flexibility to adapt to several different research projects including some travel; and (5) have a positive can-do attitude.

Position Dates: Monday, May 29 – Friday, August 11, 2017

Stipend: $5,000.00 and free furnished housing.

To apply, please send a cover letter and resume (with relevant experience and contact information for three references) to jcologgi@highstead.net; reference Ecology Intern Application as the email subject.  Accepting applications immediately.  Review of applicants will begin in mid-February and continue until position is filled in March.

Filed Under: intern, REU, Undergrad News Tagged With: Amazon, ARCAmazon, Arkansas, BLM, Botany, Capitol Reef, Flathead Lake, FWS, Great Basin, Harvard Forest, Highstead, intern, invasive, Johnston Atoll, Massachusetts, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Peru, REU, Texas, Utah

Undergrad Research Opportunities 1/5/17

January 5, 2017 by armsworth

1) Volunteer Field assistant for research on small mammals and plague

Agency: Idaho Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, University of Idaho
Location:Adams County, Idaho
Job Category:Temporary/Seasonal Positions
Salary:$45/day per diem plus free housing Start Date:04/05/2017
Last Date to Apply: 1/16/2017 website: https://amandargoldbergblog.wordpress.com/

Description The northern Idaho ground squirrel (Urocitellus brunneus) is federally threatened under ESA. We are using field experiments to assess the presence and effects that plague may have on northern Idaho ground squirrel populations and other small mammals associated with them.

We capture and mark ground squirrels using PIT tags and ear tags from April through August.  We compare demographic parameters among treatments, including capture-recapture analyses to assess population attributes (e.g., survival rates).  We anesthetize small mammals (Columbian ground squirrels, northern Idaho ground squirrels, chipmunks, and mice) to collect fleas (a plague vector).

Housing will be provided for the applicant during the field season. Field housing may be rustic.  Housing may be a camp trailer, a cabin, or a wall tent.  Applicants must be willing to live for 5 months without daily phone and email access.  Field work will include various types of weather conditions (rain, snow, and heat), long hours, odd schedules, and physical work.  We will provide a vehicle for work to transport technicians between housing and the field sites.

Skills you will acquire: • Trapping, handling, and processing small mammals (northern Idaho ground squirrels, Columbian ground squirrels, chipmunks, and mice) • Use of anesthesia in the field • Experience working with a listed species

Qualifications • Demonstrated oral and written communication skills • Demonstrated ability to work both independently and within a group setting • Previous experience hiking/camping • Excellent skills in time and data organization/management • Must be in good physical condition and have the ability to walk on uneven terrain throughout the day and carry heavy traps for short distances (less than 1 mile) • Must have a valid US driving license • Must be a US citizen or possess a valid US green card • Must be available for employment by 5 April 2017 through 15 August 2017

Apply by sending a cover letter, CV, copy of college transcripts (unofficial are ok), and the email and phone numbers for at least three references in one document (PDF or Word) to Amanda Goldberg (agoldberg@uidaho.edu) . Please write “plague volunteer” in the subject line.

2) Ecology REU opportunity at Miami University

Miami University (in Oxford, OH) is excited to announce that we are still accepting applications to our Research Experience for Undergraduates Program. The program is focused on The Ecology of Human Dominated Landscapes. We would appreciate it if you could distribute this e-mail to anyone that might be interested and encourage your students to visit our website and apply. Below there is a short synopsis of the program activities and contact information for students that may be interested in the program.

Undergraduate students accepted into the program will: • Conduct an independent research project with a faculty mentor at Miami University. Research opportunities are available in the lab or field in aquatic or terrestrial environments, • Discuss current literature related to their projects with faculty mentors and student peers in clusters related to their project. • Attend team-building field trips around the regional Midwest. • Take short courses on ethics and professions in ecology and environmental science, and interact with seminars by guest speakers. • Participate in field trips illustrating the natural history of Southwestern Ohio.

For more information about our program please visit our website at: https://sites.google.com/a/miamioh.edu/ecoreu/home. Click on the Application tab at the top of the page and follow the instructions to apply. Please contact Patrick Garrett at ecoreu@miamioh.edu with any problems, questions, or concerns you may have about our program or the application process.

3) Job posting: Arizona Mud Turtle Technician

American Turtle Observatory (ATO; http://americanturtles.org) and Antioch University New England seek a Field Technician to study the ecology and seasonal behavior of Arizona Mud Turtles (Kinosternon arizonense), a monsoon-adapted species, in southern Arizona during the summer of 2017. This position will involve both field and office responsibilities and will run from May 15 – September 15, 2017 (start and end dates are negotiable).

Location: Southern Arizona, USA Website: http://americanturtles.org Salary: $1000 monthly stipend Start Date: May 15, 2017 End Date: September 15, 2017 Last Date to Apply: January 27, 2017 Application Materials: email a brief (<1 page) cover letter, resume, and contact information for three references as a single Word or PDF document Contact Person: Liz Willey Contact E-Mail: lisabeth.willey@gmail.com For more information, visit: http://www.americanturtles.org/arizona-mud-turtle-technician.html

Field responsibilities will involve trapping, seining, and hand- capturing mud turtles in remote environments near the border with Sonora, Mexico; daily radiotelemetry of ten adult Arizona Mud Turtles; entering and proofing all field data on a weekly basis; managing photographs; and following standard decontamination procedures to protect mud turtles as well as Chiricahua Leopard Frogs.

Office responsibilities will require careful data management in Microsoft Excel, ArcGIS, and/or GoogleEarth; coordinating monthly conference calls with project partners; helping to prepare a technical report; preparing a technical assistance handout to improve habitat management for Arizona Mud Turtles.

Qualifications Applicants should be enthusiastic and sociable, enjoy travel, and expect to work long hours in the field in difficult conditions (heat, cold, rain, insects). Applicants should enjoy working independently with multiple days of relative solitude, and be ready to independently prioritize research-related decisions based upon a strong grasp of project objectives. Applicants should also be able to interact in a professional manner by email and phone. Applicants must have a valid driver’s license; access to a personal vehicle in Arizona is preferred. Ideal candidates will be proficient in GPS and compass navigation and be able to interpret topographic maps and aerial photographs. Desired qualifications also include field experience with freshwater turtles in the wild, experience with radio-telemetry, ArcGIS, GoogleEarth, habitat modeling and conservation area planning.

4) Big Cat Research Opportunity in South Africa

Raven Adventures’ is seeking volunteers for the Big Cat Research Project’s 2017 season. Volunteers will spend two weeks in South Africa studying lion, leopard, and cheetah, monitoring population distribution, density, and effects of tourism. This opportunity is open to anyone looking to gain experience in fieldwork and animal behavior research while working in a small group setting. Volunteers should be self-motivated and enthusiastic, working long hours with responsibilities including, but not limited to: collecting behavioral field notes, organizing photographic identification of individual study animals, and general basecamp chores. Volunteer positions are tailored to the learning undergraduate student and no prior experience is necessary. Accommodations will be basic camping. Overall cost is $3,995 per session and includes roundtrip airfare from JFK to Johannesburg, all trip meals, and camping/research equipment.

Please send all inquiries to Sabrina Salome at sabrina@ravenadventures.com, and to begin the application process attach a copy of your CV or resume. Four sessions will be run this summer.

5) Interns needed for food web study

Dates:  Late March through early June

Location:  Carrizo Plain National Monument, California (60 miles east of San Luis Obispo)

Duties:  2 interns are needed to conduct a variety of animal surveys as part of a long-term food web study in the Carrizo Plain National Monument. The Carrizo is the largest remnant of the San Joaquin grassland ecosystem and contains many endangered plants and animals. Interns will work on a team of 3-5 people and will conduct a variety of surveys, focusing especially on mark-recapture of endangered kangaroo rats. Mark-recapture surveys of threatened squirrels, visual line transects for reptiles, pitfall trapping for invertebrates, and spotlight surveys for predators and lagomorphs may also be conducted, and team members will help with vegetation sampling. Interns will also take down precipitation plot equipment and assist with other duties as needed.

Requirements:  All applicants must be pursuing or have a bachelor’s degree in the natural sciences and have previous field experience.  Applicants must be able to start work by the last week of March and work through early to mid- June. A strong interest in natural history, conservation, and/or management and a high level of responsibility, organization, and motivation are require.  It is helpful to have PIT tagging experience, small mammal trapping experience, and familiarity with the plants and animals of California.  Must be flexible and live and work well with others in an isolated setting. Applicants must be able to maintain work quality and a positive attitude during challenging field conditions. Applicants must be in good physical condition and experienced with or able to tolerate hot and cold field conditions. Must be able to work long hours and be comfortable working at night. Prefer applicants with experience and strong interest in grassland or desert species.

Work schedule:  Approx. 40 hrs per week, variable throughout season

Compensation:  $600-800/month. Housing is provided at an active research facility on the Monument.

To Apply:  Please email a cover letter, resume, and contact information for 2-3 references as a single Word or PDF attachment to Rachel Endicott at rendicott@berkeley.edu.  Please apply by January 27, 2017.

6) Marine science REU at Texas A&M University – Galveston campus

Texas A&M University Galveston invites talented undergraduate students from diverse backgrounds to participate in a 10-week immersive experience in Summer 2017 to conduct semi-independent research that will address the complexities and challenges related to our world’s oceans and coastal environments through OCEANUS (Ocean and Coastal Research Experiences for Undergraduates), an exciting interdisciplinary program funded by the National Science Foundation (Award Number: 1560242). Target majors include biology (evolution, ecology), physics, chemistry, environmental science, geosciences, maritime industry/commerce, computer science and engineering majors.

To apply, please visit: https://apply2.cse.tamu.edu/apps/OCEANUS

7) NPS 2017 Young Leaders in Climate Change Internships

NPS Seeks Applicants for 2017 Young Leaders in Climate Change Internships The NPS Climate Change Response Program and the University of Washington are pleased to invite graduate and upper-level undergraduate students and recent graduates to apply to the 2017 Young Leaders in Climate Change (YLCC) Initiative! The YLCC is a paid summer internship to work on diverse issues related to climate change and its effects in national parks. Applications are due January 19, 2017 by 12:01 PM PST. https://www.futureparkleaders.org/past-projects/

8) Summer Forest Monitoring Technician (PA and WV)

The Pennsylvania State University Department of Ecosystem Science and Management is hiring two seasonal technicians to collect forest monitoring data in eight national parks in Pennsylvania and West Virginia, including the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, New River Gorge National River, and Gauley River National Recreational Area. This work is part of a long-term monitoring program that provides park staff with crucial information on the condition of the parks’ vegetation and how this condition is changing over time.

The positions begin in mid-May 2017 and continue for 12 – 15 weeks with compensation of $14-16 per hour depending on experience.  The technicians will travel to and be housed in or near a national park each week.  Reasonable travel expenses will be reimbursed.

Demonstrated experience in forest ecology, meticulous data collection skills, strong work ethic, and positive attitude are required. Applicants should enjoy working outdoors in a variety of conditions and be able to identify common trees and shrubs of Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Applicants must be able to follow complex detailed field protocols and work as a member of a team.  The ability to hike and work long hours in adverse conditions (e.g. steep terrain, hot/humid weather, stinging/biting insects, irritating plants) and in remote field sites is a must.  Applicants should be able to navigate in the woods by compass and using GPS. Additional tasks may include data entry and quality control of data.

If interested, please send: 1) a brief cover letter, 2) a resume, and 3) contact information for three references in a single Word or PDF document to Stephanie Perles [sjp16 at psu dot edu] by February 17, 2017.

9) Harvard Forest Undergraduate Internship Opportunity

Applications are now open for our fantastic (and well-paid) paid summer internships in plant & microbial ecology, art/design, computer science, biogeochemistry, conservation policy,  history, engineering, etc.

Depending on the project, students will conduct field and lab-work in old-growth forests,  historical archives, art/design studios and museums, biogeochemistry labs, long-term forest  study plots, data-rich computer environments, at the Harvard Farm and even at Henry David Thoreau’s cabin site at Walden.

Participants work closely with a faculty mentor and live on-site in our beautiful farmhouse  dorm. In addition to their research, students attend career panels, evening workshops, seminars and field trips.

We welcome applications from students at any U.S. college, community college or university.

Application instructions and FAQ’s are here: http://harvardforest.fas.harvard.edu/other-tags/reu

9) Positions Available: Native Seed Collection Internship at Lake Mead National Recreation Area

Member will provide national service at Lake Mead National Recreation Area, a host site for the Nevada Conservation Corps AmeriCorps Program.

Description: Working collaboratively with Lake Mead National Recreation Area (LMNRA), the Great Basin Institute is recruiting three interns to assist the seed manager with scouting plant populations for seed collection and collecting native plant seeds. Work will include documenting all seed related activities and collections, manually cleaning seed by hand, and assisting with preparation of seed for seed storage for future restoration projects throughout southern Nevada and northwestern Arizona.  This position is an entry level internship that consists mostly of labor in the backcountry and at the Lake Mead Native Plant Nursery. At times, position also requires prolonged periods of sitting while cleaning seed.

Primary Responsibilities: •           Surveying and accessing suitable native plant populations by vehicle or on foot, and identification of native and non-native plants; •   Assist with weeding and irrigating native plant seed increase fields; •               Work on a 4-5 person seed collection team led by the native seed manager for Lake Mead NRA; •         Intern may also work with 5 to 10 member youth service groups and/or volunteers on seed collection projects; •        Must be able to operate a 4-wheel-drive vehicle and pass a federal background check.

Secondary responsibilities: additional tasks and duties that are preferential but secondary •               Assisting with native plant nursery operations including, but not limited to irrigation setup and repair, plant propagation, weed removal, and other general nursery operation; •               Additional duties may include checking backcountry traffic counters, checking weather stations, picking-up trash, rare plant plot monitoring, restoring off-road tracks, repair backcountry barriers, installing backcountry signs, watering plantings, installing plants, and other tasks associated with Mojave Desert restoration.

Related Responsibilities: •           Participate in trainings provided by Lake Mead NRA staff and community partners; •  Meet with Host Site Supervisor on a regular basis; •         Participate in community service days organized by NCC Program; and •            Participate in regular AmeriCorps team meetings.

Compensation: This is an AmeriCorps position, and candidates will receive a living stipend of $7,800 for the season. This is not an hourly wage or a salary and is paid to members every other week throughout the service term. Upon completion of AmeriCorps service, members shall receive an additional education award in the amount of $2,865 that can be used for paying off qualified student loans or paying tuition for a Title IV accredited college.

Qualifications: •               Dedication to the position and the AmeriCorps Service Contract •               Motivated, self-starter who is detail oriented; •  Flexibility to handle competing and changing priorities; •      Ability or willingness to learn how to identify  native and non-native plants of the desert southwest •               Ability to drive 4×4 vehicle •        Ability or willingness to learn how to navigate in the backcountry using maps and iphones or GPS units •           Ability or willingness to learn how to use iphones and/or GPS units such as Garmins, Mesas, and Trimbles to collect data •             Ability to use Microsoft Office Programs •            Ability to do physical labor in the backcountry •          Ability to sit for prolonged periods of time •               Motivated to learn about the park’s resources • Ability to communicate with park staff in an appropriate manner in written and verbal form •    Possess clean, valid, state-issued driver’s license; and •     Meet AmeriCorps eligibility requirements: (1) U.S. citizenship or legal resident alien status, (2) eligible to receive an AmeriCorps Education Award (limit of four in a lifetime, or equivalent of two full-time terms of service), and (3) pass National Sex Offender Public Registry (NSOPR) and federal criminal background checks.

How to Apply: Please follow this link to apply directly through our online portal: http://crcareers.thegreatbasininstitute.org/careers/careers.aspx? rf=ECOLOG&req=2016-ACI-026

10) Summer 2017 REU at the Pymatuning Lab of Ecology

The Richards-Zawacki lab at the University of Pittsburgh invites undergraduate applicants for a 10-week summer research experience at the Pymatuning Lab of Ecology in northwestern Pennsylvania (http://www.biology.pitt.edu/facilities/pymatuning). This position is part of the National Science Foundation’s Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program. Ongoing work in the Richards-Zawacki lab aims to clarify the relationship between climate and the dynamics of chytridiomycosis, a fungal disease that threatens amphibian populations on several continents. The successful applicant will work collaboratively with other members of the Richards-Zawacki lab to survey local amphibians for Batrachochytrium fungi, the pathogens that cause chytridiomycosis, and also design and carry out a study to investigate the role of pond community characteristics on the seasonal dynamics of these infections. Room and board at the Pymatuning Lab of Ecology will be provided, along with transportation and a stipend of $500/week.

To apply, please send a one page personal statement (about your scientific interests and how this REU will support your professional goals), your resume or cv, unofficial transcripts, and the names of two professional references (including title, address, phone number and email address) to Dr. Cori Richards-Zawacki (cori.zawacki@pitt.edu).  Applications are due March 3, 2017.

11) Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute –Internship in Forest Trophic Interactions

The Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute (SCBI) is seeking two interns to participate in a European Research Council funded project addressing the ecological determinants of tropical and temperate trends in insect diversity. To answer key questions on global insect distribution, we are applying quantitative surveys of plant-herbivore-parasitoid food webs within paired sets of tropical and temperate forests from six continents, in Papua New Guinea (PNG), Gabon, Panama, the Czech Republic, Japan, and USA. This internship will be based in the CTFS-ForestGEO-Forest Ecosystems & Climate lab (PI: Kristina J. Anderson-Teixeira), which conducts a range of research with the overall goal of understanding the dynamics of forest ecosystems worldwide in an era of global change. Candidates should be advanced undergraduates or recent university graduates and have coursework in ecology, conservation biology, entomology, environmental sciences, or a closely related field. Field experience in terrestrial ecosystem ecology, forestry, entomology, or a related field is essential plus the ability to follow established survey and protocols, and collect detailed and accurate data. Candidates must have the ability to work in the field for prolonged hours in hot and humid conditions, to work independently, and to collaborate effectively as part of a research team. This is a 6-month position with a start date in mid-April 2017. The position(s) will be compensated with a stipend sufficient to cover living expenses, potentially including on-site housing. To apply, please email a cover letter describing your qualifications and interest in the position, CV, and contact information for 3 references to Erika Gonzalez-Akre at gonzalezeb@si.edu. Deadline for application is January 31, 2017. The Smithsonian Institution values and seeks a diverse workforce; female and minority candidates are encouraged to apply.

12) Intern Opportunity – Black Tailed Prairie Dogs

Job Description and Duties: We are looking for 5 interns to be involved with a field ecology project on black-tailed prairie dogs for the period of Mar 1, 2017 to Aug 31, 2017. The project investigates the ecology of a wild population of prairie dogs in Grasslands National Park, SK and will involve live-trapping, handling and monitoring. Grasslands National Park represents one of the largest remaining tracts of native prairie in Canada, and prairie dog towns are home to a diversity of iconic grassland species (e.g., burrowing owls, swift fox, bison). Interns will have the opportunity of seeing all of these species, plus the many more resident in the Park. This is an excellent opportunity to gain experience working with a population of wild mammals in a spectacular setting and in collaboration with university, park and zoo researchers.

International applicants: If applicants are not Canadians or permanent residents, they will be required to apply to enter Canada as Visiting Research Students. To be eligible for this program, you must be an undergraduate or graduate student or be in between degrees (e.g., following graduation from a bachelors degree). As part of this program, applicants will be registered at the U of S in a non-credit activity. Applicants are eligible for this program for a maximum of 6 months per 12 month period.

Application forms and information are available at http://grad.usask.ca/admissions/alternate-applicants/visiting-research-student.php. If you are interested in this program, please contact us (contact details below) and we will guide you through the process.

Skills Required: These positions are best suited to applicants with interests in ecology, evolutionary biology, wildlife, field biology, and/or conservation biology. As evidence of this, applicants must either be enrolled in, or have graduated from, a relevant discipline. The field house and study population are isolated (the nearest town is approx. 45 min away) and, as such, successful applicants need to be able to cope under these conditions, enjoy the outdoors, be up-beat, positive, responsible and work well as a member of a team. Evidence of these abilities (gained, for example, through previous involvement on field projects or extended back-packing trips) is required.

Terms of Employment: These are volunteer positions and a salary is not provided. We will be staying in Parks Canada housing in the heart of the park. Volunteers are required to provide for their own travel to Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Travel between the field station and Saskatoon is provided.

If you wish to apply for one of these posts then please send a CV with a cover letter and contact details for three references (with e-mail addresses), by email to Jeff Lane (uofsbtpdproject@gmail.com) by January 21, 2017. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.

Filed Under: intern, REU, Undergrad News Tagged With: A&M, Arizona, California, Canada, Carrizo, cat, climate change, CTFS, Delaware, Galveston, Grasslands, Harvard, Idaho, intern, Lake Mead, LMNRA, mammals, marine, Massachusetts, Miami, Nevada, NPS, OCEANUS, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh, plague, prairie dogs, Pymatuning, REU, seed, Smithsonian, South Africa, Texas, turtle, Washington, West Virginia

Undergrad Research Opportunities 12/12/16

December 13, 2016 by armsworth

1) Undergraduate Internship at Field Station in NE PA

The Lacawac Sanctuary is a non-profit biological field station, 545-acre nature preserve, and environmental education center located in NE Pennsylvania. Founded in 1966, the Lacawac Sanctuary has a long history of supporting ecological research, providing public access to preserved natural lands, and providing innovative environmental education programs. Due to its pristine, protected nature Lake Lacawac serves as “living laboratory,” thereby providing a baseline for ecological study.

The Lacawac Sanctuary and Biological Field Station seeks an undergraduate intern for Summer 2017. The student will work with the Director of Research and Education on various Pocono lake monitoring projects and assist with outreach activities. They will spend considerable time conducting field work, completing laboratory analysis, and communicating science with the public via public programs.

A modest stipend and free housing is available at the Lacawac Sanctuary for the duration of the internship. A commitment of 20-30 hours per week is expected. Previous research experience is not required, but the strongest applicants will have experience and interest conducing environmental field and lab work, handling data, and communicating science with the public.

Submit letter of interest, CV, unofficial transcripts, application packet, and at least one letter of recommendation to Dr. Sarah Princiotta (sarah.princiotta@lacawac.org). More information and application packet can be found at www.lacawac.org/internships. Review of applications will begin on February 28, 2017.

 

2) REU in STEM Education at North Dakota State University

We are excited to announce the 5th year of our summer REU in discipline-based education at North Dakota State University. Our program is an excellent opportunity for students interested in learning and teaching of STEM at the undergraduate level. Over a 10-week period during the summer, students are immersed in a cohort of undergraduate scholars to get hands-on research experience in discipline-based education research. Students are housed on- campus and earn a $5000 stipend.

Students may have the opportunity to present their research at a national conference with travel support from our REU. Additional travel funding is available for travel to and from Fargo for those in financial need.

Our program begins May 30, 2017 and runs through August 5, 2017.

Applications due January 27, 2017.

For more information, including descriptions of potential research projects, please visit http://www.ndsu.edu/cider/reu/ OR email Jennifer Momsen (jennifer.momsen@ndsu.edu) & Warren Christensen (warren.christensen@ndsu.edu)

 

3) Summer field jobs in Yosemite National Park and the West

The Western Forest Initiative is hiring three field technicians for summer of 2017.

Forest Demography and Fire Effects: These positions will primarily involve the establishment of spatially-explicit forest plots in Yosemite National Park. The crew will navigate to areas within or near the footprint of the Rim Fire of 2013 (wilderness and non-wilderness) and then identify, measure, and map trees and snags in ¼ ha plots. The crew will receive training in mapping and demography in the Yosemite Forest Dynamics Plot and will work with investigators from Utah State University, the University of Washington, and the University of Montana on this Joint Fire Science Program funded project.

Duration: Late-May through mid-August, with the possibility for some staff to extend the season. The work schedule is four, ten-hour days per week. Because we don’t work under inclement conditions, the crew will need to be flexible.

Salary: $12.50 per hour. Campground accommodations are provided. Personal vehicle use reimbursed at $0.485/mile.

Qualifications: Previous experience taking vegetation research data, working safely in challenging environments, and following complex data collection protocols is required. Candidates should demonstrate the ability to solve problems, to work both independently and in teams of two or three, and to work with students and volunteers. Work will involve moving through rough terrain carrying delicate and expensive equipment, as well as carrying up to 15 kg of additional gear. Knowledge of western flora, tree pathogens, and forest insects is helpful, as is solid experience with outdoor living. Applicants must have a valid driver’s license and good driving history. Applicants need a Wilderness First Aid certification (Wilderness First Responder preferred) valid for the season.

Apply: Please assemble the following into a single PDF file and email it to james.lutz@usu.edu – 1) a one-page cover letter describing your reasons for applying, specific dates of availability (including any planned mid-summer absences, or a statement that you plan none), and confirmation of your first aid certification, 2) a resume, no longer than two pages, 3) unofficial transcripts, and 4) names, phone numbers and email addresses of three references.

Application deadline: January 31, 2017. Usually, we have made our staffing decisions by early February. Exceptional candidates will be selected earlier.

Additional information and background at: http://yfdp.org, http://westernforestinitiative.org, and the Facebook Group “Yosemite Forest Dynamics Plot”

 

4) Community-based reforestation in Kianjavato, Madagascar

Do you want to help save the world’s rain forests? What about lemurs – do you like lemurs? Would you like to do something about climate change?  If, yes, please join the volunteer program with Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium

(OHDZA) and the Madagascar Biodiversity Partnership (MBP)!  We’re looking for highly motivated volunteers to join our on-going reforestation program in southeastern Madagascar.  This area is home to nine lemur species, several of which are critically endangered.  Habitat loss threatens the remaining yet unprotected forest fragments, but you can help.  We work with local communities to reconnect and expand natural habitats over the mountainous terrain around Kianjavato while sustainably benefiting the 12,000 area residents. This unique partnership has planted nearly 1,000,000 trees thereby helping the lemurs, their forest homes, and their human neighbors.

You’ll have a dynamic daily work routine; you may be working at the primary field station or at the multiple tree nurseries; you could be collecting seeds within an established forest; or at a field site preparing for a community planting event.  Duties may include sorting compost, placing seedlings into growing bags, organizing the tree inventory, transplanting trees with the local community groups or school children.  The ultimate goal of the reforestation program is to plant one million trees as a means to establish corridors between forest fragments and restore ecosystem services.  In order reach this substantial goal, there is a need for streamlining the reforestation effort – from seed collection, germination, and transplantation – and this is where the volunteers can make a significant and lasting contribution to the project.

The schedule for the reforestation volunteer may vary, but will operate during daylight hours, Monday through Friday, with members of the reforestation team and nursery staff arriving at the job site around 7:00am.  You will typically work with three other volunteers and a team of knowledgeable Malagasy field guides.

The reforestation team consists of rotating OHDZA employees, Malagasy MBP field assistants and graduate students, along with numerous nursery managers and assistants from the local community.

Adequate physical fitness is required.  We prefer volunteers with at least a BA or BSc in the biological or environmental sciences, tropical restoration and forest management experience is a plus.  Some independent research experience will be an advantage, as will work or travel experience in tropical countries.  A willingness to work in isolated conditions, the ability to solve problems independently, and dedication to a positive and respectful working environment are required.

For a more details, please visit the Madagascar Biodiversity Partnership at https://madagascarpartnership.org/volunteer/

Term of Appointment: Entry is required under a 90 day tourist visa, thus volunteers are limited to a 90 day stay.

Application Deadline: The positions will be filled by the first qualified applicants.

This in an on-going call for volunteers and we are currently looking for volunteers throughout 2017.

Applicants should send a letter of interest, curriculum vitae, and contact information for a few professional references to Dr. Ed Louis (mbp AT madagascarpartnership DOT org).

 

5) Are You Tomorrow’s Conservation Leader?

Montana Conservation Corps (MCC) is now enrolling Field & Youth Crew Leaders for the 2017 field season. Find yourself while getting lost in some of Montana’s most wild places. Serving as a Field or Youth Crew Leader with MCC will have a lasting impact not only on you, but also on the communities and landscapes that you serve. With MCC you’ll discover unexpected abilities within yourself, make lifelong friendships, and explore some of our country’s greatest wilderness areas.

Leaders earn a $626 biweekly living stipend while serving with MCC, and an AmeriCorps education award upon completion of the term of service. Learn more and apply here: https://careers-mtcorps.icims.com/jobs

 

6) Quantitative Position with the Mandurah Dolphin Research Project in Australia

We are excited to announce a mixed quantitative and field-based research  assistant position to study bottlenose dolphins in Australia. The position is open  from January 9th to February 28th 2017 for the Mandurah Dolphin Research  Project in Western Australia (WA).

The Murdoch University Cetacean Research Unit (MUCRU) commenced a research  project in January 2016 aimed at gaining a solid understanding of the bottlenose  dolphins using the Peel-Harvey Estuary (part of Ramsar Wetlands) and adjacent  coastal waters. The overall aims of the project are to characterize population size  and structure, habitat use and genetic connectivity of dolphins using the estuarine  and coastal areas.

We seek a dedicated and independent research assistant (volunteer) to run  capture-recapture computer simulations and statistical analyses. The research  questions will be focused on practical problems of estimating abundance and  demographic processes from photo-ID data, modelled after the ongoing field  studies conducted by the Mandurah Dolphin Research Project. The simulations are  expected to inform the survey design and analytical methodology of the overall  Project, and potentially contribute to scientific publications. In addition to  quantitative work, the assistant is expected to participate in boat-based dolphin  surveys with a team of biologists and field assistants.

The main duties include:

  • Simulations: write computer scripts to simulate dolphin movement patterns and capture-recapture data collection;
  • Batch analyses: write R scripts to analyze simulation datasets;
  • Data collection: spot dolphins, drive the boat, take photographs for photo-identification, record data;
  • Data processing: upload data, enter data, match fins, map sightings;
  • Literature: read and review capture-recapture literature to inform simulations and analyses;
  • General: maintain the boat and car, clean equipment.

Applicants are expected to have the following traits and qualifications:

  • can work independently;
  • intermediate or advanced proficiency in R (or another scientific computing language);
  • have prior experience debugging complicated computer code;
  • have the mathematical acumen to read, learn, discuss and implement basic statistical analyses.
  • have mental and physical stamina to endure long days on a boat under intense sunlight while collecting complex data according to a rigorous protocol;
  • have a mixed background in biology, ecology, statistics, and computer programming, including some combination of formal tertiary education (B.Sc.) and relevant internships/jobs.
  • additional preferred skills include boat handling, first aid, experience in photo-ID, experience in population ecology analyses (but not necessary).

The position would suit a student who is interested in a career in quantitative  ecology. Supervision will be by two PhD students specializing in different aspects of  capture-recapture. Ambitious and competent candidates may have the opportunity  to pursue their own research interests, e.g. for academic research credit, such as a  B.Sc. Honours project.

The boat-based data collection and data processing will be from the 9th of January  till the 28th of February 2017. Data collection (photo-identification and biopsy  sampling) will be conducted in inland waters to up to 12nm offshore. Data  collection is weather dependent and research assistants are expected to be  available full time during day light hours throughout the time they commit to the  project.

This is an unpaid position and assistants need to organise their own travel to and  from Mandurah, which is approximately 1 hr south of Perth in WA. The office space  will be in a research house where assistants are required to rent a room for a cost  of 150 AUD/week (inclusive of internet and bills) in shared accommodation. And  for your free time Mandurah has everything you can think of a holiday town to  offer (shops, cafes, bars, cinema, nature, hikes, camping, surfing, diving,  snorkelling, paddle boarding, kayaking, wildlife spotting, skydiving etc.) and  cosmopolitan Perth is only an hour away.

To apply for this position please send me a cover sheet specifying why you would  like to assist in this project, how you meet the qualifications, the time you are  applying for, your CV and names and contact details of two references to  <R.rankin@murdoch.edu.au>

 

7) REU Opportunity Summer 2016: “Research Experience for Undergraduates in Chihuahuan Desert Biodiversity”

The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) Department of Biological  Sciences invites applicants for the NSF sponsored Research Experience  for Undergraduates (REU) in Chihuahuan Desert Biodiversity.  This is a 10 week summer program.  The goal of this program is to provide  undergraduate students with experience in hypothesis-driven  collaborative research utilizing field based and/or laboratory methods  and fully engage students in projects associated with the ecology and  evolution influencing Chihuahuan Desert biodiversity.

The program provides:

  • High quality research experience in ecology and evolutionary biology in the field and/or lab • Research opportunities at the Indio Mountains Research Station (IMRS), a 40,000 acre facility controlled by UTEP •  One-on-one and group mentoring from active research faculty in  multidisciplinary fields • Training in bioethics and other relevant  professional skills

The program includes:

  • $5250 stipend for 10 weeks
  • Housing in shared apartments and field station • Travel reimbursement of up to $600

For more information on the program, research projects or to apply please visit: http://science.utep.edu/cdb-reu/ Enquiries: CDB-REU@utep.edu

Filed Under: intern, REU, Undergrad News Tagged With: Australia, California, Chihuahua, Conservation, dolphin, intern, Lacawac, lemurs, Madagascar, Montana, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, REU, Texas, Yosemite

Recent Posts

  • Armsworth Named Fellow of Ecological Society of America
  • Lessons to Learn from Fascinating Ferns
  • Meeting Merges Networks for Microbial Data
  • EEB Faculty Honored at the Annual College of Arts and Sciences Convocation
  • Nicole Lussier Receives MSU Presidential Postdoctoral Fellowship

Recent Comments

No comments to show.

College of Arts & Sciences

117 Natalie L. Haslam Music Center
1741 Volunteer Blvd.
Knoxville TN 37996-2600

Phone: 865-974-3241

Archives

  • April 2025
  • March 2025
  • February 2025
  • January 2025
  • November 2024
  • October 2024
  • August 2024
  • July 2024
  • June 2024
  • May 2024
  • April 2024
  • March 2024
  • February 2024
  • December 2023
  • November 2023
  • October 2023
  • September 2023
  • August 2023
  • July 2023
  • June 2023
  • May 2023
  • April 2023
  • March 2023
  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • August 2022
  • June 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • October 2021
  • August 2021
  • June 2021
  • April 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • November 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012
  • February 2012
  • January 2012
  • December 2011
  • October 2011
  • September 2011
  • August 2011
  • July 2011
  • June 2011
  • May 2011
  • April 2011
  • March 2011
  • February 2011
  • January 2011
  • November 2010

Categories

  • Adjunct
  • alumni
  • ants
  • Armsworth
  • Auerbach
  • Australia
  • award
  • Bagby
  • Bailey
  • Baker Center
  • Banbury
  • bats
  • behavior
  • Blum
  • Boake
  • book
  • Boyer
  • Budke
  • Burghardt
  • citizen science
  • Classen
  • climate change
  • conservation
  • corker
  • course
  • damage
  • Darwin Day
  • DDIG
  • Derryberry
  • DeSelm
  • DOE
  • Echternacht
  • ecology
  • education
  • Emeritus
  • endowment
  • EOL
  • EUReCA
  • events
  • extinction
  • facilities
  • faculty
  • Faculty
  • Featured
  • Fefferman
  • fellowship
  • field course
  • fish
  • Fitzpatrick
  • Fordyce
  • Former Faculty
  • Former Graduate Students
  • fundraiser
  • fungi
  • Gaoue
  • Gavrilets
  • Giam
  • Gilchrist
  • graduate
  • Graduate Students
  • graduation
  • grant
  • Great Smoky Mountains NP
  • GREBE
  • greenhouse
  • Gross
  • Hallam
  • head
  • Hemingway
  • herbarium
  • Hughes
  • Hulsey
  • human evolution
  • intern
  • invasive
  • jobs
  • Kalisz
  • Kivlin
  • Kwit
  • MAIN
  • math
  • Matheny
  • McCracken
  • media
  • modeling
  • National Academy of Sciences
  • Nature
  • NCEAS
  • NEON
  • News Sentinel
  • newsletter
  • newspaper
  • NIMBioS
  • NSF
  • Nyari
  • O'Meara
  • obituary
  • ORNL
  • outreach
  • Papes
  • Petersen
  • placement
  • plos one
  • PNAS
  • podcast
  • popular media
  • postdoc
  • publication
  • Research Staff
  • REU
  • Riechert
  • Rstats
  • Russo
  • Sanders
  • Schilling
  • Schussler
  • Schweitzer
  • Science
  • SciFest
  • seminar
  • Sheldon
  • Simberloff
  • slate
  • Small
  • staff
  • STEM
  • Stockmaier
  • Suissa
  • summer
  • Tanner
  • taxonomy
  • teaching
  • TennesseeToday
  • Uncategorized
  • Undergrad News
  • undergraduate
  • wildflower pilgrimage
  • Williams
  • WNS
  • Wofford

Copyright © 2025 · University of Tennessee, Knoxville WDS Genesis Child on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

Ecology & Evolutionary Biology

College of Arts and Sciences

569 Dabney Hall
Knoxville TN 37996-1610

Email: eeb@utk.edu

Phone: 865-974-3065

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Knoxville, Tennessee 37996
865-974-1000

The flagship campus of the University of Tennessee System and partner in the Tennessee Transfer Pathway.

ADA Privacy Safety Title IX