Undergrad Research Opportunities 1/17/17
1) REU Program, University of Kansas
Applications are now open for our NSF funded Research Experience for Undergraduate (REU) program, Models in Evolution, Ecology and Systematics.
The program will take place May 22-July 28 2017 in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Kansas. In this ten-week program, students will participate in mentored, independent research and receive training in research support skills. “Models” is broadly interpreted to include not only building of theoretical models, but also testing of models (empirical work). More information on projects is available athttp://eebreu.ku.edu.
Students will be provided with a generous stipend, housing and meals, and travel to the program. Review of applications begins February 15, 2017 and will continue until all positions are filled. Students must have completed one semester of college level work (including community college), must plan to be enrolled in an undergraduate program during the fall of 2017, and be US citizens or permanent residents. Biology, math and computer science majors are encouraged to apply.
Former students have been highly successful at continuing on to graduate school and obtaining the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship. Review of applications begins February 15 and will continue until all positions are filled. Questions may be addressed to eebreu@ku.edu.
2) Seasonal Vegetation Monitoring Technicians, Ely, NV
The Eastern Nevada Landscape Coalition (ENLC) is currently seeking vegetation monitoring technicians for our upcoming 2017 field season.
Located in Ely, Nevada, the ENLC is a non-profit conservation organization comprised of public, private, and non-profit partners dedicated to the restoration of Western ecosystems through collaborative teamwork. The ENLC conducts a variety of vegetation/wildlife monitoring projects throughout Nevada and surrounding states. We are requesting applications for a minimum of four to six
(4-6) vegetation monitoring technicians to work out of our main office in Ely, NV.
Field technicians’ primary responsibility will be to collect post-fire vegetation response data in burned areas on public lands managed by the BLM as part of the Emergency Stabilization and Rehabilitation (ES&R) program. Data collected will be used to evaluate the effectiveness of post wildfire rehabilitation treatments.
Technicians will be responsible for driving (in company vehicles) and hiking to sampling locations, following rigorous sampling protocols for data collection, data quality control and data entry.
Field work will involve driving on and navigating backcountry dirt roads, hiking and navigating potentially long distances off trail, establishing and monitoring plots using the BLM’s Assessment, Inventory, and Monitoring (AIM) strategy, all while camping in the backcountry for 4-8 days at a time, sometimes in adverse weather conditions.
Other duties include data entry using the Database for Inventory, Monitoring, and Assessment (DIMA), collecting herbarium quality plant specimens, identifying plants to species in both a field and office setting, operating 4WD vehicles, communicating effectively in a small crew setting, and operating safely in sometimes harsh and stressful field conditions.
Applicants should have graduated from a program in biological sciences, ecology, natural resources or a related field. The ideal applicant will have experience in plant identification and a general knowledge of plant taxonomy.
Applicants should email a cover letter, resume, and the contact information for at least three references to Patrick Hellmann at phellmann@envlc.org. All materials should be emailed by February 24th, 2017. For more information, please visit our website (http://www.envlc.org).
3) 2017 Summer Field Forestry/Biology/Ecology Internships
6 Technicians are needed for Monday, May 15th – Friday, August 11th for positions in State College, PA and Coudersport, PA
Pay: Full time, 40hr/week appointment. $11.50/hr. Housing is provided, along with access to a field vehicle.
Duties: Must be able to find, monument, and inventory permanent forest vegetation plots using GPS and other tools in central or northern Pennsylvania. Daily duties include navigation to remote parts of Pennsylvania state forest lands, hiking up to 2 miles with equipment, and collection of quality vegetation monitoring data—the identification, size class, and abundance of more than 100 species of overstory and understory plants— with a field PC.
Key qualifications: At least two years toward a natural resources baccalaureate degree; demonstrated plant identification skills (as evidenced by a course in plant ID, such as dendrology, and/or field experience collecting vegetation data); ability to work independently and reliably without direct supervision in challenging field conditions; and possession of a valid driver’s license.
To apply: Send a letter, résumé, transcripts, and contact information for three references (via email preferred) to Bobbi Joy Scovern. At least one reference should be able to comment on your plant identification skills. In your letter, please indicate if you would like to be considered for a crew leader position.
Email applications to:
Bobbi Joy Scovern, Administrative Support Assistant Pennsylvania Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
419 Forest Resources Building
University Park, PA 16802
Email: bys5@psu.edu
Phone: 814-865-4511
4) Environmental Science and Policy in the Nation’s Capital – An NSF Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) Program at Georgetown University for Summer 2017
Georgetown University’s REU Site program in Environmental Science and Policy in the Nation’s Capital is seeking talented and engaged undergraduate students. This ten-week program will bring a cohort of ten students to Washington, D.C. to conduct hands-on research in environmental science at Georgetown University and to take part in a mini-curriculum that builds research skills and also explores the intersections of science and public policy.
Participating research mentors have expertise in fields including ecology, conservation biology, evolutionary genetics, mathematical modeling, hydrology, statistics for environmental studies, and earth science. See mentor research descriptions on the program web site. Interested students are encouraged to contact potential mentors directly.
The 2017 program will run from May 31 – August 5. Students will be housed on the Georgetown campus and will receive a $5250 stipend plus an allowance for food. To be eligible, applicants must be U. S. citizens or permanent residents, full-time students as of August, 2017, and available to participate full-time during the program. We are striving for a diverse group, so students from groups typically underrepresented in STEM fields are strongly encouraged to apply.
Review of applications will begin on February 17, 2017 and will be accepted on a continuing until all positions are filled. For more information on the program and to apply, visit: http://reuenvscigeorgetown.weebly.com/
5) Research Assistant: Buck Island Sea Turtle Research Program 2017
Buck Island Reef National Monument (BIRNM), located on the island of St. Croix, US Virgin Islands, is seeking applicants for the position of Sea Turtle Research Assistant (intern) to conduct sea turtle research and monitoring. This will be the 30th year of the Buck Island Sea Turtle Research Program (BISTRP), a long-term monitoring, research, and conservation project supported by the National Park Service (NPS), Buck Island Reef National Monument.
BIRNM is a nesting beach for hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata), green (Chelonia mydas), leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea), and loggerhead (Caretta caretta) sea turtles.
This project will be up to 12 weeks in duration beginning in mid-July 2017 (applicants must state availability in their cover letter) and are expected to stay the length of the project upon selection. This is a highly competitive project that is physically and mentally intense, aimed at individuals who want to make ecology/resource management their career. Access to the island is by boat only, where there are minimal facilities. Ability to navigate rugged terrain, work in adverse weather conditions, and amongst biting insects and poisonous and spiny plants is essential. Shifts last up to 12 hours and require interns to work effectively on a nocturnal schedule. Interns must work equally effectively as a team and individually.
Interns will provide assistance to the NPS staff in the collection and processing of field data. A mixture of methods will be used: night duty and day patrols.
Night duty focuses on working with animals during the laying process. During this time, all nesting turtles will be encountered; biometric data will be collected on turtles, physical data will be collected on nest locations, and animals will be tagged (inconel and PIT). Imperiled nests will be relocated to mitigate risk and increase hatch success. Nests will be excavated to determine hatch success.
Night work will last in shifts up to 12 hours and will be labor intensive. Day patrols will require accurate assessment of the previous night’s nesting activities from tracks left in the sand alone. Nests that hatch will be excavated to estimate hatching success and beach productivity. Throughout the project interns will be required to perform data entry and equipment maintenance.
Interns are also responsible for weekly daytime monitoring of beaches at The Buccaneer Hotel, their residence, recording activities using GPS. Interns will also conduct outreach to hotel guests and will write a report at season’s end summarizing turtle nesting activities at The Buccaneer Hotel. In addition to BISTRP objectives, interns will provide assistance to NPS staff and collaborators with a hawksbill hatchling genetics project and aid in hatchling sampling and data collection. Interns may also participate in the deployment of acoustic and satellite tags as part of directed research to assess sea turtle movement. In addition, interns may have the opportunity to conduct snorkel surveys for foraging sea turtles and/or assist in sea turtle stranding response incidents.
Interns will receive two meals/day and lodging from The Buccaneer Hotel at no cost to the interns. A small weekly stipend will be allotted to each intern ($100), and travel costs will be covered by the NPS. Interns need to seriously consider their finances before applying to these openings; it will not be possible to work locally while conducting intern duties.
To apply, send a cover letter stating your interest in and qualifications for the project, a resume or CV summarizing your experience, and contact information for three references to the email address below. The document(s) you submit should include your last name and document type in the file name. Email is preferred, but postal mail is accepted.* Deadline for application: 30 Jan 2017, no applicants will be considered after this date.* If selected for interview you will be contacted by Feb 5th, *please do not make follow up inquiries.*
6) Internship posting at The Smithsonian Environmental Research Center
The Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC) in Edgewater, Maryland offers undergraduate and beginning graduate students a unique opportunity to gain hand-on experience in the fields of environmental research and education.
The program enables students to work on specific projects while getting experience in valuable lab techniques all under the direction of the Center’s professional staff. The program is tailored to provide the maximum educational benefit to each participant.
SERC is focused on understanding the causes and consequences of environmental change for marine, freshwater, and terrestrial ecosystems.
Interns at SERC conduct independent projects over 12-16 weeks utilizing our 2,650 acre research site on the shores of Chesapeake Bay to provide novel insights into some of the most profound issues challenging our world today, including habitat loss, climate change, and invasive species. The Smithsonian Environmental Research Center has maintained an REU site since 2001 and those students sponsored have used our professional-training programs as a stepping stone to pursue advanced careers in the environmental sciences.
Application to the SERC Internship Program consists of on-line registration, Student copy of transcripts, personal essay, CV or resume, and two letters of recommendation using the Smithsonian On-line Academic Appointment (SOLAA) https://solaa.si.edu/solaa/#/public
Application deadline listed below:
Summer (May-August): Deadline is February 1st
7) Cary Institute REU Program in Translational Ecology currently accepting applications!
The Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies is currently accepting applications for its Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program during summer 2017. The theme of the program is Translational Ecology: Independent Research in Ecology for Undergraduates, Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Millbrook, New York
Ten undergraduate students will join the Cary Institute research community in 2017 to:
- Be a part of an exciting research community, working closely with leading ecologists
- Design and complete a research project using state-of-the-art facilities
- Exchange ideas with a diverse group of students and scientists
- Learn how to translate ecology for policy, management and the public
- Publish results in our online Cary Institute Undergraduate Research Report
- Explore how ecological research impacts society
The program emphasizes the community nature of the scientific enterprise, fosters reflection and builds self-confidence and skills. To complement their mentored research, students have many chances to interact, give and receive feedback and support, and participate in a rich assortment of enrichment activities, workshops and field trips around the theme of translational ecology.
Dates: May 22 to August 11, 2017 (12 weeks)
Eligibility: Undergraduate freshmen, sophomores, juniors or first semester seniors. Must be citizens or permanent residents of the U.S. or its possessions.
Stipend: $6,300 stipend, plus a $900 food allowance and free housing in Bacon Flats Lodge.
Other support: Assistance is available for travel to and from the program as well.
8) UWIN Undergraduate Research Program now accepting applications!
The Urban Water Innovation Network (UWIN) is currently accepting applications for its Undergraduate Research Program (URP) in the summer of 2017!
Students will be given the opportunity to perform cutting edge, transdisciplinary research of immediate relevance to people in urban areas. Students with different research interests in urban water sustainability – natural sciences, social sciences, engineering – will be placed with a team of mentors at institutions in urban areas across the nation. See:
Sustainable Urban Water Transdisciplinary Research Program for Undergraduates, Engaging Undergraduates in Transitioning Toward Sustainable Urban Water Systems
Students will join the Urban Water Innovation Network community for 9 weeks in summer 2017 to:
- Complete an independent, guided research project, working closely with mentor scientists, other students and the broader UWIN team
- Attend a 3 day kick-off and a 3 day wrap-up meetings at Colorado State University
- Participate in skill building workshops and seminars
- Attend a Virtual Forum on Opportunities in Urban Water Research and Management
- Give a poster presentation in a final Urban Water Sustainability Research Symposium
The program fosters reflection and builds self-confidence and skills. To complement their mentored research, students interact in person and/or virtually, give and receive feedback and support, and participate in a rich assortment of enrichment activities, workshops and seminars in research and urban water sustainability.
Dates: May 31 to August 2, 2017 (9 weeks)
Eligibility: Undergraduate freshmen, sophomores, juniors or first semester seniors. Must be citizens or permanent residents of the U.S. or its possessions.
Support: $4,500 stipend, room and board on-campus or in nearby housing, travel allowance up to $900.
The program starts and ends at Colorado State University in Fort Collins CO.
To apply: See our website at: https://erams.com/UWIN/urp/ Online application only.
Applications must be submitted by February 10, 2017.
9) Summer 2017 Internships at the Holden Arboretum
This 12-week summer internship will provide you with an opportunity to work with scientists from The Holden Arboretum studying the effects of environmental change on plants and forests of Northeast Ohio. Internships typically run from late May thru early August but timing is flexible. Duties may include: assisting in soil and plant sampling, plant data collection, as well as extracting, amplifying, and analyzing DNA from soils and roots. Interns will be compensated with a stipend of $440/week and on-site housing is available if needed for a nominal fee ($30 per week). Due to our rural location, interns are responsible for their own transportation. Persons with knowledge of or interest in ecology, microbiology, or plant biology are encouraged to apply.
Applicants should send a letter of interest, a resume that discusses your prior experience, and two references. Applicants should also indicate their primary research interest. Holden research staff and a description of their respective programs can be found at:
To apply: Review of applications begins immediately and continues until the positions are filled. Qualified applicants should submit a letter of interest and resume online at: https://home.eease.adp.com/recruit2/?id=15518401&t=1.