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 for Undergraduates*

*:* See: www.caryinstitute.org/reu.html.

Your help in sharing this information with students interested in doing

independent research in our unique setting would be very much appreciated.

Program details follow.

Thank you.

Aude Lochet, Ph.D.

Cary REU Program Coordinator

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*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:

=EF=82=B7         Be a part of an exciting research community, working closely with

leading ecologists

=EF=82=B7         Design and complete a research project using state-of-the-art

facilities

=EF=82=B7         Exchange ideas with a diverse group of students and scientists

=EF=82=B7         Learn how to translate ecology for policy, management and the

public

=EF=82=B7         Publish results in our online *Cary Institute Undergraduate

Research Report*

=EF=82=B7         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.

*Projects for 2017:*

=C2=B7   Eavesdropping behavior and social information use in songbirds

=C2=B7   The scavenger community in a temperate northeastern forest

=C2=B7   Nutrient retention in forest soils

=C2=B7   Long-term consequences of high deer abundance on forest community

structure and nutrient dynamics

=C2=B7   Ecosystem regulation of mosquitoes and disease risk

=C2=B7   Trans-boundary ecosystem effects of larval abiotic conditions on adult

mosquito population dynamics

=C2=B7   Hudson River habitats in a changing world

=C2=B7   Lakes in a changing global environment

=C2=B7   Ecological change in the Sky Lakes on the Shawangunk Ridge

=C2=B7   Using a whole-lake experiment to understand how environmental change

alters lake food productivity

=C2=B7   Children’s learning and engagement in ecology

*To apply:* See our website at: http://www.caryinstitute.

org/students/reu-program

Online application only

*Applications must be submitted by February 3, 2017.*

*For more information, contact:*

Dr. Aude Lochet

Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies

PO Box AB, 2801 Sharon Turnpike, Millbrook, NY 12545

(845) 677-7600 x326 <(845)%20677-7600>

Fax: (845) 677-5976

E-mail: caryreu@caryinstitute.org

SEASONAL FIELD TECHNICIAN POSITIONS: FOREST ECOLOGY

Tyson Research Center

Washington University in St. Louis

Two seasonal field technician positions are available in Jonathan Myers’ research group at Washington University in St. Louis (http://www.myersecologylab.com). The technicians will work collaboratively with a research team to establish field experiments and census plant communities in large-scale forest-dynamics plots at Washington University=92s environmental field station, the Tyson Research Center (http://tyson.wustl.edu), located 20 miles from campus. Primary tasks include: 1) establishing permanent forest-dynamics plot for surveys of tree communities; 2) constructing mammal-exclusion fences; 3) implementing seed-addition experiments; 4) identifying, tagging, measuring, and mapping seedlings and trees; 5) collecting, counting, and identifying seeds; 6) measuring environmental variables in the field; 7) entering data into spreadsheets using Excel; and 8) assisting with the mentoring and supervision of undergraduate students and high school students in field research.

Position details: The technicians will assist with a NSF-funded project investigating why the diversity of functional traits at regional scales influences community assembly, biodiversity, and responses of plant communities to environmental change (fire & nutrient availability). The positions are full-time, temporary positions (up to 6 months) with no benefits. Wages will be commensurate with experience. The start dates are flexible, but ideally the positions would begin by February 15, 2017. Successful applicants will need to secure their own housing in St. Louis or near the Tyson Research Center in Eureka, Missouri.

Minimum requirements: Bachelors degree in biology, ecology, environmental science, forestry or a related field; experience conducting ecological field research; desire to learn new field skills; and the ability to work outdoors under arduous conditions that include walking across steep terrain and cold or hot/humid weather. Ideal candidates will have a strong interest in ecology, strong teamwork skills, and enjoy working outdoors.

To apply: Please combine the following into a single PDF file: 1) a cover letter describing your interest in this position, relevant past experience, start date availability, and contact information for three references including email addresses and phone numbers; and 2) a CV or resume. Application materials must be submitted electronically through https://jobs.wustl.edu by entering the job ID number (35531) as a keyword under =93Basic Search.=94 Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the positions are filled. Candidates are encouraged to e-mail Jonathan Myers (jamyers@wustl.edu) to indicate interest in the position as soon as possible using the subject line “Seasonal Field Technician Position”. Questions regarding the position can be directed to Jonathan Myers.

We are seeking a highly motivated Ph.D. student to start at the University of Florida in Fall 2017. This student will work as part of a

collaborative research group on a project investigating the role of on

habitat loss, habitat fragmentation, and matrix quality on the population and community dynamics of insect herbivores. The project includes field work at the nearby Ordway-Swisher Biological Station (http://www.osbs.ufl.edu), including experiments manipulating habitat and matrix types, using prickly-pear cactus and their associated species

as a model system (see, e.g., Fletcher et al. 2011, 2013, 2014). The project includes four years of full support for the student (approximately $22,500/year, plus health benefits; pending final approval), funds for field work, and support for some travel to meetings. An additional year of support may be available to outstanding

candidates from the graduate program via which the student matriculates

(see below).

The student will be co-advised by Dr. Robert Fletcher (http://plaza.ufl.edu/robert.fletcher/) and Dr. Emilio Bruna (http://brunalab.org/). Other collaborators on the project include Dr.

Bob Holt (http://people.clas.ufl.edu/rdholt/) and Dr. Brian Reichert. Preferred applicants will be highly motivated and have a background in

ecology, entomology, or other relevant field, field experience, strong

quantitative skills (preferably in population or spatial ecology), and

an ability to work well both independently and with as part of a diverse

team. Interested students should send a (1) a letter of interest describing your educational background,  research experience, and career

goals, (2) a Curriculum Vitae that includes GRE and TOEFL/TSE scores (if

relevant) and GPA (3) an unofficial copy of transcripts and (4) contact

information for three references by email to Dr. Robert Fletcher (email:

robert.fletcher@ufl.edu).  The deadline for submitting materials for review is February 1, 2017.  Interested applicants should also apply to

the Graduate Programs in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation (http://www.wec.ufl.edu/grad) and the School of Natural Resources and the Environment (http://snre.ufl.edu), both of which accommodate students studying a broad diversity of topics in ecology and conservation. Students to these programs may also apply for an additional year of stipend and tuition support. For more information, see: http://plaza.ufl.edu/robert.fletcher/.

Information about the City of Gainesville:

Situated in the rolling countryside of north central Florida, Gainesville is much more than a stereotypical college town. Home of the

University of Florida, seat of Alachua County’s government and the region’s commercial hub, it is progressive, environmentally conscious and culturally diverse. The presence of many students and faculty from

abroad among its 99,000-plus population adds a strong cross-cultural flavor to its historic small-town Southern roots. Its natural environment, temperate climate and civic amenities make Gainesville a beautiful, pleasant and interesting place in which to learn and to live.

Gainesville has been ranked as one of the best cities to live in the United States.

Florida boasts a diversity of fauna and flora common to both southern temperate and subtropical climates and is replete with springs, rivers,

backwater streams, lakes, freshwater and saltwater marshes, mangrove fringes, cypress swamps, hardwood hammocks, sandhills, scrub, pine flatwoods, and rangeland. Nested between the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf

of Mexico, Florida has more than 2,000 kilometers of coastal beaches and

estuaries. Special features include the Florida Keys, which constitute

an archipelago of picturesque subtropical islands, and the unique Everglades, or =93river of grass,=94 which sprawls across the vast southern peninsula.

Information about the University of Florida:

The University of Florida (http://www.ufl.edu) is a Land-Grant, Sea-

Grant, and Space-Grant institution, encompassing virtually all academic

and professional disciplines, with an enrollment of more than 50,000 students.  The nearby 3,600-hectare Ordway-Swisher Biological Station,

managed by the UF Department of Wildlife Conservation and Ecology, provides an outdoor laboratory for teaching and a site for long-term field research, and has been designated to serve as a National Science

Foundation NEON core site.

Several units on or nearby the University of Florida campus complement

the teaching and research programs of the Department, including The Florida Climate Institute, an interdisciplinary center hosted at UF and

comprising 7 Florida universities; Biotechnologies for Ecological, Evolutionary, and Conservation Sciences; the Tropical Conservation and

Development Program in the Center for Latin American Studies; Center for

Natural Resources; Center for Wetlands; Center for Biological Conservation; Pre-eminence initiatives in Bioinformatics and Biodiversity; Florida Museum of Natural History; Northeast Regional Data

Center; National Ecology Laboratory (Sirenia) of USGS; Florida Field Station (Gainesville) of the U.S.D.A. Wildlife Research Laboratory; Southeastern Forest Experiment Station unit of the U.S. Forest Service;

The Nature Conservancy; the Wildlife Conservation Society; the Wildlife

Research Laboratory of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission; and others.

The Losos Lab at Harvard University (http://lososlab.oeb.harvard.edu) is

looking for a research assistant (undergraduate or graduate level) to join a team of researchers studying thermal adaptation and speciation in brown anole lizards in The Bahamas. The period of this assistantship will be

from 3 May =96 30 June, 2017. The project will involve both lab and field work. Prior field experience is preferred, but not necessary. All travel

and living expenses will be covered, but no salary will be provided. For

more information (and to apply) please contact Mike Logan at mike.logan1983@gmail.com.

This course will begin by exploring basic bird biology, as well as the

diversity of avian species in the Amazon. It will include both daily exercises and nightly lectures focused on avian natural history, evolution, and taxonomy. Next, we will focus on survey methods, which are crucial for understanding population declines due to climate change,

habitat loss, and other causes. Conservation actions aimed at preserving

avian diversity and the habitats they share with other species depend on

information gained through the techniques we will practice, such as deploying mist nets or conducting point counts and line transects.

Finally, we will examine basic interactions between birds and their habitats, review and analyze research articles, weigh conservation issues and strategies, and discuss the implementation of ornithological

projects in the wild.

Along the way, you will be able to canoe in a nearby oxbow lake featuring giant river otters and hoatzins, paddle through a palm swamp

while spotting caiman and frogs, and climb a 60-meter tower to view the

forest canopy and watch for macaws.

COURSE DATES

June 16th =96 July 3rd, 2017

REGISTRATION

Course size is limited, spots are filled on a rolling basis until April

17th, 2017

COURSE FEE

$2250 (includes all meals at the field station, lodging, and transportation from Puerto Maldonado to the field site and back)

MORE INFORMATION

https://fieldprojects.org/participate/courses-2/tropical-ornithology

LOCATION

This course will be held at the Los Amigos Biological Station, also known by its Spanish acronym EBLA (Estaci=F3n Biol=F3gica R=EDo Los Amigos). Situated between the Madre de Dios and Los Amigos Rivers on terra firme

forest rising above the floodplain, this field station was established

in 2000 and boasts incredible biodiversity that includes 11 primate species and 595 species of bird.

Project description: Understand the effects of climate change on carbon cycling in tundra ecosystems. The field site borders Denali National Park in Healy, AK.

Find more information about the research at https://www2.nau.edu/schuurlab-p/

Position duration: Mid-April until late November 2017.

Job description: Fieldwork will include maintenance of experimental plots, measurements of ecosystem-level carbon exchange and complementary environmental variables. The technician will work closely with a postdoctoral researcher, other technicians, graduate and undergraduate students to collect data and maintain field equipment. Other responsibilities will include data entry, preliminary data processing, and data quality control. The technician will work and live in a shared rustic cabin with an outhouse, on the outskirts of Healy, a small (~1000 people) town in interior Alaska.  Travel to and from the field site is via ATV or car.  Applicants should be prepared to work long hours, sometimes in cold and adverse weather conditions.  Required qualifications: B.A/B.S in related field.  Must be eligible to work in the US (Canadian or Mexican with TN visa eligibility is OK too). Must have valid drivers license. Ability to lift and carry 50 lbs, attention to detail, ability to work independently as well as part of a research team, desire to live and work in remote settings, ability to spend long hours outside, and willingness to learn to operate technical sensors and data loggers. Desired qualifications: Prior experience with scientific fieldwork, carbon flux or ecosystem function measurements is beneficial, but not necessary. Good computer skill and knowledge of Excel, R are a plus, but not a must. Being handy with tools and troubleshooting complex systems would also be a benefit.

To apply: Please send a cover letter detailing your preparedness for the position, CV or resume, and list of three references to Meghan Taylor (meghan.taylor@nau.edu) by February 20th 2017. Applications will be reviewed after the closing date, and you will be contacted for an interview.

URochester.MolluscShellEvoDevo

PhD position in evolutionary development of gastropod shells

A graduate student position is available for study of the mechanisms of
mollusc shell development.   Molluscs are one of the most diverse and
successful animal groups, in terms of body plans, species, and their
ubiquity across ecosystems and niches.  Their success is likely due in
part to a key molluscan character– the shell, a strong and durable
exoskeleton of calcium crystals.

Mollusc shells are a very powerful model system for morphological
evolution.  They are extremely diverse and disparate, and different
morphologies can often be directly related to functional differences.
They have an exquisitely detailed fossil record, which allows
morphological change to be tracked through evolutionary time.  Shells
grow progressively, at the outer edge, so they record ontogenetic
change like no other animal structure. Despite the diversity of mollusc
shell morphology, the geometry of shell growth is relatively simple–
even dramatic differences in shell form can be explained by differences
in basic parameters of shell growth.  This has made them a prominent
system for modeling morphological change. Indeed, work on mollusc
shells inspired the concept of morphospace– the theoretical
representation of all the possible forms or structures of an organism.
In addition, shell biomineralization has been extensively studied and
is a model for materials science (Marin et al., 2012). Despite the many
strengths of mollusc shells for studies of morphological evolution,
they have not been tractable for mechanistic studies of the evolution
of development, because the developmental mechanisms that control shell
growth are not known.

The successful candidate will extend recent discoveries in the Lambert
lab at the University of Rochester. Studies will focus on the cellular
behaviors in the mantle epithelium that control shell shape, and on the
genes that regulate these processes.  Methods will include cell
proliferation assays, RNA-seq, in situ hybridization and gene knockdown
studies. Further comparative and modeling projects are also
anticipated.

To apply, please send a CV and a short statement describing your
background and interests, to David Lambert at email address
dlamber2@mail.rochester.edu.

The Hillis lab <http://vickenhillis.weebly.com/> in the Human-Environment Systems Center (HES <https://cid.boisestate.edu/hes/>) at Boise State University is recruiting graduate students (M.S. or Ph.D.) to conduct interdisciplinary research on the social dynamics and sustainability of human-environment systems. Students can work on any of a range of specific projects ongoing in the lab (see here <http://vickenhillis.weebly.com/research.html> for more details).
Successful students will have a strong background in the computational / quantitative social sciences or ecology, or a desire to work hard to gain these skills. Based on their interest, students can apply to various degree programs including Ecology, Evolution and Behavior <https://biology.boisestate.edu/graduate-programs/eeb/>, Anthropology <https://anthropology.boisestate.edu/>, and Public Policy <https://sps.boisestate.edu/publicpolicy/>. Two years (pending adequate
performance) of NSF-funded <https://www.idahoecosystems.org/> support are currently available and additional funding can be obtained through external grants or internal teaching and research assistantships. The position includes a competitive stipend, tuition waiver and health insurance.

Interested students should send a brief cover letter expressing their research interests and relevant experience and a CV to vickenhillis@boisestate.edu.

Additional information:

Nestled in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains and the capital of the State of Idaho, Boise is frequently featured as a top-ranked metropolis.
The city has ample opportunities for world-class outdoor activities year-round and a thriving arts and entertainment culture. In 2016, US News and World Report ranked Boise the 6th best city to live in the United States.

About the University: http://www.boisestate.edu

About the city of Boise: http://www.boisechamber.org

About the Human-Environment Systems Center: https://cid.boisestate.edu/hes

Summer Employment Opportunity!

Come work among the Giant Sequoias!

Sequoia-Kings Canyon Field Station (USGS) is currently searching for

interested applicants for summer Biological Science Technicians (Forest

Ecology) positions.

Pay: GG-5 (approx. $15.74/hour)

Location: Three Rivers, California

Examples of Duties:

Measure forest demographics, including measuring trees and seedlings and

determining cause of death.  Gain knowledge and experience in ecological

research, identifying Sierran trees, and forest pathology.

Several positions will be filled.  Positions are full-time, start in

approximately mid-May, and will last about 5 months. Need bachelor=E2=80=99s degree

or equivalent education and experience. Some field work experience

required. Want people with some biological coursework and experience, an

interest in forest ecology, who want to work outdoors, and who like to work

in small teams and get along easily with others. Housing available for

rent.  *Must be a US Citizen in order to qualify.*

*If interested: e:mail a cover letter, resume, list of references, and

unofficial transcripts to:*    Anne Pfaff at ahpfaff@usgs.gov

*To be considered, please send information by February 6th.*

For more information, call Anne at (559) 565-3172 or e:mail at

ahpfaff@usgs.gov.

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:

http://holdenarb.org/education/research-staff.asp.

Questions concerning the internships can be addressed to Dr. David Burke (dburke@holdenarb.org).  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=3D15518401&t=3D1.

Posting Date:  January

Closing Date:  Until Filled

The Holden Arboretum is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to hiring a diverse and talented workforce. We seek skilled, knowledgeable and experienced individuals to join our staff and enhance our reputation as one of the country=92s foremost arboreta.