Month: December 2017

Research Opportunities for Undergraduates at the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory

The Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory is now accepting applications for the 2018 undergraduate research program.  Go to www.rmbl.org and follow the link for ‘students’.
 
Each year the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory (RMBL) matches approximately 40 students with mentors from around the world.  Students have opportunities to work on a wide array of ecological and evolutionary field projects.  Additionally, students have the opportunity to supplement their research project with additional training in field ecology or wildlife biology.  RMBL provides REU funding for approximately 10 students.  RMBL also makes available additional scholarships.  Consequently financial need should not preclude students from applying.

This is a wonderful opportunity for students thinking about a career in the sciences.  RMBL is located in Gothic, Colorado, a stunningly beautiful location in the Rockies.  Because we host more than 100 graduate students and senior scientists, undergraduates have an opportunity to learn about graduate programs from around the world.  Many undergraduates end up as co-authors on scientific papers and start building professional networks that foster their career across a lifetime.  We have had many undergraduates turn their summer research into a senior thesis project, even though they have not necessarily had someone from their school present at RMBL during the summer.

Our program does fill.  We encourage strongly motivated applicants, including applicants who need financial support, to submit their online application by Feb. 15 for REU applicants and by March 1 for RMBL Scholarships.  Students can apply for both sources of funds with one application.

CLM Internship Program is now accepting applications for paid internships!

The Conservation and Land Management Internship Program is now accepting applications for 2018!  Apply online atwww.clminternship.org

Each year, the Conservation and Land Management Internship Program places 100-120 college graduates in five-month paid internships to assist biologists with our federal (BLM, NPS, FWS, FS, USGS and others) and non-profit partners. Each internship is unique and may focus on botany, wildlife, or a combination of the two.  The majority of our internships have a heavy emphasis on botany. Interns assist in a wide variety of projects depending on the needs of their field office.
Examples of projects include: collecting seed for restoration and conservation purposes, performing surveys for threatened and endangered species and habitats, and collecting data on species reintroduction and habitat management experiments. Applicants with strong botany experience are especially encouraged to apply!

Benefits of the CLM Internship Program are numerous.  As a CLM intern, you will receive a stipend paid every two weeks totaling $13,500 over 5 months and will attend an all-expenses paid week-long training workshop at the Chicago Botanic Garden. In addition, the CLM Internship Program provides opportunities to make connections in various governmental and non-profit organizations, to learn what it’s like to work at a federal agency, to explore your career goals and expand your resume.
Applications are due January 15th but we encourage applicants to apply soon as we review applications on a rolling basis – the sooner your application is complete, the sooner we can review your files and consider you for available positions!

For more information and to apply online, please visit:
www.clminternship.org

Graduate position: ClarksonU.ExperimentalEvolution

PhD position in Evolutionary Biology: Using use microbial experimental
evolution to explore drivers of parallel evolution and adaptation in
heterogeneous environments.

The Bailey Lab at Clarkson University, Potsdam NY is looking to fill a
PhD position in the Bioscience and Biotechnology (B&B) PhD Program
starting summer or fall 2018. The successful candidate would use
microbial experimental evolution to explore processes driving parallel
evolution, and/ or local adaptation and dispersal evolution in
heterogeneous environments. Some practical experience in microbiology
is desired but training will be provided. Along with experimental
evolution, the Bailey lab also uses a range of quantitative approaches
including statistical modelling of genome data and computer
simulations, and so these other approaches can also be incorporated
into the PhD project depending on student interest and prior
experience.

For more information on research in the Bailey lab, see
susanfbailey.wixsite.com/home.
For more information on the Clarkson University B&B program, see
www.clarkson.edu/graduate/bioscience-and-biotechnology.

The successful candidate will have a BSc or MSc degree in biology or a
related field, preferably one that included a research component
(e.g., a dissertation or a thesis). The position will be funded by a
Graduate Teaching Assistantship, which involves about 20 hours of TA
work each week during the fall and spring semesters. Qualifications
for this assistantship include good interpersonal skills and good to
excellent command of the English language.

Interested students can contact Dr. Susan Bailey
(sbailey@clarkson.edu) for more details, or apply directly at
www.clarkson.edu/graduate/bioscience-and-biotechnology. Please
indicate in your application that you are responding to this ad and
are specifically interested to work with Dr. Bailey.

Submitted application materials must include an official transcript,
statement of purpose, three letters of recommendation, and score
results of the GRE aptitude test (may be waived for some applicants).
International students for whom English is not a first language must
also submit a TOEFL score unless their BSc or MSc degree was in
English language.

Graduate position: UWestAlabama.BaikalSculpinEvolution

MS position in Conservation Biology
Stipend: up to $22,000/yr
Tuition waiver approved for students who instruct introductory biology
lab sections

The Laboratory of AQuatic Evolution (LAQE) at the University of West
Alabama is dedicated to research involving the evolution and conservation
of aquatic biodiversity. We have an opening for one Master of Science
student to assist with ongoing projects including, but not limited to:
1) Speciation in ancient lakes (Lake Baikal, Siberia); 2) Adaptation to
extreme aquatic environments; 3) Functional genomics of mitochondria.

The University of West Alabama is a small, public Master’s-granting
institution located within commuting distance of Meridian, MS and
Tuscaloosa, AL. The University offers an attractive benefits package
and competitive salaries. Affordable housing is available in Livingston,
Alabama, within walking distance of campus.

Duties and responsibilities:
– Conduct independent and collaborative research on fishes of
Lake Baikal.
– Maintain a small live fish facility.
– Travel to Siberia (Russia) in summer 2018.
– Participate in lab meetings.
– Help train new lab members.
– Instruct undergraduate biology laboratory sections (optional).

Qualifications:
– Bachelor of Science degree in biology or a related field.
– Interest in/experience with phylogenetic systematics and NGS
bioinformatics.
– Experience with general molecular biology techniques (DNA extraction,
PCR, electrophoresis).
– Proficiency with Microsoft Excel (required) and R (preferred).
– Organized and detail-oriented.

Benefits:
The stipend for this research assistant position is $14,000 per year.
This may be supplemented by up to $8,000 and a full tuition waiver if
the student agrees to teach laboratory sections of general zoology or
introductory biology.

Interested candidates should build an application containing; 1) cover
letter; 2) curriculum vitae including GPA and GRE scores; 3) contact
information for three professional references. Official transcripts will
be required prior to candidate selection.

Complete applications (pdf) should be attached to an email with the header
“Graduate student application” and sent to: msandel@uwa.edu

Michael Sandel, PhD
Assistant Professor &
Coordinator of Conservation Programs
Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences
The University of West Alabama
205-652-3475
msandel@uwa.edu

The University of West Alabama does not discriminate on the basis
of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability
or sexual orientation in employment, or the provision of services.
Applications from members of minority groups are encouraged.

“Sandel, Michael” <msandel@uwa.edu>

Seasonal Position: Wildlife/Habitat Technician

Wildlife/Habitat Technician
(Temp Bio Science Research Worker)
Northern Great Basin Experimental Range, Riley, OR This temporary (3 month) position is with Oregon State University and is located at the Northern Great Basin Experimental Range (NGBER)
approximately 35 miles west of Burns, OR in Riley, OR.   The successful
candidates will assist the principal investigator with treatment application, vegetation sampling, plant species identification, songbird point count and nest surveys, sample processing, and data entry and summarization on several wildlife habitat research projects in the northern Great Basin.  3 technicians will be hired to work on wildlife and wildlife habitat projects. On-site housing is provided on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Desired Qualifications
1.      Experience/training in songbird point counts, nest transects,
handling and measuring avian species or experience using nest bowl or other wildlife camera technology
2.      Courses/experience in natural resources, wildlife, botany, plant
science, or related field.
3.      Experience/training in field identification of plant species,
preferably Great Basin
4.      Experience/training in vegetation sampling techniques, such as line-
point intercept, biomass sampling, visual obscurity estimation with Robel pole, and transect and ground photo monitoring.
5.      Experience living or working in rural/remote locations
6.      General knowledge of computers and skills for use of word
processing and data entry.
7.      Demonstrated commitment to promoting and enhancing diversity.
8.      Ability to carry out tasks independently and part of a team.
9.      Experience with driving 4WD vehicles and GPS units.
10.     Must possess a current, valid driver’s license. Driver’s license
required to commute to remote research/demonstration project locations.
Finalists for this position will be required to obtain their driving history for the past 3 years from the issuing state’s Dept. of Motor Vehicles.  Offers of employment are contingent upon a satisfactory driving history and possession of a valid driver’s license.
11.     Must be able to pass a criminal history check.

Position Duties
May include any of the following:
70% – Data/sample collection and processing:
Collect songbird density and nest success data by conducting point count and nest transect surveys, monitoring success of located nests, and installing and maintaining automated audio recorders.
Collect vegetation foliar cover and density by functional group and ground cover measurements for rangeland research projects.
Locate individually marked bunchgrasses using a handheld GPS unit and apply various utilization regimes to marked plants.
Collect visual obscurity and vertical vegetation density measurements.
Collect transect and ground photos using repeat photo-monitoring protocols.
Collect vegetation biomass samples within small plot frames (1.0 m2) for grazing monitoring and research.  Dry and weigh biomass samples to determine cattle utilization in various pastures.
Participate in creation of utilization curves for various native bunchgrass species.
Monitor cattle utilization in experimentally manipulated pastures.
Possibility of handling and measuring nestling songbirds, and installing nest bowl cameras or iButtons.
15% – Research/monitoring study design implementation and plot layout:
Establish and maintain designed research/monitoring projects including:
1.      Assigning and applying vegetation treatments as prescribed in a
study’s protocols.
2.      Maintain treatment application and sampling schedules described
within research and monitoring project protocols.
3.      Readying datasheets, sampling equipment, other field equipment and
vehicles for fieldwork associated with research/monitoring projects.
4.      Maintaining exclosure fencing to protect study integrity from
grazing where needed.
15% – Data entry and summarization:
Use portable tablets to collect data directly into Excel and import datasheets into an established Access database and/or enter collected vegetation cover, ground cover, visual obscurity, and vegetation biomass data into Excel spreadsheets.  Organize data into a structure that facilitates data graphing, summarization, and analysis.
Summarize collected data in preparation for statistical analysis and for displaying the information in research reports and scientific manuscripts.
Organize spreadsheet, photo, mapping, and other project files into a project-specific structure that facilitates efficient location and access of needed files.
Please submit a cover letter and resume to Vanessa.schroeder@oregonstate.edu with Wildlife/Habitat Technician in the subject line by January 20, 2018 for full consideration. Applications accepted through February 20, 2018. Start dates will vary by technician:
technician one will start the week of April 9-11, technician two April 23rd, and technician three the week of May 1st – 4th, 2018.

Paid Summer Research (REU) at UMich Biological Station

The University of Michigan Biological Station is now accepting applications for its Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program, “Climate Change in the Great Lakes Region.”
 
Our REU summer program runs for nine weeks (June 19 – August 18, 2018) at the UM 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 plus free room and board at the Station. 
 
DEADLINE: The deadline to apply is Thursday, February 15, 2018.
 
 
The University of Michigan Biological Station is located on Douglas Lake near Pellston, Michigan at the tip of the lower peninsula. Its campus is situated amid 10,000 undeveloped acres owned by the Station. Students have quick access to many unique habitats in the region including dune, alvar, bog, and old-growth forest. The Station also has 2 atmospheric gas sensing towers for monitoring forest and atmospheric gas. More information about the Station is available at 
 
Jenny Kalejs | RECRUITMENT AND OUTREACH COORDINATOR

Graduate Opportunity: Restoration Ecology UWyoming

MS Graduate Opportunity in Ecological Restoration

A funded MS graduate assistantship is available in the lab of Dr. Kristina Hufford at the University of Wyoming.  The project will characterize plant community outcomes of native species seeded along roadsides in southern Wyoming.  Specifically, we’ll look at the effectiveness of revegetation for limiting invasive species along road right-of-way strips and also in adjacent wildlands.  The graduate research assistant will study the site conditions and species combinations that lead to successful establishment of native plants.  In addition the student will work with Wyoming Department of Transportation personnel to review wildlife palatability and associated risk of targeted plant species.

Applicants must possess a valid US driver’s license, and should be capable of working in sometimes challenging (but beautiful) field conditions both independently and as part of a team.  There will be opportunities to develop independent lines of inquiry and we welcome applications from enthusiastic and highly motivated candidates with interests in field ecology, plant community diversity, and data analysis.

Please send a letter of interest and resume, undergraduate transcripts (informal copies are acceptable), GRE scores and contact information for 3 references to: Kristina Hufford (khufford@uwyo.edu).  This position is available immediately and we hope to fill it by summer 2018. Funding includes graduate stipend, tuition and fees.

For more information about the Ecosystem Science and Management Department and the Rangeland Ecology and Watershed Management graduate degree, please visit http://www.uwyo.edu/esm/

Learn more about Laramie, Wyoming at http://visitlaramie.org/

Please contact Kristina Hufford (khufford@uwyo.edu) with questions.  Lab
website: http://www.khuffordlab.com/

Greater Sage-grouse Research in Wyoming and Montana

University of Wyoming is looking for up to 6 field technicians to assist with 2 greater sage-grouse research projects. The first project will focus on identifying importing seasonal habitats for sage-grouse in south-central, Montana (1 position). This position will last approximately 5 months (mid-March through mid-August). The second project will collect data to evaluate sage-grouse response to sagebrush habitat treatments in west-central, Wyoming (up to 5 positions). Three positions will last approximately 5 months (mid-March through mid-August) and two positions will last for approximately 3.5 months (1 May through 15 August). Dates are approximate. There will also be an opportunity for 1 technician to begin work as early as mid-February.
Duties will include locating radio-marked grouse with radio telemetry and GPS; monitoring nests; nighttime brood counts; evaluating vegetation and insects at microhabitat plots at nest, brood, and random locations; data entry and proofing; and operating 4 x 4 and off-road vehicles.
Work will require sharing camp trailers or apartments with other technicians; extensive hiking; long hours (> 40/wk); and a willingness to endure potentially adverse environmental conditions including cold, heat, dust, rain, snow, and biting insects. It is essential that applicants are able to work well with others and also work independently. Technicians will gain valuable wildlife and vegetation monitoring experience.  
 
Location:
First study – Carbon County, Montana (near Red Lodge).
Second study – Fremont County, Wyoming (near Jeffrey City)
 
Start Date:
First study: ~March 16th (1 person).
Second study: ~March 23rd or May 1st.
 
Final Day to Apply: January 19, 2018.
 
Salary: ~$2000/Month, housing provided.
 
Qualifications
Those who have earned or are pursuing degrees in wildlife ecology/science, rangeland ecology/science, botany, zoology, biology, ecology or related fields are encouraged to apply.  
Applicants should have the ability to:
-Legibly record field data and enter it into Excel spreadsheets
-Navigate using maps and GPS equipment
-Monitor birds using radio telemetry
-Work and live side-by-side with co-workers in camp trailers
-Work under extreme weather conditions
-Assist with vegetation and insect data collection
-Safely operate 4WD pickups and ATVs
-Work LONG days with variable work schedules (long day and/or nighttime hours)
Please send a 1 page letter of interest and your resume as a single attached file via email to Kurt Smith. Please name the file with your full name. In your letter of interest please include dates when available to start, the project you are interested in, and a short (1-2 paragraph maximum) answer to the following question: Why is it important to study Greater sage-grouse in relation to human land use practices? In your resume include contact information for 2 or 3 references.
Contact: Kurt Smith (ksmith94@uwyo.edu

Graduate Position: AustinPeayStateU.PlantPopGenetics

MS Position, Comparative Plant Population Genetics

Graduate Research Assistantship, Austin Peay State University
(Clarskville, TN, U.S.A.)

Annual stipend of $15,750 and a tuition waiver for two years

Start Date: summer 2018 (preferably June)

Contact Person:  Carol Baskauf (baskaufc@apsu.edu)

Highly motivated students wishing to earn an MS in Biology and
interested in plant population genetics research are invited to apply
for a Graduate Research Assistantship in Dr. Carol Baskauf’s lab at
Austin Peay State University (APSU) in Clarksville, TN.  The
assistantship includes a tuition waiver and stipend for two years
($15,750 annually), and the successful candidate will begin lab/field
work in the summer of 2018 before beginning graduate classes in the
fall.

Generally, research in the Baskauf lab includes plant population
genetics, ecology, and ecophysiology, with a particular interest in
rare plant species and comparative studies.  Specifically, this NSF
funded Graduate Research Assistantship will involve genetic analysis of
several rare and widespread congeners as part of a larger collaborative
research project examining correlations between genetic diversity and
phenotypic plasticity as well as potential adaptive and/or acclimatory
responses to future environmental change by rare and widespread
species.

An undergraduate degree in a biology-related field is required.
Competitive applicants will have excellent written and oral
communication skills and the ability to work independently and
carefully, with attention to detail.  They should also be able to work
collaboratively and to supervise undergraduates carrying out related
research.  In addition to an unofficial copy of college transcripts,
prospective students should send Dr. Carol Baskauf (baskaufc@apsu.edu )
a single pdf file consisting of a brief letter of interest and
background, a CV or resume (including GPA, GRE scores, and, if
applicable, TOEFL scores), and the names and contact information for 3
academic or profession references.  Review of applicants will begin
Jan. 2 and continue until a suitable candidate is found.  For full
consideration, submit all materials prior to Feb. 1, 2018.

The successful applicant will enroll in the Masters program prior to
APSU’s March 15, 2018 application deadline in order to be eligible to
complete coursework and a thesis leading to an M.S. degree in Biology.
Information about the graduate program is at the Biology Department’s
web page
(http://www.apsu.edu/grad-studies/graduateprograms/biology.php).
General questions can be directed to Graduate Admissions
(1-800-859-4723, gradadmissions@apsu.edu).  APSU is an equal
opportunity employer, and underrepresented and minority groups are
encouraged to apply.

“Baskauf, Carol” <BaskaufC@apsu.edu>

Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) –PIE LTER

Position Title:  Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) –PIE LTER
 
Date:     December 18, 2017
 
Position Summary:         
The Marine Biological Laboratory is seeking applicants for two 10-week positions in the Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program sponsored by the National Science Foundation. The successful applicant will work as part of a large-scale, multi-disciplinary project examining the effects of sea-level, climate change, and changes in human land use of the marshes, estuaries and watersheds surrounding Plum Island Sound, MA (http://pie-lter.ecosystems.mbl.edu).
 
REU positions are available to U.S. citizens or Permanent Residents only who are currently enrolled as undergraduates at U.S. colleges or universities (no graduating seniors).
               
Additional Information:
REU projects will be drawn from the following areas: microbial processes and communities, sediment dynamics, plant ecology, population and community ecology of invertebrates, fish population size and diet, marsh carbon and nitrogen cycles, and watershed inputs and processing. Students will work closely with mentors to develop and conduct independent projects within these research areas. However, both students will be immersed in an active research environment and will interact with a diversity of knowledgeable wetland scientists conducting research on plant ecology, invertebrate ecology, and biogeochemical cycling. Students are expected to present their findings at MBL’s Young Scientist Symposium in August in Woods Hole. Housing will be provided at the field station in Byfield, MA.
               
Basic Qualifications:       
Applicants should have completed basic coursework in biology, chemistry and ideally ecology or ecosystem studies. Attention to detail and a desire to learn new laboratory and field techniques are essential.
               
Preferred Qualifications:             
Previous experience with boats is useful but not required.
               
Physical Requirements:
Ability to work long hours in the field and carry heavy objects over uneven marsh is required.
 
 
The Marine Biological Laboratory is an
Affirmative Action / Equal Opportunity / Disabled / Veterans Employer.
 
Molly Kelleher
Human Resources Assistant
Marine Biological Laboratory
7 MBL Street
Woods Hole, MA  02543
508-289-7422