A Joint Restoration Ecology and One Health Apprenticeship 2018
The Wilds is one of the largest and most innovative conservation centers in the world, offering diverse training programs for early career professionals. The Wilds has nearly 10,000 acres of reclaimed mineland and remnant forest patches, which present opportunities for ecological restoration and cutting-edge research to help address emerging public health concerns such as harmful algal blooms and water quality, with College of Public Health, The Ohio State University and professional public health practitioner with the US Public Health Service (usphs.gov). This six-month position starting May 2018 is aimed at recent graduates from related fields.
Typical tasks: Half-time at The Wilds, the apprentice will be implementing habitat improvements and monitoring ecosystem recovery through invasive plant management, vegetation and wildlife surveys, environmental monitoring, and photo point collection.
The other half-time, the apprentice will be coordinating community engagement activities in wildlife and water conservation, including collecting water samples to analyzing results from various water bodies; wetlands, lakes, experimental wetlands, and crops.
* Training: field methods such as plant identification, survey
protocols, research methodology, microcystin field testing, GPS & GIS applications/map making, biological monitoring and application of land management and restoration techniques.
* Apprentice will conduct a scientific research project related to
water quality and beavers with a final presentation to Wilds employees and researchers at The Ohio State University at the end of their term.
* Position requires hiking and some physically demanding tasks,
including outdoor work throughout the seasons. This may include hot, buggy, cold or otherwise challenging conditions. Participants should be prepared with appropriate field gear / foot wear.
* Should be interested in emerging public health concerns and how
ecosystems services and public health are interconnected, eager for learning opportunities and willing to practice new skills independently.
* Apprentices must be responsible, flexible, self-motivated and
able to work effectively with limited supervision, as well as in a team setting.
* Must have a valid driver’s license and be able to lift at least
45 lbs.
* Must have basic knowledge in biostatistics and environmental
health science.
* Must be willing to work some evenings and weekends.
Schedule is typically M-F, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM. While no monetary compensation is offered, on site housing will be covered as well as gas mileage when traveling for projects. In addition, the position is ideal for acquiring practical experience in conservation, wildlife (beavers) monitoring, natural resource management, ecological and public health, land stewardship or ecological studies. It is particularly well suited to prepare participants for graduate school or work in a conservation or public health fields.
To apply, please send your resume with three references and a cover letter to the contact below. Outline your objectives to gain from the position and how your past experience makes you an ideal candidate. Our training programs are competitive and we value placing individuals in programs that suit their career goals.
Please send application materials by March 15th, 2018 to:
Dr. Rebecca Swab Director of Restoration Ecology, The Wilds
14000 International Road, Cumberland, OH 43732 740.638.5030 ext. 2084
rswab@thewilds.org
www.thewilds.org