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:

* $5500 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<mailto:CDB-REU@utep.edu>

Jill Anderson at the University of Georgia is searching for an
enthusiastic undergraduate with a strong interest in evolutionary
ecology for field research in an NSF REU position (National Science
Foundation, Research Experience for Undergraduates) from June-August
2018. We study the ecological and evolutionary consequences of climate
change for natural plant populations. We focus on research on
Drummond’s rockcress (Boechera stricta in the plant family
Brassicaceae), a mustard plant native to the Rocky Mountains. Our
studies take place around the Rocky Mountain Biological Lab
(http://secure-web.cisco.com/1PdqhNWmtnYboSyGERS6vHzzD5I2Z9pAM2I_r6fMe7Krww4PCaZeFYL0C0vbCot8XRE1tPOR6pl517_SP0wpTbqdO9yhPx0kFEun-PBSoDstO28oMZdS7dHiJbtrCTZl7UTzQMyW-meUBqzVzKzqNHMMf3Ph2Ry0lEFB91xBHHcFZ_1WUiLi-KTpV24qOzGYVgvkyZjHxbux8EJaw71DoxcmtQge1401maOTWIcfEhHWUbAGf_4sCgnvq0R0pNXTIj0BFAgzDrS5FClZwy5jCSQTQm_i6y_6FCgW4xv6DlP0gFO1hlKgWOTdgIJTF0pzvLQ3FpGr5tO36Nor7XRQ54HLV1_k70-58gXFxeKfdFcgKu88RPWSvApxmjHmIGfVWQ88tObhHnMug2_0BzhGhmy0NIBYsK9KB8N4e5hIPwTyTzgNAyIcU79ET2vW2D-c4fElVwNDuI3IBoAhfx4EVZw/http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rmbl.org%2F%29, which is located in Gothic, Colorado near the
wildflower capital of Colorado (Crested Butte).  We quantify plant
fitness and traits to ask whether climate change could disrupt
long-standing patterns of local adaptation, and to test whether
phenotypic plasticity will enable populations to persist in the
short-term. We perform large-scale reciprocal transplant experiments to
examine patterns of adaptive evolution and natural selection in
contemporary landscapes. Since fall 2013, we have planted >150,000
seeds and seedlings into five experimental gardens ranging in elevation
from 2500 m to 3340 m (8202 feet to 11000 feet). Our summer research
involves intensive monitoring of these experimental plants to record
data on germination success, survival, growth, reproductive success, as
well as life history and morphological traits. We conduct most of our
work in the field, with a small proportion of indoor lab work.

The successful candidate will assist with ongoing fieldwork. In
addition, there are many opportunities for students to develop
independent projects associated with our overall objectives, including
studies on: 1) population divergence in ecologically-relevant traits,
especially drought, UV tolerance, and herbivore resistance; 2)
phenotypic plasticity at multiple spatial scales; 3) population density
and species composition of the herbivore community that attacks
Drummond’s rockcress; 4) flower color polymorphism; and 5) the
importance of maternal effects in biological responses to climate
change.

We are offering a stipend of $500/week for a full time REU student (40
hours/week) for 10 weeks.  The exact start and end dates are flexible.
We will cover room and board at the Rocky Mountain Biological
Laboratory and reimburse travel expenses up to $500. Fieldwork will
involve hiking to experimental gardens through rough terrain (1-3 miles
one-way daily).

The University of Georgia is committed to maintaining a fair and respectful envi
ronment for living, work, and study.  To that end, all qualified applicants from
individuals with a strong interest in evolutionary biology will receive conside
ration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national ori
gin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status, or age.  The applic
ation consists of a cover letter listing your qualifications, a CV/ resume and
contact information for two references, all of which can be emailed to Dr. Jill
Anderson at: jta24@uga.edu

Applications are due by March 16^th, 2018.

Feel free to contact Dr. Anderson if you have any questions about the
position.  Additional information about our work can be found at:
http://andersonlab.genetics.uga.edu/Home.html

Jill T Anderson <jta24@uga.edu>

Graduate Research Assistantships in Forest Genomics @ NAU

The School of Forestry at Northern Arizona University (NAU) is seeking 2 highly motivated Master of Science students to join the newly formed lab of Genetics, Genomics and Evolution of Forest Tree Species. Both positions include a stipend, tuition waiver, and health benefits for 2 years.

Position 1: The student will use genomic tools to identify genes underlying resistance to the devastating disease white-pine blister rust in Sugar Pine. This position involves only data analyses.

Position 2: The student will use genomic tools to identify patterns of hybridization, introgression and local adaptation between two varieties of Douglas fir. This position involves data analyses, molecular lab work, and greenhouse work.

Minimum qualifications:
–       Bachelor degree in Genetics, Forest Sciences, Biology, Ecology, Plant Sciences,
Evolutionary Biology, Bioinformatics or related fields of study.
–       Have taken at least one course in Genetics.
–       Ability to program in R, Perl or Phyton (familiarity with Linux is a plus)
–       Willingness to work with big data sets in a computer cluster.
–       Availability to start by July 1st, 2018 .
–       No greenhouse or molecular lab experience is required.

How to apply:
Please send a 1-page statement of interest, CV, unofficial copy of transcripts, GRE scores, and TOEFL scores (international students), and the names and contact information of 3 references by March 5th, 2018. If found to be a good match for the position, you will be encouraged to apply to the graduate program at NAU. Please note that NAU has the following admission
requirements: GPA equal or higher than 3.0 and TOEFL = 213 (computer-based) or 80 (internet- based).

Contact Information:
Dr. De La Torre, Amanda.de-la-torre@nau.edu https://nau.edu/CEFNS/Forestry/Faculty-and-Staff/Directory/De-La-Torre/

Institution:
Northern Arizona University is a 29,000 student-institution with its main campus in Flagstaff, a four-season community of about 70,000 at the base of the majestic San Francisco Peaks.
Flagstaff has all-year easy access to the Arizona snowbowl ski resort and is located at 1-hour drive from the Gran Canyon.

The Harmon-Threatt lab at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign is seeking undergraduate students for a NSF funded REU studying bee diversity and movement in the Missouri glades. The glades have a high amount of natural fragmentation, which make it a unique area to study how the landscape surrounding fragmented bee habitat influences resource availability and bee movement. This project aims to understand what resources the landscape surrounding the glades provide and how these resources influence bee movement and community structure.

Throughout the 10-week program, the student will assist with lab and field work, while also developing an independent research project. Due to the unique landscape and high level of endemism of the Missouri glades, there are numerous independent questions which can address that will produce publishable results. Most work for this project will take place at UIUC but will include one, potentially two funded trips out to the glades to conduct field work. The position will begin the end of May and includes a stipend along with additional funding for housing.
Qualifications:
– United States citizens or permanent residents
– Have a valid drivers license
– Must be enrolled in an undergraduate program for fall of 2018. Students who have received their bachelor’s degrees and are no longer enrolled as undergraduates are not eligible to participate.
– A strong interest in bee, pollination, or plant ecology
– Not have an allergy or serious aversion to bee stings
– Some experience in entomology or field ecology is preferred but not required

Applications are due by March 9th and should be a single PDF file consisting of:
-Cover letter detailing any relevant experience, interest in the position, and future professional goals -CV/resume -Transcript (unofficial is ok) -Contact information for 3 references

Applications and any questions regarding the position should be sent to kbarie@illinois.edu For more information about the lab, please visit our website:
https://www.life.illinois.edu/harmon/

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

Jill Anderson at the University of Georgia is searching for an enthusiastic undergraduate with a strong interest in evolutionary ecology for field research in an NSF REU position (National Science Foundation, Research Experience for Undergraduates) from June- August 2018. We study the ecological and evolutionary consequences of climate change for natural plant populations. We focus on research on Drummond’s rockcress (Boechera stricta in the plant family Brassicaceae), a mustard plant native to the Rocky Mountains.
Our studies take place around the Rocky Mountain Biological Lab (http://www.rmbl.org/), which is located in Gothic, Colorado near the wildflower capital of Colorado (Crested Butte).  We quantify plant fitness and traits to ask whether climate change could disrupt long-standing patterns of local adaptation, and to test whether phenotypic plasticity will enable populations to persist in the short-term. We perform large-scale reciprocal transplant experiments to examine patterns of adaptive evolution and natural selection in contemporary landscapes. Since fall 2013, we have planted >150,000 seeds and seedlings into five experimental gardens ranging in elevation from 2500 m to 3340 m (8202 feet to
11000 feet). Our summer research involves intensive monitoring of these experimental plants to record data on germination success, survival, growth, reproductive success, as well as life history and morphological traits. We conduct most of our work in the field, with a small proportion of indoor lab work.

The successful candidate will assist with ongoing fieldwork. In addition, there are many opportunities for students to develop independent projects associated with our overall objectives, including studies on: 1) population divergence in ecologically-relevant traits, especially drought, UV tolerance, and herbivore resistance; 2) phenotypic plasticity at multiple spatial scales; 3) population density and species composition of the herbivore community that attacks Drummond’s rockcress; 4) flower color polymorphism; and 5) the importance of maternal effects in biological responses to climate change.

We are offering a stipend of $500/week for a full time REU student (40 hours/week) for 10 weeks.  The exact start and end dates are flexible. We will cover room and board at the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory and reimburse travel expenses up to $500.
Fieldwork will involve hiking to experimental gardens through rough terrain (1-3 miles one- way daily).

The University of Georgia is committed to maintaining a fair and respectful environment for living, work, and study.  To that end, all qualified applicants from individuals with a strong interest in evolutionary biology will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status, or age.  The application consists of a cover letter listing your qualifications, a CV/ résumé and contact information for two references, all of which can be emailed to Dr. Jill Anderson at: jta24@uga.edu Applications are due by March 16th, 2018.

Feel free to contact Dr. Anderson if you have any questions about the position.  Additional information about our work can be found at:
http://andersonlab.genetics.uga.edu/Home.html

The Gibson lab in the Department of Biology at Georgia Southern University
(GSU) is looking for a MS student in insect evolutionary genetics to begin
Fall 2018. The research focus of the lab is on the genetic/genomic basis of
traits in Hymenopteran insects, particularly metabolic and mitochondrial
physiology. Current projects/systems in the lab include (1) speciation and
evolutionary genetics in *Nasonia* parasitoid wasps (2) behavioral genetics
in honey bees (*Apis mellifera*), and (3) studies investigating the
invasive Argentine ant (*Linepithema humile*). Students are welcome to join
existing projects, but are also encouraged to develop their own interests
within the scope of the lab.

Student support will primarily be in the form of teaching assistantships,
but partial support through research assistantships and summer
supplementation are also available. In addition, there are competitive
fellowships available through the Department and the College of Science and
Mathematics. All students are expected to apply for external funding as
well.

GSU is a 27,000-student comprehensive research university with three
campuses in southeast Georgia (http://www.georgiasouthern.edu/). The
Department of Biology at the Statesboro campus has many resources available
to students, including a new LEED certified research and teaching building,
many possibilities for collaboration with our >40 faculty as well as
outside the department, and facilities for insect rearing, high throughput
sequencing preparation, and microscopy.

Prospective students should have (1) a BS degree in the life sciences, such
as Biology, Entomology, Genetics, Ecology & Evolution, or a related field.
(2) excellent communication skills, both oral and written, and (3) the
ability to work both independently and with a team. Preferred, but not
required, qualifications include (1) experience conducting laboratory
research, particularly in molecular biology (2) analytical skills such as
bioinformatics and/or statistics, and (3) demonstrated scientific
communication skills such as scientific publications or presentations, or a
thesis project.

Students should ensure they meet the academic requirements of the graduate
program at Georgia Southern University (see links below). To apply, contact
Dr. Josh Gibson at jgibson@georgiasouthern.edu with a single PDF file that
includes (1) a statement of research interests and experience (2) a CV or
resume (3) GRE scores if available and (4) names and contact information
for 2 academic or professional references.

The application deadline is April 1, 2018.

Graduate Program

http://cogs.georgiasouthern.edu/admission/master-of-science-biology/

http://cosm.georgiasouthern.edu/biology/graduate-program-2/

Department of Biology

http://cosm.georgiasouthern.edu/biology/