A 12-month Research Assistant position is available to assist in studies of the toxic dinoflagellate responsible for ciguatera fish poisoning. The position is primarily laboratory-based and will include isolating and culturing algae, and basic molecular biology work such as PCR. Other studies are possible, depending on background. The position is open without preference to B.S. and M.S. degree holders, salary will be commensurate with experience. Prior work in either algal culture or molecular biology is strongly preferred, experience with both is a definite plus.

The position is in the Erdner laboratory at the University of Texas Marine Science Institute in Port Aransas, TX (http://sites.utexas.edu/erdnerlab/). Questions about the position should be directed to derdner@utexas.edu<mailto:derdner@utexas.edu>.

The position is posting # 18-03-21-01-4222 at the University of Texas. To apply:
https://utdirect.utexas.edu/apps/hr/jobs/nlogon/180321014222

Location: Field sites across northern Idaho, northeastern Oregon, and northeastern Washington. Based out of Moscow, Idaho.

Duration: May-August 2018 (varies by position)

Employer: University of Idaho / USDA Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station

Number of positions: 3 technicians

Project Description: The Northern Rockies of northern Idaho, northwestern Montana, and northeastern Washington and the Blue Mountains of northeast Oregon have some of the highest conifer tree diversity in North America. Common species include western white pine, western larch, Ponderosa pine, Douglas-fir, western hemlock, and western redcedar. The region also has diverse land ownership patterns, comprised of private industrial, small private forest landowners, and significant area of state-endowment lands, and national forests.

Early stand silviculture: Two technicians will work as a team to evaluate regeneration survival and growth in response to various early stand silvicultural treatments. Idaho alone plants over 20 million tree seedlings per year to meet a variety of management objectives from post- fire rehabilitation to timber production. The often harsh summer conditions characterized by late-season drought and rapid development of competing vegetation often results in high seedling mortality.
Therefore, there is high demand for research to better understand the factors influencing seedling survival so silvicultural programs can be adjusted to improve regeneration success. The technicians will travel to various private and state-owned sites throughout the Inland Northwest to work in disturbed stands that have recently been replanted. Specific projects include: evaluating the relationship between nursery-rated seedling quality and outplanting performance, (2) seedling response to different intensities of non-tree vegetation cover, and (3) tree growth, soil moisture, and understory diversity responses of western larch stands thinned to different residual densities with and without removal of the understory. The position will begin mid-May (possibility to start earlier to help with tree planting) through the third week of August.

Western white pine restoration: One technician will assist a graduate student to evaluate structural and tree composition complexity of restored western white pine stands on national forests of northern Idaho. The westside of the Northern Rockies is the only region of the US where western white pine was a dominant species across large areas. The introduction of white pine blister rust and the harvesting throughout the 20th century substantially reduced the species across the region.
National Forests in the region have prioritized restoration of forests by reintroducing blister-rust resistant western white pine, but little research has been conducted to evaluate success of restoration efforts.
The technician will assist in tree data collection in the field. Work on the western white pine project will start in early June and conclude by the end of July. Starting early August through the end of September the technician will assist with data collection of various research projects throughout Idaho on the Deception Creek Experimental Forest (moist western white pine forests) and the Boise Basin Experimental Forest (dry Ponderosa pine forests). The position is 4 months long (June through September).

Required Qualifications: (a) Experience measuring tree diameter and height, (b) Ability to work in a range of conditions (hot and sunny to cool and rainy), (c) ability to hike on rugged terrain and camp near field sites (d) ability to carry at least 25 lbs, (e) possess a valid driver’s license and provide a 3 year driving record, and (f) ability to pass a criminal background check. Previous forest research experience is preferred.

Pay Rate: $12.50/hr @ 40 hours per week (depends on position). Housing is not provided.

Application Information: To apply for the position, please send a single pdf document to Dr. Andrew Nelson (asnelson@uidaho.edu) by April 6 including (1) cover letter outlining discussing your experience and interest in the position, (2) a resume with most relevant previous employment, (3) email and phone numbers of at least 2 professional references.

Summer Research Field Assistant
TIDE Project – Job#LDSFA18

SUMMARY: Woods Hole Research Center seeks applicants for one or two full- time summer field assistant positions on the TIDE project, a long-term salt marsh fertilization experiment to study how marshes will recover from sustained nitrogen loading. This project assesses many key components of a marsh ecosystem such as nutrient biogeochemical cycling, plant dynamics, and food web interactions. The successful applicant will work as part of a large multi-disciplinary team consisting of PIs, postdocs, graduate students and other research assistants to gain broad experience through field and laboratory work across interdisciplinary fields including biology, chemistry, and physical oceanography.

Responsibilities:
Participate in field and laboratory measurements of chemistry and biology.
Process and analyze project data.
Coordinate sampling schedule for the summer, accommodating needs of principal investigators, students, and others.
Occasionally sample at irregular hours (early mornings, late nights, and
weekends) as needed.
Frequent contact with the public, students, and visiting scientists will be required.
Maintain boats, trucks, field, and lab equipment (water level loggers, YSI’s, etc.).

Qualifications and Experience:
Must have relevant coursework in Ecology, Biology, Chemistry, or Marine Biology.
At least one-year field experience in a related field.
Must be familiar with the techniques and instrumentation used to quantify saltmarsh ecology.
Requires attention to detail, strong organizational skills, the ability to work as a member of a team, and the ability to communicate positively with the public.
Experience with data logger programming, environmental sensors YSI, ADCPs, SIGMA auto samplers to estimate ecosystem processes is highly desirable.
Must possess a valid driver license and qualify to drive WHRC vehicles.
Successful candidate will work at the field site in Plum Island Sound (Rowley, MA) from June through August.

Preferred Qualifications:
B.A. in Ecology, Biology, Chemistry, Ecology, or Marine Biology preferred.
Ability to operate small boats or willingness to take safety course to become certified.
Demonstrated skills in data organization, analysis, and report writing preferred.

Physical requirements:
Must be in good health, capable of rigorous outdoor activity (lifting approx. 50 pounds, bending, carrying heavy equipment, and walking through waist-high marine waters and marsh.) Willing to endure occasional exposure to insects, ticks and poison ivy.
Expected to live in the field station house in Rowley, MA.

Appointment: This temporary summer research field assistant position is for 40 hours per week over a three month period.

Field Season: June 1, 2018 – August 31, 2018.

Compensation: $14 per hour.

Desired Start Date: June 1, 2018.

Application Instructions: To apply, please send a cover letter referencing “Summer Field Assistant LDSFA18”, along with a resume/curriculum vitae, and contact information for three references to jobopenings@whrc.org.
Please type “LDSFA18” in the subject line.

Application Deadline: April 15, 2018, or until filled.

The Woods Hole Research Center is an independent, nonprofit institute focused on environmental science, education, and public policy. The WHRC focuses on combining analysis of satellite images of the Earth with field studies and computer models to better understand changes in the world’s ecosystems, from the thawing permafrost in the Arctic to the expanding agriculture regions of the tropics. We are an equal opportunity employer.

The Freshwater Ecosystem Ecology Lab (www.bradwtaylor.com) in the Department of Applied Ecology (https://appliedecology.cals.ncsu.edu/) at North Carolina State University is accepting applications for a graduate student interested in earning a Masters of Science degree in stream ecology.  Funding will support a graduate student to develop innovative whole-stream experimental approaches to test whether enhancing the egg- laying habitat for adult stream insects can be used to accelerate the recovery and resilience of biological conditions, such as invertebrate community structure, diversity, and productivity in restored streams in North Carolina. Applicants with interest in developing expertise in invertebrate ecology, life histories, natural history, dispersal, recruitment, population ecology, invertebrate identification, and diversity metrics are especially encouraged to apply.

B.A. or B.S. degree in a related field is required.  Applicants should have the ability to work well both independently and cooperatively, and a firm interest in working in an interdisciplinary research environment that includes state agencies, private industry stream restoration contractors, and private landowners.  Applicants should be motivated, creative, eager to be immersed in a program that requires developing strengths in applied and basic science skills, and possess strong communication and quantitative skills.
Financial support includes: a yearly stipend, tuition support, health insurance, funds for research expenses, and funds for research assistants.

The optimal start date is January 2019 but September 2018 could be an alternate start date. Review of complete applications will begin immediately, and this opportunity will remain available until a suitable candidate is found or at the latest 15 November 2018.  To apply, visit https://grad.ncsu.edu/apply/ and indicate Brad Taylor as your potential advisor.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact Brad Taylor (brad.taylor@ncsu.edu) prior to applying.

Are you an undergraduate student who is interested in ecology, plant biology, and sustainability? The Hall Lab at Arizona State University is looking for an enthusiastic and motivated undergraduate student to participate in research activities in urban ecology during the summer of 2018. The participant will work with faculty, graduate students, and technicians to explore how and why people manage their yards, and the consequences of those choices for biodiversity and outdoor water use. The student will work with team members to conduct field work in residential yards and Sonoran Desert parks across the Phoenix Metropolitan Area.

Metro Phoenix, Arizona, is situated in the northern Sonoran Desert, which is home to the iconic saguaro cactus and charismatic desert animal species.  ASU is located in Tempe, a lively and vibrant college town with accessible public transportation and amenities.

This REU opportunity is a 10-week program that runs from mid-May to mid- August, 2018. The successful applicant will be awarded a $5,000 stipend, and up to $3,000 for room and board. Additionally, funding is available for the REU student to prepare and present a poster at the January 2019 CAP LTER All Scientists Meeting in Tempe, AZ.

About the Project
The Hall Lab at Arizona State University explores ecological patterns and processes in human-dominated ecosystems to find solutions that will benefit people and nature. As part of a NSF-funded Macrosystems grant, the Hall Lab seeks to explore patterns of biodiversity and ecosystem services in urban areas. Documenting the social drivers and benefits of native and other plant species will help to inform city managers about sustainable urban practices.

Project Timeline
During the first three weeks of the REU program, the student will work on directed readings of the literature, and will “apprentice” with members of our teams. By the end of three weeks, we expect the student to complete a draft proposal of her/his research project. The following several weeks will be dedicated to collecting and analyzing data under our guidance.
During the final two weeks, the student will write a report of her/his work and prepare an oral presentation of project findings for our research group.

Minimum Qualifications
The successful candidate must:
* Have an interest in ecological research.
* Have excellent written and verbal communication skills.
* Be a quick learner and be able to work on projects with minimal direct supervision.
* Be able to work outside during the summer in Phoenix and be able to perform job duties in a variety of climatic conditions, including high temperatures. Summer temperatures in Phoenix can reach over 110 degrees F.
* Have a positive attitude.
* Be able to work independently and as part of a team.
* Be able to walk and stand for extensive periods of time, often stooping, bending, pulling, pushing, and lifting.
* Be able to lift or carry equipment, and supplies, not to exceed 40 lbs.

Desired Qualifications
* Students who are majoring in an environmental discipline (natural resources, conservation biology, plant or soil science).
* Flexibility in working on different tasks as needs change over the course of the project.

Eligibility
Undergraduate student participants supported with NSF funds in either REU Supplements or REU Sites must be U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, or permanent residents of the United States. An undergraduate student is a student who is enrolled in a degree program (part-time or full-time) leading to a baccalaureate or associate degree.

How to apply
Please send cover letter, resume or CV, and unofficial transcripts to Laura Steger (e-mail: Lsteger@asu.edu) by April 13, 2018.

The Duval Lab of Applied and Systems Ecology at New Mexico Tech is soliciting applications for a funded Master’s student position studying arid-land biogeochemistry and plant-microbe-soil-atmosphere interactions.
The student will be expected to contribute to a 21-year study examining the effect of climate and soil on pinyon, juniper and scrub oak seed production. The student will also play a critical role in the establishment of a long-term litter decomposition experiment (D-DIRT) that is part of an international network of studies designed to explore the role of above- versus belowground carbon inputs from vegetation to soil (more information on the network at:https://dirtnet.wordpress.com/santa-
rita/). The student will work at the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge, and help establish other experimental sites in grassland and conifer forests in the Chihuahuan desert and Magdalena Mountains near Socorro, NM.
In addition to field work in the diverse landscapes of central New Mexico, NM Tech boasts excellent laboratory facilities in the Biological and Earth sciences, and the student will gain hands-on expertise with a variety of instruments to analyze field samples. These include: FTIR gas analysis to measure trace gas flux (CO2, CH4, N2O and NO), inductively coupled mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) for elemental analysis of plant tissue and soil at the New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources, and the opportunity to learn stable isotope analysis through the Department of Earth and Environmental Science (EES) at NM Tech. The Duval Lab is equipped for routine soil nutrient analysis, soil enzyme assays, maintains space in two research labs, and has dedicated greenhouse research space on campus. We also collaborate with microbiologists and geneticists within the Biology Department, work with the Chemistry and EES Departments at Tech, the Agricultural Science Center in Los Lunas, NM, and researchers at Sandia National Laboratory.
Student support will be provided with a combination of teaching (Intro Ecology Lab & Ecosystems Field Course) and research assistantship in the first year. The second year of support is to be determined based on Department needs and Lab funding. We hope to identify a suitable student as soon as possible, as there is funding to support a Research Assistant position on related projects beginning in May or June of 2018, which would provide an hourly wage and the opportunity to begin collecting thesis data prior to enrolling for Fall 2018 classes.
Interested students should email Dr. Benjamin Duval
(benjamin.duval@nmt.edu) with a 1) brief statement of interest, 2) CV or resume that includes contact information for one professional reference and one reference that can speak to the prospective student’s work outside of the classroom (summer employers or supervisors). More information about New Mexico Tech, the Biology Department, the Duval Lab and living in Socorro, NM can be found at:
www.duvalecology.org
www.nmt.edu

2018 SEASONAL VEGETATION MONITORING TECHNICIANS – Ely, NV

The Eastern Nevada Landscape Coalition (ENLC) is currently seeking vegetation monitoring technicians for our upcoming 2018 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 two to three (2-3) vegetation monitoring technicians to work out of our main office in Ely, NV.

VEGETATION MONITORING TECHNICIAN DUTIES: 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.

LOCATION: Ely is centrally located in the Great Basin and offers numerous outdoor recreation opportunities. Hiking, backpacking, rock climbing, bouldering, backcountry skiing, mountain biking, disc golf, fishing and hunting opportunities abound near the town of 4,200 people. Over 20 separate BLM and USFS designated wilderness areas occur within three hours of Ely, and several national parks, including Great Basin (60 miles), Zion, Bryce Canyon, Yosemite, and Grand Canyon National Parks, are located within a six hour drive. In addition to outdoor opportunities, urban centers such as Salt Lake City and Las Vegas are only a four hour drive. For outdoor enthusiasts and adventure seekers, Ely is a perfect place to experience.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE: 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 be able to hike 2-10 miles a day while carrying a pack with field equipment, and be comfortable with truck camping in the backcountry for up to 8 days at a time in sometimes harsh weather conditions. Preferred applicants will be experienced with 4WD vehicles, GPS navigation, have had a clean driving record for the past 3 years, and are passionate about the outdoors.

COMPENSATION: $15-$16/hour depending on experience (plus $34/day per diem when camping)

SCHEDULE:  Positions will begin in late April and continue through late August to September as needed. Work will occur on an 8-days-on/6-days-off schedule (10-hour days).

Applicants should email a cover letter, resume, and the contact information for at least three references to Patrick Hellmann at phellmann@envlc.org.
Interviews will be scheduled as soon as possible from receipt of application materials.

For more information, please visit our website (http://www.envlc.org) or email any questions to Patrick Hellmann at phellmann@envlc.org.