Subject: UC Irvine Masters in Conservation and Restoration Science

Master’s Program in Conservation and Restoration at UC-Irvine is accepting applications for Fall 2018

The Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and the Center for Environmental Biology (CEB) at the University of California, Irvine are accepting applications for the Masters in Conservation and Restoration Science (MCRS) graduate program providing training for students interested in careers in the research and management of natural resources. Now accepting applications for the second cohort of MCRS students for Fall 2018! Sectors and potential careers for MCRS graduates include: non-profit land management sector, local and federal government agencies, and environmental consulting firms. For more information, visit the MCRS webpage (http://mcrs.bio.uci.edu), or contact program administrators at uciconresscience@uci.edu.

The MCRS degree will provide students with the academic and professional skills needed to study, protect, and conserve natural resources, and to hold leadership and management positions in environmental fields related to conservation, restoration, and sustainability. Potential applicants will need a B.A. or B.S. degree, preferably in the natural sciences (biology, conservation biology, ecology, environmental science, forestry, wildlife biology, horticulture, or similar degree title) from a fully accredited academic institution. Applicants with undergraduate degrees in other areas will be considered, but must demonstrate proficiency in the natural sciences and/or practical experience working in this professional field.

The program includes two years of coursework and activities, including 18 units of core courses (e.g., ecology, conservation science), 16 units of topical electives (e.g., environmental policy, land use policy), 18 units of technical and professional skills courses (e.g., technical writing, GIS), and 8 units associated with technical and professional workshops (e.g., regional professional gatherings). A collaborative, year-long group capstone project (12 units), aligned with community partners, integrates the program’s learning objectives and applies student’s new skills to key environmental challenges facing society.

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Our next round of applications will be reviewed for admission after July 1, 2018.

Subject: Field & Lab Technician needed, U. New Mexico

The Rudgers & Whitney Labs at the University of New Mexico are looking for a technician / supervisor to work on projects related to the ecology and evolution of plant-microbe-animal interactions.

https://unm.csod.com/ats/careersite/jobdetails.aspx?site=13&c=unm&id=3451

Req 3451.

Duties will include work in both field and laboratory settings on projects examining the ecology and evolution of plants, plant-animal and plant-microbe interactions. Position includes lab management and training/working with our undergraduate team. Candidates should have B.A./B.S. in biology (or related field) and some hands-on field and/or lab experience. Training will be provided, but experience with DNA techniques (PCR, sequencing), plant care and greenhouse maintenance, plant identification and vegetation sampling, insect identification, soil science, and/or microbial methods is a bonus. The position is full-time and term-limited (12-36 months). This position would be an excellent fit for someone planning on graduate study in Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, as there will be the opportunity to gain experience in a number of research areas and to co-author papers.

Subject: Coweeta REU at Virginia Tech

We are looking for an NSF-REU student to work on a soil microbial ecology project at Virginia Tech for 10 weeks (June – August 2018, exact dates negotiable). A stipend will be provided for travel, field expenses and living expenses (approximately $600 per week). The project will be focused on land use change in the southern Appalachian region and its effects on ecosystem functions of soil microbial communities.

Project details: the student will work directly with a PhD student in the Barrett lab in the Biological Sciences Department on a project based at the Coweeta Hydrologic Laboratory in the southern Appalachian mountains of North Carolina. At Coweeta, we are investigating soil microbial responses Rhododendron understory removal, with a focus on responses of microbial extracellular enzymes involved in carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus cycling in soil. The REU student will complete a complementary project in which they will measure soil extracellular enzyme activities in forests with no history of a Rhododendron understory as well as forests that have been subjected to a variety of past land uses, such as commercial logging.

In addition to measuring extracellular enzyme activities, the student will gain experience in field soil sampling and processing as well as lab measurement of soil physical and chemical properties. The student will also be involved in data entry, processing, and analysis.

The ideal candidate will have an interest in ecosystem ecology, soil ecology, and microbial ecology. The candidate must be enrolled in an undergraduate program and must have a graduation date after August 2018.
Applicants should send a CV (resume), unofficial transcript, contact information for one academic reference, and a one page personal statement to Ernie Osburn (eosburn@vt.edu). Please include “REU position” in the subject line. Applications will be accepted through May 4th, 2018.

Subject: Summer Internship Opportunity: ESA Science Outreach Intern

The ESA Office of Science Programs (https://www.esa.org/esa/science/)
seeks an energetic senior undergraduate, recent graduate, or graduate student with strong communication and organizational skills to enhance our communication and outreach endeavors and help manage special ESA meetings, workshops, and training events. A basic background in and appreciation for ecology, biology, and/or environmental sciences is desired.

This is a paid, part-time internship based in ESA’s downtown Washington, DC office, with occasional travel to events in the greater DC area. The position is funded from May 29 – August 31, 2018 and pays $15 per hour.

For details and the official job posting, please see:
https://www.esacareercenter.org/job/903469/science-outreach-intern/

Applications due by Friday, April 20th.

JOB: Research Assistant in Rocky Mountain Insect Ecology (3 month position)

Job Description:  The USDA, Agriculture Research Service, Northern Plains Agriculture Research Laboratory in Sidney, MT is seeking an enthusiastic and hard-working individual to serve as a biological science aide.  Our research focuses on grassland insect and rangeland ecology; specifically how interactions between grasshoppers and Mormon crickets affect Mormon cricket and grasshopper diets, insect immunity to pathogens, and grassland health.
Work may include sampling grasshoppers, Mormon crickets, and other rangeland insects in large scale experiments, sampling rangeland plants, setting up and conducting manipulative experiments in the field and lab.  Most field work will be conducted in subalpine meadows at 9000 feet elevation in the Bighorn Mountains in northern Wyoming. A willingness to drive on overnight travel to sites in Wyoming will be required.

Salary: $11.68 – 12.74 per hour (GS-2 – GS-3) dependent on experience and education.  Dorm-style, shared housing is available on location for ~$150 per month, including utilities, internet and basic cable TV.

Dates: Starting June 10th and continuing through the middle of September.

Qualifications: The candidate must be a US citizen.  Additionally, the candidate should be physically fit, able to walk rapidly over rangeland, and comfortable spending long hours outside at high elevation. The candidate will need a driver’s license.  Willingness to work long days, and some weekends when necessary is also a must.  Undergraduate course work in ecology, entomology, range or environmental sciences, and previous field work experience is preferred, but not required.

Application process: Please send cover letter, resume, and names and contact information of two references (electronically) to David Branson (dave.branson@ars.usda.gov).  Be sure to include available start and end dates. In your cover letter and please describe any experience or coursework you have in relevant areas such as field ecology, entomology, or plant identification In your cover letter or resume.

Evaluation of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. For more information on the grasshopper research program
visit: http://bit.ly/2v1SHRb or http://bit.ly/2D5bppW or contact us directly.

Keywords: Biogeochemistry, Organic Matter, Nitrogen, Sediment, Kelp, Santa Barbara

A Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) summer fellowship is available for one student in partnership with the Santa Barbara Coastal Long Term Ecological Research program at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Duration is 12 weeks, June 18-Sept 7, although these dates are flexible, and the student will be compensated $1,500/month.
We invite applications from qualified, highly motivated undergraduate students from U.S.
colleges/universities to participate in a 12-week lab and field based summer research experience. The student will be involved with an NSF-funded project on the cycling of terrestrially and marine-derived organic matter in kelp forests and nearby marine sediments. The main objective of this project is to evaluate how the input of various kinds of organic matter affects nitrogen and carbon cycling in kelp forest ecosystems and surrounding regions and to develop a quantitative understanding of the potential supply of nutrients provided by these organic matter inputs. Applicants should possess a strong analytical chemistry background, an interest in fieldwork, and the desire to conduct an independent project.

There are several potential avenues of research that the REU may pursue, and the final project will be decided upon following a literature review and discussion with their supervisor. The REU will be responsible for conducting an independent project and completing a written report at the end of the summer. They will also have the opportunity to learn R software, participate in field work in the Santa Barbara Channel, collaborate with other undergraduate students, and receive training for several biogeochemical protocols and appropriate instruments.

Eligibility: You are eligible if you are an undergraduate student who has completed at least two years of study towards a bachelor’s degree in a related topic (including but not limited to environmental studies, chemistry, biology, ecology, or physics), and if you will still be an undergraduate in the fall term following the summer fellowship.  Students from underrepresented groups and from institutions with limited research opportunities are especially encouraged to apply. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
The University of California is an equal opportunity employer and educator.

Application Materials: Interested applicants should send a personal statement, CV, unofficial transcript, one letter of recommendation, and contact information for one additional reference. The statement should be no more than a page in length and should include the following information: (i) professional goals, (ii) interest in the position, and
(iii) relevant experience.  Send application materials as a single PDF, to Heili Lowman (heili.lowman@lifesci.ucsb.edu). Please include your name and REU application in file names and the e-mail subject line. The letter of recommendation should be sent directly from the recommender. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Applications will be accepted through May 10, 2018.

Subject: Plant and Insect Field Technicians in Boyce, VIrginia

The University of Virginia seeks four hourly Laboratory Technicians to assist with a research project at Blandy Experimental Farm studying factors that influence bumble bee colony growth. The technicians will work in teams and spend the majority of their time at field sites within an approximate 1-hour radius of Blandy. Two technicians will be responsible for vegetation surveys and pollen collection from plants, and two technicians will be responsible for pollen collection from live, foraging bees and for monitoring bumble bee colonies in the field.

Applicants must work well independently and have a professional attitude. Experience with plant surveys or working with insects is preferred. Technological experience with drones, remote sensing, or image analysis is preferred. Work will be 40 hours per week, starting in mid to late May and continuing for 10 weeks. Anticipated hiring range is $12-$13 per hour. Dormitory style housing on site may be available.

Blandy Experimental Farm is a 700-acre University of Virginia research facility situated in the northern Shenandoah Valley, about 10 miles east of Winchester and 60 miles west of Washington, D.C.

If you have questions about the position, contact David Carr, dec5z@virginia.edu or T’ai Roulston, thr8z@virginia.edu

To apply go to https://jobs.virginia.edu/applicants/Central?quickFind=84033

Title: Temporary Research Technician Position

Agency: Texas A&M University, Natural Resources Institute

Job Location: The position is located at Texas A&M AgriLife Dallas Center in Dallas, TX.

Job Description: Mussel Research Group at Texas A&M Natural Resources Institute is seeking applications for a temporary Research Technician. The individual will assist research in conservation genetics of freshwater mussels in Texas. Primary job duties include archiving tissue samples, DNA extraction, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), DNA sequencing, and fragment analyses; however, the individual should expect occasional field sampling of mussels. Fieldwork includes visual and tactile search for mussels (wading and snorkeling), mussel identification, and data entry. Typical work
schedule: 5 days per week, 8 hrs per day. Occasionally, longer workdays may be required to complete field sampling.

Salary & Duration: $900 every 2 weeks. This position is for 4 months.

Qualifications: BS in Biology or related field is required. The ideal candidate will have strong written and oral communication skills, be self-motivated and enthusiastic, and be capable of working independently and as part of a team. Experience with general genetic techniques (e.g., DNA extraction, PCR, gel electrophoresis, etc.) and strong background in phylogenetics/population genetics are highly desirable.

Tentative Start Date: May 28, 2018.

Application Deadline and Process: As a single email attachment, submit a cover letter summarizing your research interest and career goals, a resume or CV, and names and contact information for three professional references to Kentaro Inoue (kentaro.inoue@ag.tamu.edu). Review of applications will start April 23, 2018 and continue until a suitable candidate is found.

Website: https://nri.tamu.edu | https://dallas.tamu.edu

The plant disease ecology lab headed by Dr. Charles E. Mitchell at UNC Chapel Hill is seeking two full- time field assistants to conduct research in the summer and fall of 2018. Assistants will work on a grant- funded project examining the role of the plant microbiome in pathogen transmission. In particular, this project aims to investigate the ecological and evolutionary consequences of interactions among fungi infecting the same host individuals and host populations. Most work will be done in the field, but the position will also include some work in the lab. Work will include surveys of plots for disease symptoms, collecting plant samples in the field, processing plant samples for lab assays, and isolating and culturing fungal pathogens from infected plant material.

REQUIRED QUALIFICTIONS:
a) A valid driver?s license and personal mode of transportation to an off-campus field site
b) Experience conducting field research in ecology
c) Willingness and ability to work early mornings, outdoors in summer heat, and in inclement weather
d) Ability to work well independently and with a team, pay attention to detail, and maintain exceptional communication skills

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
a) Bachelor?s degree in a relevant field
b) Experience with basic biological wet-lab procedures, especially culturing fungi.

Special Physical and Mental Requirements (ADA considerations): Field work will involve long periods of time spent kneeling and bending over to observe disease symptoms in vegetation.

Hourly rate: $12.20/hr ? Housing not provided.

Start Date: May 14th, 2018

APPLICATION DEADLINE: APRIL 16TH, 2018

Job Duration: 5 ? 6 months.

TO APPLY and view the complete job posting, please visit unc.peopleadmin.com and reference position S012294. Be prepared to provide a one-page cover letter, a resume, and contact info for two people who can serve as references.