Background: The Wyoming toad (Anaxyrus baxteri) is a critically endangered species endemic to the Laramie Basin. The species was abundant in the 1950’s and 1960’s but began declining in the 1970’s until the last known individuals were brought into captivity in the 1990’s to establish a captive breeding program. Individuals from the captive breeding program have been reintroduced into the wild, but self-sustaining breeding populations have not been reestablished. Research and monitoring is being conducted to assess progress the status of wild populations, including the effects of vegetation treatments.
Location: This position is based out of Laramie, Wyoming. Field work will occur at Mortenson Lake National Wildlife Refuge (approximately 15 miles southwest of Laramie) and several Safe Harbor reintroductions sites within the Laramie Basin.
Description: 2-3 technicians to assist with regular field duties including:
• Building and installing soft release enclosures for tadpoles and adults
• Daily feeding and measuring of tadpoles
• Release and subsequent monitoring of adult toads
• Extensive radio telemetry of release toads throughout the field season
• Regular surveys for non-captive Wyoming toads
• Swabbing of toads for Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd)
• Data entry
• Other activities as needed
Qualifications: Qualified applicants will have the willingness and ability to work long hours (including weekends and holidays) and be flexible with their schedule, as work hours will be determined by animal needs. Applicants must also be able to tolerate harsh field conditions (heat/cold, wind, rain, biting insects, mud, etc.), pay extreme attention to detail, and meet high standards of animal care. Interest in the research, a strong work ethic, and the ability to conduct meticulous data collection for the recovery of an endangered species are most important. Priority will be given to individuals currently enrolled in or recently graduated from an ecology, wildlife biology, or related program with past field experience. Qualified applicants need a valid driver’s license with a clean driving record.
Compensation: Technicians will be paid $400-$440 per week (depending on experience) and provided with a shared field vehicle. Technicians will gain valuable field experience while contributing to the recovery of a critically endangered amphibian.
Duration: The position will start mid-May and continue through mid-August with the potential for some technician(s) to continue through September (start and end dates may be flexible for highly qualified applicants and field season may be adjusted due to weather conditions).
To Apply: Submit a letter of interest with dates of availability, résumé or CV, and contact information (name, email, phone number) for three references in a single PDF to Dr. Melanie Murphy (melanie.murphy@uwyo.edu). Application deadline is March 8th, 2019 but review of applicants will begin immediately and will continue until the positions are filled. Questions about the positions can be directed to Dr. Melanie Murphy (melanie.murphy@uwyo.edu) or Dr. Doug Keinath (douglas_keinath@fws.gov).
Additional Information: This research is being conducted through a collaboration between the Murphy Lab at the University of Wyoming (for more information see https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmurphylandscapegenetics.com&data=02%7C01%7Ceric.schultz%40uconn.edu%7C0c7b7a916a6e4a34ac4908d6a08abd7a%7C17f1a87e2a254eaab9df9d439034b080%7C0%7C0%7C636872915091098174&sdata=g%2B8%2BiKH53rWyQiNM7UGqkAWmXiqtG2sXsqMXm2s8bjQ%3D&reserved=0) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
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