Bethune-Cookman University (B-CU) has four fellowship opportunities for Masters students in the Department of Integrated Environmental Science (IES). B-CU is a partner institution of the NOAA Center for Coastal and Marine Ecosystems (CCME), a partnership led by Florida A&M University and funded by NOAA’s Educational Partnership Program with Minority Serving Institutions (Cooperative Agreement Award #NA16SEC4810009). The NOAA CCME mission is to educate and train a new generation of scientists, particularly from underrepresented minority communities, in the NOAA-relevant STEM disciplines and social sciences needed to utilize interdisciplinary approaches to address issues confronting marine and coastal communities, with a particular focus on Coastal Intelligence, Coastal Resilience, and Place-based Conservation. The MSIES program at B-CU teaches students to integrate social, economic, and political information to develop functional approaches to address ecological and societal issues.

To be eligible, a candidate must have a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college/university in a NOAA-related discipline (e.g. biology, chemistry, environmental science, etc.), have an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher, be admitted to the B-CU graduate studies program, and be a US citizen. Successful applicants receive tuition, a stipend, NOAA internships, and funds for conference travel and research expenses. To apply, a candidate must apply for the B-CU graduate studies program (https://www.cookman.edu/academics/schools/graduate/HowToApply.html) and be admitted by the application deadline (June 1, 2019 for Fall 2019 admission). For application procedures, materials and questions concerning the NOAA-CCME fellowship, please contact Dr. Hyun Jung (“J.”) Cho, Professor of Integrated Environmental Science, Bethune-Cookman University, Daytona Beach, FL 32114; choh@cookman.edu; 386-481-2793.

Mike

——————–

Michael A. Reiter, PhD

Professor and Chair
Department of Integrated Environmental Science

Bethune-Cookman University

640 Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Blvd.

Daytona Beach, FL  32114-3099

reiterm@cookman.edu

V: 386.481.2695

F: 386.481.2659

“Accuse not Nature, she hath done her part; Do thou but thine.”  John Milton, Paradise Lost

Research Experience for Undergraduates opportunity
Bonanza Creek Long-Term Ecological Research Program
Nitrogen cycling in boreal watersheds
Alaska
Summer 2019

A summer undergraduate researcher position is available with a team in Fairbanks, Alaska studying changes to the nitrogen cycle in response to permafrost thaw and intensifying fire regime. The undergraduate researcher will assist with field work including measuring greenhouse gas emissions from soils and using automated sensors to monitor stream biogeochemistry. Laboratory-based work will include opportunities to use instrumentation for analytical chemistry and learn data handling and analysis approaches using the R program. See harmslab.org for further information about the research.

Applicants should have a demonstrated interest in ecology and enthusiasm about both field and lab-based work, including long field days under wet and buggy conditions. Coursework in biology, ecology, chemistry and math or statistics is needed to successfully contribute to the research. Applications from students expressing interest in conducting an independent research project will receive priority.

To apply for the position, please send a single pdf document to Dr. Tamara Harms (tkharms@alaska.edu  ) by March 15, 2019 including: 1) cover letter summarizing research interests, experience collecting and analyzing data, and qualifications relevant to conducting ecological research with a collaborative team, 2) list of relevant coursework, and 3) CV. The student will be paid a stipend for the position, which runs May/June-Aug/Sept.

Lab/Field Research Technician Position announcement

Deadline for applications: March 18

We are looking to hire a lab/field technician to work on a collaborative research project investigating plant-soil-microbe interactions in managed lands. More information about this project, which is based at Michigan State University can be found at: rhizosphere.msu.edu. This is a great position for someone looking for experience in a research laboratory. 

The primary duties will consist of a) lab work (80%, including, but not limited to processing soil samples, nutrient analyses, DNA extractions, data entry and processing, and general lab maintenance) and b) field work (20%, plant and soil sampling) at both local sites and those located in Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. This position requires a small amount of travel (~1 day trip per month and 2-3 overnight trips over the entire field season). 

Ideal candidates will have relevant laboratory and field work experience. We are interested in candidates that are self-motivated, have high attention to detail and organizational skills, and can independently carryout field and laboratory protocols. Candidates should also be willing to work in adverse conditions in the field (e.g. hot and cold weather), and contribute to a team. Successful candidates must have a B.S. or commensurate experience in biogeochemistry or soil science, ecology or other closely related field. Experience in molecular biology is also desired, though not required. Applicants from underrepresented groups are especially encouraged to apply. 

This is a 40 hr/week non-benefited Technical Aide position under a 9-month hire with the potential for renewal for additional 9 month periods depending on performance. Successful applicants will be offered health care through the Affordable Care Act. Compensation will be $13-$16 per hour, depending on qualifications of the applicant. A start date in April 2019 is preferred, but start dates up to May 15 will be considered. 

The technician will join the Evans Lab (http://saraheevanslab.weebly.com/) at the W.K. Kellogg Biological Station, which is part of Michigan State University but located in Hickory Corners, MI, 15 miles NE of Kalamazoo, MI. KBS is a community of faculty, students, postdocs, staff, and technicians, and the successful candidate will have opportunities to develop professionally in this academic setting. Questions about the position and applications should be submitted to Holly Vander Stel (vande591@msu.edu). Please include “MMPRNT Tech App” in subject line). Applications will begin to be reviewed March 18, 2019 and accepted until the position is filled.

Applications, sent to as a single pdf file, should include:

1) Cover letter (1 page maximum) describing qualifications and interest in the position

2) CV or resume

3) Names, contact information, and brief synopsis of relationship for three references.

MSU is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer.

We seek three full-time, temporary technicians in fire, wildlife, and sagebrush ecology with the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Oregon State University. The research project site is at the Phillip W. Schneider Wildlife Area (PWSWA), near Dayville, OR. Daily work will primarily be vegetation surveys to quantify the changes following fire and post-fire restoration treatments in sagebrush communities, small mammal trapping, maintenance and observations for seed dispersal experiments, and data entry. Position is based out of OSU, but no housing is provided in Corvallis because less than 1 day will be spent there. However, transportation to field sites and primitive (ranch house) accommodations on site will be provided. Daily field conditions can be challenging, including varying weather and fire conditions, encounters with venomous reptiles, and remote and semi-primitive group living conditions at base camp.

Hourly Wage: $13/hour

Dates of Employment: Preferred start date will be May 17, 2019 but start date is somewhat negotiable. Field season can be expected to last up to 10 weeks

Minimum Qualifications:
Education: Bachelor’s degree in progress in Fisheries and Wildlife, Biology, Ecology, Botany, or another related biological discipline. Abilities/Knowledge/Skills: Basic knowledge of ecological principles and systematic data collection as well as basic computer skills, including experience with Microsoft Excel. Impeccable habits in data collection, recording, quality-checking and data entry. Willingness and ability to spend long days in the field in hot, cold, wet, or dry conditions, hike up to several miles with a 30-pound pack, camp in a field setting occasionally, and to be away from duty station (Corvallis, OR) for several weeks at a time. Ability to live and work effectively as a member of a team sharing a project base camp. Position requires a commitment to completing required animal handling training modules prior to field season and willingness to handle small mammals.

Desirable Qualifications: Current driver’s license and ability to drive an ATV and 4-wheel drive vehicles. Driving record subject to OSU review for approval to drive university and agency vehicles.Experience collecting biological data in a field setting. Prior training and/or experience in ethical live trapping procedures as applied to small mammals. Organizational, communication, and leadership skills with an ability to independently manage multiple task simultaneously. Resourceful in developing practical solutions to daily challenges. Knowledge of sagebrush ecosystems. Experience with issues surrounding rangeland or fire. Experience using GIS tools.

To apply, you must visit http://jobs.oregonstate.edu/postings/72533 

Upload your (1) resume or CV, (2) a cover letter detailing how you meet the minimum, and where applicable, desirable qualifications, (3) contact information for 3 references, and (4) academic transcripts (unofficial transcripts are fine). Applications for full consideration due by March 8, 2019. Position closes March 15, 2019.

Direct questions to: Dr. Jake Dittel: jdittel@una.edu  

The University of Maine Initiative for One Health and the Environment is excited to announce a new NSF-funded REU program for summer 2019, entitled Accelerating New Environmental Workskills (ANEW). REU ANEW is a 10-week paid summer research internship. Each summer, we will invite 10 motivated undergraduate students to join our faculty and graduate students to conduct cutting-edge research at the intersection of human, animal, and environmental health.  REU ANEW students will have the opportunity to work directly with faculty research mentors, as well as Broader Impacts mentors who  are working in the field to apply One Health research to real world problems.  Through our program, students will develop critical research and thinking skills that are directly relevant to future career success, and build lasting professional relationships with their undergraduate peers, graduate students, and faculty and broader impacts mentors.  

Are you interested in studying the link between genetics and marine mammal health, the risk of diseases known as zoonoses that can transfer from animals to humans, or how policy and climate change are impacting tick-borne diseases and their effects on iconic Maine species like moose?  If so, you should consider applying to our new program! For more information and to apply, visit https://nsfa.umaine.edu/one-health/REU.  Application review will begin on March 20 and all complete applications submitted before this deadline will receive full consideration. Applications received after this date will continue to be reviewed until all positions are filled. Please direct any questions you have about the program or the application process to anne.lichtenwalner@maine.edu and kristina.cammen@maine.edu.

Stipend: All REU participants will receive a generous summer stipend ($5,750) and living expenses, including travel expenses and housing at the University of Maine in Orono.

Eligibility: All REU students must be U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals or permanent residents of the U.S.  Students must have completed at least one year of an Associates or Baccalaureate degree program prior to the summer internship, and must plan to continue in their degree program following this summer internship (graduating seniors are not eligible). As part of the National Science Foundation’s and our commitment to broadening participation, we especially encourage students who self-identify with groups that are under-represented in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) to apply, as well as students attending institutions with relatively limited research opportunities (e.g., community colleges and some undergraduate-only institutions).

The University of Maine is an EEO/AA employer, and does not discriminate on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, transgender status, gender expression, national origin, citizenship status, age, disability, genetic information or veteran’s status in employment, education, and all other programs and activities. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies: Sarah E. Harebo, Director of Equal Opportunity, 101 North Stevens Hall, University of Maine, Orono, ME  04469-5754, 207.581.1226, TTY 711 (Maine Relay System).

Field Assistant: Demography of Canada Warblers (Cardellina canadensis) along an elevation gradient in the central Appalachians

School of Natural Resources, Wildlife and Fisheries Resources Program, West Virginia University

Description: The School of Natural Resources at West Virginia University is seeking a research technician to assist with a mark-recapture study of breeding Canada Warblers along an elevation gradient in the Monongahela National Forest, West Virginia. Fieldwork will occur from approximately May 1 to€ June 30. The position will entail capture and banding of Canada Warblers, subsequent re-sighting of color-banded individuals, and other duties as they arise (e.g., vegetation surveys, data entry during rainy days, etc).

The ideal candidate should have experience mist netting, banding, and re-sighting color-marked birds. Candidates should expect early mornings and rugged field conditions. A remote field house is provided, but candidates should expect to spend the majority of working days camping in the field. Terrain in the central Appalachians can be steep and rocky. Candidates should be able to haul equipment off-trail over steep terrain. A field vehicle will be provided.

Stipend: $12.50 / hour for 40 hours / week.

To Apply: Interested individuals should send a CV, 1-page cover letter, and contact information for 3 references as a single PDF file to Dr. Christopher Rota at christopher.rota@mail.wvu.edu  . Review of applications is ongoing, and the position will remain open until a suitable candidate is found.

The Doak lab at CU Boulder and the Morris lab at Duke University are recruiting two motivated undergraduates for a summer research internship in alpine plant ecology as part of NSF’s Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program.  The students will design and conduct independent research that contributes to a larger NSF-funded project to investigate how demographic variation across geographic ranges determines species range limits and responses to climate change. To answer this question, we have been conducting a long-term, multi-site study of the demography and flowering phenology of two widely distributed and well-studied herbaceous perennial tundra plants, moss campion (Silene acaulis) and bisort (Polygonum viviparum). The REU students can combine short-term experimental or observational field studies with 15+ years of existing demographic data, spanning multiple populations, habitat types, and geographic regions, to ask compelling questions about the ecology or evolution of alpine plants. Examples of excellent questions that REU students could address include:

• How do changing climate conditions (snowmelt, temperature) influence the timing of flowering and pollinators?
• Studies of pollination limitation for plants in female or hermaphrodite-dominated subpopulations of the gynodioecious Silene acaulis
• Evidence for up or down-slope range expansion of either species in response to climate change
• Impacts of plant neighborhood structure on growth and survival
• Studies of these or other species across local elevational gradients, to assess changes in form or population structure that would correspond to or arise from demographic shifts.

The REU students will be based at the Mountain Research Station at Niwot Ridge, CO from June 1 to August 3, 2019(the main flowering and growth season). Staying at the Mountain Research Station will allow the student to engage in rigorous field work at Niwot Ridge, take advantage of long-term research plots, and interact with other REU students and researchers. In addition, the student will be able to supplement field research at Niwot Ridge with trips to nearby alpine areas and other greenhouse or computer modeling work at CU Boulder. In late July, the student will also participate in the main project by collecting demographic data in long-term plots at Niwot Ridge and New Mexico.

We will provide the REU student with travel expenses, room and board at the Mountain Research Station, and a $400/week stipend. We will also provide support for research expenses, including materials or research-related travel.

The ideal candidate will be interested in pursuing a career in ecology, environmental sciences, or evolutionary biology, and have demonstrated abilities in critical thinking, organization, and working as part of a team. Candidates should have some background in ecology, environmental sciences, or evolution, and the ability and willingness to engage in physically strenuous or uncomfortable activities (e.g., hiking at high elevation, carrying heavy packs, working outdoors under a variety of weather conditions, etc.). Candidates must be enrolled in an undergraduate program at the time of the REU (i.e., students that graduate prior to the program are not eligible). Students from underrepresented backgrounds (first-generation college students, women, minorities, etc.) are especially encouraged to apply!

Applications should include: 1) copy of unofficial transcripts, 2) contact information for two professors or other academic references who have agreed to be references for the applicant, 3) CV, and 4) a one-page description of your academic background and goals, your interest in the REU position, any previous research experience, and any experience working or hiking at high elevations.

Applications and letters should be sent to Dr. Megan Peterson at megan.peterson@colorado.edu with “2019 REU application” in the subject line. Review of applications will begin March 15.