Month: March 2025

DFG Job Postings

Dear Colleagues,

 

The Department of Fish And Game has posted the following requisitions using MassCareers, a web-based Employee Career System.  The system allows internal job applicants to apply online. 

 

You can apply for positions by logging into MassCareers or by clicking on the following link:  Find Your Career at the Commonwealth | Mass.gov

 

Newly Posted Positions: Please click on the function title for a link to the job posting.

 

Functional Title

Official Title

Location

Invertebrates Fisheries Technician 250001LL

 

Contracted Seasonal Employees

836 South Rodney, New Bedford, MA

Seasonal Recreational Fisheries Technician 250001MS

 

Contracted Seasonal Employees

836 South Rodney, New Bedford, MA

Seasonal Public Fishing Access Site Monitor  250001NJ

 

Contracted Seasonal Employees

836 South Rodney, New Bedford, MA

Fisheries Habitat Field Technician 2500024O

 

Contracted Seasonal Employees

836 South Rodney, New Bedford, MA

 

 

Please keep the following in mind:

  • Requisitions (former Posting IDs) will remain open for 45 days; however, first consideration will be given to those applicants that apply within the first 14 days of the posting. 
  • Employees must be signed into their Mass Careers profile to access Internal Postings.  For any access issues please contact ESC (Employee Service Center) at 617-979-8500.
  • For Hiring Managers: Please contact Gabriella Knight for any diversity-related inquires. For any inquiries or concerns regarding recruiting and hiring, please contact Nataly Moreno, Director of Recruitment.
  • For Division and Work Unit Managers: please ensure that these announcements are posted in a location for staff to view.

 

The Department of Fish And Game is an Equal Employment Opportunity/ Affirmative Action Employer.

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, the Commonwealth does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. Research suggests that qualified women, Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color (BIPOC) may self-select out of opportunities if they don’t meet 100% of the job requirements. We encourage individuals who believe they have the skills necessary to thrive to apply for this role.

 

M.S. Position in Social Insect Immunity

M.S. Position: The Penick Lab at Auburn University is seeking a fully funded M.S. student to begin Fall 2025 to study social immunity in ants, focusing on how antimicrobial defenses influence microbial communities across species. We are looking for a highly motivated student with a strong interest in ants, social evolution, microbiology, and host-microbe interactions. Ideal candidates will have experience or enthusiasm for microbial culturing, molecular techniques—particularly DNA metabarcoding—and fieldwork. An interest in science communication is also a plus, as the Penick Lab places a strong emphasis on public outreach and encourages students to share their research through media and creative projects.

To apply, email a statement of interest, CV/resume, and contact info for two references to Dr. Clint Penick (czp0134@auburn.edu) by April 30, 2025. More info: penicklab.com.

Spring Ecology Career Navigation Events from ESA

Get guidance on ecology careers straight from the mouths of your fellow ecologists! This spring’s ongoing series on exploring ecology careers is now bolstered by an examination of environmental careers for current seekers, plus two resume workshops:

Environmental Careers Outlook on April 9 will explore where opportunities are now, and where future opportunities may lie.Building a Resume for the Commercial Sciences on April 16 is intended to help ecologists eyeing the private sector (in particular — should be useful in nonprofits too!) to put their best foot forward.Building a Resume for Roles in State and Local Government on April 23 aims to do the same, but to prepare ecologists applying for jobs outside of the U.S. federal space but nonetheless supporting restoration, mitigation and compliance work.

You can also catch any of our upcoming events in the Exploring Career Opportunities in Ecology series by the Private & Public Sector Ecologists Section!

Jonathan Miller

Director of Membership and Communications

Ecological Society of America

jon@esa.org

202-833-8773 ext. 236

Teaching Assistant position for summer field ecology course

Teaching Assistant(s) needed for a 10-week summer course at the University of Notre Dame Environmental Research Center (UNDERC) in northern Wisconsin and the Michigan Upper Peninsula. This undergraduate course, Practicum in Environmental Field Biology, runs from 28 May through 3 August, 2025. The course includes both teaching and research components to educate ~12 undergraduate students. The teaching component is broken up into 4 week-long modules (Introduction to Field Research Skills, Vertebrate Ecology, Aquatic Ecology, and Forest Ecology), taught by instructors from the University of Notre Dame and other collaborating universities. In addition we’ll offer students an Introduction to NEON module, in collaboration with scientists from the National Ecological Observatory Network, housed at UNDERC. Students work with instructors and TAs to design and carry out summer-long group research projects. Students will also work with an Environmental Humanities/UNDERC Summer Writing Resident to improve and expand their expression of environmental science and natural history.   We also have students conducting their own research projects in another course (Research Experience in Environmental Field Biology) who may need some advice and assistance from the teaching assistant. See UNDERC’s web page for specifics about the course: underc.nd.edu/education/

Duties. The TA will work to assist professors during each teaching module, as well as provide guidance on a daily basis to enrolled students.  TA will also help students develop statistical ability and science communication skills, by helping lead a journal club where students will select and discuss current scientific literature. Additionally, TA will assist with the design and implementation of student group projects during the summer.  These projects will be directed towards topics derived from each module. Finally, the TA will assist UNDERC staff with implementing a positive learning environment.

Compensation. Salary is negotiable, based on level of experience. Minimum $6000 for the class ($15/hour for 10 weeks). Modern apartment-style housing at UNDERC will be provided at no cost. Field vehicles provided throughout the course. Other amenities (24-hr computer lab, wireless internet access in apartments, free laundry facilities) are accessible on property.

Qualifications. Bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences with a focus on Ecology or related fields is preferred. Basic knowledge of 4 modules (listed above) and univariate statistics preferred. Proficiency with the statistical program R preferable but not required. If applicable, please include a list of relevant coursework and research projects you have completed.

Please submit cover letter (including description of research interests and background), CV/resume, and the contact information for three references (e-mail submission preferred) to:

Dr. Michael J. Cramer

Assistant Director

Environmental Research Center

University of Notre Dame

Notre Dame, IN 46556

mcramer@nd.edu

(574) 631-0970

http://underc.nd.edu

Review of applications will begin 15 April, and continue until the position is filled.

Recruiting Masters students; New Mexico Tech Biology

The Biology Department at the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology (NM

Tech/NMT) is recruiting outstanding student researcher-scholars to join our highly competitive MS program beginning in Fall of 2025. The Biology Department is a growing force within NM Tech, and is committed to educating and training the next generation of biology-oriented scholars, scientists, and problem-solvers. Master’s students in our program can expect rigorous classroom/laboratory coursework, with the expectation of a high-quality Thesis resulting from research performed under the tutelage of our exceptional faculty mentors. Former NMT Biology MS graduates have gone on to earn PhD’s, MD’s, DVM’s, or immediately entered the workforce taking Biotech jobs, National Laboratory research positions, and work for NGO’s,

Non-profits and as Primary School Educators.

Having the support of a faculty mentor is critical to acceptance in the program. We have limited slots for Fall 2025 and encourage prospective students to contact one or more faculty (see below) regarding potential thesis projects.

Faculty research interests include: biogeochemistry, bioinformatics, ecotoxicology, fungal ecology, landscape genetics, medical microbiology & wildlife ecology

If a formal offer of acceptance is made to a candidate, we provide competitive TA support during the first semester that can be extended based on degree progress. The majority of our students receive a combination of TA and RA (Research Assistantship) financial support. Summer support is typically provided by extramural grants or institutional funding.

The Biology Department is also the historic anchor of an 11-department trans-disciplinary Biotechnology PhD program and outstanding MS students would be highly competitive for entry into that doctorate pathway. Interested prospective students should:

1) Begin formally applying to NMT graduate school:

2) Contact one or more faculty members below with a brief cover letter (email is fine) explaining your research interests and career goals

3) Include a 1-page CV/resume in the inquiry email

Dr. Benjamin Duval (ecosystem ecology, ecotoxicology, global change, soil science)

Dr. Paris Salazar-Hamm (mycologist, emerging fungal disease)

Dr. Joshua Jahner (bioinformatics, conservation biology, landscape genetics)

NM Tech is located in Socorro, NM which boasts proximity to the Rio Grande, Chihuahuan

Desert and the Magdalena Mountains are visible from campus. The town is ~8000 people, is minutes from world-class mountain biking, hiking and rock climbing. Albuquerque is ~1hr north. The cost of living is among the lowest for Southwestern mountain towns. The weather is typically spectacular!

Research Field Assistant (Watershed Science)

Description

A basic description can be found below, while a full description (with application instructions) can be found here: https://unm.csod.com/ux/ats/careersite/18/home/requisition/32643?c=unm

The Webster Lab is hiring 1 technician to assist with data collection in the Teakettle Experimental Forest for a multi-year project aimed at understanding the impacts of prescribed fire on water quality of mountain streams. Teakettle is located 80 km east of Fresno, CA, and consists of 1300 hectares of old-growth, mixed conifer forest at ~2200 m elevation in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. After 136 years of absence, fire was brought back to the Teakettle in 2001, and a history of research has unfolded since.

More information about Teakettle can be found here (https://research.fs.usda.gov/psw/forestsandranges/locations/teakettle), while information about the Webster Lab at the University of New Mexico can be found here (https://alexjwebster.weebly.com/).

Duties will primarily consist of fuel surveys and water quality monitoring, but may include assisting visiting scientists with other projects, as well as helping to maintain the field station. Desired skills include familiarity with fuels survey methods and maintenance/use of water quality instrumentation, as well as the ability to comfortably spend long days in the field without cellular reception. The candidate should be comfortable with camping in rustic conditions and working at high elevation. Prior relevant work experience is helpful, but not necessary. We are looking for an excellent team player with solid communications skills who is eager to learn.

For highest consideration, please submit applications via the link below by April 6, 2025, 11:59 pm MST. Applications submitted after this date will be considered if a suitable candidate has not yet been found. Candidates who can commit to the entire field season will be given high priority, but we encourage current undergraduate students with potentially conflicting academic schedules to apply.

Minimum Qualifications

High school diploma or GED; at least 1 year of experience directly related to the duties and responsibilities specified. Completed degree(s) from an accredited institution that are above the minimum education requirement may be substituted for experience on a year for year basis.

Preferred Qualifications

A completed baccalaureate degree in a related field (e.g., biology, ecology, hydrology) An interest in gaining valuable postgraduate field research experience in watershed science, fire science, forestry, or a related field Flexibility around early summer and fall timing Current Wilderness First Aid or First Responder training Experience conducting scientific surveys/data collection at high elevation

Internship in diamondback terrapin research on Poplar Island

Hi all,

The Spatial Ecology and Conservation Lab at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center?(SERC) is seeking an intern starting Spring 2025. The intern will support multiple components of a research project that examines the responses of the diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin) population to an active island restoration project.

The Paul S. Sarbanes Ecosystem Restoration Project at Poplar Island (Poplar Island) presents a unique opportunity to understand how large-scale ecological restoration projects affect terrapin populations. The two focal components of the project are (1) evaluating the current terrapin population on Poplar Island and how the population responds as the Poplar Island’s restoration progresses, and available habitat increases and (2) continue the Terrapin Education and Research Partnership (TERP), which places hatchlings into local classrooms and evaluate the success of released hatchlings into the population. The intern will support the project by participating in field work including (1) field capture and release of diamondback terrapins using fyke nets and modified crab traps, (2) marking individual captured terrapins using Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT) tags and collecting morphometric data on adult and hatchling terrapins (3) conducting terrapin nest surveys, protecting intact nests and collecting emerged hatchlings and (4) capturing eastern kingsnakes (Lampropeltis getula), eastern rat snakes (Pantherophis alleghaniensis), eastern mud turtle (Kinosternon subrubrum) and common snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina) when encountered and collecting morphometric data including marking with PIT tags. Other responsibilities may include organizing and cleaning gear for field work, entering data and working with volunteers or other interns, and communicating project activities.

The intern will have the opportunity to develop a broader understanding of diamondback terrapin ecology and conservation, obtain experience working within a research lab and as part of a team, learn about research design and methods for ecological data collection, develop data management and analysis skills, and participate in science communication.

We are seeking applicants with some (but not necessarily all) of the following:

Bachelor’s degree in ecology, environmental science, wildlife biology or related fieldExperience with fieldwork, in hot, humid conditions with biting insectsExperience in data management (collecting, recording, entering, organizing)Experience in capturing and handling reptilesWritten and verbal communication skillsAbility to work independentlyAbility to work as part of a team

Compensation: $700/week

Duration: 8 weeks with potential to extend depending on budget

Application Deadline: March 28, 2025, but will continue to receive applications until the position is filled.

A mutually agreeable start date will be determined with the selected applicant. We anticipate a start date in early May 2025. This will be an in-person internship with field work taking place on Poplar Island, Maryland with some office work in Edgewater, Maryland. Onsite Housing at SERC may be available.

To apply, please email a resume that highlights relevant experiences to Patricia Levasseur (levasseurp@si.edu).

For more information about our lab, please visit our website: https://serc.si.edu/labs/spatial-ecology-and-conservation

Post-baccalaureate internship at the Smithsonian

The Spatial Ecology and Conservation Lab at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center?(SERC) is seeking a post-baccalaureate intern starting Spring 2025. The intern will support multiple components of a research project that examines the ecological responses to a nature-based approach (NBA) island restoration project.

The disappearance of more than 400 islands within the Chesapeake Bay has occurred as a result of climate change and erosion. Island restoration is important at both local and global scales to mitigate the loss of habitat and biodiversity caused by climatic and anthropogenic factors. The project focuses on understanding how plant and animal communities respond to a restored island using a nature-based “living shoreline” approach compared to conventional artificial hardened shoreline techniques.

The intern will support the project by participating in field work including (1) vegetation planting and monitoring within experimental plots, (2) turtle nest and visual surveys (3) soil, water, and oyster sample collection and (4) collecting acoustic and video monitoring data and (5) collecting microclimate sensor data. Other responsibilities may include organizing and cleaning gear for field work, assisting in the setup of field experiments, entering data, assisting in identifying birds through acoustic sampling and aquatic fish and invertebrates through video sampling, managing microclimate sensor data, working with volunteers or other interns, and communicating project activities.

The intern will have the opportunity to develop a broader understanding of island community ecology, obtain experience working within a research lab and as part of a team, learn about research design and methods for ecological data collection, develop data management and analysis skills, and participate in science communication.

We are seeking applicants with some (but not necessarily all) of the following:

•Experience with fieldwork, in hot, humid conditions with stinging/biting insects

       Experience with fieldwork in experimental settings related to plant and animal handling

•Experience in data management (collecting, recording, entering, organizing)

•Experience identifying birds (by sight and sound), fish, and aquatic invertebrates

•Coursework and/or experience in ecology, environmental science, or botany

•Written and verbal communication skills

•Ability to work both independently and as part of a team

Compensation: $700/week

Duration: 18 weeks with the possibility of extension (depending on budget)

Application Deadline: We will begin reviewing applications on March 26, 2025 and will accept applications until the position is filled.

A mutually agreeable start date will be determined with the selected applicant. We anticipate a start date in late April or early May. This will be an in-person internship with fieldwork taking place on Jefferson Island, Maryland with some office work in Edgewater, Maryland. On-site housing may be available.

To apply, please email a resume that highlights relevant experiences to Shelley Bennett (bennettm@si.edu).

For more information about our lab, please visit our website: https://serc.si.edu/labs/spatial-ecology-and-conservation

Shelley Bennett, M.S.

Head Technician – Spatial Ecology and Conservation Lab

Smithsonian Environmental Research Center

bennettm@si.edu | +1-408-829-1414

she/her/hers

Art (Science) Attack course

Dear all,

We are excited to announce our upcoming online course, Art (Science) Attack, running 14-17 April.

This course bridges the gap between art and science, empowering researchers to create engaging visuals that effectively communicate their work. Using open-source software such as Krita and Inkscape, participants will learn how to design figures, project mascots, and compelling graphics for presentations, papers, and public engagement.

Course website: https://www.physalia-courses.org/courses-workshops/art-science-attack/

Who should attend?
Researchers, students, or anyone interested in improving how they visually communicate scientific ideas — no prior artistic experience required.

What you will learn:

Strategies to simplify complex scientific concepts into clear, attractive designs Creating logos, project mascots, and journal cover art Developing scientific schematics, one-panel figures, and outreach materials Practical training with Krita (rasters) and Inkscape (vectors)

Bring your ideas to life:
Participants are encouraged to submit a “portfolio” — this can be anything from a rough sketch to figures or visual concepts related to their projects.

For the full list of our courses and workshops, please visit: https://www.physalia-courses.org/courses-workshops/

Best regards,

Carlo