NSF Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) in Plant Ecology and
Genomics (second posting ¡V updated)

We have funding for two enthusiastic students interested in enhancing
their research skills and experience in plant ecology, genomics, and
bioinformatics in the Cruzan lab at Portland State University in
Portland, Oregon.

Successful applicants will become part of a research team working on
dispersal and gene flow in upland prairie plants in Oregon and
Washington under pressure from climate change. Dispersal is critical for
colonization, gene flow, and range expansion ¡V it is one of the most
important but least understood aspects of the ecology of plants. Our
research utilizes genomic techniques to detect the effects of dispersal
over different spatial scales. This is an integrative research program
that includes field work, wet lab preparation of genomic DNA for
next-generation sequencing, bioinformatics processing of sequence data,
and analysis of patterns of gene flow using GIS and landscape genetic
methods. Students will be exposed to a wide range of methods and are
expected to develop an independent research project within the scope of
the larger research program. More information on our research is posted
on our lab web site: https://cruzanlab.weebly.com/.

Students will be fully supported for 10 to 12 weeks during the summer of
2018. Funding is provided from an REU supplement to our National Science
Foundation Macrosystems Biology grant. Housing will be provided on
campus along with a daily allowance for food and a $500 weekly stipend.
The start of the REU is negotiable with optimal start dates between May
1 and June 17.

To apply please email us an updated copy of your CV (including GPA) and
a short (one page) statement of your research interests and experience,
as well as goals for your education and career. Applicants should
arrange to have one or two faculty members provide a letter of
recommendation (email is fine). Students with experience in computer
programming and/or bioinformatics are encouraged to apply. Application
deadline is 20 February 2018. Feel free to email us with questions.

Pam Thompson, Postdoctoral Research Associate: thompson@pdx.edu

Mitch Cruzan, Principle Investigator: cruzan@pdx.edu

—

Research Specialist II (Stream Sampling Crew Leader), UT Martin TEMP position – 180000004A Description

The Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Tennessee at Martin is seeking a stream sampling field-crew leader for a four-month appointment. The position will support a project evaluating the effects of stream restoration on fish communities in west Tennessee.
Primary duties include:
* Supervision of two technicians under the guidance of the project’s primary investigators.
* Ensuring timely collection of data and completion of laboratory work.
* Coordinating and conducting stream habitat surveys and fish community collections.
* Maintenance and repair of field equipment as needed.
* Identifying and enumerating fish species in the field and laboratory.
* Managing an Access database, performing data entry, and data QA/QC.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications
* BS in biology, stream/wildlife ecology or related field (e.g., environmental sciences).
* Experience conducting stream habitat surveys and fish community collections.
* Ability to quickly learn west TN fish fauna.
* Valid driver’s license.
* Ability to lift and carry 30 pounds in mud-bottom streams.
* Ability to work long hours (~10 hours) in hot and humid field conditions.

This is a temporary, non-exempt position for approximately four months (June – September).  Extension of the position is contingent on available funding. Low-cost housing (~$40/week) is available at the Reelfoot Lake Environmental Field Station or the applicant may find housing in Martin, TN. Research opportunities will be available to those interested.

Application Process:  Applicants must apply online at https://ut.taleo.net/careersection/ut_martin/jobdetail.ftl?
job=180000004A&tz=GMT-06%3A00 and attach to the application the
following:  a cover letter, resume, and two professional references.
Application Deadline:  Position will remain open until filled and all inquiries should be directed to Dr. Blanchard or Dr. Fore via email to Dr. Blanchard (tblanch@utm.edu; 731-884-7594) and Dr. Fore (jfore@tnc.org; 731-343-2004).
Pay Grade 36 – $12.98 per hour minimum hiirng rate, salary is comensurate with education and experience To view Annual Security & Fire Report – http://www.utm.edu/departments/publicsafety/index.php

Please see the full position announcement for additional information:
http://www.cnhp.colostate.edu/download/documents/jobs/Utah%20BLM%20Aquat
ic%20AIM%20Announcement%202018.pdf

POSITION TYPE: Full-time, temporary

NUMBER OF POSITIONS: 9 in total, 3 Lead Technicians and 6 Field Technicians

WORK LOCATIONS: Multiple locations throughout Utah

PAY RATE: $13.85-$17.30, depending on experience and position. Per diem when traveling beyond base location. Health insurance provided.

DURATION: 5 months (May-September 2018) with potential for extension

All Technicians must be available for the two-week training starting May 14, 2018.

In partnership with the Utah Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the Colorado Natural Heritage Program (CNHP) is seeking experienced field technicians to collect stream monitoring data through BLM’s aquatic Assessment, Inventory and Monitoring (AIM) initiative. Three field teams of three technicians each (1 Lead Technician and 2 Field Technicians) will be hired. Each team will be stationed in a separate BLM Field
Office: one each in Salt Lake City, Vernal, and Moab, Utah. The teams will work closely with Utah BLM Aquatic Biologists and other BLM staff within the Field Offices. Crews will spend 4-8 days in a row in the field, often camping away from the Field Office location. Data collection will include water quality sampling, stream habitat data, and benthic macro invertebrates.

Please see the full position announcement for additional information and required qualifications:
http://www.cnhp.colostate.edu/download/documents/jobs/Utah%20BLM%20Aquat
ic%20AIM%20Announcement%202018.pdf

TO APPLY
Email resume, cover letter, and three references (with phone numbers) to Kristin Schroder at Kristin.Schroder@colostate.edu. Please indicate if you would like to be considered for the Lead Technician.

First consideration of applicants will begin February 15, 2018.
Applications will continue to be accepted until all positions are filled or until April 30,

The Muller-Landau lab at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) seeks 3 interns to participate in research on tropical forest ecology in Panama for 9-12 months each.  One internship will focus on tropical forest carbon budgets, another on landscape-level variation in forest structure and dynamics, and a third on the role of lianas (woody vines).  The carbon intern will focus on synthesizing field data collected at multiple sites in Panama and across the ForestGEO / CTFS network of large-scale, long-term forest dynamics plots, and will participate in local field data collection.  The landscape intern will focus on collecting and analyzing geospatial data on forest structure and dynamics collected using drones to quantify variation in relation to topography, soils and climate, building on 3 years of data collection.  The liana intern will collect field data, analyze pre-existing datasets, and/or conduct modeling to investigate the determinants of liana abundance and the importance of liana strategy diversity.  Additional information on these opportunities can be found at http://www.forestgeo.si.edu/article/262/

All interns will have the opportunity to gain experience in tropical forest field work, quality assurance/quality control of the relevant datasets, programming and running analyses in R (and/or ArcGIS), and writing up results for scholarly publication.  The successful candidates will work closely with staff scientist Dr. Helene Muller-Landau and collaborators.
The Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute is located in Panama, and is home to a vibrant scientific community of 30 staff scientists, over 100
graduate and postdoctoral fellows, and 1500 scientific visitors per year.

The ideal candidates have a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field, strong quantitative skills including programming experience, and strong English and/or Spanish oral and written communication skills.  The positions are particularly well suited for candidates seeking more research experience prior to graduate school.  Each internship will be compensated with a modest stipend sufficient to cover living expenses in Panama ($1000/month), as well as roundtrip travel to Panama if relevant. The start dates are flexible and can be as early as March or as late as September 2018.

To apply, please email a CV, a cover letter describing your qualifications and interest in one or more of the positions, and contact information for 3 references to Helene Muller-Landau at mullerh@si.edu.  Review of applications will commence on February 15, 2018, and continue until the positions are filled.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Our research encompasses a wide range of projects, exploring the ecology and management of coastal marine ecosystems. We focus primarily on invasion dynamics but also examine species interactions of both native and non-native species. Overall, we study the patterns of marine invasions across space, time, and taxonomic groups and evaluate non- native management strategies. We seek to understand what drives those patterns, how to predict the future spread and impacts of non-native species, and how they affect species interactions, including predator- prey and host-parasite relationships.

INTERNSHIP PROJECT
For the Fouling Survey project, we conduct standardized surveys of the fouling community to document both native and introduced species in bays and estuaries. We study the diversity of fouling communities,how it changes over time, and how new species change community structure, composition and abundance. An internship with the Fouling Project will require travel to many different cities (usually in the Continental US or Panama). Interns will have the opportunity to study the latitudinal trends in non-native species diversity, the methods non- native species use to disperse themselves globally, and what makes them successful locally. We anticipate that the intern will spend 25% of their time working on an independent project that is part of the larger fouling community study, 25% assisting with miscellaneous lab projects,and 50% aiding in all aspects of field surveys.

DETAILS
This internship will be located at our San Francisco, California laboratory with the possibility to transfer to our Edgewater, Maryland location after field season. The internship dates span mid-May/early June through mid-October for a total of 16 weeks with some flexibility.
Both current students and recent graduates will be considered.

HOUSING
California: There is limited on-site guest house space available at varying costs.
Maryland: There is limited on-site dormitory space available for $105.00 per week.

COMPENSATION
The intern will receive a stipend of $550 dollars per week.

TO APPLY
Registration at the Smithsonian Online Academic Appointment system
(SOLAA) is required. Select the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center Internship program from the drop down list of programs and submit an essay, CV or resume, academic transcript (unofficial is acceptable), and two letters of recommendation. The Marine Invasions Lab is one of many labs at SERC, and the Fouling Project is one of a few projects in the Marine Invasions Lab. If you would like to report interest in this lab and project, please do so in your essay.