Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU):

The Aging of a Forest in the Anthropocene

Invertebrates are an essential link in the food chain. This project aims to understand how the abundance of forest invertebrates vary as a result of forest succession and available nutrients. We aim to collect insect and gastropod samples from three locations at Hubbard Brook: 1) Watershed 1, where 45 tons of calcium silicate were added via helicopter in 1999, 2) Watershed 5, where a whole-tree harvest was carried out from 1983 to 1984, and 3) Watershed 6, the reference watershed. With these samples, we can compare invertebrate abundance and species composition in the reference forest to that in an acid-remediated forest of the same age, and a forest that is now at about the same age as the other forests were when studies began 50 years ago. Co-mentors: Dr. Matt Ayres (matthew.p.ayres@dartmouth.edu) and Miranda Zammarelli (miranda.zammarelli.gr@dartmouth.edu), Dartmouth College.

To apply please email the following to miranda.zammarelli.gr@dartmouth.edu:

1.            A one page resume (including relevant coursework)

2.            Contacts for three people who can provide a reference

3.            Short answers (~1 paragraph each) to the following questions:

• There are many options for working in the environment, and research is one particular way. Why do you want to explore research?
• Why are you interested in the research project to which you are applying?
• How do you think that participating in the Hubbard Brook REU program could help you in your degree program and in your future pursuits?

For information on REUs at Hubbard Brook, please check out the website: https://hubbardbrook.org/undergraduate-graduate/

AVIAN BIOLOGISTS (2) needed to assist with bird surveys and vegetation sampling in mixed-conifer, pine, pine-oak, and oak forests and woodlands in central and southern Arizona and northern Sonora, Mexico. We will use point counts to estimate occupancy, abundance, and richness of breeding birds to assess the impacts of wildfire and climate on vegetation, habitats, and bird communities in montane vegetation types. Field work will focus in the Mogollon highlands of central Arizona, Sky Islands of southeastern AZ (especially Rincon Mountains east of Tucson), and in the Ajos-Bavispe forest reserve in northern Sonora. Field training and surveys will occur from late April to mid-July. To be considered, applicants must have: 1) ability to traverse rugged (often off-trail) terrain and be in good physical condition, 2) knowledge of songs and calls of breeding highland southwestern birds, and 3) ability to conduct point counts identifying birds by both sight and sound. Experience with distance sampling, tree identification, and off-road driving is helpful, as is past experience with vegetation sampling. Ability to quickly learn new bird vocalizations and speak at least basic to intermediate Spanish will be helpful for field work in Mexico, and a valid passport is required. Successful applicants will need to be prepared to spend long days hiking and navigating in remote field settings in rugged terrain, begin work before dawn, camp for up to 9 days at a time, yet be rewarded by amazing scenery and new discoveries that accompany field work in areas that are seldom visited by naturalists. Applicants with positive, can-do attitudes that are capable of working well with others including staff from the U.S. Forest Service and National Park Service are desired. Applicants must be willing to camp where necessary to do early morning field work, and carry a backpack with provisions on occasion. Field trips will be of 5-10 days in duration and be followed by 2-5 off days. Ability to use personal vehicle to rendezvous with field crew and field truck will be helpful at times and mileage reimbursement. Full time salary is ~$3250/month. Avian biologists will assist other team members with habitat work following point counts. To apply, send a brief cover letter and resume outlining your relevant experience and contact information for three references to Aaron D. Flesch at flesch AT ag.arizona.edu. Please reference “Avian biologist position” in the subject heading of emails.

HABITAT TECHNICIAN (1) needed to assist with habitat and vegetation sampling in mixed-conifer, pine, pine-oak, and oak forests and woodlands in central and southern Arizona and northern Sonora, Mexico. This project focuses on assessing the impacts of wildfire and climate on vegetation, habitats, and bird communities in montane vegetation types. Field work will be focused in the Mogollon highlands of central Arizona, Sky Islands of southeastern AZ (especially Rincon Mountains east of Tucson), and in the Ajos-Bavispe forest reserve in northern Sonora. Field training and survey work will occur from late April to mid-July. Applicants must have: 1) experience traversing rugged (off-trail) terrain and be in good physical condition, and have 2) past experience with vegetation sampling and skills in identifying tree and woody shrub species in montane systems. Ability to speak at least basic to intermediate Spanish will be helpful for field work in Mexico, and a valid passport is required. Successful applicants will need to be prepared to spend long days hiking and navigating in remote field settings in rugged terrain, begin work before dawn, camp for up to 9 days at a time, yet be rewarded by amazing scenery and new discoveries that accompany field work in areas that are seldom visited by naturalists. Applicants with positive, can-do attitudes that are capable of working well with others including staff from the U.S. Forest Service and National Park Service are desired. Applicants must be willing to camp where necessary to do early morning field work, and carry a backpack with provisions on occasion. Field trips will be of 5-10 days in duration and be followed by 2-5 off days. Full time salary is ~$2900/month. To apply, send a brief cover letter and resume outlining your relevant experience and contact information for three references to Aaron D. Flesch at flesch AT ag.arizona.edu. Please reference “habitat tech position” in the subject heading of emails.

Seasonal Wildlife Field Technician on Nantucket Island

The Nantucket Conservation Foundation (NCF) is a non-profit land trust that holds approximately 9,000 acres of permanently protected land on Nantucket Island. Our Science and Stewardship Department seeks a Wildlife Field Technician to conduct wildlife-related ecological field work and stewardship activities for the 2023 field season. Candidates must have strong wildlife-related field work experience, and be motivated, enthusiastic, and self-reliant.

This is a full-time, temporary and seasonal position beginning in early April and ending in mid-November; exact dates are somewhat flexible. Hours are generally 40 hours per week with daily hours variable depending on particular projects: early-morning and late-night field work will be required depending on project, weather, tides, etc. Weekend work will occasionally be required for certain field projects and non-profit events.

Wage is commensurate with experience and ranges from $22 – 25 per hour based on a 40-hour work week. Housing is provided in a shared, employee house, wage is negotiable if housing is not needed. Work-related transportation is provided during working hours.

Primary responsibilities include beach nesting shorebird surveys and protection, spotted turtle population surveys and radio telemetry, bat mist-netting and acoustic monitoring, horseshoe crab counts, various other wildlife-related monitoring and surveys, data entry and quality control, data summarization and end of season report writing; Invasive species management; Creating maps using ArcGIS software and apps including ArcMap, Field Maps and Survey123; etc

To Apply:

https://apply.workable.com/nantucket-conservation-foundation/j/163C9E3DEE/

Application deadline is Friday, February 10, 2023 by 5pm. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis so applicants are encouraged to submit materials early.

Other Seasonal positions here:

https://apply.workable.com/nantucket-conservation-foundation/

The Nantucket Conservation Foundation (NCF) Department of Science and Stewardship seeks a motivated, enthusiastic, self-reliant, independent Shorebird Monitor. From mid-April to early August, the shorebird monitor will work independently and/or with the Seasonal Wildlife Technician and focus intensively on nest searching, monitoring and protecting rare beach-nesting shorebirds and summarizing and reporting related end of season data. As the shorebird nesting season winds down, the potential exists to assist the NCF’s Science and Stewardship Department with additional ecological field work. Applicants with previous wildlife monitoring, and especially shorebird monitoring and nest searching experience, will be given preference for this position.

Primary responsibilities include Locating and regularly monitoring nests and documenting nest success of shorebirds including American Oystercatchers, Least and Common Terns and Piping Plovers at multiple locations on NCF properties on Nantucket Island; Participate in banding American Oystercatcher chicks; Installing and maintaining fencing and educational signs; Interacting and educating beach visitors about shorebird ecology and necessary protection measures;

This is a full-time, temporary position beginning in mid-April and ending early-August, exact start and end dates are somewhat flexible. Hours are generally 40 hours per week, averaging eight hours per day, although schedule will be flexible depending on weather and may require weekend days. Shorebird monitoring is required on holiday weekends (Memorial Day and July 4th).

Wage is commensurate with experience and ranges from $16 – 18 per hour based on a 40-hour work week. Housing is provided in a shared, employee house wage is negotiable if housing is not needed. Work-related transportation is provided during working hours.

https://apply.workable.com/nantucket-conservation-foundation/j/31B8244CE5/

Field Crew Leader and Bird Bander (2 positions)

Contribute to the long-term ecological study of black-throated blue warblers that we have run continuously for 40 years at the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest in the stunning White Mountain National Forest in New Hampshire. In collaboration with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center, Vermont Center for Ecostudies, and Dartmouth College, current research focuses on the effects of environmental change on breeding behavior as well as other topics on the ecology of these birds. The field crew is largely composed of undergraduates participating in the Hubbard Brook Field Ornithology Program, with many opportunities for mentorship and collaboration on student projects to enrich your experience.

Crew leaders should have experience nest searching and managing field technicians. Banders should have prior experience color banding and obtaining blood samples from songbirds from the brachial vein, and experience deploying radio transmitters will be especially valuable. Applicants must have a valid driver’s license and U.S. bank account. Crew members will be collecting data for multiple research projects on Black-throated Blue Warblers and will be expected to be active participants in all aspects of this bird research. The position involves color band resighting, nest searching, territory mapping, behavioral observations, song recording, video recording and transcription of parental care, insect and small mammal surveys, and measuring vegetation. Other opportunities may include the set-up and maintenance of radio towers, hand-tracking adults and fledglings, and collecting molt measurements. We are seeking applicants with good color vision, the ability to hike and work alone in remote, rugged, and steep terrain, with an interest in avian ecology.

Field work starts May 1st and continues through early August, with the possibility of extension through late August. Lakeside housing on the beautiful Likens Conservation Campus at Mirror Lake will be provided and a stipend of $2600/month (bander) and $3000/month (crew leader), wifi, and utilities. Many opportunities for exceptional hiking, swimming, fishing, kayaking, canoeing, and birding can be found in the immediate area.

If interested or have questions, please contact Dr. Sara Kaiser (sak275@cornell.edu). To apply, send a brief cover letter describing your interest and experience, CV, and the contact information for 2 references that can comment on your field experience to Dr. Todd Jones at (jonestm@si.edu). Applications will be reviewed as they are received.

Old Growth Forest Research Assistant Positions, Summer 2023

Summary

The Harvard Forest (HF) seeks two talented and enthusiastic individuals to assist with field sampling campaigns and subsequent management and analysis of tree-ring and ecological data. The successful candidates will collect plot-level forest census data and tree-ring samples across the Northeastern U.S./indigenous lands (from Abanaki/Wabanaki to Nipmuc, Haudenosaunee, Susquehannock, and Shawnee Tula lands). This project, funded by the National Science Foundation, will study ecological memory, global change, and extreme climate events across spatial and temporal scales to better understand the complexity of canopy disturbances and ecological processes of forests over time. The tree-ring dataset produced here will be, perhaps, unprecedented in terms of species diversity, ecological state, and temporal coverage in broadleaf-dominated old-growth forests. Funds are available to offset travel costs to the HF once hired.

Duties and Responsibilities

Candidates will work directly with a Research Assistant and two Primary Investigators to assist in an expected total of five weeks of vegetation sampling in multiple old-growth forests in the Northeastern United States.  Assistants will:

Participate in vegetation sampling in old-growth forests. (40%);

Prepare measure, cross-date, and analyze tree-ring samples (55%); and

Assist P.I. on data analysis, data interpretation, and table and figure preparation (5%).

Required Education, Experience, and Skills

College background in Botany, Ecology, Forestry, Biology, Geography, or Earth Sciences with experience sampling vegetation is preferred.

Additional Qualifications

Though not required, knowledge of Northeastern US forest flora and forest dynamics, skill with maps and compass, familiarity with mapping, surveying/orienteering, and database entry would enhance your application. The ability to work well with others, however, is essential.  Successful applicants will have a strong interest to work with interdisciplinary science teams and serious interest in environmental research. Regretfully, we are unable to offer visa sponsorship for staff positions.

Working Conditions

Must be willing to work outdoors under all weather conditions including wet, cool, and rainy days. A valid driver’s license (for at least the past 2 years) and an excellent driving record is preferred.  Applicants must be capable of walking/hiking approximately 2-5 miles each day. Old-growth forests are often on rather steep slopes with thin soils or talus microsites. We work as a team and we work safely. The ability to carry a pack (20+ lbs.) is needed, but we share the effort of fieldwork in landscapes that can be rugged.

Project Team Philosophy

We believe in conducting science with both humility and intellectual rigor. We respect all people and will combat institutional racism and gender bias at every opportunity. We are committed to diversity and inclusion and to fostering a welcoming and stimulating environment so that project participants can develop, grow, and achieve their professional goals.

Compensation, Benefits and Application Process

Competitive salary for these 12-week, 40 hrs./week, temporary positions is $15.00/hour.

In addition, the successful candidates will have access to funds to offset most of the cost of rent during these appointments in Harvard Forest housing. Note: there are no requirements to live on site. If that is the case, the successful candidate must be able to have their own transportation to commute each working day to the Harvard Forest from a nearby community.

Finally, funds are available to assist with relocation costs to and from the HF at the beginning and end of the position from the successful candidate’s current place of residence.  Field campaigns are being planned for late spring and summer 2023, COVID depending. Positions could start in May 2023, depending on availability, but would not start much later than June 1, 2023 and are not expected to extend longer than 12 weeks.  Apply by sending PDF bundled cover letter, resume, and contact information for 3 relevant references to hfapps@fas.harvard.edu — Subject line: Field Technicians – Northeast Old Growth Forest Project

Initial Reviews Begin: January 25, 2023

Position Closes: Wednesday February 1, 2023

Interviews expected to begin in late February 2023 with offers expected to be made shortly thereafter.

https://harvardforest.fas.harvard.edu/employment#fieldtech

The Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC) is seeking a Scientific Illustration intern for Spring 2023. SERC conducts research often covers complex systems, involving interactions among multiple biotic, abiotic, and human elements. Diagrams, images, and schematics can be integral in demonstrating these complex relationships, both to research and lay audiences.

Compensation: $625/week, onsite housing is provided

Duration: 11 weeks

Application Deadline: February 3, 2023

A mutually agreeable start date will be determined with the selected applicant. We anticipate a start date in mid to late March 2023. We envision this as an on-site internship on our campus in Edgewater, Maryland. However, we are open to discussing hybrid and potentially remote options with well qualified candidates.

This intern will work with the SERC Public Engagement team and Fisheries Conservation Lab to identify areas related to human-ecosystem interactions that could be conveyed by illustration. Examples could include the ecosystem value of restored oyster reefs and the migration patterns of migratory fish. We envision the illustrations being used as part of research and communications efforts. Ideally, the intern will have the opportunity to participate in fieldwork and lab work related to the illustrations and visual products that they will create.

In addition to the independent project, the intern will be broadly exposed to and participate in SERC public engagement and research activities. Responsibilities may include taking creating website content, collecting data and working with volunteers in the field on a variety of projects, engaging with K-12 students and educators, interacting with SERC researchers, and communicating SERC research to members of the public through direct and virtual interactions.

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

  *   Experience with visual art and/or graphic design

  *   Experience developing videos, social media posts, and other communication products

  *   Coursework and/or experience in ecology or environmental science

  *   Interest and some understanding of environmental science research

  *   Interest in communicating science to a variety of audiences

  *   Ability to work independently

  *   Ability to work as a part of an interdisciplinary team

To apply, please email a resume that highlights relevant experiences to Alison Cawood at cawooda@si.edu.

The SERC community recognizes the value of diversity in promoting innovative science and creative solutions, and we strongly encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply. We recognize that each applicant for this role will bring unique skills, knowledge, experiences and background to this position. The Smithsonian Institution is an equal opportunity employer, committed to a policy of non-discrimination on the basis of race/ethnicity, national origin, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, age, religion, marital/parental/caregiver status and disability.

The Cooperative Institute for Great Lakes Research (CIGLR) administers an annual Great Lakes Summer Fellows Program, in partnership with the NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (GLERL). We place promising undergraduate (junior or senior as of Fall 2023) and graduate students with both academic and federal research mentors.

JOB DESCRIPTION:

The Western Forest Initiative (WFI) seeks 4 field crew members to join our team of graduate students and scientists. These positions involve examining old growth forests for growth, mortality and recruitment, mapping down woody debris, measuring fuels, and surveying seedlings and herbaceous plants. Work begins in the Yosemite Forest Dynamics Plot (Yosemite National Park, California), continues to Wind River Forest Dynamics Plot (Gifford Pinchot National Forest, Washington), and finishes in the Utah Forest Dynamics Plot (Cedar Breaks National Monument, Utah). Two lab trucks will carry gear and any technicians who do not have or do not want to bring a personal vehicle.

DURATION:

mid May through mid August 2023

The work schedule is four, ten hour days per week.

PAY:

$16.50 per hour.

We provide campground and field station accommodations (camping at Yosemite and Cedar Breaks, field station in Wind River), and we provide work food and all group cooking gear.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Knowledge of western flora, tree pathogens, and forest insects is helpful, as is solid experience with outdoor living. Candidates may have experience taking vegetation data, working safely in challenging environments, and following complex protocols. Work will involve moving through sometimes rough terrain and carrying up to 20 lbs of additional gear. Must have a valid drivers license (no recent DUI or reckless driving).

TO APPLY:

Please assemble the following into a single PDF file and send to soren.struckman@usu.edu with the subject line “WFI 2023 Job Application”

1) one page cover letter describing your reasons for applying and specific dates of availability including any planned mid summer absences, or a statement that you plan none. Your stated first available day should be the day you can be in Yosemite National Park.

2) one or two page resume.

3) unofficial transcripts.

4) names, phone numbers, and email addresses of three references.

*applications will be reviewed as they are received, but no later than 10 February 2023

The BeeMORE program at NC State is an eight week summer research experience funded by the USDA – NIFA Research and Extension Experiential Learning for Undergraduates (REEU) Fellowships Program that focuses on building awareness and fundamental skills in the areas of microbiology and bee biology. Our program will give eight undergraduates the opportunity to investigate diverse topics that highlight the importance of bees as pollinators, the role of pollinators in crop productivity, the importance of microbes in earth ecology, and the specific role of microbes in bee health and disease.

Students will receive stipends of $500 per week during the program, lodging in the Wolf Village student apartments, and a daily food allowance. There are limited travel funds available for participants from outside the state, with preference given to those traveling the farthest. The dates for the 2023 program are May 26th to August 1st.

The BeeMORE program is open to all rising sophomore, junior, and senior undergraduate students enrolled in a university program leading to a baccalaureate degree. Applicants should have an interest in interdisciplinary research of importance to agriculture and STEM disciplines, preferably with future plans for graduate school or industry careers. Students from institutions other than NCSU are encouraged to apply, though there will be some slots available for NCSU students. Members of demographic groups that are underrepresented in sciences are especially encouraged to apply.

The application deadline is Jan 31.

https://harvest.cals.ncsu.edu/beemore/