REFUGE OPERATION TECHNICIAN (SEABIRD RESEARCH) Connecticut

Location: Falkner Island, CT – Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge

Duration: Beginning May 15th to August 5th (12 weeks)

Job Type: Seasonal Position

Salary: $15/hr (housing may be available for rent)

Job Description: Stewart B. McKinney NWR is looking for one qualified individual to be our 2023 Refuge Operation Technician stationed on Falkner Island to monitor seabirds. Duties of this technician position include but are not limited to:

· monitoring productivity of roseate and common terns on Falkner Island

· identifying both species’ prey items (typically small fish) and recording data

· band re-sighting (fledglings and adults) from field blinds and other locations

· banding common tern chicks

· participating in non-lethal predator management

· completing maintenance projects and invasive species control

· operating/maintaining small watercraft and associated vehicles (must pass MOCC course)

· educating the public and assisting with training of other seasonals working on the island

Job Requirements:

· The position is based on an island in a bird colony with thousands of birds. Technician must be able to work around birds who will be actively defending their territory/colony. This includes the birds as a group flying at and hitting the top of the head (safety hat provided for protection), as well as being around bird excrement and having birds excrete on you (issued safety equipment).

· This position involves working long hours, nights, weekends, and holidays. Schedules will be around 40 hours per week but will vary in the length of day and start time.

· The technician will spend 5+ days living on the island in rustic conditions (no running water, outhouse, solar power, limited and unstable WiFi connection) and 2 nights off.

· Weather and wave height may change work schedule due to transportation issues.

· Work will often be labor intensive and may be in adverse weather – need to be physically able to lift 30lbs and walk miles over uneven and rocky terrain

· Work includes hazards such as direct contact with poison ivy and plants with thorns, as well as conditions with biting insects to include ticks, mosquitoes, and biting flies

· Will be required to wear a uniform to work every day, operate a boat, and drive Refuge vehicles

· May use power equipment with personal protective equipment

· Must take and pass the DOI’s Motorboat Operation Certification Course

· Will need to drive personal vehicle to/from Guilford dock when meeting boat

· Applicant must be a US citizen, have a US Driver’s License, and be 18-30 years of age (or up to 35 if a U.S. veteran)

· Will be required to provide information about banding experience for permitting purposes

Qualifications:

· Previous bird banding experience is required

· Additional experience working with birds, field work in a field camp setting, data collection, bird identification, boat operation, fish identification, and an academic background in wildlife biology, zoology, environmental science or a related field are preferred.

To Apply: Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis, with preference given to those received by January 13th, and a final deadline on March 3rd. Send a cover letter, resume, and contact information for at least 3 references (must include email and phone number) via email to: Kristina_Vagos@fws.gov. In the subject line, please enter “Falkner Island” and the first letter of your first name followed by your full last name. All application material should be titled similarly. Please do not send applications by mail.

Happy New Year!  Our research group has field positions open for experienced birders and plant enthusiasts for the 2023 field season. I’d be grateful if you would share the announcement links with anyone who might be interested.

Birds: https://jobs.oregonstate.edu/postings/130038
Plants: https://jobs.oregonstate.edu/postings/130035

The study locations are in the Great Basin, primarily the mountains of central Nevada and western Nevada, and the east slope of the Sierra Nevada. These are spectacular, moderately to truly remote, and surprisingly birdy places.

Bird season is roughly mid May through early July. Existing ability to identify western birds by sound and sight, and existing backcountry skills and common sense, are essential qualifications.

Plant season is more flexible, but roughly early June through early August. Applicants should be familiar with the major tree and shrub species in the Intermountain West. Again, backcountry skills and common sense are essential.

Full consideration date is 16 January. Closing date is 23 January.  I’m happy to answer any questions.

Best wishes,
Erica

--

Erica Fleishman

Director, Oregon Climate Change Research Institute

Professor, College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences

Oregon State University

erica.fleishman@oregonstate.edu

805.291.6258

We are already looking to hire folks for this coming summer of field work. If you know of anyone who is a good worker and would be interested in a summer in North Idaho, please forward the link below to them. Last year was a struggle to find quality candidates so I am trying to cast a wide and far net this year.

The position would be working with myself and another biologists on a wide array of warmwater and trout species in some of the best trout streams in Idaho and the largest lakes in the state. The start and end dates are flexible but would like someone from mid-May to mid-August. The position is non-benefitted but pays $15/hr and has free housing at the 4,000 acre Farragut State Park next to Lake Pend Orielle.

https://idfg.idaho.gov/job/126322

Job Title: Ecological Field Technician

Classification: Seasonal Position (6 weeks)

Pay: $20 per hour

Location: Pahrump Valley, Nevada (Mojave Desert)

Start Date: 3/20/2023

Application Deadline: 2/15/2023

Number of Positions: 2

Organizations: Cornell University, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), and the

Bureau of Land Management (BLM)

Contact: Kyle Turchick (kt493@cornell.edu)

Job Summary:

Multiple field technician positions need to be filled for work related to

both disturbance ecology and renewable energy ecology. The field

technicians will assist with data collection for a project investigating

the effects of solar energy development on the Mojave Desert ecosystem.

This project is funded by the Bureau of Land Management and is in

collaboration with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). Field work will be in

the Pahrump Valley of Nevada, which is located in between Death Valley,

California and Las Vegas Valley, Nevada. The field work will be led by a

PhD student in the USGS Cooperative Fish & Wildlife Research Unit at

Cornell University (Kyle Turchick). The two main objectives are to (1)

understand ecosystem change due to the construction of a large solar energy

facility and then (2) inform land managers in the Las Vegas Field Office,

as well as the broader community of research ecologists. INDIVIDUALS WITH

PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE IMPLEMENTING THE BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT’S

ASSESSMENT, INVENTORY, AND MONITORING (AIM) METHODOLOGY ARE ENCOURAGED TO

APPLY.

Job Description:

The field technicians will assist with data collection both in and around

the solar facility for 1.5 months, beginning in mid-March 2023 and ending

late-April (6 weeks total). Each week will consist of four 10-hour days of

fieldwork (Monday-Thursday), followed by three days off (Friday-Sunday). A

work truck will be provided for the crew, such that the field technicians

won’t need a personal vehicle during the work week. During the four-day

work week technicians are expected to camp with the work truck on the

public lands surrounding the isolated solar facility. The crew will

commute in the work truck each day from the public land basecamp to the

nearby solar facility, and then hike out to sampling locations from within

the solar facility; or the crew will hike from the public land basecamp to

the sampling locations outside of the solar facility. The workday will

begin early in the morning and extend through the heat of the day.

Technicians will be paid $20 an hour. The necessary cooking supplies will

be provided for the crew (propane stove, fuel, pots, pans, cutting board,

bowls, plates, cups, utensils, etc.), and food expenses will be covered

during the four-day fieldwork week (Monday-Thursday).

The primary scientific duties of the field technicians will be to identify

plant species, measure vegetation, characterize biological soil crust,

quantify downed woody debris, describe soils, survey burrows, sample

pollinators (trap deployment and recovery), accurately and legibly record

data (with paper & pencil), correctly enter field data to digital formats,

and potentially install sensors. Previous experience beyond classwork

required for: identifying plant species, vegetation measurements, and both

accurate and legible data recordings, these are the three central skill

sets. Attention to detail and organization while in physically stressful

environmental conditions are key characteristics. Again, individuals with

previous experience implementing the Bureau of Land Management’s

Assessment, Inventory, and Monitoring (AIM) methodology are encouraged to

apply.

The successful applicant must be able to perform these duties consistently

for long periods of time in physically challenging environments. The

physical and mental capacity to conduct long hours of fieldwork in rugged,

hot desert conditions is required.

Qualifications Summary:

Desired qualifications for the position include the following:

1. Experience working with AIM protocol

2. Experience collecting data on desert soils and plants

3. Ability to accurately follow instructions for data collection and

implement scientific procedures

4. Physical and mental capacity to conduct long hours of fieldwork in

rugged, hot desert conditions

5. A Bachelor’s degree in botany, soils, or related field OR equivalent

work experience in desert ecology.

Application:

Please submit the following to application materials, preferably in a

single PDF document, to Kyle Turchick (PhD student) via email (kt492@cornell.edu):

Application Materials: (1) Brief letter of interest;

(2) Resume/CV; (3) Names and contact info for 3 references; and (4)

transcripts (optional). Applications will be considered on a rolling basis,

but the final date to apply is 2/15/23.

Thank you for your interest.

The Plant Ecology lab is seeking independent and mature undergraduate or newly graduated students with a background or interest in biology, ecology, environmental science, forestry, or a related field for paid field research internships. Successful candidates will work at the  B4WARMED (Boreal Forest Warming at an Ecotone in Danger) research experiment that warms plants and soil with summer rainfall removal in the field to examine tree seedlings response to warming and water limitation with respect to physiology, phenology, growth, and survival. For more information about the lab and the project visit our web pages.

Openings start at the beginning of March and go until the end of November 2023. Start dates are flexible and up for negotiation. On average, an internship lasts about 4+ months. Typical workdays are eight hours Monday through Friday; however, some tasks require early morning, evening, or weekend work (+40h/week). A valid driver’s license is required. Successful hires will work through a variety of tasks with a primary focus on tree biometric, ecophysiological and ecological measurements and data collections in the field with occasional site maintenance, laboratory work, and treatment implementation. The intern will work in an individual and team setting. Consequently, a maturity to work autonomously often with long hours is required.

Desired qualifications: 1) Eagerness to work hard in an outdoor setting, 2) Capacity to collect data following established protocols, 3) Familiarity with plant and tree species of northern Minnesota, 4) Willingness to work well and play well with others and live in a remote area with others and/or alone, 5) Curiosity and passion for the natural world, 6) Flexibility to adapt to a frequently changing schedule, 7) Demonstrated ability to work under changing weather conditions with large swarms of insects.

Fieldwork will be split between research sites at the Cloquet Forestry Center in Cloquet, MN, and the Hubachek Wilderness Research Center near Ely, MN. Both research sites are in beautiful forested settings and provide access to the natural areas of northern Minnesota including the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. An individual’s home base will be at either of these locations, though travel between sites will be required depending on project needs. University vehicles are used for such travel. On-site fully furnished housing and kitchens are available.

To apply please send a cover letter (including available working dates), a CV/resume, and contact information for two references electronically to Kirsten Granstrom-Arndt via grans025@umn.edu . Applications will be accepted until all positions are filled.

FOREST POLLINATOR FIELD TECHNICIANS (4) needed during summer 2023 for a large-scale project that is evaluating the response of native bee communities to fuel-reduction treatments within managed forest landscapes. This work is being led by Dr. Jim Rivers and Megan Sampognaro in the Forest Animal Ecology Laboratory

Positions Available: 4 crew members

Location: Northern California

Start Date: 05/08/2023

End Date: 08/11/2023

Last Date to Apply: Open until filled, applications reviewed on a rolling basis

Field Assistant position duties:

Field work will consist of physically demanding work in challenging conditions (heat, cold, rain, sun, steep slopes, loose rock, logging slash, stinging insects, hazardous plants); working long days, including some weekends; camping for up to a week; driving on logging roads; and navigating through difficult forest terrain likely without cell service. Field safety training will be provided.

Primary duties of crew members will consist of:

-Collecting wild bees using a variety of techniques (netting, traps)

-Quantifying floral resources

-Quantifying nesting habitat

-Assisting with daily routine, tasks, and checklists

-Data collection and entry on a daily basis

-Assisting with additional project-related duties as needed.

-Communicating with other crew members and leads to make sure tasks are completed

Pay rate is based on prior experience and is $620-$680/week. We provide free housing, including utilities for the full duration of the position, as well as free project-related transportation.

Field Assistant Qualifications:

Successful applicants will have an interest and/or experience in entomology, animal ecology or a related field. Experience can come from employment, classes, volunteer work, etc. Please highlight in your application if you have experience with insect collection and identification, previous experience sampling pollinators in field settings, or if you are familiar with Northern California flora. Most importantly, successful applicants will be self-motivated, have a strong work ethic, be able to carry heavy gear (30+ lbs.) on steep slopes, be able to work harmoniously in a group living situation, have a valid driver’s license and clean driving record, be able to maintain a positive disposition under challenging field conditions, and have a proven track record of working in a safe, efficient, and cooperative manner in a team setting.

Skills you will gain:

-Sampling methods for pollinators and their floral communities

-Plant and insect identification skills

-Working in a team environment

-Safely navigating in backcountry terrain without cell service

-Data entry and data management

-Maintenance and troubleshooting of equipment

-Field safety

To apply: Email a single PDF that consists of (1) a cover letter outlining qualifications for the position, (2) a full-length resume or CV, and (3) the name, email, and phone number of 3 references to emcpollinatorcrew@gmail.com with 2023 Pollinator Crew Applications in the subject line. Positions will be filled as qualified applications are received.¯

Oregon State University and the College of Forestry is an equal-opportunity employer. As such, we promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in all aspects of our research. We welcome all applicants, regardless of race, ethnicity, orientation, or gender identity

Elk Research Technician

Classification: Temporary/Seasonal Positions

Agency: Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW)

Location: Grand Junction, CO

Salary: $15.00-18.50/hour based on experience

Start date: January 23, 2023

Last day to Apply: December 30, 2022 or until filled

Description: This is a 6-9 month position, working on all aspects of elk research projects evaluating population dynamics and assessing how elk respond to human recreation. This position is approximately 60% office and 40% fieldwork, with extended periods of 100% office or fieldwork. This position is based out of Grand Junction, Colorado, but field work will occur throughout western Colorado, and extensive travel and overnight stays will be required. The incumbent will be required to be on the road from March 1-March 15 to participate in adult female elk captures. From May 6-July 1, the incumbent will live and work near Carbondale, Craig, or Delta on a 6-8 person crew responsible for locating, catching, and collaring elk calves, using radio telemetry to locate vaginal implant transmitters and collared elk, monitoring calf survival, and assessing cause-specific mortality by field necropsy. If the incumbent has previous leadership experience, they may have the opportunity to lead one of these crews. Free housing is available in Grand Junction and during the calving season, and consists of camp trailers and cabins. No pets are allowed in the provided housing. Work hours are long and variable and will include weekends. Hiking long distances in mountainous terrain will be required. Work vehicles and field gear will be provided.

Job Duties:

This position will focus on data collection and management, field logistics, equipment purchasing, management, and maintenance, and working cooperatively with a wide variety of contacts and collaborators. The incumbent will be responsible for investigating and determining the cause of death of elk mortalities, managing and testing 375 elk collars/year prior to their deployment, retrieving and downloading data from these collars, and inputting and managing all of the elk research data in a Microsoft Access database. During the calving season, the incumbent may supervise an elk calf capture crew, directing a team of 6-8 capture technicians. The incumbent will maintain a fleet of vehicles (trucks, camper and equipment trailers, ATVs, and snowmobiles), and all of the equipment and supplies associated with field research. The incumbent will be responsible for professionally representing CPW in a variety of situations and to a variety of people interested in the elk research projects. This will include landowners, hunters, University personnel, state and federal agency personnel, CPW staff, and the general public. The incumbent will be responsible for working closely with landowners in the elk study areas to maintain and gain access to private land to conduct research. The incumbent will also be responsible for countless other administrative and managerial tasks associated with the elk research projects.

Qualifications: The demonstrated ability to work effectively as part of a scientific research team is required. The incumbent must have a strong work ethic, critical thinking skills, attention to detail, positive attitude, and the ability to work successfully alone and in groups. The incumbent must be professional and courteous to landowners, research personnel, and the public. Strong communication skills, both written and verbal, are required.

Demonstrated experience with data entry, database management, Microsoft Access, ESRI GIS, and the statistical software R is preferred. The incumbent must be able to conduct meticulous data entry for up to 8 hours at a time/5 days a week.

This position demands persistence, independence, self-reliance, and the ability/willingness to work long and irregular hours (holidays, weekends, early mornings/late evenings). A demonstrated ability to collect rigorous scientific data in remote and challenging field conditions is required. The incumbent must be prepared to hike extensively off trail in difficult terrain at high elevation on a daily basis, and be willing to travel extensively by truck across Colorado.

Ideal candidates will have demonstrated experience in data entry and management, capturing ungulate neonates and adults, performing ungulate field necropsies, navigating to remote locations with a GPS, operating 4WD vehicles/ATVs, and handheld telemetry. Experience with aerial telemetry, snowmobiles, and winter field work is preferred. The ability to work without supervision in potentially hazardous conditions is expected.

Applicants must be comfortable living in rustic and remote locations without running water, cell service, or internet coverage, and have no scheduling conflicts from March 1-March 15 and from May 6-July 1. Personal sleeping gear and a valid driver’s license are required.

Education/Experience:

Bachelor’s degree in wildlife biology, fish and wildlife management, animal ecology, biology, or a closely related field is required. 1-2 years experience conducting field research is required. Experience or the ability and interest to learn Microsoft Access, ESRI GIS, and Program R is required. Other combinations of education and experience will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

To apply, please email the following materials as a single PDF to cpw.elk.tech@gmail.com:

1) A cover letter highlighting relevant experience. In your letter, please state whether or not you have any scheduling conflicts that would prevent you from working continuously in Colorado from March 1-March 15, and from May 6-July 1.

2) Resume/CV

3) Contact information for 3 references (please include current email address and cell phone number)

Please send the PDF as an attachment with the PDF and the email subject titled as LastName-FirstName-Elk-Research-Technician-2023

Closing date and time: December 30, 2022 at 5 p.m. MST or until position is filled. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Field Technician Position Summer 2023 Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska

One position is available to participate in an NSF-funded project examining the effects of climate change on vegetation and ecosystem functioning in Arctic wetlands. Field work is conducted in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta in western Alaska and will involve experiments with flooding, warming, and herbivory treatments followed by measurements of vegetation responses, and CO2 and CH4 gas fluxes. This technician will assist with managing boating operations while maintaining high standards of safety and running our field camp while participating fully in plant and ecosystem data collection including daily measurements and application of experimental treatments.

We seek an early career scientist with:

(1) boating experience preferably on rivers and skill in maintaining boats and boat motors

(2) plant identification and vegetation sampling experience;

(3) interests in measurements of CO2 and CH4 gas fluxes in the context of climate change;

(4) physical capability to conduct strenuous work including building camp and camp take down;

(5) a desire to spend ca. 3 months in a remote camp in western Alaska (e.g., no internet service, no running water).

We anticipate the term to be ca. 15 May until 15 August 2023. In addition to salary commensurate with experience, all travel costs to Alaska and housing and food for the summer will be provided. To apply, send a single PDF with (1) CV; (2) a letter describing how you meet the required qualifications; and (3) contact information for three professional references to Josh Leffler (joshua.leffler@sdstate.edu). Application deadline is 15 January 2022

Woods Hole PEP:
We are excited to announce that the 2023 Woods Hole PEP applications are now open! More information and a link to the online portal are here:

https://www.woodsholediversity.org/pep/2023-program/

 

PEP is a 10-week summer internship in Woods Hole for undergraduate students. PEP is a collaboration of the six scientific institutions in Woods Hole, and our goal is to be a diverse and inclusive internship. We recruit students of all STEM disciplines, and those who can relate their interests to marine/ocean sciences (science communication, microbiology, etc). We encourage underrepresented students to apply, including first generation and those from community college.

 

The PEP staff and I welcome an opportunity to speak with groups of students or faculty members who may be interested in learning more. Please connect if you are interested.

Operation Wallacea is a biodiversity and climate research organisation. We
are giving a series of online seminars to talk to students about the
biodiversity field research experience and skills they can gain over
the coming summer by joining one of our expeditions.  I was hoping you
would be able to share this information with your students.

Below, I have included a link to a PowerPoint slide which has all
the relevant information that could be displayed at the start/end of
lectures (or one electronic noticeboards around the department). I have
also attached below an email that can be sent out directly to students,
if you are able to do so.

PNG image link and PowerPoint link.

Operation Wallacea have been running biodiversity research expeditions for
the last 25 years in a series of sites around the world. Each year up to
200 academics, postdocs and PhD students join us on expedition to complete
their field research. In this time, the survey teams have published
over 600 papers in peer reviewed journals from these intensive research
programmes. The programmes are funded by students who pay tuition fees
to gain field experience, working with teams of scientists or gathering
data for their dissertation. As well as this, we have professional fund
raisers who can direct students on grant and activities that can help
them reduce or even eliminate the costs of joining our programmes.

With the pandemic, our research programmes have been scaled back however
for 2023 we are still running our projects in Croatia, South Africa,
Mexico, Honduras, Madagascar and Indonesia.

If you have any questions, are interested in any of the work we have
mentioned above or would personally like to get involved with Operation
Wallacea,please do not hesitate to get in touch. Please do also reply to
this email to let us know if you are able to share this with your students,
as this allows us to monitor our outreach.

Many thanks in advance for any help you can offer.

Dr Tim Coles OBE
Project Director and Founder, Operation Wallacea (opwall.com)
CEO, rePLANET (replanet.org.uk)
Founder and Advisor to the Wallacea Trust (wallaceatrust.org)

Opportunities to gain remote fieldwork experience in biodiversity and
conservation research

Operation Wallacea has run biodiversity research expeditions for the last
25 years to a series of sites (mainly biodiversity hotspots) worldwide
(https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.opwall.com%2F&data=05%7C01%7C%7C886f9202e42647be9c1e08dada7af060%7C17f1a87e2a254eaab9df9d439034b080%7C0%7C0%7C638062518892970294%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=RiXivjWb%2FuMcSdg9jadHIBlQq5B79RcB3uNvWjSmhPU%3D&reserved=0), helping university students from around the world
gain valuable experience and get their hands dirty with real biodiversity
research. From dense jungle and European grasslands to coral reefs and
Mediterranean seagrass meadows, our network of more than 200 academics
assist in developing and leading cutting edge research projects that
help to inform local conservation management strategies.

More than 600 papers including some in high impact journals such as
Nature and PNAS have been published from these annual programs, so by
joining the field surveys you are guaranteed a high level of academic
involvement. By working alongside these academics, students either gain
broad experience as research assistants or to gather data for their
independent research project (thesis). The expeditions vary in length
from 2 to 6 weeks during the month of June to August.

Click to view our research assistant sites or

Click to view the topics available for dissertation/masters thesis

A number of our leading scientists are holding a series of webinars,
where you can learn about how to join one of these expeditions, how the
data collected are being used to help with wildlife conservation measures
and what benefits there could be to you and the career path you forge.

Click on the time and date below to register for the talk you would
like to attend. If for any reason you can’t attend but are interested in
finding out more then please email

expeditions@opwall.com

To register:

Tuesday 13th December – 10am
(PST)/1pm (EST)Tuesday 13th December – 5pm
(PST)/8pm (EST)


For more information and to register for the webinars you can also
click here.

After we successfully returned to a number of our research sites last
year,we are excited to continue supporting the local communities and
research needs at our established sites.

The expeditions carry a cost and when students sign up we give them
support in how to fundraise. Most students raise a good percentage or
even all of the funds needed from grants, sponsorship and fundraising
activities. Many universities provide a good level of financial
support, we also have professional fund raisers to provide support and
advice. Given the growing public concern about environmental protection,
species extinctions and climate change getting support for joining real
biodiversity research expeditions is increasingly possible. However,
raising funds takes time and planning which is why we like to introduce
the programs to students as soon as possible in the new university year.

Watch our introductory overview video(view here)which outlines who Opwall
are and the fantastic work we do. Want to watch the full version? You
can find it here.