Subject: MSc or PhD opportunity – Examining susceptibility to the Emerald ash borer (EAB) in the ash understory, University of New Hampshire

The Garnas lab (http://mypages.unh.edu/garnaslab) seeks a highly motivated graduate student (MSc or PhD; PhD preferred) for a USDA-APHIS funded project to advance understanding of how chemical and morphological traits vary across tree size and species, and how such variation may influence Emerald ash borer (EAB) oviposition behavior, larval performance and survival, and parasitism by native and introduced natural enemies. Key aspects of the project include the systematic characterization of defensive compounds across ash species and tree sizes using pyrolysis-GCMS and the design and implementation of experiments to examine how chemical and morphological trait variation influences EAB and its key biological control agents. Successful candidates must have a keen interest in plant defensive chemistry and associated consequences for plant-insect interactions. Some basic chemistry background (e.g., coursework or lab
experience) is preferred but not required. Opportunities for related ecological modeling and/or genetic analyses also exist, particularly in the case of PhD applicants.  The position will be housed in the Department of Natural Resources and the Environment (NREN;
https://colsa.unh.edu/nren) or in the Natural Resources and Earth Systems Science program (NRESS;https://www.unh.edu/nressphd) for MSc and PhD students respectively. Position ideally begins in Fall 2018.

The University of New Hampshire and NREN/NRESS programs are home to a vibrant community of productive researchers with a strong commitment to student success.  Located in the town of Durham, UNH is a beautiful campus surrounded by forest and natural landscapes.  Only 30 minutes from the ocean and under two hours from the White Mountains, outdoor and other recreational activities abound, including right on campus.

Interested applicants, please send:

– a CV
– a brief summary of research interests and any relevant experience
– GRE scores
– contact information for three references

as a single pdf file to jeff.garnas@unh.edu.  Position will be open until filled.

Beth Lawrence’s research group at University of Connecticut has an opening for a PhD student in wetland ecology. We conduct primary and applied research focused on improving our understanding of wetland plant community composition, restoration, and ecosystem function. The applicant will develop and examine questions related to how vegetation alters carbon cycling in coastal marshes, possibly examining the role of root exudates and rhizosphere oxygenation in organic matter persistence.
Top candidates will have an MS in a related discipline with relevant field and biogeochemistry research experience. Ideally, the Graduate Research Assistant will begin this fall semester (late August 2018), but a January 2019 start may be possible.

Contact Beth via email (beth.lawrence@uconn.edu) before June 1, 2018 to warrant full consideration with the following information: CV, GPA and GRE scores, and a brief statement of research experience/interests/career goals. See the following links for more information on my research program: http://lawrencelabuconn.weebly.com/,
the Department of Natural Resources and the Environment:
http://www.nrme.uconn.edu/ and details about applying to the Graduate School at the University of Connecticut:http://grad.uconn.edu/.

Subject: M.Sc. Assistantship – Effects of wildlife feeding on wildlife and plant communities

Wildlife feeding has become common practice across much of the terrestrial landscape. However, little empirical data have been presented to determine how those practices affect the community structure and function. We seek a highly motivated student to fill a fully funded M.Sc. position in the lab of Dr. Marcus Lashley. This research is part of a larger project (3 M.Sc.
positions) to evaluate how food subsidies such as supplemental feeding and baiting affect wildlife, associated diseases, arthropod vectors, and plant communities. The successful student in this position will be responsible for evaluating the indirect effects of subsidies on plant community structure via direct effects on the wildlife community. In particular, the student will be measuring wildlife community responses with camera traps, and the legacy effects of herbivory and directed seed dispersal on plant communities in relationship to feeder locations. Also, the student will be expected to participate in generating material for the MSU Deer Lab social media platforms. A stipend for living expenses, tuition and health insurance are provided.
Required Qualifications: B.S. in Ecology or closely related field.
Successful completion of the FAA UAS training will be required within the first semester. Possess or obtain a driver’s license. Ability to work in teams or individually in secluded and remote, hot and humid conditions, where most organisms want to sting, bite, or puncture you.
Preferred Qualifications: Strong plant identification, quantitative, and written skills are desirable. Strong interpersonal skills, fun attitude with a good sense of humor, and desire to promote research and technology transfer through peer-reviewed publications, social media, and public speaking. Experience with camera trapping and piloting unmanned aerial vehicles.
Interested applicants should submit via email a cover letter outlining your interest in the project, a current curriculum vitae, contacts for three references, and an example of writing (preferably a peer-reviewed
publication) to Dr. Marcus Lashley, marcus.lashley@msstate.edu.
We will be accepting and reviewing applications immediately until a suitable applicant is found. Start date is flexible but intended for August 2018.

Subject: Marine Laboratory Technician Postiion – Bowdoin College Schiller Coastal Studies Center

Research and Instrument Support Technician Bowdoin College, Schiller Coastal Studies Center, Orr’s Island, Maine

Responsible for day-to-day operations of the Marine Laboratory at the Schiller Coastal Studies Center. Utilizes knowledge and experience to provide technical expertise to students, faculty, and outside researchers on the capabilities and operation of the marine laboratory systems and equipment. Maintains a safe and productive working environment for all end users. Works in a collaborative manner to support the mission of the Schiller Coastal Studies Center, including the expansion of teaching and research programs.

Independently manage the day-to-day operations of a flowing seawater laboratory, dry laboratory spaces, and associated support systems. Provides animal care for classes, laboratories, and visiting researchers, including daily maintenance to keep organisms healthy (~50% time). Work with campus facilities to maintain water quality and flow rates year-round.

Maintain equipment inventory and scientific instrumentation. Specific equipment includes compound and dissecting microscopes, molecular biology instruments, and field gear and sampling equipment. Maintain and calibrate a pier mounted environmental sensing platform, and manage an experimental seawater system (~50% time).

Bachelor’s degree in Marine Science required. MS degree in Marine Science or related field preferred. Valid driver’s license and ability to meet the standards of the College’s current Motor Vehicle Policy.

Minimum of 2 years work experience in a technical marine laboratory setting and prior research experience in marine science. Excellent computer skills.
Computer programming and IT experience strongly preferred. Basic boat skills and a willingness to work on boats preferred. Proven ability to work independently, using judgement and discretion, in support of marine science research.

Apply at https://careers.bowdoin.edu/hr/postings?position_type_id=1

1. Living Allowance stipend*: $6,100
2. AmeriCorps Education Award**: $1,538.36
3. Medical, dental and vision insurance provided at no cost

• Salt Lake City, UT (BLM)

Subject: MS Scholarship in Plant Invasion Ecology

The Schwinning Lab at Texas State University, San Marcos, is searching for a graduate student to investigate recruitment dynamics of an invasive C4 grass (Johnsongrass; Sorghum halepense) in C4 native grasslands. This position is part of a large-scale, long-term ecological experiment that examines the use of native prairie species for biofuel production under a range of cultivation practices. The position is funded through a cooperative agreement with USDA and includes a tuition waiver and generous stipend.

Students with an interest and education in plant ecology or physiological ecology are encouraged to apply to start in the fall semester of 2018. Prior experience in field research is especially welcome. Please contact Dr. Susan Schwinning (schwinn@txstate.edu) for more information about the position and the project.

Peruse the following websites to learn more about the Plant Ecology Lab (http://www.susan-schwinning.net/Lab/index.html), the MS  Program in Population and Conservation Biology (http://www.bio.txstate.edu/Graduate-Programs/M.S.PopulationConservationBiology.html),
the Department of Biology at Texas State University
(http://www.bio.txstate.edu/) and the application process (http://www.gradcollege.txstate.edu/programs/biology.html).

We are searching for a motivated graduate student to work on a recently funded project studying the connections between climate warming, the physiology of sugar maple trees, and the future viability of maple syrup production. This position is part of a broad research program seeking to understand the interactions between forest management, climate change, and tree physiology. The position is at the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY-ESF), which is a doctoral-granting institution in Syracuse, New York that has a particular focus on the environment. This position is for a Masters of Science candidate in Forest Resources Management and includes a full tuition waver and a generous stipend. Students with fieldwork experience in forest ecosystems, proficiency with plant physiological measurements, experience with mathematical modeling, and/or sugarbush management experience are particularly encouraged to apply. Excellent MS students may be able to extend their degree into a PhD. Please contact Dr. John Drake (jedrake at
esf.edu) or Dr. Colin Beier (cbeier at esf.edu) for more information, and see the Departmental website (http://www.esf.edu/fnrm/) and the Drake and Beier lab webpages (https://drakelab.weebly.com/ ;http://www.esf.edu/faculty/beier/). Applications are rolling and students will be considered for start dates either in Fall 2018 or Spring 2019.

SUNY-ESF was established as a college of forestry in 1911, and is one of the oldest and most prestigious forestry schools in the United States. SUNY-ESF is relatively small with 1,751 undergraduates and 435 graduate students.
SUNY-ESF has a special relationship with Syracuse University, which is just a 5-minute walk away, and ESF students have access to many of the resources and benefits that come from an association with a larger university.
SUNY-ESF ranked 43rd in the 2017 US News and World Report rankings of the top public national universities. The Princeton Review ranked ESF as the #2 Green College, and the Sierra Club listed ESF among the nation’s top “Cool Schools”. ESF operates four field facilities and >25,000 acres of mostly forested land, providing excellent opportunities for field research.

All applicants must apply online at https://www.squamlakes.org/lrcc- summer-application-2018. We are looking to recruit a final member for the Lakes Region Conservation Trust’s AmeriCorps program by the end of this week (5/18). The program begins Monday, May 21st at 8:30 AM.
____

The Lakes Region Conservation Corps (LRCC) is an AmeriCorps service program that develops skills and experiences for conservation professionals. LRCC members are the driving force behind many of the conservation efforts of New Hampshire’s Lakes Region. The program is based out of the Squam Lakes Association with host sites at the Squam Lakes Conservation Society and the Lakes Region Conservation Trust. The program provides hands-on conservation work experience and certifications over a broad range of areas which ensure that LRCC members are capable of independently approaching a variety of tasks in the environmental conservation field. Members remove invasive species, maintain trail networks, lead volunteer crews, educate the public on local and regional conservation initiatives, and spearhead reports on conservation efforts.
The trainings, certifications, and experiences also develop important professional skills that are applicable to future careers within any occupational and educational field.

In 2018, Lakes Region Conservation Trust (LRCT) will host six LRCC-LRCT members for 22.5 weeks from May though October.  Members will work on a variety of projects including maintaining LRCT’s 95+ miles of trails, acting as island and property hosts at LRCT’s conservation properties, leading guided excursions and other educational and outreach opportunities, working on special property management projects such as construction of bridges and kiosks, updating property boundary markings and signage, monitoring conservation easements, removing invasive terrestrial plants, and conducting property research and property record keeping projects.  LRCC-LRCT members will receive training in land conservation methods, conservation and recreational land management, and education and outreach.  LRCT is a nationally Accredited Land Trust and an active member of the Land Trust Alliance and NH Land Trust Coalition. The Lakes Region Conservation Trust (LRCT) is an independent, nonprofit, member-supported organization dedicated to the permanent protection, stewardship, and respectful use of lands that define the character of the region and its quality of life.  LRCT protects more than 25,000 acres of land in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire.  These lands encompass over 95 miles of trails, 5 islands, numerous mountain summits, and a variety of other destinations that are open to the public.
_____

All applicants must apply online at https://www.squamlakes.org/lrcc- summer-application-2018. We are looking to recruit a final member for the Lakes Region Conservation Trust’s AmeriCorps program by the end of this week (5/18). The program begins Monday, May 21st at 8:30 AM.

For more information please contact Katri Gurney, AmeriCorps Program Manager, at katri@squamlakes.org.

Subject: Summer 2018 Research Experience for Undergraduates in Desert Aquatic Ecology in Arizona

The Grimm Lab at Arizona State University is seeking motivated undergraduate students to participate in research in desert stream and wetland ecosystem ecology during summer 2018. Successful applicants will work with graduate students and technicians to assist with ongoing surveys of nutrient cycling, wetland and riparian plant cover, and oxygen dynamics in several streams across Arizona. Additionally, participants have the opportunity to work with Grimm Lab members and the PI to develop a personal research project.

We have 2 different opportunities available, both based in Tempe, AZ:

(1) Dry and drying stream nitrogen cycling: The student will investigate the nitrogen cycling capacity of dry stream segments across Arizona. The position will include work in the field as well as the lab, with potential to work with a computer model of watershed nitrogen cycling.

(2) Plant effects on oxygen and nitrogen status: The student will investigate how water availability affects wetland plant distribution, nitrogen uptake, and oxygen status in urban and desert contexts. This position will include work in the field, greenhouse, and lab, with the potential to work on statistical programming and soil-water balance modelling.

The successful applicants are awarded a stipend, which includes cost of travel, lodging, and food.

Eligibility
Undergraduate students supported with NSF funds must be U.S. citizens, U.S.
nationals, or permanent residents of the United States. An undergraduate student is a student who is enrolled in a degree program (part-time or
full-time) leading to a baccalaureate or associate degree. Graduating seniors are not eligible to apply.

How to apply
Applications are evaluated upon submission, and positions will remain open until filled. Successful applicants will be interested in conducting research, be prepared start field work regularly at 5 am and work under high heat conditions, and be willing to learn computer programing. Please send application materials to Grimm Lab graduate student Amalia Handler
(amhandle@asu.edu) by  May 23, 2018.  Start and end dates are flexible based on the applicant’s schedule, but would ideally include 10 weeks of work.

Application materials must include:
1. Cover letter describing relevant experience and interests 2. Resume or CV 3. Contact information for two references 4. Unofficial undergraduate transcript

For any questions: Please contact Amalia Handler (amhandle@asu.edu).