PhD position in Fish Ecology available

From: Benjamin Walther [mailto:benjamin.walther@TAMUCC.EDU]
Sent: Monday, January 22, 2018 3:39 PM
Subject: PhD position in Fish Ecology available

A PhD position in the field of fish ecology is available in the lab of Dr. Benjamin Walther at Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi (TAMU-CC).
The position will start in Fall 2018. Research topics are flexible, but would generally fall within current lab interests, including: fish migration, habitat use and trophic dynamics; hypoxia effects on fishes; otolith chemistry and stable isotopes; and carbonate chemistry.

The PhD position will be supported through the Marine Biology degree program at TAMU-CC.  Information about this program is online at http://marinebiology.tamucc.edu/

Interested students should send:  (1) a CV, (2) copies of unofficial transcripts and (3) a cover letter describing experience, potential research interests, and general career goals to Dr. Benjamin Walther at benjamin.walther@tamucc.edu by MARCH 1st 2018

ABOUT THE LAB:  We conduct research on a variety of topics related to fish ecology, migration, habitat use and population connectivity. This work generally focuses on using the ?natural tag? properties of carbonate hard parts such as otoliths in marine and diadromous fishes to examine patterns of migration, dispersal, and life history dynamics of species with mobile phases.  This field has grown exponentially in the past couple of decades, yet significant unknowns remain about highly migratory or dispersive species, particularly in the marine environment.
Otolith chemistry has the potential to reveal key information about identity and movement patterns that is essential for the effective management of exploited species and ecosystems.

We are located at Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi in the Department of Life Sciences. We collaborate with the Texas Parks and Wildlife CCA Marine Development Center in Corpus Christi, TX. We also work closely with members of the University of Texas Jackson School of Geosciences, which houses an array of analytical instruments including laser ablation ICP-MS (multiple and single collectors), TIMS, and isotope ratio mass spectrometers.

Further information about the Walther Lab can be found online at:
www.sites.google.com/site/waltherfishlab

Student Opportunities – 2018 Summer Programs at Mountain Lake Biological Station

Subject: Student Opportunities – 2018 Summer Programs at Mountain Lake Biological Station
 
Mountain Lake Biological Station
2018 Summer Programs at Mountain Lake Biological Station
Field-based courses are UVA Summer Session classes offered by nationally-recruited faculty, and offered at the undergraduate and graduate level. Our NSF REU undergraduate research internship program is now in its 26th year.
Field Courses

Field Biology of Fishes
Summer Session I: May 21-June 15
Field Herpetology
Summer Session I: May 28-June 15
Wildlife Disease Ecology
Summer Session II: June 18-July 6
Stream Ecology
Summer Session III: July 16-August 3

Financial aid is available. 
MLBS courses are field-intensive, research-based experiences. Courses earn 3 UVA Biology credits. Non-college students are welcome to enroll.
 
 
 
Research Experiences for Undergraduates (NSF-REU)

Become a National Science Foundation REU. Join undergraduates from around the country for a unique 10-week learning and living research experience in the southern Appalachians. Students conduct independent research in field ecology, evolution, behavior, and physiology under the supervision of resident scientists. REUs are internships that include all station costs, travel, and a $5,500 stipend.

Program dates:  May 28 – August 3
Application deadline:  February 20
 
 
 

Climate Change REU Internship Program at SERC

From: Gustafson, Dan [mailto:Gustafsond@SI.EDU]
Sent: Monday, January 22, 2018 12:58 PM
Subject: Climate Change REU Internship Program at SERC
 
The Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC) in Edgewater, Maryland offers undergraduate and beginning graduate students a unique opportunity to gain hand-on experience in the fields of environmental research and education. The program enables students to work on specific projects while getting experience in valuable lab techniques all under the direction of the Center’s professional staff. The program is tailored to provide the maximum educational benefit to each participant.
 
SERC is focused on understanding the causes and consequences of environmental change for marine, freshwater, and terrestrial ecosystems. Interns at SERC conduct independent projects over 12-16 weeks utilizing our 2,650 acre research site on the shores of Chesapeake Bay to provide novel insights into some of the most profound  issues challenging our world today, including habitat loss, climate change, and invasive species. The Smithsonian Environmental Research Center has maintained an REU site since 2001 and those students sponsored have used our professional-training programs as a stepping stone to pursue advanced careers in the environmental sciences.
 
How to Apply
 
Application to the SERC Internship Program consists of on-line registration,
Student copy of transcripts, personal essay, CV or resume, and two letters of recommendation using the Smithsonian On-line Academic Appointment (SOLAA)  
 
Application deadlines are listed below:
Summer (May-August): Deadline is February 15th
 
 
For more information please visit our web site
 
 
The Smithsonian Institution is an Equal Opportunity Employer
Students from under-represented groups or institutions lacking research facilities or research opportunities are especially encouraged to apply.
However, all other interested students are encouraged to apply.
 
 
Daniel E Gustafson, Jr.
Smithsonian Environmental Research Center
Professional Training Coordinator
647 Contees Wharf Rd
Edgewater, MD.  21037
443-482-2217
 
 
 
 

SERC Bicoastal Science Communications Internship

Subject: SERC Bicoastal Science Communications Internship
 
Stipend: $550/week
Duration: 
18 weeks (May/June to September/October 2018)
Start Date: Flexible, between May 14 and June 11
Location: 
Edgewater, Md. and Tiburon, Calif.
Description:
Gain hands-on experience with environmental communication on both sides of the United States! The Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC) is the Smithsonian’s headquarters for coastal research, with scientists who study climate change, invasive species, conservation and other environmental issues shaping the 21st century. SERC is seeking a communications intern to work for 18 weeks, from summer through mid-autumn, covering the work of SERC scientists in Maryland and California. The intern will start at SERC’s Chesapeake Bay headquarters in Maryland, receiving training in SERC science communications. After six weeks, the intern will travel to San Francisco Bay to cover the work of SERC marine biologists in California for the remaining 12 weeks. Travel funds from Maryland to California are included. This internship is open to undergraduate students, master’s students, and recent graduates up to one year after graduation.
Part I: Chesapeake Bay
The intern will spend the first six weeks at SERC’s headquarters in Edgewater, Md. Here, the intern will interview SERC scientists in the field and the lab and write about their work. This first part of the internship will introduce the intern to the main features of SERC science communications: writing articles for the SERC Shorelines blog, preparing posts for SERC’s social media and assisting with the production of SERC’s quarterly newsletter On The Edge, under the mentorship of SERC science writer Kristen Minogue.
Part II: San Francisco Bay (SERC-West)
For the final 12 weeks, the intern will work in California, with the Tiburon section of SERC’s Marine Invasions Research Lab.  SERC’s Tiburon branch (a.k.a. “SERC-West”) is hosted at the Estuary & Ocean Science Center, a marine field station at San Francisco State University’s Romberg Tiburon Campus. The marine biologists of SERC-West work in San Francisco Bay and traverse the Pacific Coast studying invasive species, oyster restoration and other critical conservation issues. While in California, the intern will cover the work of SERC’s West Coast scientists while exploring and developing communication strategies within the Pacific market. During the California part of the internship, the intern will work under the onsite supervision of research ecologist Andrew Chang and correspond regularly with Kristen Minogue via video conferencing.
Desired Qualifications:
Strong scientific background (natural sciences coursework; not required to be a science major) and skill writing about science for a nonscientific audience. Ability to use Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint) required; familiarity with photo and video editing software, WordPress and HTML a plus.
To apply:
Send a cover letter, resume with references (name, title and contact information) and unofficial transcript(s) toScienceWritingIntern@si.edu by 11:59 PST Monday, February 19, 2018. One to three published or unpublished writing samples explaining science for general readers are also essential to include for the application to be considered. For more information, visit http://serc.si.edu. Questions? Send an email to SERC Science Writer Kristen Minogue at ScienceWritingIntern@si.edu.
 
 
 
 

Summer Field Forestry/Biology/Ecology Internships (6)

6 Total Positions Available (Summer 2018) Monday, May 14th – Friday, August 10th** **with possible extension through Friday, August 17th

Location: 3 positions in State College, PA and 3 positions in Coudersport, PA

Pay: Full time, 40hr/week appointment. $11.50/hr. Housing is provided, along with access to a field vehicle.

Duties:
Must be able to find, monument, and inventory permanent forest vegetation plots using GPS and other tools in central or northern Pennsylvania. Daily duties include navigation to remote parts of Pennsylvania state forest lands, hiking up to 2 miles with equipment, and collection of quality vegetation monitoring data-the identification, size class, and abundance of more than 100 species of overstory and understory plants-with a field PC.

Key qualifications:
At least two years toward a natural resources baccalaureate degree; demonstrated plant identification skills (as evidenced by a course in plant ID, such as dendrology, and/or field experience collecting vegetation data); ability to work independently and reliably without direct supervision in challenging field conditions; and possession of a valid driver’s license.

Questions: Contact Danielle Begley-Miller at dfb5098@psu.edu.

Application deadline: Applications reviewed as received.

To apply: Send a letter, résumé, transcripts, and contact information for three references (via email preferred) to Bobbi Joy Scovern. At least one reference should be able to comment on your plant identification skills.

Email applications to:
Bobbi Joy Scovern, Administrative Support Assistant Pennsylvania Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
419 Forest Resources Building
University Park, PA 16802
Email: bys5@psu.edu
Phone: 814-865-4511

Summer Field Forestry/Biology/Ecology Crew Lead Positions (2)

2 Positions Available (Summer 2018)
Wednesday, May 9th – Friday, August 10th** **with possible extension through Friday, August 17th

Location: 1 position in State College, PA; 1 position in Coudersport, PA

Pay: Full time, 40hr/week appointment. Crew leaders – $12.50/hr. Housing is provided, along with access to a field vehicle.

Description: These positions are part of a long-term vegetation monitoring project assessing the effects of white-tailed deer browsing and other factors on understory plant community composition and tree regeneration (http://ecosystems.psu.edu/research/projects/deer). We are also advertising for an incoming PhD student to work on the project under the direction of Marc McDill and Kim Steiner in the Ecosystem Science and Management Department at Penn State University. The PhD candidate will focus on oak regeneration in central Pennsylvania. The State College crew leader position would ideally be filled by the incoming student.

Duties:
Must be able to find, monument, and inventory permanent forest
vegetation plots using GPS and other tools in central or northern
Pennsylvania. Daily duties include navigation to remote parts of
Pennsylvania state forest lands, hiking up to 2 miles with equipment,
and collection of quality vegetation monitoring data-the identification,
size class, and abundance of more than 100 species of overstory and
understory plants-with a field PC.

In addition to performing the duties described above, crew leaders must
be able to successfully manage and lead a vegetation monitoring crew
while they perform daily duties. This includes daily planning of plot
visits, assessing access routes and equipment needs, and
management/archiving of collected data.

Key qualifications:
Possession of a baccalaureate degree in natural resources or a related
field; demonstrated plant identification skills (as evidenced by at
least one year experience as field technician monitoring vegetation
data); ability to supervise and manage field crews under difficult field
conditions; possession of a valid driver’s license.

Questions: Contact Danielle Begley-Miller at dfb5098@psu.edu.

Application deadline: Applications reviewed as received.

To apply: Send a letter, résumé, transcripts, and contact information
for three references (via email preferred) to Bobbi Joy Scovern. At
least one reference should be able to comment on your plant
identification skills. In your letter, please indicate if you would like
to be considered for a crew leader position.

Email applications to:
Bobbi Joy Scovern, Administrative Support Assistant
Pennsylvania Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
419 Forest Resources Building
University Park, PA 16802
Email: bys5@psu.edu
Phone: 814-865-4511

MS GRADUATE FELLOWSHIPS AT VILLANOVA UNIVERSITY

The Department of Geography & the Environment at Villanova University is accepting Fall 2018 enrollments for our Master of Science in Environmental Science program.  Our faculty specialize in ecosystem studies that span the coastal and inland environments, with on-going research projects throughout the United States, in particular the northeast region, and around the world.  Our program uniquely offers the opportunity to develop geospatial technical skills that are highly
marketable and sought-after by employers.   We have thesis and non-
thesis options, that can be completed within two years or part-time by working professionals. For more information, please see our website and contact Ms. Kathleen Cooper (kathleen.f.cooper@villanova.edu), Program Coordinator for more information.

On-Going Research Projects:
https://www1.villanova.edu/villanova/artsci/geoenv/academicprograms/Grad
ute_Programs/ResearchAreas.html

MSES Program:
https://www1.villanova.edu/villanova/artsci/geoenv/academicprograms/Grad
ute_Programs.html

To be considered for competitive graduate fellowships (including tuition
+ a 9-month stipend for two years), please submit all application
materials by March 1, 2018.

PhD opportunity in quantitative ecology at Rice

The Miller Lab at Rice University in Houston, TX is recruiting a PhD student to begin in Fall 2018. Research in the lab focuses on demography, dispersal, population dynamics, and species interactions, primarily in plant and insect systems. We blend theoretical and mathematical approaches with experiments in the field, greenhouse, and laboratory.
Learn more about our research here (http://www.owlnet.rice.edu/~tm9/) and about the Rice EEB graduate program here (http://biosciences.rice.edu/EEB_GradAdmissions.aspx). The successful student will be expected to develop independent PhD research in line with the themes of the lab. Preferred applicants will have research interests that may include plant population biology, mutualism/symbiosis, demographic modeling, theoretical ecology, and statistics. A Bachelor’s degree in Biology, Ecology, or related fields, including research experience, is required.

Graduate students and faculty in the Rice EEB program form an engaged, dynamic, supportive, and highly interactive community of scholars excited about ecological discovery. The lab, department, and institution value a diverse student body; students whose backgrounds are under-represented in STEM are particularly encouraged to apply.

For consideration, send a statement of interest and CV to tom.miller@rice.edu before January 26, 2018.

REU Program, The University of Kansas

The Models in Ecology, Evolution and Systematics Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Program at The University of Kansas is now accepting applications.  The NSF-funded program will occur over ten weeks this summer (May 20-July 26, 2018) in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology.  In the program, students will participate in mentored, independent research.  Students will receive a stipend, room and board, and course credit.
 
Projects available include, but are not limited to, theoretical disease ecology, biogeography of social spiders, butterfly genomics, lizard speciation, soil ecology, prairie communities, systematics of tapeworms, and insect behavior.
 
Applications are encouraged from biology majors and mathematics (or computer science) majors with an interest in biology.  Students must be in good academic standing and enrolled at a community college, college or university.  Members of underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged to apply.  Students must be United States citizens or permanent residents.  More information, including available projects, and an online application form are available at http://eebreu.ku.edu and inquiries should be directed to eebreu@ku.edu. The application deadline is February 15, 2018, but late applications will be considered. 
 
Drs. Jennifer Gleason and Deborah Smith, Program directors
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
University of Kansas
 
 
 

Woodpecker field assistants in Oregon

WOODPECKER FIELD ASSISTANTS (2) needed from 30 April-31 July 2018 for a large-scale study assessing how woodpecker demographic rates vary relative to wildfire and forest management activities. This work is being conducted in the lab of Dr. Jim Rivers at Oregon State University (http://people.forestry.oregonstate.edu/jim-rivers/) and will take place in the rugged and scenic Crater Lake area of Oregon, an area of exceptional woodpecker diversity. Field work will consist of early mornings, hiking alone in difficult terrain, and working long days under challenging field conditions (cold, rain, intense sun, loose rock, hazard trees), including some weekends. Primary duties will consist of conducting call playback surveys, locating and monitoring of woodpecker nests, climbing nest trees, using radio telemetry to measure juvenile survival (Black-backed Woodpecker only), surveying vegetation, undertaking regular data entry, and assisting with additional project-related duties as needed. Salary range is $2000-$2300/month based on prior experience; free US Forest Service housing and project-related transportation are also provided.
 
Successful applicants will have demonstrated experience with (1) bird identification by sight and sound, (2) nest-searching, (3) bird handling, (4) tracking tag attachment, and (5) VHF radio telemetry to quantify movement and habitat use; prior experience with woodpeckers is desirable but not necessary. They will also be self-motivated, have a strong work ethic, be in top physical condition, be able to work harmoniously in a group living situation, have a valid driver’s license and clean driving record, and be able to maintain a positive disposition under difficult conditions.
 
To Apply: Email a single document that consists of (1) a cover letter outlining qualifications for the position, (2) a resume, and (3) the name, email, and phone number of 3 references to Dr. Jim Rivers (EM: jim.rivers<AT>oregonstate.edu) with “2018 Woodpecker Field Assistant Position” in the subject line. Positions will be filled as qualified applications are received.
 
 
James W. Rivers, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
214 Richardson Hall
Forest Ecosystems & Society
Oregon State University
Corvallis OR 97331-5752