Ph.D. Graduate Research Assistantship

Ph.D. assistantship in Avian Physiological Ecology (beginning September 2018) on an NSF- and USDA- funded project that focuses on how diet and nutritional requirements affect the spatial ecology and exercise performance of songbirds during migration stopover. The work includes measuring diet composition and fatty acid composition of depot fat in migrating songbirds, and conducting experiments with wild-caught songbirds that focus on how dietary antioxidants influence diet choice, metabolism, and exercise physiology of migratory birds. Most fieldwork will be conducted on Block Island (ca. 15 km off the mainland), Rhode Island. Captive animal facilities are on the University of Rhode Island’s main campus in Kingston.

Only hard-working, motivated, intelligent, good-natured persons interested in birds need apply.
Applicants must have at least a 3.2 GPA and must have taken the GRE.  Field experience with passerine birds, experience in physiological ecology and quantitative analyses, and a BSc degree in a relevant field of biology is required.  Ability to work collaboratively and to supervise research assistants and undergraduates working in the field is also required. Experience with captive birds, standard laboratory analysis techniques, and an MSc degree in a relevant field of science would be big pluses. Excellent writing and oral communication skills are required. Stipends are approx. $25,000/yr (a combination of RA & TA), tuition is paid, and an additional summer stipend is provided.

To apply submit the following: a letter stating your qualifications and research interests, resume or CV, college transcripts, GRE scores, and 3 letters of reference by no later than 15 January 2018 (early application is encouraged!) to Dr. Scott R. McWilliams, Dept. Natural Resources Science, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881 (401-874-7531; srmcwilliams@uri.edu).

Graduate students will be trained in the Ecology & Ecosystem Science graduate specialization within the Biological & Environmental Science graduate program (http://web.uri.edu/cels-gradprograms/ees/) at URI. This is an interdepartmental graduate group within our College of the Environment and Life Sciences (http://web.uri.edu/cels/) that is designed to provide students with a strong, interdisciplinary and integrative learning environment.

University of Wisconsin-Madison MS and PhD positions on molecular
adaptation of invasive insects

Position Description:
MS and/or PhD research assistantships are available to assess how
invasive insects adapt to novel environments in the Molecular Ecology
Lab at UW Madison. Insect pests can be viewed as model systems in which
to explore fundamental concepts in ecology and evolutionary biology.
They are especially promising candidates to study mechanisms of rapid
evolution at the genetic level, as many insect pests have shown a
remarkable ability to cope with pesticides, novel climatic space, and
novel host plants. While there are significant challenges in determining
adaptation at the genetic level and in finding ways to forecast future
changes, there are strong incentives (ecological, economic and social)
to do this research. Students will combine population genomics
approaches with field ecology and manipulative experiments to understand
the evolutionary mechanisms of adaptation. Training will focus on the
use of population genomics and physiological approaches to relate
spatial and temporal variation in the environment to adaptive genetic
variation.

Information on University, Department, Lab, and City:
The University of Wisconsin-Madison is one of the major research
universities in the United States. This project will be supported in the
Department of Entomology and under the supervision of Dr. Sean
Schoville.  Madison consistently ranks as one of the best places in the
United States to live, work, and study. It is Wisconsin’s capital city,
with a vibrant population of approximately 230,000 that combines small
town charm with a variety of leisure and cultural opportunities.

Stipend/Salary:
Current annual stipend levels are $22,081 per year before taxes, plus
tuition remission and health care benefits.  Financial support is
available for two years.  The start date for the project is September 2018.

Qualifications:
A BS or BA degree in entomology, biology or a related discipline is
required.

We are looking for motivated students interested in pursuing a MS or PhD
degree at UW-Madison. Students with an MS degree will be given
preference in admissions to the PhD program. The preferred candidate
will have prior research experience and have some knowledge of
population genetics. Candidates should have interests in entomology,
evolutionary ecology, and working in both the field and laboratory.
Excellent writing and verbal communication skills are expected, as well
as the ability to work collaboratively.

Application Process:
Applications will be reviewed upon receipt and review will continue
until candidates are chosen.  The application deadline is Jan 9, 2018.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison is an equal opportunity/affirmative
action employer. We promote excellence through diversity and encourage
all qualified individuals to apply.

Interested applicants are asked to e-mail the following documents listed
below to our Student Services Coordinator Sara Rodock (rodock@wisc.edu)
(in ONE PDF file please).  Please specify in your letter when you would
be available to start.

Required Documents:
-The “Entomology; University of Wisconsin-Madison Graduate Application
Cover Sheet” which can be found at:
http://www.entomology.wisc.edu/sites/default/files/schoville_coversheet.doc
– A well-crafted cover letter outlining research interests, academic and
professional backgrounds
– Resume/CV
– Copies of transcripts (unofficial copies acceptable at this point)
– GRE scores if available
– Names and contact addresses of three references

—
Sean Schoville
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Department of Entomology
1630 Linden Drive
637 Russell Labs
Madison, WI 53706
Office phone: 608-262-2956
http://labs.russell.wisc.edu/molecularecology

sean.schoville@wisc.edu

University of Wisconsin-Madison MS and PhD positions on molecular adaptation of invasive insects

Position Description:
MS and/or PhD research assistantships are available in the Molecular Ecology Lab at UW Madison to assess how invasive insects adapt to novel environments. Insect pests can be viewed as model systems in which to explore fundamental concepts in ecology and evolutionary biology. They are especially promising candidates to study mechanisms of rapid evolution at the genetic level, as many insect pests have shown a remarkable ability to cope with pesticides, novel climatic space, and novel host plants. While there are significant challenges in determining adaptation at the genetic level and in finding ways to forecast future changes, there are strong incentives (ecological, economic and social) to do this research. Students will combine population genomics approaches with field ecology and manipulative experiments to understand the evolutionary mechanisms of adaptation. Training will focus on the use of population genomics and physiological approaches to relate spatial and temporal variation in the environment to adaptive genetic variation.

Information on University, Department, Lab, and City:
The University of Wisconsin-Madison is one of the major research universities in the United States. This project will be supported in the Department of Entomology and under the supervision of Dr. Sean Schoville.
Madison consistently ranks as one of the best places in the United States to live, work, and study. It is Wisconsin’s capital city, with a vibrant population of approximately 230,000 that combines small town charm with a variety of leisure and cultural opportunities.

Stipend/Salary:
Current annual stipend levels are $22,081 per year before taxes, plus tuition remission and health care benefits.  Financial support is available for two years.  The start date for the project is September 2018.

Qualifications:
A BS or BA degree in entomology, biology or a related discipline is required.

We are looking for motivated students interested in pursuing a MS or PhD degree at UW-Madison. Students with an MS degree will be given preference in admissions to the PhD program. The preferred candidate will have prior research experience and have some knowledge of population genetics.
Candidates should have interests in entomology, evolutionary ecology, and working in both the field and laboratory. Excellent writing and verbal communication skills are expected, as well as the ability to work collaboratively.

Application Process:
Applications will be reviewed upon receipt and review will continue until candidates are chosen.  The application deadline is Jan 9, 2018. The University of Wisconsin-Madison is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. We promote excellence through diversity and encourage all qualified individuals to apply.

Interested applicants are asked to e-mail the following documents listed below to our Student Services Coordinator Sara Rodock (rodock@wisc.edu) (in ONE PDF file please).  Please specify in your letter when you would be available to start.

Required Documents:
-The “Entomology; University of Wisconsin-Madison Graduate Application Cover Sheet” which can be found at:
http://www.entomology.wisc.edu/sites/default/files/schoville_coversheet.doc
– A well-crafted cover letter outlining research interests, academic and professional backgrounds
– Resume/CV
– Copies of transcripts (unofficial copies acceptable at this point)
– GRE scores if available
– Names and contact addresses of three references

The Conservation and Land Management Internship Program is now accepting applications for 2018!  Apply online atwww.clminternship.org

Each year, the Conservation and Land Management Internship Program places 100-120 college graduates in five-month paid internships to assist biologists with our federal (BLM, NPS, FWS, FS, USGS and others) and non-profit partners. Each internship is unique and may focus on botany, wildlife, or a combination of the two.  The majority of our internships have a heavy emphasis on botany. Interns assist in a wide variety of projects depending on the needs of their field office.
Examples of projects include: collecting seed for restoration and conservation purposes, performing surveys for threatened and endangered species and habitats, and collecting data on species reintroduction and habitat management experiments. Applicants with strong botany experience are especially encouraged to apply!

Benefits of the CLM Internship Program are numerous.  As a CLM intern, you will receive a stipend paid every two weeks totaling $13,500 over 5 months and will attend an all-expenses paid week-long training workshop at the Chicago Botanic Garden. In addition, the CLM Internship Program provides opportunities to make connections in various governmental and non-profit organizations, to learn what it’s like to work at a federal agency, to explore your career goals and expand your resume.
Applications are due January 15th but we encourage applicants to apply soon as we review applications on a rolling basis – the sooner your application is complete, the sooner we can review your files and consider you for available positions!

For more information and to apply online, please visit:
www.clminternship.org

PhD position in Evolutionary Biology: Using use microbial experimental
evolution to explore drivers of parallel evolution and adaptation in
heterogeneous environments.

The Bailey Lab at Clarkson University, Potsdam NY is looking to fill a
PhD position in the Bioscience and Biotechnology (B&B) PhD Program
starting summer or fall 2018. The successful candidate would use
microbial experimental evolution to explore processes driving parallel
evolution, and/ or local adaptation and dispersal evolution in
heterogeneous environments. Some practical experience in microbiology
is desired but training will be provided. Along with experimental
evolution, the Bailey lab also uses a range of quantitative approaches
including statistical modelling of genome data and computer
simulations, and so these other approaches can also be incorporated
into the PhD project depending on student interest and prior
experience.

For more information on research in the Bailey lab, see
susanfbailey.wixsite.com/home.
For more information on the Clarkson University B&B program, see
www.clarkson.edu/graduate/bioscience-and-biotechnology.

The successful candidate will have a BSc or MSc degree in biology or a
related field, preferably one that included a research component
(e.g., a dissertation or a thesis). The position will be funded by a
Graduate Teaching Assistantship, which involves about 20 hours of TA
work each week during the fall and spring semesters. Qualifications
for this assistantship include good interpersonal skills and good to
excellent command of the English language.

Interested students can contact Dr. Susan Bailey
(sbailey@clarkson.edu) for more details, or apply directly at
www.clarkson.edu/graduate/bioscience-and-biotechnology. Please
indicate in your application that you are responding to this ad and
are specifically interested to work with Dr. Bailey.

Submitted application materials must include an official transcript,
statement of purpose, three letters of recommendation, and score
results of the GRE aptitude test (may be waived for some applicants).
International students for whom English is not a first language must
also submit a TOEFL score unless their BSc or MSc degree was in
English language.

—

Wildlife/Habitat Technician
(Temp Bio Science Research Worker)
Northern Great Basin Experimental Range, Riley, OR This temporary (3 month) position is with Oregon State University and is located at the Northern Great Basin Experimental Range (NGBER)
approximately 35 miles west of Burns, OR in Riley, OR.   The successful
candidates will assist the principal investigator with treatment application, vegetation sampling, plant species identification, songbird point count and nest surveys, sample processing, and data entry and summarization on several wildlife habitat research projects in the northern Great Basin.  3 technicians will be hired to work on wildlife and wildlife habitat projects. On-site housing is provided on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Desired Qualifications
1.      Experience/training in songbird point counts, nest transects,
handling and measuring avian species or experience using nest bowl or other wildlife camera technology
2.      Courses/experience in natural resources, wildlife, botany, plant
science, or related field.
3.      Experience/training in field identification of plant species,
preferably Great Basin
4.      Experience/training in vegetation sampling techniques, such as line-
point intercept, biomass sampling, visual obscurity estimation with Robel pole, and transect and ground photo monitoring.
5.      Experience living or working in rural/remote locations
6.      General knowledge of computers and skills for use of word
processing and data entry.
7.      Demonstrated commitment to promoting and enhancing diversity.
8.      Ability to carry out tasks independently and part of a team.
9.      Experience with driving 4WD vehicles and GPS units.
10.     Must possess a current, valid driver’s license. Driver’s license
required to commute to remote research/demonstration project locations.
Finalists for this position will be required to obtain their driving history for the past 3 years from the issuing state’s Dept. of Motor Vehicles.  Offers of employment are contingent upon a satisfactory driving history and possession of a valid driver’s license.
11.     Must be able to pass a criminal history check.

Position Duties
May include any of the following:
70% – Data/sample collection and processing:
Collect songbird density and nest success data by conducting point count and nest transect surveys, monitoring success of located nests, and installing and maintaining automated audio recorders.
Collect vegetation foliar cover and density by functional group and ground cover measurements for rangeland research projects.
Locate individually marked bunchgrasses using a handheld GPS unit and apply various utilization regimes to marked plants.
Collect visual obscurity and vertical vegetation density measurements.
Collect transect and ground photos using repeat photo-monitoring protocols.
Collect vegetation biomass samples within small plot frames (1.0 m2) for grazing monitoring and research.  Dry and weigh biomass samples to determine cattle utilization in various pastures.
Participate in creation of utilization curves for various native bunchgrass species.
Monitor cattle utilization in experimentally manipulated pastures.
Possibility of handling and measuring nestling songbirds, and installing nest bowl cameras or iButtons.
15% – Research/monitoring study design implementation and plot layout:
Establish and maintain designed research/monitoring projects including:
1.      Assigning and applying vegetation treatments as prescribed in a
study’s protocols.
2.      Maintain treatment application and sampling schedules described
within research and monitoring project protocols.
3.      Readying datasheets, sampling equipment, other field equipment and
vehicles for fieldwork associated with research/monitoring projects.
4.      Maintaining exclosure fencing to protect study integrity from
grazing where needed.
15% – Data entry and summarization:
Use portable tablets to collect data directly into Excel and import datasheets into an established Access database and/or enter collected vegetation cover, ground cover, visual obscurity, and vegetation biomass data into Excel spreadsheets.  Organize data into a structure that facilitates data graphing, summarization, and analysis.
Summarize collected data in preparation for statistical analysis and for displaying the information in research reports and scientific manuscripts.
Organize spreadsheet, photo, mapping, and other project files into a project-specific structure that facilitates efficient location and access of needed files.
Please submit a cover letter and resume to Vanessa.schroeder@oregonstate.edu with Wildlife/Habitat Technician in the subject line by January 20, 2018 for full consideration. Applications accepted through February 20, 2018. Start dates will vary by technician:
technician one will start the week of April 9-11, technician two April 23rd, and technician three the week of May 1st – 4th, 2018.