BOWEN LAB, Marine Science Center, Northeastern University REU POSITION AVAILABLE

The Bowen lab focuses on how the structure and function of microbial communities are affected by human activities as well as how microbial communities alter their environment, from whole ecosystems like salt marshes to oysters, lobsters and plants. You can learn more about our research here:

https://www.northeastern.edu/bowen_lab/

We are hiring one REU student for the summer to work on a project focused on salt marsh nutrient cycling.  The REU will be trained in both molecular and biogeochemical techniques.  Two possible projects for the REU to tackle include, though we are also happy to consider other project ideas that facilitate the student=92s interests:

1)=09investigate the effects of sulfide on nitrate reduction pathways and microbial communities involved in these pathways in salt marsh sediments.=20 2)=09investigate the response of salt marsh fungal communities to nitrate addition.

The REU duration is 10 weeks, but timing is flexible.  The student will be based at Northeastern University=92s Marine Science Center in Nahant, MA.  Public transportation from Northeastern Main Campus is available by shuttle (departs 9 AM, returns 5 PM) or students can drive to Nahant directly.  Work outside of those windows of time will be necessary so having independent transportation, while not imperative, is desirable.  The position comes with a $5000 stipend and $1500 to cover the cost of research.

We are particularly interested in mentoring students who are looking to pursue graduate education in the fields of ecology or environmental science, that have excelled in coursework at their home institution, and have expressed interest in academic research. Priority will be given to underrepresented and/or first-generation college students from under-resourced families and communities.  If you are interested in applying for this position please send a resume, unofficial copies of your transcript, and a cover letter that describes your research interest and experience, and your future goals, along with the names and contact information for two letters of reference to Jennifer Bowen at je.bowen@northeastern.edu by April 15, 2017.

We are seeking enthusiastic undergraduate researchers interested in summer

field research in Alaska for two REU positions in the Bret-Harte and Ruess

labs at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.  Our overall research objective

is to understand the ecosystem and global consequences of potential future

changes in arctic vegetation.  In this project, we are focusing on the

mechanisms by which increasing abundance of large deciduous shrubs in tundra

ecosystems may alter the near-surface cycling of C and N, and feedbacks to

further vegetation change. You will assist with fieldwork in arctic tundra

and laboratory work consisting of tasks such as plant sorting and data

entry. You will collaborate closely with the principal investigators,

graduate students, and technicians to develop an independent research

project of your own that will build on the ongoing research, and will

present your work at an informal symposium at the Toolik Field Station. In

addition, you will attend weekly seminars on the research at the station. You will be based at the Toolik Field Station, north of the Brooks Range in

arctic Alaska (http://toolik.alaska.edu), which is the focus of research by

nearly >100 scientists who work on a variety of terrestrial and aquatic

ecology projects.  The positions will last approximately 10 weeks, starting

in mid-June, though there is some flexibility.=20

Class background in plant ecology, botany, ecosystem ecology, statistics,

and computer science would be an advantage.  Experience in field or

laboratory, experience with data analysis, and experience working in a

remote field site is preferred.  You should have skills with plant

identification, data collecting and recording, data manipulation in Excel,

and data analysis. You must be willing to work in the field, occasionally

under adverse weather conditions.  A valid U.S. drivers=92s license is

preferred.  Competent, careful, emotionally mature, and enthusiastic people

desired!  We want the work to be both fun and challenging.  You must be a

U.S. citizen or permanent resident and currently enrolled in an

undergraduate degree program, with graduation expected no sooner than fall

2017.  You must provide a copy of your social security card at the time of

employment.  Women and minorities are especially encouraged to apply.

If you are interested in this position, send 1) a copy of your resume,

including the names and contact information for 3 references, 2) a list of

your coursework in biology, ecology, chemistry, and math/statistics, and 3)

a cover letter than explains why you are interested, describes your

background and research experience, and includes anything that you think

would convince us that you are the most appropriate person for this

position, to Syndonia Bret-Harte, msbretharte@alaska.edu by April 10, 2017.

We will contact you to discuss the position.

Graduate Student-PhD, forest pathology (genetics/genomics)

Position Description:

The Forest Pathology Lab at Michigan State University (East Lansing,
MI) is accepting applications for a graduate student (PhD level) to
start as a research assistant in the Summer of 2017 and to enroll for
Fall 2017. We are looking for a highly-motivated individual to study
the population genomics of Ceratocystis fagacearum, the pathogen behind
the devastating disease of oaks “oak wilt”.  This is a unique
opportunity to combine traditional plant pathology research
(microscopy, field and culture work) with molecular and bioinformatics
approaches (PCR, qPCR and genome resequencing analyses). The candidate
will identify the population structure of C. fagacearum in the US and
evaluate known assays and, if required, develop novel molecular assays
to detect the pathogen. Furthermore, the candidate will investigate
seasonal variation in infection of red oak by C. fagacearum and
seasonal variation in red oak susceptibility. The candidate will be
part of a larger project focused on identifying high-risk periods of C.
fagacearum transmission and infection in Michigan. For further
information please go to the following web link:
https://forestpathology.msu.edu/research/oak-wilt/.

The Graduate student will have the option of a degree from either the
Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences or the Department of
Forestry, depending on their interests. The student will be supported
with three years of stipend, tuition waiver and health insurance.
Additional fellowship opportunities for graduate students at Michigan
State University are also available.

Position Requirements:

The ideal applicant will have an MSc and experience and interest in
molecular biology of tree pathogens, particularly in population
genetics/genomics and detection assays. Applicants must have a degree
in a relevant area, including plant pathology, forestry, mycology,
genomics, bioinformatics, physiology, biochemistry, microbiology,
botany, or other biological sciences. They should be self-motivated,
have strong interpersonal skills and be capable of working in a
multidisciplinary team. They must be able to perform experiments
independently and write scientific publications and other documents.
Applicants with prior experience in next-gen sequencing,
bioinformatics, pcr and qPCR are encouraged to apply. Excellent
communication, reading, and writing skills in English are also desired.
The selected candidate must meet eligibility requirements for work in
the U.S. by the start date. Additionally, candidates will need to meet
the minimum requirements outlined by Michigan State University’s
Graduate program (https://grad.msu.edu/).

Instructions For Applying:

If you are interested in this position please contact Dr. Monique
Sakalidis via email at sakalidi@msu.edu. Include a short statement of
interest, your CV and the contact details of three references. To be
accepted into the graduate program you will need to apply through the
MSU Graduate School https://grad.msu.edu/apply. Applications must be
received by April 20^th, 2017 to receive full consideration.

Specific information regarding the Plant pathology graduate program
please see http://www.psm.msu.edu/degree_cerficate_programs.

Specific information regarding the Forestry graduate program please see
http://www.for.msu.edu/graduate/important_information_for_graduate_appl
icants.

Organization Description:

MSU is an equal opportunity employer and the Department Plant, Soil and
Microbial Sciences and the Department of Forestry is committed to
promoting diversity in research.

Organization Website: www.msu.edu

Closing Date: April 20^th 2017

Monique Sakalidis <sakalidi@msu.edu>

Graduate Research Assistant

Institution: Saint Louis University

Location: St. Louis, Missouri

Closing date: 14 April 2017

Research assistantship is recently available for a person seeking Ph.D.
degree and interested in studies of the diversity and evolution of
freshwater fishes globally.  Projects involve both molecular and
morphological taxonomic and/or systematic studies, as well as many
other areas that make use of uncovering previously unknown diversity
and phylogenetic relationships.  Student will be working in fully
developed laboratories for molecular and morphological studies,
curation of specimens and tissues, and a full array of microscopes of
different types, multiple camera systems, and full molecular
laboratory.

Applicants must have a baccalaureate degree and preferred applicants
will be those with experience with fieldwork with fishes, laboratory
experiences in molecular and/or morphological studies, statistical
background, and willingness to learn and adapt to new ideas,
techniques, and ideas.  Saint Louis University offers research
assistantships as 11-month appointments, full healthcare benefits. This
position will be for 12 months/year and with healthcare benefits. There
exists plenty of affordable housing within walking distance to campus.
Visit www.slu.edu.

Interested parties please contact Dr. Richard Mayden at
maydenrl@slu.edu or 314-977-3494.

Richard Mayden <maydenrl@slu.edu>

I am seeking a highly motivated M.S. student to join the University of Flor= ida, starting in August 2017. This student will join a research team invest= igating the ecology of bats in the Southeast. The student will characterize=  diets of bats in FL, GA, and AL, using molecular techniques. The second co= mponent of investigation could include spatial modeling of bat activity at = a landscape scale, or calculating the economic impact of bats as controller= s of insect pests.

The candidate must have an avid interest in genetic laboratory methods, and=  must be willing to work unusual hours in the field as demanded by the biol= ogy of the bats. An M.S. degree is possible in either ‘Wildlife Ecology and=  Conservation’ or ‘Interdisciplinary Ecology’.

Required credential include a B.S. in wildlife, ecology, natural resource c= onservation, environmental studies, or a related field; strong quantitative=  skills and demonstrated writing ability; competitive GPA and GRE scores. A= pplicants should be highly motivated, willing to work independently and as = part of a team, have experience using molecular techniques, experience with=  GIS, and field experience handling bats and extracting them from mist nets= .

If interested, send the following materials to holly.ober@ufl.edu<mailto:ho=
lly.ober@ufl.edu>: (1) a cover letter briefly describing your research inte= rests, career goals, and why you would like to pursue a graduate degree; (2=
) a resume; (3) unofficial copies of GRE scores and academic transcripts; a= nd (4) name, phone number and email address of 3 references. There is no ne= ed to pursue the official application process through the university until = candidate selection is complete.

The student will enroll in August 2017. Tuition, stipend, health insurance,=  and field expenses will be covered for two years from the date of hire. De= adline to apply is 15 April 2017. For more information, contact Dr. Holly O= ber (holly.ober@ufl.edu<mailto:holly.ober@ufl.edu>).

Please find attached an employment announcement for a partner biologist with the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources and The National Resources Conservation Service.  The successful candidate will be working to implement pollinator and monarch butterfly habitat enhancement on private and public lands, building up outreach contacts and programs, and assisting in lepidoptera research and developing a pollinator conservation plan for West Virginia.  The position is for two years, 1733 hours per calendar year,  with potential for extension.
This would be a good entry level job for a new graduate.  Please post at Patuxent if possible, and feel free to forward to additional colleagues and students who would be interested.  The closing date is April 24,
2017.  Thank you for your time and consideration.   Best,  Susan Olcott

https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/beemonitoring/attachments/531172031;_ylc=X3oDMTJyYmFicDdyBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzE3NTk4NTQ1BGdycHNwSWQDMTcwNTA4MzEyNQRzZWMDYXR0YWNobWVudARzbGsDdmlld09uV2ViBHN0aW1lAzE0OTA0NTM5Mzc-

Professor Ross K. Meentemeyer at North Carolina State University seeks a Ph.D. student to join NSF- and USDA-sponsored research projects focused on the landscape dynamics of invasive pests and pathogens. The research projects will contribute to applied goals of developing geospatial approaches to modeling and managing the spatial spread of outbreaks, with a special emphasis on the problem of long-distance dispersal. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to join an interdisciplinary team of researchers in the Center for Geospatial Analytics (www.geospatial.ncsu.edu) developing open source data, models, and interactive decision-making tools designed to engage stakeholders and collaboratively solve complex problems. Ideal candidates will demonstrate desire and capacity for leveraging theoretical and applied advances in landscape ecology and modeling.

To learn more, please send a CV and brief letter of interest outlining your qualifications to Ross K. Meentemeyer (rkmeeente@ncsu.edu) by Friday April 7th. Please insert the following in the subject line of the email: =93Ph.D. Position in Landscape Ecology & Invasive Species.=94

The Purcell lab in the Department of Entomology at UC Riverside seeks

motivated undergraduate students to contribute to summer research projects.=A0

Members of the Purcell lab study the behavioral, ecological, and genetic

basis of evolutionary transitions in social organization in insects such as

ants. One such project, focusing on division of labor in ants will require

an undergraduate research assistant this summer.=A0 Division of labor, in

which individual members of a society specialize in a single or narrow range

of tasks, is a prominent aspect of social insect biology and a major

contributor to their ecological dominance. Many social insects have

well-defined worker castes, either through age or morphological polyethism.

However, ant species of the genus Formica, native to North America and

Europe, don=92t have distinct worker castes, and the way in which labor is

divided within their colonies remains unknown. Mari West, a PhD student in

the Purcell lab, is investigating what behavioral, genetic, developmental,

and ecological factors act as worker caste determinants within this genus.

Her research this summer will consist of conducting behavioral observations

and field collections in Kananaskis, Alberta from mid-June to mid-August.

Applicants should have prior experience working in field conditions or else

an extensive hiking/camping background, be capable of working in a group or

independently, enjoy the outdoors, and be willing to work in rugged outdoor

conditions that have the potential to change rapidly. No prior entomological

experience is necessary, but applicants should be comfortable handling

insects, particularly sting-less ants. A successful applicant will gain

skills in behavioral observation, mark-recapture, experimental design, and

general social insect biology and may have the opportunity to carry out

his/her own side project. If interested, please send a brief letter of

interest and a resume/CV with at least 2 references to Mari West at

mwest008@ucr.edu. Applications will be accepted through April 15th, 2017.

Technical Position in Fisheries Ecology

Aquatic Ecology Laboratory

The Ohio State University

Columbus, OH

Job Description: A full-time technician position is available to assist on a field- and laboratory-based research project that has been assessing the Ohio Department of Natural Resources-Division of Wildlife channel catfish reservoir-stocking program, and also helping to better understand the ecology of this species. This project requires extensive field sampling for adult channel catfish (June, hoop nets) and other top predators (autumn, electrofishing). When not in the field, the incumbent would help with the following: 1) otolith preparation and aging; 2) diet analysis; 3) conducting hatchery experiments; and 4) data entry. Opportunities will exist to help with data analysis, manuscript writing, and/or student mentorship, depending on experience.

Location:  Successful candidates will join a dynamic, interactive group of technicians, students, post-docs, and faculty at The Ohio State University’s Aquatic Ecology Laboratory (http://ael.osu.edu/) within the Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology (http://eeob.osu.edu/).

Qualifications:  Successful applicants will be creative, motivated, and capable of working effectively both independently and in collaborative groups.  A master’s degree in biology, ecology, general aquatic sciences, or a related field is preferred. However, those with a bachelor’s degree and a strong academic background or wealth of related work experience are also encouraged to apply.

Compensation: $12-14 per hour, depending on experience, plus a comprehensive benefits package. Funding exists for two years, following successful completion of a one-year probationary period.

Start date: Early May 2017 is preferred, although exceptions will be made, if needed.

How to apply: Please submit the following materials to Cory Becher (becher.23@osu.edu<mailto:becher.23@osu.edu>): 1) a cover letter that briefly describes your educational and research background, as well as describes your research interests/career goals; 2) your curriculum vitae (or resume); 3) an unofficial copy of your college/university transcripts; and 4) contact information for at least three professional references. Please place “Channel Catfish Project” in the subject line.

The application window will close on April 7, 2017, although we will begin the application review process immediately.

Contact information: For additional information, visit http://www.ael.osu.edu/ or contact Mr. Cory Becher at the above email address.

—

Stuart A. Ludsin

Associate Professor

Co-Director, Aquatic Ecology Laboratory

College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology

Aquatic Ecology Laboratory, 222 Research Center, 1314 Kinnear Road, Columbus, OH 43212

614-292-1613 Office / 614-795-7044 Mobile / 614-292-0181 Fax

ludsin.1@osu.edu<mailto:ludsin.1@osu.edu> email / http://ael.osu.edu/ & http://www.ludsinlab.com/ web

We seek a highly motivated student to fill a funded Ph.D. assistantship at The University of Southern Mississippi’s Gulf Coast Research Laboratory in Ocean Springs. MS. The selected student will be co-

advised by Dr. Kelly M. Darnell (http://gcrl.usm.edu/cv/darnell.kelly/cv.darnell.kelly.php) and Dr. M. Zachary Darnell (http://sites.usm.edu/zdarnell/).=20

The overarching goal of this project is to conduct a management-driven, Gulf of Mexico-wide assessment of the use of turtlegrass as habitat by nekton and to evaluate the support provided to blue crabs, a commercially valuable species, using habitat-specific production estimates. This project will involve substantial field sampling and laboratory sample processing. Experience working in seagrass beds is preferred, but not required. This is a collaborative project with researchers at Texas A&M-

Corpus Christi, the University of Florida, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The student will work closely with personnel from these institutions.

The student selected for this assistantship will pursue a Ph.D. in the Division of Coastal Sciences within the School of Ocean Science and Technology. This assistantship will begin in August 2017, and includes tuition and a stipend of $23,400 per year (increasing to $24,000 per year after achieving candidacy). The student selected for the assistantship will be a fully integrated member of the project team and will contribute to study design, collection and analysis of data, and manuscript preparation. Applicants with an M.S. degree are preferred.

The Division of Coastal Sciences is a research and graduate education unit within the School of Ocean Science and Technology, offering programs leading to the Doctor of Philosophy and Master of Science degrees. The Division is located at Gulf Coast Research Laboratory (Ocean Springs, MS), a marine laboratory featuring comprehensive basic and applied research programs in coastal and marine biological sciences. Research program support includes state-of-the-art laboratory facilities and instrumentation; a fleet of small and large research vessels, including the R/V Point Sur; the GCRL Museum collection; the Center for Fisheries Research and Development; NSF I/UCRC Science Center for Marine Fisheries, and aquaculture facilities including the Thad Cochran Marine Aquaculture Center.

Interested students should contact Dr. Kelly Darnell (kelly.darnell@usm.edu). Please include a copy of your CV (including GRE scores), unofficial undergraduate and graduate transcripts, and contact information for three professional references. For full consideration, submit all materials prior to April 15.