A position for an M.S. student is currently open in the research team of Dr. Jeffrey Matthews (http://publish.illinois.edu/matthewslab/<https://webmail.illinois.edu/owa/redir.aspx?SURL=3DJd2W_kP0pKgKljlqdJZckLn3xU8Ogs20qLf1lcepOTA2SesiLXfSCGgAdAB0AHAAOgAvAC8AcAB1AGIAbABpAHMAaAAuAGkAbABsAGkAbgBvAGkAcwAuAGUAZAB1AC8AbQBhAHQAdABoAGUAdwBzAGwAYQBiAC8A&URL=3Dhttp%3a%2f%2fpublish.illinois.edu%2fmatthewslab%2f>), Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.  The successful candidate will conduct research on plant community development in restored wetlands and other ecosystems in a study being conducting across four U.S. regions.

The ideal candidate will have completed a B.S. degree in ecology, natural resources, or a related discipline, have experience in plant identification, and possess knowledge of the flora of at least one of the following U.S. regions: Midwest, New England, Southwest, Southeast.

Prospective students should email a summary of research interests and qualifications, CV, unofficial transcript and GRE scores to Dr. Jeffrey Matthews (jmatthew@illinois.edu<mailto:jmatthew@illinois.edu>).  Suitable candidates will be invited to apply to the graduate program in the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Science program (http://nres.illinois.edu/).  Funding will be available through a combination of research and teaching assistantships.

The Jeff Feder lab in the Department of Biological Sciences at the

University of Notre Dame, in Notre Dame, Indiana has a graduate student

position available for studying the genomics of ecological adaptation and

speciation in insects. Our research has both laboratory and field

components, spanning the realms of ecology and evolution from experimental

manipulation studies to high throughput DNA sequencing, focused on

discerning the adaptive basis of speciation and its genomic underpinnings.

Ideally, we seek individuals with experience in bioinformatics and

candidates with past research experience (e.g., in a master=E2=80=99s program), for

the position.  However, all highly motivated students are encouraged to

apply. The Department provides graduate students with generous stipend

support and benefits. To apply please e-mail a CV, personal statement of

interest, and contact information for three references to feder.2@nd.edu.

For additional information about our lab and graduate program, please see

http://federlab.nd.edu/ and

http://biology.nd.edu/graduate/graduate-studies-overview/, respectively.

Technical Position in Aquatic Ecology

Aquatic Ecology Laboratory

The Ohio State University

Columbus, OH

Drs. Michael Fraker (https://ael.osu.edu/people/fraker.24) and Stuart Ludsin (www.ludsinlab.com/<http://www.ludsinlab.com/>) are seeking a full-time technician to assist on a project designed to better understand how prey integrate phenotypically-plastic antipredator defenses (behavior, morphology) over their development. The responsibilities of the technician would include: 1) measuring and imaging tadpoles; 2) analyzing behavioral data on tadpoles and their predators; 3) conducting measurements of physiological condition; 4) assisting with laboratory and outdoor mesocosm experiments; and 5) 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. Experience working with amphibians is useful, but not required.

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

Start date: April-May 2017 is ideal, although exceptions will be made, if needed.

How to apply: Please submit the following materials to Dr. Michael Fraker (fraker.24@osu.edu<mailto:fraker.24@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 “Predator-Prey Project” in the subject line.

The application window will close on April 10, 2017, although we will begin the application review process immediately.

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

Office Title: Vegetation Monitoring Field Technician=20

Civil Service Title: Community Associate=20

Work Location: Staten Island, New York

Duration: Beginning April 15, 2017

Salary: $24.00/hr

NYC Parks is the steward of nearly 30,000 acres of land – 14 percent of New York City – including more than 5,000 individual properties ranging from Coney Island Beach and Central Park to community gardens and Greenstreets. We operate more than 800 athletic fields and nearly 1,000 playgrounds, 1,800 basketball courts, 550 tennis courts, 67 public pools, 51 recreational facilities, 15 nature centers, 14 golf courses, and 14 miles of beaches. We care for 1,200 monuments and 23 historic house museums. We look after 600,000 street trees and two million more in parks. We are New York City’s principal providers of recreational and athletic facilities and programs. We are home to free concerts, world-class sports events, and cultural festivals.

NYC Parks is seeking a Field Technician with prior fieldwork experience, preferably in vegetation monitoring, to assist with data collection and analysis of vegetation data. We are collecting data on vegetation and associated white-tailed deer impacts in forested ecosystems in NYC Parks as part of an effort to assess the impact of deer on the City’s ecosystems. The Field Technician will work with NYC Parks Ecologists using GPS units and ArcGIS to create maps and data representing collected field data. The Field Technician will aid in data entry and data clean up. In addition, there may be some opportunities to help Ecologists with other field work.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES

Field Work:

– Collect vegetation data in forested areas of the City

– Use GPS units and GIS software, input collected field data and plot points

Data Entry:

– Use Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Access, and other software to enter data and perform data quality checks

Data Organization/Inventory/Process:

– Organize and maintain plant specimen collection and associated log

– Organize data and maintain database

– Create field maps detailing habitat type and urban structures

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

1. A four-year high school diploma or its educational equivalent, and either

     a) Two summer seasons, or six months, of experience as an instructor, counselor, or coach in an organized recreational program; or

     b) Completion of sixty credits toward a baccalaureate degree in an accredited colleges; or=20

2. Education and/or experience equivalent to “1” above.

PREFERRED SKILLS/QUALIFICATIONS

– B.S. in biology, botany, ecology, forestry, or related field

– Experience in field ecology, specifically in terrestrial ecosystems

– Knowledge of northeastern plant species (herbaceous and woody) with expertise in herbaceous and rare plant identification

– Ability to conduct research and work independently

– Ability to sometimes work under adverse conditions (heat, early/late hours, inclement weather, muddy or wet conditions)

– Experience with GPS and GIS

– Proficiency with Microsoft Office

– NYS Driver’s license

Residency in New York City, Nassau, Orange, Rockland, Suffolk, Putnam or Westchester counties required for employees with over two years of city service. New York City residency required for all other candidates.

Fees: Hired candidates will be subject to a processing fee of $41.00. Hired candidates who are not currently employed by the City will be subject to an $87.00 background check fee.

HOW TO APPLY

Send resume and cover letter to: Novem Auyeung, 1234 Fifth Ave, Room 229, New York, NY 10029=20

Email to: Novem.Auyeung@parks.nyc.gov. For questions, please contact 646-864-7886.

The Jarchow Lab<http://www.jarchowlab.org/> at the University of South Dakota is seeking an innovative and hard-working student to be part of the first cohort of students in a graduate program in sustainability that is being developed at USD.  The PhD position is fully funded for four years at $22,000 per year.  The position has a flexible start date of either summer or fall 2017.

The PhD position is part of a project, funded by NSF, titled “Sustainable socio-economic, ecological, and technological scenarios for achieving global climate stabilization through negative CO2 emission policies.”  The project brings together an interdisciplinary team of researchers from USD, Montana State University, and the University of Wyoming to evaluate the role that a BEECS (bioenergy and carbon capture and sequestration) economy would have on the Upper Missouri River Basin (UMRB).  The Jarchow Lab-led project has two main components.  First, we will assess, map, and quantify how residents of the UMRB perceive the social values of the ecosystem services provided by their environment.  Second, we will do sustainability visioning to develop a scenario of a desirable future for the UMRB.

Applicants with training in a number of academic disciplines will be considered for this position including sustainability, biology/ecology, environmental science or studies, political science, sociology, or other related fields.  Additional qualifications include knowledge of geographical information systems (GIS) software, excellent oral communication skills, and interest in conducting interdisciplinary research.

To apply for this position, please send a cover letter describing your career goals and how your experience and qualifications make you a strong fit for this position to me (Meghann.Jarchow@usd.edu<mailto:Meghann.Jarchow@usd.edu>).  Also attach your CV or resume, unofficial transcript(s), GRE scores (unofficial OK), TOEFL scores (for non-native English speakers only), and the names and e-mail addresses of three references.

For more information, please contact me.

Meghann Jarchow

Assistant Professor

Sustainability Program Coordinator

Department of Biology

University of South Dakota

Churchill-Haines Labs 171E

(605)677-3115 (office)

(605)659-1889 (cell)

http://www.jarchowlab.org/

Avian Field Technician: Massachusetts

Agency: The University of Massachusetts, Amherst

Location: Amherst, MA

Job Category: Full time seasonal

Salary: $11.00/hr, 40 hrs/week

Note: Housing not provided

Start date: early May

End date: early August

Last date to apply: April 7, 2017

Description: Technician will work under the supervision of a PhD student

running the research project. Duties include but are not limited to:

nest searching for Wood Thrush and Gray Catbird nests in suburban forest

patches and a large forest with minimum public access, nest monitoring

and observation, placing and maintaining nest cameras, mistnetting to

capture and band adults, measuring nestling and adult body conditions,

taking detailed notes for data entry, using equipment responsibly, and

assisting other field crew members when necessary. Applicants should be

able to start work early (~ 5am), move through forest patches carrying

equipment (including 25 lb. golf cart batteries), and handle summer

field conditions (heat and insects). Applicants MUST have a car which

can be used as an additional field vehicle (with gas reimbursement).

Ideal applicants also have experience bleeding birds, plant ID skills

for northeastern temperate forests, and can identify northeastern birds

by sight and sound.

Qualifications: Minimum of Bachelor’s degree in wildlife related field.

Must be willing to work early hours (starting approx. 5 am), drive

personal vehicle, and work in field conditions in forested areas.

General computer knowledge and skills required. Previous experience nest

searching and mistnetting birds is necessary.

Note: Start and end dates are flexible. Housing not provided.

Interested and qualified applicants should submit a resume, cover

letter, and contact information for three references to: Kit Straley

kstraley@cns.umass.edu .

Once again we will be welcoming volunteers, especially undergraduate students, to help with our long-term research project on diamondback terrapins in New York City’s Jamaica Bay in June and July 2017.  The field site can be easily reached by train, bus, or car from NYC, Long Island, and nearby NJ.  The field work involves mark-recapture of nesting terrapins, monitoring nests and raccoons, and interacting with park visitors.  This is an excellent opportunity for students to enhance their experience with urban wildlife and scientific research.  Please pass this information on to your undergraduate students and other potentially interested people.  More on Jamaica Bay Terrapin Research is available at http://jbtr.org/.  For more information, contact Dr. Russell Burke at biorlb@hofstra.edu. =20

We invite applications for TWO paid undergraduate interns to work on a project investigating the effects of forest fragmentation on species interactions in a plant-caterpillar-bird network in deciduous forests in Connecticut. The successful candidates will be trained in a variety of ecological field techniques, plant and insect identification and community ecology.

Application due date: We will begin reviewing applications on April 3rd 2017 and continue until the positions are filled.

Position details: The students will participate in field surveys and experiments involving caterpillars, plants, birds and deer in forests of Eastern Connecticut, data entry, management and analysis and project planning. They will attend lab and project meetings. Applicants should be prepared to work long days in the field, including through hot and wet weather.

Minimum Qualifications: GPA of 3.0 or greater; Completion of BIOL 1107 or 1108 by start of position.

Preferred Qualifications: Evidence of active interest in biology and the natural environment through stated career goals, formal coursework or extra-curricular activities. Availability of own vehicle to access field sites (mileage will be reimbursed at standard rates set by the state of Connecticut).

Appointment Terms: This is a 9-week appointment (May 8^th –  July 7^th, 2017, 40 hours per week) with a salary of $10.55 – 12.50 per hour, depending on experience. Exact dates are somewhat negotiable.

How to Apply: Interested students should email Dr. Robert Bagchi (robert.bagchi@uconn.edu) with a cover letter that includes an explanation of interest in the project and statement of career goals, an up-to-date CV and the contact information for two references (names, telephone numbers and email addresses).

We invite applications for an NSF funded Research Experience for Undergraduates position to work on a project investigating the effects of forest fragmentation on species interactions in a plant-caterpillar-bird network in deciduous forests in Connecticut. The successful candidate will be trained in a variety of ecological field techniques, plant and insect identification and community ecology. The student will also develop and complete an individual project under the direction of the senior investigators.

Application due date: We will begin reviewing applications on April 3rd 2017 and continue until the positions are filled.

Position details: The student will participate in field surveys and experiments involving caterpillars, plants, birds and deer in forests of Eastern Connecticut, data entry, management and analysis and project planning. The student will attend lab and project meetings and will be expected to present their results to the group. Applicants should be prepared to work long days in the field, including through hot and wet weather.

A written project proposal (~2 pages) is due at the start of the position, which will be expanded to an interim report (3-4 pages, due in week 6 of the position) and a final report (10 – 12 pages, due at the end of the position). The student will be encouraged and funded to present their individual project at a local conference.

Minimum Qualifications: GPA of 3.5 or greater; Completion of BIOL 1107 or 1108 by start of position.

Preferred Qualifications: Evidence of active interest in biology and the natural environment through stated career goals, formal coursework or extra-curricular activities.

Appointment Terms: This is a 10-week appointment (May 8^th –  July 14^th, 2017) with a stipend of $500 per week.

How to Apply: Interested students should email Dr. Robert Bagchi (robert.bagchi@uconn.edu) with a cover letter that includes an explanation of interest in the project and statement of career goals, a ½ page outline of potential topics for the individual project, an up-to-date CV and the contact information for two references (names, telephone numbers and email addresses).

Example topics for individual projects: Quantification of deer abundance and its impact on lepidopteran community structure; nocturnal moth trapping to compare adult moth community composition to that of the caterpillar community; predation experiments using clay caterpillars; use of camera traps to quantify bird predation on caterpillars; measurement of parasitoid attack rates on caterpillars; sampling caterpillar and parasitoid communities on invasive plants; harnessing molecular methods (CO1 barcoding) to make caterpillar identifications.

BLACK RAIL FIELD TECHNICIAN needed 15 April through 15 July, 2017 for

research involving surveys of marshes in New Jersey to assess population

status of Black Rail. Duties will include conducting nocturnal playback

surveys for Black Rail at marshes accessible by boat; recording detailed

observations and data and following specific protocols; and data entry

and management. The position requires riding in a small boat or walking

in marshy areas during night hours, carrying equipment, and tolerating

exposure to variable and sometimes adverse weather and environmental

conditions.  Previous experience conducting point count surveys and

familiarity with rails and other secretive marsh birds required.

Proficiency with MS Excel and Word software a must.  Familiarity with

GIS and use of hand-held GPS preferred. Applicants must be able to work

independently or as part of a team, and work irregular hours, including

occasional weekends. Salary $1800 – $2200/month, depending on

experience.  Must have a valid and clean driver’s license.  Send cover

letter of interest, resume outlining relevant experience and three

references (including emails and phone numbers) as one pdf document, no

later than March 25 to New Jersey Audubon by email to

hr.research@njaudubon.org <mailto:hr.research@njaudubon.org>. NJ Audubon

is an equal opportunity employer.

René Buccinna

Administrative Assistant

NJ Audubon/Cape May Bird Observatory

600 Route 47 N

Cape May Court House, NJ 08210

Phone: 609-400-3852 (NOTE DIRECT PHONE NUMBER)

Fax: 609-861-1651

Email: rene.buccinna@njaudubon.org <mailto:rene.buccinna@njaudubon.org>

Connecting People with Nature since 1897