Subject: AmeriCorps Restoration Team Members Wanted in Northern Nevada

 

POSITION TITLE: AmeriCorps Restoration Team Member

STATUS: Half Time, 900-hour term from February 19, 2018 to August 22, 2019

NUMBER OF POSITINS AVAILABLE: 20

REPORTS TO: AmeriCorps Program Manager

POSITIONS REPORTING TO THIS POSITION: None

LOCATION: Yerington, NV

 

BACKGROUND: Established in 2014, the Walker Basin Conservancy (WBC) is leading the effort to restore and maintain Walker Lake while protecting agricultural, environmental and recreational interests in the Walker Basin (www.walkerbasin.org

Home www.walkerbasin.org The Walker Basin Conservancy is a 501(c)3 nonprofit based in Nevada, USA. The Conservancy is dedicated to restoring Walker Lake, while protecting agricultural, environmental and recreational interests in the Walker Basin.

). The nascent and dynamic nature of the WBC and its diverse management obligations provide unique opportunities to develop operations from the ground level up, working closely with staff who are passionate about their mission.

 

The WBC currently manages thousands of acres of land and assets on multiple properties in the Walker Basin.  Land planning activities are underway and focus on assessing public use opportunities, conservation values, long term land ownership and stewardship, active and passive revegetation and restoration activities.

JOB PURPOSE: The Restoration Team Members will serve alongside other members and WBC Conservation Technicians conducting primarily invasive species removal and native plant re-vegetation within the Walker River Basin. Members may also work on recreational trail construction, sign installation, and fence construction. Members will work in conjunction with other WBC field staff, providing on the ground support to larger project operations.

A working knowledge of, or a desire to learn more about, desert plant ecology and ecological restoration, nursery or horticultural practices, or agricultural systems and irrigation equipment is essential. The Restoration Team Members should also have a sincere interest in expanding their knowledge of Great Basin Desert ecology, restoration practices, the flora and fauna of Nevada, and agricultural methods and equipment.

 

Members will serve in an outdoor setting and will sometimes be required to camp in the field for the duration of the tour. Camping will generally be in areas with at least primitive road access for crew vehicles, but the camping sites will usually be undeveloped backcountry sites. Both camp and project sites will generally not have access to potable water, restroom facilities, or cellphone signals, and members will be expected to follow Leave No Trace principals in camp and on project. Project work will frequently require hiking over rough terrain while carrying tools and equipment.

 

LOCATION: Yerington, Nevada is a beautiful rural farming community located approximately 95 miles south of Reno, NV in the foothills of the eastern Sierra mountains. Yerington is small but growing with about 3,100 residents. Established in 1907, the city has heritage and deep roots in agriculture, mining, railroads, and gaming. Some of the nearby attractions, activities and recreational opportunities include:

• Camping, biking, hiking, backpacking
• Fishing, hunting and boating and OHV trails
• Flat and white-water boating (1 hour away)
• Rock Hounding and climbing
• Ghost Town Exploration
• Ski Resorts (1.5-2 hours away)
• Lake Tahoe (1.5 hours away)
• Lahontan Reservoir (30 minutes away)
• Walker Lake (45 minutes away)
• Topaz Reservoir (45 minutes away)

 

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

Primary Functions:

• Under the guidance of a WBC Technician, utilizing hand tools, backpack sprayers, and ATV mounted sprayers to conduct invasive plant removal and control.
• Under the guidance of a WBC Technician, utilizing hand and power tools to conduct native plant re-vegetation and restoration.
• Under the guidance of a WBC Technician, utilizing hand and power tools to conduct road decommissioning, recreation trail construction, and sign/fence installation.
• Communicating effectively and professionally with other members, WBC staff, agency partners, and the public.

Secondary Functions:

• Assisting with the management and supervision of community volunteers on WBC conservation projects.
• Uploading field data into databases and compiling reports to inform future management plans.
• Assisting with the inventory, maintenance, and repair of WBC tools and equipment.

 

Qualifications

• Willingness and ability to work outside in unpredictable weather conditions, including extreme temperatures, independently or as part of a team.
• Willingness and ability to camp in undeveloped, primitive conditions for multiple days.
• Willingness and ability to work irregular hours, such as starting early or working more days with shorter hours, in accordance with project specific requirements and conditions.
• Ability to bend and crouch for long periods of time and occasionally lift heavy loads or equipment.
• Ability to uses hand and power tools, operate motor vehicles, and work long days on labor intensive projects.
• Willingness to use chemical herbicides in the treatment and control of invasive weeds while following strict application protocols.
• Effective written and oral communication skills.
• Possess a valid, state-issued driver’s license and clean driving record.
• Meet AmeriCorps Eligibility Requirements, including:
  • Be at least 17 years of age at the commencement of service;
  • Have a high school diploma or its equivalent;
  • Be a citizen, national, or lawful permanent resident alien of the United States;
  • Pass a National Sex Offender Public Website check and National Service Criminal History Check; and
  • Be eligible to receive and AmeriCorps Education award, with a limit of four total terms in a lifetime and the equivalent of two full-time terms (3600 hours).

 

Compensation & Benefits:

• Living allowance of $9,180;
• Education award of $2,960;
• Medical, dental and vision insurance, child care, and federal student loan forbearance are available for eligible members at no additional cost;
• Uniform reimbursement;
• Per diem when on spike (while camping);
• Paid personal and sick leave; and
• Paid holidays.

 

Members will receive a variety of technical and professional training related to their service activities as well as personal and professional development. Available trainings include:

• First aid and CPR;
• Leave no Trace principals; and
• Plant identification, invasive species identification and treatment, and trails training.

 

Housing in Yerington can be difficult to find. WBC has limited and optional housing available for a low monthly rate. Housing accommodations are dorm or bunk style housing with shared bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchen areas and common spaces.

 

Positions will remain open until filled. Only top candidates will be contacted.

 

Local applicants are STRONGLY encouraged to apply. Please stop by our office to pick up or drop off an application or speak with our Field Manager Terence. Our office address is: 1 HWY 95 A East, Yerington, NV 89447.

 

Please send cover letter and resume to:

Amy Gladding

amy.gladding@walkerbasin.org

Subject Line: 6-month Restoration Team Member

 

OR fill out and return our employment application found online at our website, www.walkerbasin.org,  or at our Yerington office (1 HWY 95 A East, Yerington, NV 89447)

 

Please call Miguel Gonzales, AmeriCorps Program Manager, at (775) 463-9887 ext. 110 with questions.

 

Walker Basin Conservancy is an equal opportunity employer. Persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.  The above functions may be completed with or without reasonable accommodations.  This program prohibits discrimination based on race, religion, creed, color, national origin, gender, age, sexual orientation, political affiliation or disability.

 

Equal Opportunity Statement – Walker Basin Conservancy is an equal opportunity employer. WBC does not discriminate against any employee, applicant, director, officer, contractor, or any other person with whom it deals because of race, creed, color, disability, age, sex, veteran status, religion or political affiliation. WBC complies with all federal and local statutes prohibiting discrimination in employment.

 

Disclaimer – The statements contained herein are intended to describe the general nature and level of work to be performed by the employees in these positions. The statements are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of a person in each position. Other responsibilities, duties, and skills may be assigned and management retains the right to add or change the responsibilities, duties, and skills at any time.

 

 

A PhD position is available at East Tennessee State University to study
life-history, biochemistry, and physiology of an emerging model organism
Daphnia (Crustacea: Cladocera) in context of aging and longevity. This is
a collaborative project with Prof. Marc Kirschner’s lab at Harvard Medical
School and possibilities exist for research visits and other collaborative
work with the Harvard Daphnia team. Questions to be addressed include
structural and physiological changes that accompany senescence and their
reversal during asexual oogenesis, mechanisms of caloric restriction and
epigenetic effects on longevity, and trade-offs between longevity and
other life-history parameters.

East Tennessee State University is located in a spectacular area of
Appalachian mountains which provides excellent opportunities for hiking,
boating, hunting, skiing etc. The Department of Biological sciences
consists of 17 faculty and several adjuncts with research interests
ranging from ornithology to aquatic biology to plant biochemistry and
everything in between. We strive to offer a vibrant, diverse, and
encouraging academic environment.

Position starts in the Fall of 2019; BS in biology or related field is
expected by the start date.

Please contact Lev Yampolsky <yampolsk@etsu.edu> with questions about this
position and Daphnia longevity project. Apply at
https://www.etsu.edu/gradstud.

E-mail inquiries (nico.franz@asu.edu) are strongly encouraged.

Applications are accepted until December 15, 2018; with a preference date
of December 01, 2018.

Apply to the Evolutionary Biology Ph.D. Program:
https://sols.asu.edu/degrees/grad/evolutionary-biology-phd
Apply to the M.Sc. in Biology Program:
https://sols.asu.edu/degrees/grad/biology-ms

The Franz Lab of Insect Systematics, Evolution, and Biodiversity
Informatics at Arizona State University is seeking a highly motivated M.Sc.
or Ph.D. (preferred) candidate for the U.S. National Science
Foundation-funded project: “Weevils of Sonora: Discovering species
distributions and historical patterns of symbiont associations”. We are
looking in particular for candidates interested in addressing molecular
phylogenetic and -genomic research tasks and questions related to the
evolution of weevil gut symbionts. At least two years of Research
Assistantship funding are available; with additional years to be supported
through a variety of sources.

Public abstract (see https://nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1754731):
“This project addresses a gap in our understanding of insect biodiversity
within and adjacent to the southwestern United States. The Mexican State of
Sonora shares a 375 miles-long border with Arizona, and has a large
biodiversity of insect fauna that remains very poorly known. In the case of
beetles in the weevil superfamily, less than 100 species have been
documented, yet nearly 1,000 species – many of them new to science – are
expected to occur in Sonora. Weevils are economically important; thousands
of species have either detrimental (crop pest) or beneficial (biocontrol)
ecosystem impacts. This project will create a new collaboration between
researchers and students at Arizona State University and two Mexican
universities, with the goal of thoroughly sampling the weevil diversity of
Sonora and publishing the results in a dynamic and openly accessible
on-line checklist. Longstanding questions about the evolution of weevil
diversity, and its relationship to their gut-inhabiting bacteria and host
plant diets, will also be addressed. The project will mentor two doctoral
students and undergraduate students in the concepts and methods of modern
systematics and biodiversity data science. A multi-faceted education and
outreach program will include the creation of a flashcard-based K-3
textbook on regional insect diversity and functional natural history.

The project includes an extensive field work and collection curation
component, expected to yield at least 5,000 unique species/locality
instances of research-ready specimens in the weevils (Coleoptera:
Curculionoidea). Field-to-data dissemination workflows will benefit from
further improving the Symbiota software platform, with new options to
publish data packages to external journals. The checklist will include
updated taxonomic names, all specimens, species distribution maps, host
plant records, images, species profile pages, and an interactive
identification key to the Sonoran weevil genera as currently recognized. A
well-structured metagenomics sequencing study of the gut content of more
than 100 species in eight targeted weevil lineages will identify both their
plant hosts and bacterial symbiont profiles. This dataset will facilitate
the discovery of numerous symbiont clades, and test novel hypotheses
regarding the relative impact of weevil phylogeny, biogeography, host
associations, and other environmental gradients on the weevils’ observed
symbiont profiles”.

Research in our lab is well balanced between collections-based and
genetic/genomic approaches; with particular strengths in biodiversity
informatics and data science. The lab is closely integrated with the
Hasbrouck Insect Collection and Biodiversity Knowledge Integration Center.
We are committed to open science and an inclusive, equitable, and
team-oriented work environment that promotes the candidate’s career and
personal advancement.

The Bilyk Lab at Western Kentucky University is recruiting MS students to
start in the Fall 2019 semester.  We work at the interface of physiology
and evolutionary biology to understand how the biology of animals has
been reshaped by extreme environments. We address this question using a
combination of organismal physiology, functional biochemistry, genomics,
and bioinformatics. Our current work focuses on a variety of animals that
have been “stuck in the cold,” investigating the biological challenges of
living at freezing temperatures, the mechanisms through which these are
surmounted, and the physiological impacts of evolving in constant cold.

If you are interested, please contact Dr. Kevin Bilyk
(Kevin.Bilyk@wku.edu). Formal application and acceptance to the MS program
at Western Kentucky University is required and qualified candidates can
receive two years of TA stipend, a tuition waiver, and contributions
towards health insurance benefits.

Dr. Kevin Bilyk
Western Kentucky University
Kevin.Bilyk@wku.edu

Please announce in classes today and otherwise distribute!

Dr. Eric Schultz will host an hour-long info session on our Joint BS-MS Degree in Biodiversity and Conservation Biology.  In this program, students earn a Masters through (in most cases) a fifth year of course work, combined with a research experience and an internship.  This informational session will be of particular assistance to students who are sophomores and above, but first-year students are also welcome.

Date: Monday 10/1

Time: 5 pm

Place: Pharmacy-Biology 203 (second floor fishbowl) Contact Dr. Schultz at eric.schultz@uconn.edu if directions would be helpful.

The Blaimer lab at North Carolina State University invites applications for a graduate student (PhD or MSc) beginning in the Spring or Fall semester of 2019. Our research group focuses on applying cutting-edge molecular technologies to address relevant questions in evolutionary biology, systematics and community ecology, mainly by studying ants and other Hymenoptera. We value collection-based research and actively conduct field surveys for ants and other insects, with a particular focus on canopy diversity.

NC State University’s Entomology Department offers a highly-rated research environment and is situated in a vibrant and scientifically stimulating atmosphere in the Research Triangle, with both UNC Chapel Hill and Duke University, as well as the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences close by. Our NC State Insect Museum is a mid-size insect collection that provides state-of-the-art training opportunities in specimen-based research techniques and curation. Raleigh is a lively town with an inexpensive, yet high standard of living, and its surroundings offer numerous recreational activities.

We are looking for a highly motivated student with a keen interest in evolutionary biology and entomology, and a fascination for ants or Hymenoptera. Thesis projects can be tied into ongoing research in the lab, or developed according to mutual interests. Interested students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with our research and publications at https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=www.blaimerlab.weebly.com&amp;data=02%7C01%7Cmiranda.l.davis%40uconn.edu%7C38ba72554ee74e6d8ccc08d627898158%7C17f1a87e2a254eaab9df9d439034b080%7C0%7C0%7C636739868871931509&amp;sdata=7Wo2Ph8vG32G7K%2FytgOT0ELIgA3FZFKb3ZmF4qHiXqo%3D&amp;reserved=0.

How to apply:
Send a one-page cover letter outlining motivation and research interests, a CV and the names and contact information for three references to Dr. Blaimer at bonnie_blaimer[at]ncsu.edu.

Application Deadline: October 26, 2018.

-- 

Subject: PhD position – Collective migration in ungulates – University of Wyoming

The Merkle Research Group at University of Wyoming is seeking a highly motivated, creative, and quantitative Ph.D. student to lead a project investigating group dynamics and collective decision-making in migratory ungulates (including mule deer, pronghorn, bison and/or elk).

The successful applicant can shape the project goals; however, it is expected that the student will advance our theoretical understanding of collective migration and then link theory to empirical data using creative analyses. This project will be carried out in collaboration with the Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, the Wyoming Migration Initiative, and other state and federal partners. The student will have access to existing and ongoing datasets of animal movement in Wyoming. The student will also be expected to employ an array of trail cameras on migration corridors to quantify group dynamics of marked and unmarked populations.

Candidates must have a B.S. and preferably a M.S. degree in Ecology, Biology, Wildlife, Biological Statistics/Mathematics or related fields.
Applicants must also have an excellent undergraduate GPA and competitive GRE scores. Applicants with prior experience managing and analyzing large datasets in program R (or Matlab/Python), and conducting and publishing research will be favored. Successful applicants will be expected to participate in a team environment, present results at professional conferences, publish results in a timely manner in peer-reviewed scientific outlets, and assist with preparation of grant proposals.

A competitive graduate assistantship will be provided, which includes annual stipend, tuition, and benefits. The successful applicant will be admitted through the Program in Ecology at the University of Wyoming. To apply, please email a SINGLE PDF file that includes 1) a cover letter outlining experience and specific interests related to migration ecology and group dynamics, 2) a CV, 3) unofficial GRE score sheet, 4) contact information for three references, and 5) transcripts to Dr. Jerod Merkle (jmerkle@uwyo.edu). Review of applicants will begin 12 November 2018. Start date is negotiable, but January 2019 is preferred.

Ph.D. & M.S. Graduate Student Positions

Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences | University of Nevada, Reno

?Effects of shifting fire regimes on biogeochemical processes in dryland environments?

The Fire & Dryland Ecosystems Lab led by Dr. Erin Hanan in the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences at the University of Nevada, Reno invites applications for a Doctoral or Master?s student position starting in the Fall of 2019.
Research in the lab explores how wildfire influences plant, soil, and hydrologic processes, and the interactions among them. Two key questions are: (1) how have climate change and human activities altered these interactions, and (2) what can we expect in the future??

Prospective graduate students will have the opportunity to develop their own research topics, which may be centered in one or more of the following areas:

?       Effects of climate change on future wildfire regimes
?       Carbon, nitrogen, and water dynamics in fire-prone ecosystems and watersheds
?       Fire as a driver of biogeochemical processes in dryland systems
?       Ecological resilience and recovery in the context of climate change
?       Influence of fuel management on watershed function

Research in the lab is conducted at study sites in the Sierra Nevada, the Great Basin, southern California, and the Pacific and Inland Northwest. We work with a range of tools, including process-based models, remote sensing, and field/laboratory analysis.

Competitive candidates will have a B.S. and/or M.S. degree in ecology, environmental science, computer science, or a closely related discipline. They will also have strong written and oral communication skills and evidence of scholastic success. Candidates with quantitative and/or programming skills are especially encouraged to apply. Funding will be available from a variety of sources, including fellowships, research assistantships, and teaching assistantships.

To apply, please send a summary of your research interests/background and a CV to Erin Hanan (ehanan@unr.edu).

More information about the lab can be found here:
https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fnaes.unr.edu%2Fhanan&amp;data=02%7C01%7Cmiranda.l.davis%40uconn.edu%7Cfd5452ae24294825b1bf08d62636ab98%7C17f1a87e2a254eaab9df9d439034b080%7C0%7C0%7C636738413580656304&amp;sdata=e32zjlL%2BRhFAfuAmtQMmgs57IjuPjZ4J3f6nYRscBhI%3D&amp;reserved=0. To learn about the Ph.D. program, go to UNR’s Ecology, Evolution and Conservation Biology graduate program webpage:
https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.unr.edu%2Feecb&amp;data=02%7C01%7Cmiranda.l.davis%40uconn.edu%7Cfd5452ae24294825b1bf08d62636ab98%7C17f1a87e2a254eaab9df9d439034b080%7C0%7C0%7C636738413580666312&amp;sdata=unTrt5RItKuKe5ohqKjgJ6KyFKQw7oLI15yNdUE%2BglA%3D&amp;reserved=0, and for the Master?s program, go to the Natural Resources and Environmental Science program page (https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.unr.edu%2Fnres&amp;data=02%7C01%7Cmiranda.l.davis%40uconn.edu%7Cfd5452ae24294825b1bf08d62636ab98%7C17f1a87e2a254eaab9df9d439034b080%7C0%7C0%7C636738413580666312&amp;sdata=oKM3GQlgKTYBYegwJ%2FS7c3GCQmYpfZHOLyvCdFkNsUI%3D&amp;reserved=0).