JOB: Research Assistant in Rocky Mountain Insect Ecology (3 month position)

Job Description:  The USDA, Agriculture Research Service, Northern Plains Agriculture Research Laboratory in Sidney, MT is seeking an enthusiastic and hard-working individual to serve as a biological science aide.  Our research focuses on grassland insect and rangeland ecology; specifically how interactions between grasshoppers and Mormon crickets affect Mormon cricket and grasshopper diets, insect immunity to pathogens, and grassland health.
Work may include sampling grasshoppers, Mormon crickets, and other rangeland insects in large scale experiments, sampling rangeland plants, setting up and conducting manipulative experiments in the field and lab.  Most field work will be conducted in subalpine meadows at 9000 feet elevation in the Bighorn Mountains in northern Wyoming. A willingness to drive on overnight travel to sites in Wyoming will be required.

Salary: $11.68 – 12.74 per hour (GS-2 – GS-3) dependent on experience and education.  Dorm-style, shared housing is available on location for ~$150 per month, including utilities, internet and basic cable TV.

Dates: Starting June 10th and continuing through the middle of September.

Qualifications: The candidate must be a US citizen.  Additionally, the candidate should be physically fit, able to walk rapidly over rangeland, and comfortable spending long hours outside at high elevation. The candidate will need a driver’s license.  Willingness to work long days, and some weekends when necessary is also a must.  Undergraduate course work in ecology, entomology, range or environmental sciences, and previous field work experience is preferred, but not required.

Application process: Please send cover letter, resume, and names and contact information of two references (electronically) to David Branson (dave.branson@ars.usda.gov).  Be sure to include available start and end dates. In your cover letter and please describe any experience or coursework you have in relevant areas such as field ecology, entomology, or plant identification In your cover letter or resume.

Evaluation of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. For more information on the grasshopper research program
visit: http://bit.ly/2v1SHRb or http://bit.ly/2D5bppW or contact us directly.

Keywords: Biogeochemistry, Organic Matter, Nitrogen, Sediment, Kelp, Santa Barbara

A Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) summer fellowship is available for one student in partnership with the Santa Barbara Coastal Long Term Ecological Research program at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Duration is 12 weeks, June 18-Sept 7, although these dates are flexible, and the student will be compensated $1,500/month.
We invite applications from qualified, highly motivated undergraduate students from U.S.
colleges/universities to participate in a 12-week lab and field based summer research experience. The student will be involved with an NSF-funded project on the cycling of terrestrially and marine-derived organic matter in kelp forests and nearby marine sediments. The main objective of this project is to evaluate how the input of various kinds of organic matter affects nitrogen and carbon cycling in kelp forest ecosystems and surrounding regions and to develop a quantitative understanding of the potential supply of nutrients provided by these organic matter inputs. Applicants should possess a strong analytical chemistry background, an interest in fieldwork, and the desire to conduct an independent project.

There are several potential avenues of research that the REU may pursue, and the final project will be decided upon following a literature review and discussion with their supervisor. The REU will be responsible for conducting an independent project and completing a written report at the end of the summer. They will also have the opportunity to learn R software, participate in field work in the Santa Barbara Channel, collaborate with other undergraduate students, and receive training for several biogeochemical protocols and appropriate instruments.

Eligibility: You are eligible if you are an undergraduate student who has completed at least two years of study towards a bachelor’s degree in a related topic (including but not limited to environmental studies, chemistry, biology, ecology, or physics), and if you will still be an undergraduate in the fall term following the summer fellowship.  Students from underrepresented groups and from institutions with limited research opportunities are especially encouraged to apply. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
The University of California is an equal opportunity employer and educator.

Application Materials: Interested applicants should send a personal statement, CV, unofficial transcript, one letter of recommendation, and contact information for one additional reference. The statement should be no more than a page in length and should include the following information: (i) professional goals, (ii) interest in the position, and
(iii) relevant experience.  Send application materials as a single PDF, to Heili Lowman (heili.lowman@lifesci.ucsb.edu). Please include your name and REU application in file names and the e-mail subject line. The letter of recommendation should be sent directly from the recommender. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Applications will be accepted through May 10, 2018.

Subject: Plant and Insect Field Technicians in Boyce, VIrginia

The University of Virginia seeks four hourly Laboratory Technicians to assist with a research project at Blandy Experimental Farm studying factors that influence bumble bee colony growth. The technicians will work in teams and spend the majority of their time at field sites within an approximate 1-hour radius of Blandy. Two technicians will be responsible for vegetation surveys and pollen collection from plants, and two technicians will be responsible for pollen collection from live, foraging bees and for monitoring bumble bee colonies in the field.

Applicants must work well independently and have a professional attitude. Experience with plant surveys or working with insects is preferred. Technological experience with drones, remote sensing, or image analysis is preferred. Work will be 40 hours per week, starting in mid to late May and continuing for 10 weeks. Anticipated hiring range is $12-$13 per hour. Dormitory style housing on site may be available.

Blandy Experimental Farm is a 700-acre University of Virginia research facility situated in the northern Shenandoah Valley, about 10 miles east of Winchester and 60 miles west of Washington, D.C.

If you have questions about the position, contact David Carr, dec5z@virginia.edu or T’ai Roulston, thr8z@virginia.edu

To apply go to https://jobs.virginia.edu/applicants/Central?quickFind=84033

Title: Temporary Research Technician Position

Agency: Texas A&M University, Natural Resources Institute

Job Location: The position is located at Texas A&M AgriLife Dallas Center in Dallas, TX.

Job Description: Mussel Research Group at Texas A&M Natural Resources Institute is seeking applications for a temporary Research Technician. The individual will assist research in conservation genetics of freshwater mussels in Texas. Primary job duties include archiving tissue samples, DNA extraction, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), DNA sequencing, and fragment analyses; however, the individual should expect occasional field sampling of mussels. Fieldwork includes visual and tactile search for mussels (wading and snorkeling), mussel identification, and data entry. Typical work
schedule: 5 days per week, 8 hrs per day. Occasionally, longer workdays may be required to complete field sampling.

Salary & Duration: $900 every 2 weeks. This position is for 4 months.

Qualifications: BS in Biology or related field is required. The ideal candidate will have strong written and oral communication skills, be self-motivated and enthusiastic, and be capable of working independently and as part of a team. Experience with general genetic techniques (e.g., DNA extraction, PCR, gel electrophoresis, etc.) and strong background in phylogenetics/population genetics are highly desirable.

Tentative Start Date: May 28, 2018.

Application Deadline and Process: As a single email attachment, submit a cover letter summarizing your research interest and career goals, a resume or CV, and names and contact information for three professional references to Kentaro Inoue (kentaro.inoue@ag.tamu.edu). Review of applications will start April 23, 2018 and continue until a suitable candidate is found.

Website: https://nri.tamu.edu | https://dallas.tamu.edu

The plant disease ecology lab headed by Dr. Charles E. Mitchell at UNC Chapel Hill is seeking two full- time field assistants to conduct research in the summer and fall of 2018. Assistants will work on a grant- funded project examining the role of the plant microbiome in pathogen transmission. In particular, this project aims to investigate the ecological and evolutionary consequences of interactions among fungi infecting the same host individuals and host populations. Most work will be done in the field, but the position will also include some work in the lab. Work will include surveys of plots for disease symptoms, collecting plant samples in the field, processing plant samples for lab assays, and isolating and culturing fungal pathogens from infected plant material.

REQUIRED QUALIFICTIONS:
a) A valid driver?s license and personal mode of transportation to an off-campus field site
b) Experience conducting field research in ecology
c) Willingness and ability to work early mornings, outdoors in summer heat, and in inclement weather
d) Ability to work well independently and with a team, pay attention to detail, and maintain exceptional communication skills

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
a) Bachelor?s degree in a relevant field
b) Experience with basic biological wet-lab procedures, especially culturing fungi.

Special Physical and Mental Requirements (ADA considerations): Field work will involve long periods of time spent kneeling and bending over to observe disease symptoms in vegetation.

Hourly rate: $12.20/hr ? Housing not provided.

Start Date: May 14th, 2018

APPLICATION DEADLINE: APRIL 16TH, 2018

Job Duration: 5 ? 6 months.

TO APPLY and view the complete job posting, please visit unc.peopleadmin.com and reference position S012294. Be prepared to provide a one-page cover letter, a resume, and contact info for two people who can serve as references.

Subject: Volunteer Position-American Pika Field Assistant

Job Description:
Our lab at Montana State University-Bozeman is recruiting one volunteer undergraduate interested in alpine research on mammalian responses to climate change. Our project is assessing the American pika’s (Ochotona princeps) physiological and spatial responses to climate change using a space-for- time approach. We are seeking an enthusiastic student who is interested in working in an alpine setting for the entire summer and is physically capable of hiking 25+ miles a day, 5-6 days a week.

This work is very strenuous due to high mileage out hiking and rough landscapes to navigate when trails/roads are not available, but if you love the mountains, then the payoff is huge! We are seeking three overarching traits in applicants: navigation experience on and off trails, great physical conditions (20+ miles of hiking a day), and mental stamina under stressful conditions. We are looking for an easy- going applicant who has strong proven leadership skills. We are requesting the student be available for fieldwork for the entire summer (late May until late August-can be somewhat flexible start and end dates). This position will be based out of Bozeman, Montana when not in the field. Housing can be accommodated for the few days we are in town throughout the summer, but you will need to be able to provide your own transportation to Bozeman by late May.

Required Qualifications:
-Undergraduate student who has completed at least one year at a four-year institution -Highly motivated individual -Must possess a current, valid U.S. driver’s license -Can work independently, as well as with a team of four -Great physical condition since this work will be in mountainous terrain (3 mph sustained pace) -Experience hiking/backpacking a -Detail-oriented -Strong problem-solving skills -Most importantly, energetic and positive attitude under challenging conditions!

Preferred Qualifications:
-Experience in identifying trees and shrubs -Basic hiking gear such as your own overnight and day packs -Experience with GPSs, topographic maps, and other navigational tools

Payment:
This position is currently listed as a volunteer position where we will be able to cover your costs throughout the summer via per diem (food + other costs covered). This position could turn into a paid position depending on our grant success. We do not expect you to cover any costs for gear, your own food, gasoline, or anything else throughout the summer.

To Apply:
Please send a current resume or CV, along with a cover letter describing your experience and research interests, as well as two references to peterbillman@ymail.com (that is ymail, not gmail). We request all interested applicants reach us by email with the above materials no later than April 22nd. For the two professional references, please include their names, your association to them, a phone number, and an email address. Feel free to ask any questions to Peter Billman at the above email address. Thank you for your interest and we look forward to reading through all interested applicants’ materials!

Short video about pikas:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqtm9dkAu4o

PhD POSITION IN AMPHIBIAN CONSERVATION SCIENCE

Funding is available for a PhD student interested in a collaborative project focusing on the application of eDNA, species distribution modeling, and decision support systems to amphibian conservation science. The ideal applicant will have a strong interest in applying quantitative analyses to conservation issues and be familiar with R and GIS software, but we encourage all interested students to apply. Funding includes a stipend and waiver of tuition and fees for 4 years.
Interested students should contact either Chuck Hawkins
(chuck.hawkins@usu.edu) or Edd Hammill (edd.hammill@usu.edu) for details. The position is available to start from 1st May 2018, although shall remain open until filled

Utah State University (http://www.usu.edu) is a Research I (Extensive
Doctoral) land-grant institution with a student body of over 24,000, 42 departments, 8 academic colleges, a school of Graduate Studies, and diverse research programs. The main campus is located in Logan, a community of 100,000 people. Logan is 85 miles north of Salt Lake City in scenic Cache Valley, a semi-rural mountain basin with nearby ski resorts, lakes, rivers, and mountains providing many recreational opportunities. The area has a low cost of living and provides a high quality of life.  For more information on Logan seehttp://www.tourcachevalley.com.

Edd Hammill’s google scholar page –
https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=THOE6q0AAAAJ&hl=en

Recent paper on conservation and armed conflict – https://www.nature.com/articles/ncomms