Immediate MSc opportunity in Fish Ecology – Canada

The Associate Director of the Institute of Environmental Change and Society
(IECS) at the University of Regina, Canada is inviting applications for a fully-funded MSc project to study gamefish ecology in prairie hardwater lakes to assess their vulnerability to possible future invasion of zebra/quagga mussels (ZQM). See below for more information.

The preferable start date is June 2018, but no later than August 2018. In addition to laboratory analyses, this projects has a large field component.
Previous experience with lake surveys, fish ecology, stable isotope techniques and strong quantitative skills are critical assets. Please send your cover letter, CV and names of two references to bjoern.wissel@uregina.ca before May 15th 2018. Due to the short time line, applications will be assessed as they come in. For further information regarding this opportunity, please contact Dr. Bjoern Wissel
(bjoern.wissel@uregina.ca)

Stakeholder surveys identified that Saskatchewan (SK) prairie lakes are highly valued for recreational fishing, with walleye being most desirable.
Provincial stocking programs sustain populations but survival and growth of walleye depend on healthy ecosystems and readily available prey items. Past food-web analyses indicated that winterkill is now the largest threat to gamefish communities, eliminating them from many formerly populated lakes.
In addition, elevated parasite load in sub-saline lakes and warmer summers reduce growth of walleye and other species. Stable isotope analyses showed that walleye diet is largely derived from open-water habitats, while shallow-water sources are of minor importance. This feeding strategy makes walleye particularly vulnerable to the impacts of effective filter feeders, such as zebra/quagga mussels (ZQM). Once ZQM invade a water body they can dramatically reduce the productivity of open-water habitats, often resulting in fish starvation. Large efforts are underway to prevent ZQM invasion in SK lakes, but the proximity of ZQM along existing invasion corridors and lack of public vigilance are major threats. To develop adaptive management strategies that alleviate negative future impacts of ZQM on walleye (in addition to existing stressors), a detailed analysis of their current diet sources and energy requirements is needed. Accordingly, we will conduct a 2-year survey that will assess walleye condition and food sources in eight smaller prairie lakes. Such smaller lakes are ideal systems for this study as they are more sensitive to the impacts of climate change and ZQM and therefore represent early-warning systems.

We are currently recruiting a fisheries field technician for spring 2018- June 2019. This position will involve setting up PIT tag arrays, as well as capturing, PIT tagging, and monitoring juvenile steelhead and rainbow trout in the Carmel River. The position will be about 75% field work and 25% field prep/data entry. The position comes with full benefits.
The full job description and application procedure can be found here:
https://jobs.ucsc.edu/applicants/Central?quickFind=70720
Interested persons are welcome to email me with questions at haley.ohms@noaa.gov

Subject: Research Field Assistant- Lizard Ecology and Evolution in Dominican Republic

A field expedition to the Caribbean tropics of Hispaniola to study Anolis lizard thermal physiology will be led by Brooke Bodensteiner (Virginia Tech PhD student, Muñoz lab) in June and July 2018. We are currently seeking motivated field assistants to join on the trip and participate in the field and experimental aspects of the study. For example, students will help Bodensteiner collect lizards, measure physiological traits, and record ecological data. The sites to be visited span both the west and east sides of the Dominican Republic, including tropical rain forest sites along the coast, xeric scrubland sites in the coastal inlands, and montane cloud forests. For students interested in learning more about the tropics, herpetology, and behavioral ecology, this will be a fun and exciting opportunity.
Applicants should enthusiastic about tropical field biology and work well with others. We are looking for assistant available up to 8 weeks of field work, but commitment to the entire time is not necessary.
Spanish language abilities and/or field experience are preferred, but not required. We will cover all travel and living expenses while in the Dominican Republic.

Please Contact: Brooke Bodensteiner at bodenbro@vt.edu

Subject: monarch butterfly field research assistant, summer 2018

One full-time limited-term field assistant position available approximately June 1st – September 30th. Field work will be conducted at Camp Dodge in Johnston, Iowa and Neal Smith NWR in Prairie City, IA. Assistants will contribute to an ongoing, collaborative project investigating the effects of non-stationary environments on population dynamics of the monarch butterfly. The position provides an excellent opportunity to develop skills related to butterfly and prairie plant biology. The position is affiliated with Elizabeth Crone’s lab at Tufts University, and pays $11-18/hr, commensurate with experience.

*Major responsibilities*: Conducting butterfly searches in prairie fragments. Chasing, catching, and marking Monarch butterflies. Taking non-destructive samples of butterfly abdominal scales to screen butterflies for parasites. Locating nectar plant patches and extracting nectar from flowers for later analysis.

*Skills and Qualifications*: Strong interest in conservation biology, butterfly biology, entomology and/or field ecology. Attention to detail and an ability to work independently and as part of a team in a research environment. Ability to work in hilly terrain under hot, sunny or cool, rainy conditions for long hours.

*Schedule*: Daily and weekly work schedules may fluctuate, sometimes with little notice.
An ability to deal with a flexible work schedule is a must. Butterflies are weather- dependent and Iowa is known for unpredictable weather. Field work will happen when the weather permits. This may include some weekends.

*Housing/Transportation*: Individuals are responsible for their own housing and transportation to research sites.

*Application requirements*: Review of applications will begin on May 12 and continue until the position is filled. Please submit a cover letter briefly detailing relevant interest and experience, CV and a list of 3 references. Applications (and any questions) should be emailed to Dr. Norah Warchola at (norah.warchola@tufts.edu)

We are recruiting a student for a Master’s project at the interface of animal behavior, community ecology, and wildlife conservation to begin in August 2018 or January 2019. The student will be co- advised by Dr. Brandon Barton (Department of Biological Sciences; www.bartonlab.net) and Dr. Steve Demarais (Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Aquaculture; www.msudeerlab.com) at Mississippi State University.

Specifically, we seek a student that will study behavioral syndromes in white-tailed deer and their implications for plant and arthropod communities, especially those that vector human and wildlife diseases. The student’s thesis will capitalize on a 2 year dataset of ~50 GPS-collared deer to evaluate intraspecific variation in animal personalities (e.g., bold vs shy). Additionally, the student will contribute to a larger project on the effects of deer, deer behavior, and human-wildlife interactions on forest communities and disease transmission.

Ideal candidates will have experience and/or interests in ecology, wildlife management, and entomology.
Students with strong quantitative, statistical, or computing skills are especially encouraged to apply.

The position is contingent on funding and the applicant being accepted into the Department of Biological Sciences. The student salary will be funded via a 9-month Teaching Assistantship ($15,000) with additional summer funding to support thesis research ($4,500).

Review of applicants will begin IMMEDIATELY and continue until a suitable applicant is found.  If interested, please do not hesitate to email me, (even if your application materials are not complete).To apply, please email the following documents to Dr. Brandon Barton (barton (at) biology (dot) msstate
(dot) edu): a brief description of your research interests and career goals, CV/resume, transcript (or a list of courses completed), GPA and GRE scores  and contact information of at least two references.

The Avian Ecology Program at Archbold Biological Station conducts basic and applied research on the behavioral ecology and population dynamics of threatened birds through ecologically and evolutionarily meaningful time spans and across the varied landscapes, including those altered by humans, of upland habitats in central Florida. Our research is primarily focused in the following areas: avian population biology, demography and population regulation, evolution of cooperative breeding, behavioral ecology, urban ecology, landscape ecology, and endangered species management and conservation. We are seeking to fill a one-year, grant funding Research Assistant to help with endangered species management for projects at Avon Park Air Force Range, in central Florida and at White Oak Conservation Foundation, in northeast Florida.

For the first 5 months of the position, from hire to late -September, the selected candidate would be based at White Oak Conservation Foundation, in Yulee, Florida along the St. Mary’s River. White Oak conserves and sustains some of the earth’s rarest wild animals through innovative training, research, education, breeding and field programs that contribute to the survival of wildlife in nature. White Oak leads professional efforts to improve veterinary care, develop holistic animal management techniques, and better understand the biology of critically endangered species by providing excellent care and managing conservation programs for over 30 species of imperiled wildlife in large, naturalistic enclosures. In 2016, White Oak became one of only two institutions to manage captive populations of the endangered Florida grasshopper sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum floridanus). Our staff member would assist White Oak with husbandry and conservation with any and all aspects of the avian breeding season, but with specific focus on the grasshopper sparrow program. Archbold’s staff member would work with the White Oak team and gain experience in:
* Basic husbandry- feeding, shifting, and animal observation in large enclosures with natural social organization and groupings, * Hand- rearing passerines, * Breeding introductions and Management, * Transport (in-house and external), * Veterinary care, * Reintroduction programs, * Identifying avian vocalizations, * Daily reporting, * Diet preparation, * Flight restriction management, * Assisted reproduction techniques, * Identifying individuals * Sample collection, * Guest interactions and education, * Enclosure landscaping and maintenance, * Camera trapping and video monitoring, * Research and scientific management Basics, * Sweeping for wild insects, * Avian capture and hand restraint, * Imprinting prevention * Artificial incubation and hatching, * Candling, * Pre-release conditioning, * Non-chemical fire ant control methods.

During the second phase of the position, the selected candidate would be based at Avon Park Air Force Range, in Avon Park, Florida. APAFR comprises over 106,000 acres of natural habitats and is a great example of Florida’s native habitats still subject to natural ecological processes and disturbance regimes. It supports populations of many threatened and endangered plants and animals. For over 20 years, the Avian Ecology Program at Archbold has conducted most of the research and monitoring on listed birds at APAFR, including the Florida grasshopper sparrow, Florida scrub-jay (Aphelcoma coerulecens) and red-cockaded woodpecker (Picoides borealis). The selected candidate would be engaged in listed species monitoring on these species, as well as others such as crested caracara (Caracara cheriway), the Florida bonneted bat (Eumops
floridanus) and others. The selected candidate will work in a team of several long-term RAs that lead some of the projects and other seasonal RAs.

Free housing will be provided for the selected candidate at both White Oak and at APAFR. At WO the candidate will share an apartment with an intern of the same gender and at APAFR share a house with 1-3 other RAs, both male and female. You may be required to share a bedroom, but only with RAs of the same gender. At both sites, the work schedule will include some weekends and holidays. Applicants must have a flexible schedule and availability to work a daytime or afternoon/evening shift as needed. The selected candidate will have access to select White Oak amenities including a fitness center and swimming pool. Housing for pets and/or spouses is not available. At APAFR, the applicant will work with a dedicated team of wildlife professionals. They will also be a member of Archbold’s Avian Ecology Lab, and will have access to the main research station in Lake Placid, about 40 miles away, where regular seminars are given within a robust scientific community of 60+ staff.

Eligibility Requirements
* Candidates with passerine hand-rearing and handling experience are preferred.
* Candidates must have the physical ability to identify color bands on small birds from a distance, and hear and identify very soft/quiet sounds.
* Candidates must be able to lift 50 lbs. without difficulty, work in adverse weather conditions including Florida’s summer climate, and remain on their feet for long periods of time.
* Candidates must be 18 years old and over.
* Candidates must have proof of a valid driver’s license.
* Candidates must pass a background search prior to being formerly offered the position.
* While at WO, candidates must abide by White Oak’s dress code, including covering of tattoos and natural hair color.
*  Minimum of a bachelor’s degree in Biology, Ecology, Wildlife or a related field, along with previous field experience.
* US citizenship or a US work visa is required.
* Possession of a valid driver’s license with a clean driving record.
Applicants must bring their own vehicle for commuting.
* A willingness to work independently in remote areas of native habitats on a 106,000-acre military reserve.
* A good work ethic, a good sense of direction, highly motivated, excellent behavioral observation skills, and attention to detail.
* An interest in birds, experience in reading color bands, capturing, handling and banding birds, tolerance for a vast array of snakes and biting insects, and working long hours under hot-humid field conditions will be helpful, though not essential.
* Must be willing to work a non-regular schedule that will often include weekends.

How to Apply
All candidates will submit in ONE document a resume/CV, a list of 3 professional reference’s contact information, and a cover letter explaining their career goals and how this position will help them achieve those goals.  Only electronic submissions will be accepted (.doc, .docx, or .pdf only).  Salary is commensurate with qualifications but includes full benefits, including health and dental insurance, paid vacation and holidays. The position is available immediately and we will begin reviewing applications immediately upon receipt. Please send application materials to Reed Bowman at rbowman@archbold-station.org with the subject line: ‘WO-APAFR_Monitoring_Tech’. The position is funded for one-year.

• Orienting and assisting visitors to the Cape May Hawkwatch, Avalon Seawatch, and Morning Flight Songbird Counts. Over 500 people may visit per day during peak times!
• Conducting mini-workshops on bird identification and migration phenomena.
• Assisting visitors with bird identification, and assisting hawk counter when needed.
• Maintaining records of visitor contacts.

• Applicants should have experience interacting with the public and excellent interpersonal skills.
• An enthusiastic and motivated self-starter who is also a strong team player.
• Willingness to work irregular hours under sometimes difficult field conditions.
• Familiarity with bird migration and birding.  Experience identifying raptors, passerines, and/or sea birds in flight is a plus, but learning on the job is possible and we will provide training and support.
• All applicants must have their own vehicle (unless other arrangements are made prior to employment), and a valid, clean driver’s license.
• Must be able to lift and carry 25 lbs. as necessary.

Utah State University: Fully funded PhD Assistantship – Animal space-use behavior and demography (joint supervision by Dr. Dan MacNulty and Dr.
Tal Avgar).

The successful applicant will advance understanding about the demographic consequences of space-use behavior in free-living large- vertebrate systems. Research will focus on the northern Yellowstone elk population, which migrates annually to summer ranges throughout Yellowstone National Park. The successful applicant will examine how elk movement and resource-selection varies with elk density, resource availability, and predation risk (from wolves, grizzly bears, and cougars), and how these individual space-use behaviors affect survival and reproduction. Research will be conducted in collaboration with agency scientists and will involve cutting-edge analyses of several long-term datasets as well as field work in Yellowstone. Desired start
date: August 27, 2018. The assistantship includes tuition and fees, health insurance, travel stipend, and a yearly stipend of $20k for up to four years. The candidate will be expected to apply for additional funding such as the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship and S. J. and Jesse E. Quinney Doctoral Research Fellowship.

Minimum qualifications: MSc in ecology, wildlife biology, conservation biology, or related field; GRE scores (for both verbal and quantitative) ≥70th percentile and cumulative GPA ≥3.50. Competitive applicants will have experience collecting, analyzing, presenting, and publishing field data, working collaboratively with agency and academic scientists, and strong interests in developing and applying quantitative models of animal space-use behavior, predator-prey interactions, and demography.
Applicants should email the following materials as a single pdf file with the subject line “PhD Assistantship” to dan.macnulty@usu.edu AND
avgart@gmail.com: (a) one page cover letter describing relevant experience, interests, and professional goals, (b) CV, (c) GRE scores,
(d) transcripts (unofficial) from undergraduate and graduate education,
(f) scientific writing sample (an academic paper or report written primarily by the applicant), and (e) contact information for three professional references. Consideration of interested applicants begins immediately and continues until the position is 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 see http://www.tourcachevalley.com.

Keywords: Marine 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 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 or resume, unofficial transcript, one letter of recommendation, and contact information for one additional reference. The statement should be less than 500 words and include the following information: (i) professional goals, (ii) interest in 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 subject line. The letter of recommendation should be sent directly from the recommender (please include the applicants name in the subject line for emails).
Incomplete applications will not be considered. Applications will be accepted through May 10, 2018.