2018 SEASONAL VEGETATION MONITORING TECHNICIANS – Ely, NV

The Eastern Nevada Landscape Coalition (ENLC) is currently seeking vegetation monitoring technicians for our upcoming 2018 field season.
Located in Ely, Nevada, the ENLC is a non-profit conservation organization comprised of public, private, and non-profit partners dedicated to the restoration of Western ecosystems through collaborative teamwork. The ENLC conducts a variety of vegetation/wildlife monitoring projects throughout Nevada and surrounding states. We are requesting applications for a minimum of two to three (2-3) vegetation monitoring technicians to work out of our main office in Ely, NV.

VEGETATION MONITORING TECHNICIAN DUTIES: Field technicians’ primary responsibility will be to collect post-fire vegetation response data in burned areas on public lands managed by the BLM as part of the Emergency Stabilization and Rehabilitation (ES&R) program. Data collected will be used to evaluate the effectiveness of post wildfire rehabilitation treatments.
Technicians will be responsible for driving (in company vehicles) and hiking to sampling locations, following rigorous sampling protocols for data collection, data quality control and data entry.

Field work will involve driving on and navigating backcountry dirt roads, hiking and navigating potentially long distances off trail, establishing and monitoring plots using the BLM’s Assessment, Inventory, and Monitoring (AIM) strategy, all while camping in the backcountry for 4-8 days at a time, sometimes in adverse weather conditions.

Other duties include data entry using the Database for Inventory, Monitoring, and Assessment (DIMA), collecting herbarium quality plant specimens, identifying plants to species in both a field and office setting, operating 4WD vehicles, communicating effectively in a small crew setting, and operating safely in sometimes harsh and stressful field conditions.

LOCATION: Ely is centrally located in the Great Basin and offers numerous outdoor recreation opportunities. Hiking, backpacking, rock climbing, bouldering, backcountry skiing, mountain biking, disc golf, fishing and hunting opportunities abound near the town of 4,200 people. Over 20 separate BLM and USFS designated wilderness areas occur within three hours of Ely, and several national parks, including Great Basin (60 miles), Zion, Bryce Canyon, Yosemite, and Grand Canyon National Parks, are located within a six hour drive. In addition to outdoor opportunities, urban centers such as Salt Lake City and Las Vegas are only a four hour drive. For outdoor enthusiasts and adventure seekers, Ely is a perfect place to experience.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE: Applicants should have graduated from a program in biological sciences, ecology, natural resources or a related field. The ideal applicant will have experience in plant identification and a general knowledge of plant taxonomy.

Applicants should be able to hike 2-10 miles a day while carrying a pack with field equipment, and be comfortable with truck camping in the backcountry for up to 8 days at a time in sometimes harsh weather conditions. Preferred applicants will be experienced with 4WD vehicles, GPS navigation, have had a clean driving record for the past 3 years, and are passionate about the outdoors.

COMPENSATION: $15-$16/hour depending on experience (plus $34/day per diem when camping)

SCHEDULE:  Positions will begin in late April and continue through late August to September as needed. Work will occur on an 8-days-on/6-days-off schedule (10-hour days).

Applicants should email a cover letter, resume, and the contact information for at least three references to Patrick Hellmann at phellmann@envlc.org.
Interviews will be scheduled as soon as possible from receipt of application materials.

For more information, please visit our website (http://www.envlc.org) or email any questions to Patrick Hellmann at phellmann@envlc.org.

We are still accepting applications for fall, 2018 admission to the MS Environmental Biology program at Regis University in Denver, CO! The M.S. in Environmental Biology is a degree program that emphasizes skills crucial for success in the environmental and ecological workforce.

TOP FEATURES of our PROGRAM

-Focus on RELEVANT SKILLS demanded by environmental employers:
statistical computing (R), GIS, NEPA, grant writing & field work in the Rocky Mountains & elsewhere

– EARN A MASTER’S DEGREE in an intensive one-year program or up to 2 years as it fits with each student’s schedule/goals.

– HANDS-ON internship at local agencies or research experience with faculty members

– SMALL CLASS SIZES that allow students to build close relationships with faculty and other students

– KNOWLEDGABLE FACULTY focused on individual student goals and success

Go to: REGIS.EDU/ENVIRONMENT for more information on admission

The application cycle will remain open through spring, 2018.

Subject: Research Experience for Undergraduate Positions in Alaska

We are seeking enthusiastic undergraduate researchers interested in summer field research in Alaska for two Research Experience for Undergraduates
(REU) positions in the Bret-Harte and Ruess labs at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.  Our overall research objective is to understand the consequences of potential future changes in arctic vegetation for arctic ecosystems and the rest of the world.  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 investigator, 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.  One student 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 other student will be based in Fairbanks, Alaska, with frequent trips camping in the boreal forest, and some time at Toolik Field Station.  Both positions will last approximately 10 weeks, starting in mid-June, though there is some flexibility.

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’s 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 March 25, 2018.
We will contact you to discuss the position.

Subject: Seeking Plant Ecology Technicians – Portland, OR vicinity

Seeking Plant Ecology Technicians – Portland Oregon Vicinity

Duty Station: NW Oregon and SW Washington (work is mostly within 2 hrs.
drive of Portland, OR)

Duration: May 30, 2018 – August 31, 2018

Salary Range: $ 2,200 – $ 2,400 per month, positions do not qualify for benefits, or housing Project

Description: This research examines differences between forest patches left after harvest and the surrounding clearcut area. The objectives of the study include examining differences in vegetation community and structure between patches and adjacent harvest areas, as well as examining edge effects of the patches on vegetation. While technicians will be based out of the Portland, OR area, study sites are located from southwest Washington to the mid-Oregon coast range. Lodging will be provided as necessary for long-distance field work, some camping may be required. Technicians will collect data on vegetation species cover in retained patches and surrounding clearcuts. Technicians should have a working knowledge of Pacific Northwest plants, including tree, shrub, and forb species, and have experience identifying plants using field guides such as Pojar and MacKinnon (2004), and taxonomic keys like Hitchcock and Cronquist (1973). Ideally, technicians will have previous field work experience in the Pacific Northwest, and are comfortable navigating terrain, conducting field work in the woods, and working outdoors in inclement weather.

Essential Job Functions: 1. Collect data on vegetation species cover in retained patches and surrounding clearcuts 2. Position will require working outdoors in inclement weather, often in recently harvested forest stands. Must be able to get to and work from remote locations, drive forest roads, read maps, navigate through a forested landscape, and relate well with the public.
 
Minimum Qualifications: 1. A Bachelor?s degree in a biological sciences discipline or related environmental field and knowledge of plant identification. 2. Must have driving record which can be approved by Federal Agencies to drive government vehicles. 3. Basic data entry experience (Microsoft Excel).

Additional Qualifications: 1. Knowledge of local plant communities (west of the Cascades in Oregon or Washington).

Please send cover letter, resume, and 3 references with phone numbers and e-mail addresses to: Jake Verschuyl, National Council for Air and Stream Improvement, Inc., P.O. Box 1259, Anacortes, WA 98221. The positions will remain open until filled. Materials may be submitted electronically to:
jverschuyl@ncasi.org. NCASI is an equal opportunity employer.

More information can be found here: http://bit.ly/1kGHagj

1. Impact of production system on soybean microbiome with Drs. Greg Bonito and Frances Trail: This REU project is based on Michigan State University’s main campus in East Lansing, MI. There, the student will work on a project aimed at characterizing leaf, stem and root microbiomes of crops in a wheat- maize-soy rotation under three production systems: conventional, organic, and no-till. The overall project goal is to understand the impact of production systems, plant species, and chemical inputs on the assembly and function of the plant and soil microbiome. Deadline for applications: March 15, 2018. For more information on the position and how to apply, read the project description athttp://bit.ly/kbslterREUmicrobiome.
2. Remote Sensing Irrigation with Multi-Platform Imagery, Cloud Computing, and Machine Learning with Drs. Anthony Kendall and David Hyndman: This REU project is based on Michigan State University’s main campus in East Lansing, MI. There, the student will work on a project consisting of three primary components: 1) working with remote sensing data from different platforms within cloud-based tools such as Google Earth Engine, 2) developing a robust training and validation dataset for machine learning algorithms, and 3) helping to improve those algorithms and incorporate advances from the fields of deep learning and artificial intelligence. Deadline for applications: March 15, 2018. For more information on the position and how to apply, read the project description at http://bit.ly/kbslterREUirrigation.

Field Technicians: Oak forest regeneration and restoration

Job Description:
We are hiring two technicians to collect field data at sites within the Hoosier National Forest in southern Indiana as part of a collaborative study between Purdue University and the USDA Forest Service.  The goal of the project is to determine how overstory removal, competition control and prescribed fire can be used to regenerate and maintain oak forests.

Duration:
Mid-May to August 2018 (40 hours/week)

Pay:
$11.50 per hour. Housing is included.

Experience and Skills:
The ability to identify woody plants of the Midwest is strongly desired.
We also desire basic knowledge of forest measurement practices, experience with backcountry navigation using a topographic map and compass, familiarity with standard equipment including GPS, and experience/training in identifying herbaceous vegetation. Applicants must possess a valid driver’s license.

To apply:
Please email a cover letter describing your qualifications, resume (including contact information for two references) and unofficial transcripts to Mike Jenkins (jenkinma@purdue.edu).  We will begin reviewing applications on April 4, 2018 and will continue until the positions are filled.

Contact:
Please contact Mike Jenkins if you have any questions about the positions.