Biology Jobs

Undergraduate Research Interns / REU / Senior Thesis Opportunities at the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory in Gothic, Colorado. Elevation: 9483 feet (2890.4 meters)

The Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory (RMBL) is currently accepting applications to fill 18 Advanced Undergraduate Research positions during summer, 2009. This program targets rising seniors or students who have graduated. Students conduct independent research under the supervision of RMBL scientists. Potential topics include pollination, climate change, mutualisms, animal behavior and more. Research statements written by mentors are available on our website (see below). Students have the option of turning their research into a senior thesis at their home institution; the RMBL Science Director (sd at rmbl.org ) can help coordinate between RMBL and the home institution. The Advanced Undergraduate Research Program is 10 weeks long (June 7 to August 15), though start and end dates are flexible. Students should have a sincere interest in a career in field biology research. Fieldwork is difficult, and often tedious. We are looking for students with the mental and intellectual maturity to commit to hard work. The application process is competitive.

The cost of the program is $4250. Some students will pay the $4250 fee, some will receive partial or full scholarships from the RMBL and/or their home institution, and the remaining students will be funded from our National Science Foundation REU grant. Students receiving a Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) award receive a $4,500 stipend, free room, board and travel. Minorities underrepresented in the biological sciences are strongly encouraged to apply.

APPLICATION Deadline: February 15, 2009 for REU Awards
APPLICATION Deadline: April 1, 2009 for RMBL Financial Support
APPLICATION Deadline: April 1, 2009 or until programs are filled, for Regular Students

For more information about our Undergraduate Research Program, please see our website: www.rmbl.org/education

Job Title: Salamander Field Technicians (2 positions) Job Type: Seasonal
Location: Shenandoah National Park, Virginia Closing date: March 1, 2009 Opportunity Description: Student Field Technicians: Salamander surveys in Shenandoah National Park

The U.S. Geological Survey?s Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative Northeast program will be hiring 2 student field technicians in 2009. One technician is needed beginning in the spring (01 May) through mid-August. Another technician will be hired for the summer from mid-June through mid-August. Both positions could be extended for 4-6 weeks in September and October, pending funding.

Technicians are primarily responsible for conducting salamander surveys in Shenandoah National Park (Virginia). Major duties involve terrestrial salamander surveys that include: active sampling for salamanders during the day by lifting of cover objects; passive sampling at night during and after rain events; capturing, measuring, weighing and possibly marking salamanders with elastomer; collecting tail tips for genetic analyses; and conducting habitat assessments. Technicians may also participate in a stream salamander surveys as well.
The position requires completion of academic coursework in wildlife biology or related fields. Previous field experience with salamander surveys and the catching, handling, measuring and marking of amphibians is preferable. Students must be willing to work independently but most fieldwork will be conducted as part of teams of 2-3 people, so a demonstrated ability and desire to work effectively with a group is imperative. Work will be conducted on steep, rocky terrain during varying weather conditions. Students need to be in good physical condition and comfort and competence with outdoor work.

Students must possess a valid driver?s license and be able to work at least 40 hours per week under a flexible schedule (including early morning, nighttime and weekend work). Students are responsible for all costs of transportation to and from Shenandoah National Park. Housing accommodations are provided while in Shenandoah National Park in a facility shared with other research technicians and staff. Compensation is commensurate with the level of education and experience (approximate wages are: $14-15/hour for two or more years of college, $16-18/hour for completion of BA/BS degree or higher).

To apply, send the following to Jennifer Sevin via email (sevinJ@si.edu) and copy to zootraining@si.edu by March 1, 2009 (for spring-summer technician) or April 1, 2009 (for summer only technician):

1.) Cover Letter
2.) Resume, including previous field experience, list of classes taken, contact information, and three reference contacts
3.) One piece of evidence of current or recent (within past 12 months) enrollment in degree program (e.g., transcript, letter from University admissions, a current registration card)

Evan H. Campbell Grant
NE Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center 12100 Beech Forest Rd., Laurel, MD 20708
phone: 301.497.5842 fax: 301.497.5784
http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/nearmi/

NIMBioS- The National Institute for Mathematical and Biological Synthesis at the University of Tennessee is hosting an REU program for summer: June 1 – July 24 2009. Undergraduate majors in math, biology, and related fields will live on campus and work with UT professors on state-of-the-art research projects. Stipend and housing provided. For more information please visit www.nimbios.org. The application deadline is Feb 16, 2009. Please pass this information on to any successful undergraduates that may be interested.

NIMBioS is a synthesis institute sponsored by the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture with additional support from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

Job Title: Biological Science Technician Job Type: full-time seasonal position
Organization: National Park Service
Location: Bar Harbor, ME (Duty Station first 9 weeks), and Fredericksburg, VA (Duty Station second 9 weeks) Open Period: 1/7/09-1/28/09
Vacancies: 4 crew members
Duration: 18 weeks mid May to September (exact dates TBD)
Grade: GS-5
Pay: $14.74-15.94/hour

Job Description:
The National Park Service Inventory and Monitoring (I&M) Program is recruiting up to 4 seasonal Biological Science Technician to be a part of a 2-3 person field crew that will be collecting forest health data in 16 parks throughout the Eastern US. Incumbents will establish permanent forest monitoring plots and collect data on forest health, structure and composition, regeneration, understory vegetation, coarse woody debris, and
soil characteristics.

The crew will work in park sites from Virginia to Maine. The first 5 weeks of the season will be spent in training at Acadia NP (1 week) and sampling National Historic Parks in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut (4 weeks). The crew will then spend approximately 5 weeks sampling in Acadia National Park, and 8 weeks working in Mid-Atlantic parks located in Virginia and Pennsylvania. The crew will stay in park housing where available, and lodging may include hotels, historic buildings and cabins. Other duties may include pressing unknown plant specimens, equipment maintenance and repair, preparing soil samples for processing, and data entry.

This is largely a field based position, and incumbents will be required to carry heavy field equipment (40+lbs), hike though rough terrain, and work in all weather conditions. Park housing will be available at the duty stations (Bar Harbor, ME and Fredericksburg, VA). When away from duty station (approx. 50% of the time), the National Park Service will pay lodging and per diem costs.

For more information and to apply, please view the announcement (vacancy announcement # SH-NETN DEU 90-8T ) on the USAJOBS website (www.usajobs.opm.gov).

Full-time summer Research Experience for Undergraduate (REU) opportunity studying plant-herbivore interactions and population dynamics in an agricultural weed. Research involves a combination of greenhouse/lab and field experiments in the vicinity of Florida State University in Tallahassee. Possible topics for REU projects include (but are not limited to) plant or insect responses to density, plant resistance or tolerance to herbivory, and plant demography.

Research will occur May-September 2006. Dates somewhat flexible, but experience involves at least 10 weeks of full time (40-45 hours/week) work. Generous stipend plus allowance for travel and housing expenses.

Research is a collaboration between Stacey Halpern (Pacific University), Nora Underwood (Florida State University), and Brian Inouye (Florida State University). Application due Feb 15. Please see full ad at http://bio.fsu.edu/~nunderwood/homepage/ for additional information. We strongly encourage applications from women, students of color, first generation college students, and other underrepresented groups.

Please direct inquiries about these positions to Julie Hart (contact info at bottom of the announcement).

FIELD TECHNICIANS (10) needed for a monitoring program of high-elevation songbirds in the Northeastern U.S. from 30 May 2009 to 26 June 2009. An international monitoring program is being established in June 2009 targeting Bicknell’s Thrush and other high-elevation songbirds.
Technicians will conduct point counts for ten target species at designated points along trails in the Adirondacks, Catskills, Green Mountains, White Mountains, and the mountains of central Maine. Learn more about Mountain Birdwatch here: http://www.vtecostudies.org/MBW/.

Successful applicants will be eager to spend long summer days in this beautiful mountain region, are in good physical condition, and capable of early morning (4:00 am) starts. Must be comfortable backpacking and camping alone in remote locations. Familiarity with New England birds preferred, but training will be provided. Mosquitoes and black flies are prevalent at this time of year. High-elevation weather is highly variable and can be near freezing at night and in the 80s during the day. Thunderstorms and muddy trail conditions are inevitable.
Compensation is $450/wk plus mileage reimbursement. Rustic housing is provided on days off. Applicants must be flexible to changes in daily/weekly schedules due to weather. Applicants should have their own vehicle, backpacking equipment, and binoculars. Application deadline is
15 Feb 2009 or until positions are filled. To apply, send letter of interest, resumé, and contact information for three references to: Julie Hart (EM: jhart AT vtecostudies.org), Mountain Birdwatch Coordinator, Vermont Center for Ecostudies, PO Box 420, Norwich, VT 05055.

Julie Hart
Mountain Birdwatch Coordinator
Vermont Center for Ecostudies
PO Box 420 • Norwich, VT 05055
802-649-1431 x 6
http://www.vtecostudies.org/MBW/

Harvard Forest offers an exciting program for up to 30 undergraduate students from institutions across the country to collaborate with scientists conducting ecological research for 12 weeks during the summer of 2009.

Program Description: Each student will participate in an ongoing study with senior researchers from Harvard University, Marine Biological Lab-Ecosystems Center, University of New Hampshire, University of Massachusetts and other collaborators. Responsibilities generally include field and laboratory studies, data analysis and scientific writing. In addition, students attend weekly seminars given by nationally known scientists about their research and workshops on ethics and career and graduate school planning. At the end of the summer, students will develop their research results and present their findings at a student research symposium.

Research Projects: Harvard Forest research focuses on the dynamics of forest ecosystems and their response to natural and human disturbances. Researchers come from many disciplines and specific projects center on population and community ecology, paleoecology, land-use history, aquatic ecology, biogeochemistry, ecophysiology, and atmosphere-biosphere exchanges.

Projects in summer 2009 will focus on:
Invasive Plants, Pests & Pathogens, Plant Biology, Population and Community Ecology, Large Ecosystem Experiments and Permanent Plot Studies, Conservation Biology and Biodiversity, Forest Ecosystem Response to Global Change, Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics, Reading and Conserving the New England Landscape

Compensation: Students are paid a stipend of $5400 for the 12 week session which runs from May 26 through August 14, 2009. Excellent on-site housing and a full meal plan are included as part of the program. Assistance with travel costs to and from Harvard Forest is also provided.

Who Should Apply: We seek a diverse group of students from a variety of undergraduate programs across the country. Students should have a demonstrated interest in ecology but are not required to have previous field/lab experience and there is no minimum GPA required. We accept students from all class years, and are particularly interested in recruiting students from community colleges, small teaching schools as well as larger research institutions.
To Apply: Visit http://harvardforest.fas.harvard.edu/education/reu/reu.html for our on-line application.

Applications are due February 6, 2009.

The Conservation and Land Management Internship Program is now accepting applications for 2009! Apply online at http://www.clminternship.org

Would you like to put your education to use assisting in important conservation projects? Do you like to experience new landscapes, habitats, and species diversity? The CLM Internship Program is a wonderful opportunity to begin a career in natural resource management and conservation!

Each year, the Conservation and Land Management Internship Program places 75-100 college graduates in five-month paid internships to assist professional staff at the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), National Park Service (NPS), US Fish and Wildlife Service (NFWF) or US Geologic Survey (USGS). Internships are primarily located in one of the thirteen western states, including Alaska! Each internship is unique and may focus on botany, wildlife, or a combination of the two. Projects may include monitoring or assessing threatened and endangered species and habitats. Applicants with strong botanical backgrounds are especially encouraged to apply!

Benefits of the CLM Internship Program are numerous! As a CLM intern, you will receive a stipend of $11,000 and will attend an all expenses-paid week long training workshop. In addition, the CLM Internship Program provides opportunities to make connections in various governmental and non-profit organizations, to learn what it’s like to work at a federal agency, to explore your career goals and expand your resume.

Graduate Student Position: Cornell University Field of Natural Resources

We are seeking a graduate student to study early life ecology of fish in rivers and estuaries. The research will be highly quantitative, field oriented, and relevant to a prominent conservation challenge. Support will include funding for a full year assistantship, technicians, equipment, travel, tuition, fees, and insurance.

Qualifications:

We seek student applications with a experiences and interests in aquatic ecology, fish, plankton, habitat, and quantitative skills (statistics, modeling, large data sets). Competitive applicants will have an excellent academic record, research experiences, top GRE scores, and a background in environmental biology. Applicants that have an MS degree are preferred, but highly competitive new BS graduates will be considered.

Next step:

Evaluation of candidates is underway but will extend through early 2009. Email (no phone calls) a brief description of your career aims with a resume, course and grade history (unofficial fine), and GRE scores to Mark Bain (Mark.Bain@Cornell.edu). This material will be reviewed and only a small group of competitive applicants will be asked to submit a formal application. More specific information will be sent to leading applicants, and general information can be found at these web sites: http://www.dnr.cornell.edu/
http://www.dnr.cornell.edu/people/faculty/profiles/bain.html http://www.markbain.name/

Paid Summer Ecology Internships for Undergraduates The Calder Summer Undergraduate Research (CSUR) Program – 2009

The Louis Calder Center – Biological Field Station of Fordham University has a select number of paid research opportunities for undergraduate students in our Calder Summer Undergraduate Research (CSUR) program. The CSUR program will run from May 25th through August 15th, 2009.

- Students will work out of our field station, which is equipped with state-of-the-art laboratories, which are in close proximity to forest, field and aquatic ecosystems.
- Some student projects will include collaborations with scientists at the Wildlife Conservation Society and the New York Botanical Garden.
- This year we will offer approximately ten awards to qualified undergraduates interested in conducting independent research.
- Stipends of $4,800 plus a travel reimbursement will be awarded to successful applicants, and rent at the field station is free.
- Limited funds are available to support research and local travel.

A sample of some of the potential student projects for 2006 includes:
- Acoustic and Visual Enrichment for Chilean Flamingoes
- Algal biodiversity in streams along an urban-to-rural land-use gradient
- Biological control of arthropods that transmit disease
- Bloom-forming cyanobacteria in lakes of Central Park, New York
- Climate change and gene flow in an annual plant
- Hoot Song Function in the Stripe-throated Wren
- Impact of an invasive species on local mosquito species
- The evolution of transposable elements in bacterial pathogens
- The cascading effects of an invasive plant
- The food web of temporary forest ponds
- Urbanization and habitat fragmentation influences on dynamics of wildlife disease
- Urbanization effects on plants, their symbionts, and ecosystem processes

Successful candidates will be matched with scientists with similar research interests. Core program activities include the design and execution of independent, closely mentored research projects, and participation in mini-courses and weekly seminars. Through these activities, students will learn the fundamentals of experimental design, use of the scientific literature, data collection and analysis, and oral presentation.

- For details on the program and a list of research areas available this summer for students, see: www.fordham.edu/REUatCalder

- You can also contact us by email at: REUatCalder@fordham.edu, or by phone: 914-273-3078, ext. 10.

** Applications are due February 15, 2007 **