Opportunities

The following categories are arranged by application or program deadlines:

- Seminars/Conferences

- Scholarships

- Research/Jobs/Internships

- Trips

- Graduate Opportunities

---SEMINARS/CONFERENCES---

---SCHOLARSHIPS---
2008 Breakthrough Generation Fellowship
Application deadline: Friday, March 21, 2008 at 5:00 P.M. (PST)
Breakthrough Generation - the new youth initiative of the Breakthrough Institute - is now recruiting for a Fellowship Program that will select up to 10 of the country’s top young organizers and thinkers to develop a vision and strategy for a new youth progressive movement. We are seeking highly motivated, capable, and innovative young leaders who are willing to challenge accepted political norms and possess an ability to think and work in new ways. Breakthrough Generation Fellows will receive a $5,000 grant to pursue a proposed project during the summer or fall of 2008; attend a one-week summer conference at the Breakthrough Institute; attend a spring and fall summit; partake in a series of guided readings and discussions with Fellows, the Breakthrough Institute Founders, and other advisors and experts; and have access to resources of the Breakthrough Institute throughout the year. For more information, see the 2008 application.

---RESEARCH/JOBS/INTERNSHIPS---
Pika/global warming project fieldwork in Glacier National Park, Montana
Two paid and up to five volunteer or internship (for credit) positions available for field work in Glacier NP, Montana, June 4 – September 30; or a period of time therein. The study involves locating pika (small lagomorph) while hiking at high altitudes, backcountry camping, working with a GPS receiver, identification of plants and other mammals. Applicants should have experience with extended backpacking excursions, be in good physical shape, and experience with some ecological field work is a plus. Expect early mornings, unpredictable weather, wild animals, and gorgeous scenery. The assistant will work with the project leader (Lucas Moyer-Horner, U-Wisconsin-Madison). Paid positions are competitive with preference to applicants with experience and those able to stay through September. Paid positions include housing and a $100/week stipend. Volunteers/interns are encouraged to stay for at least three weeks; assitance is especially helpful during July-September. Free camping options are available for unpaid positions. Course credit may be available through your department. To apply, please send an email to lrmoyerh@wisc.edu, with the subject "PIKA GNP". Please include a letter of interest and resume. Applications will be accepted until the positions are filled.

Summer Conservation Internship at Arnold Air Force Base near Tullahoma, TN
ATA's Conservation Internship offers graduate and undergraduate internships for students educated in Biology, Botany, Forestry, Wildlife Management, Environmental Studies, or related fields. This program is designed to be a mutually beneficial experience that provides a practical learning environment for students considering Conservation Biology related fields as a career. Interns will be directly involved in surveys and monitoring of rare species, and vegetation and animal communities; mapping and site-boundary marking; invasive plant removal, photo monitoring in ecological restoration sites; bat surveys and banding; and bird monitoring banding. (Note: Housing is not provided, but hourly compensation is competitive.) You are eligible for the internship if: (1) You are pursuing an academic program in Biology, Forestry, Wildlife Management, Botany, Ecology or related field in an accredited college or university, (2) You have a strong academic record. Qualifications: Personal commitment to conservation of biological diversity, ability to conduct field work in adverse conditions (e.g. heat, precipitation, ticks, etc.), available to work 40 hours a week on Monday thru Friday. Typical hours are from 7:00AM to 3:30PM, but irregular hours are required on a frequent basis. Duration: Through September 2008 (or beginning of Fall semester). Interested and qualified individuals should apply at www.aerospacetestingalliance.com (include on resume a list of classes completed which are applicable to this internship).

Seasonal Avian Research Technicians (2) and Paid Internship Assistants (2)
are needed from April 15 to July 15 for ongoing songbird breeding ecology studies including Cerulean Warbler, Hooded Warbler, and Worm-eating Warbler in northeast Alabama. Duties will include point count surveying, mist-netting, radio telemetry tracking, nest searching, and habitat assessments. Expect early mornings and hot, humid weather with overnight camping on a regular basis. Salary: $2000/month for research assistants and $1200/month for interns. Opportunities may exist for qualified and motivated candidate to continue research in pursuit of graduate degree. Please submit cover letter and resume with contact information of three references to yong.wang@aamu.edu or Alabama A&M University, Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, c/o Dr. Yong Wang, PO Box 1927, Normal, AL 35762 (Ph: 256-372-4229). Positions are open until filled.

FIELD RESEARCH ASSISTANTS (3-4) Avian ecology of West Nile virus
YALE UNIVERSITY – NEW HAVEN, CT
MAY 15 – SEPTEMBER (flexible). 3-4 field assistants are needed for a study of the role of birds in the spread of West Nile virus and Lyme disease in Connecticut. This is a great opportunity for someone looking to get experience and make connections with researchers in disease ecology, an interdisciplinary and growing field. Assistant’s responsibilities will include mist-netting birds to collect blood samples, point counts and territory mapping, nest-finding, and radio telemetry of American robins. If desired, there will be opportunities to assist in other aspects of this summer’s work, including small and medium sized mammal-trapping, collecting blood-fed mosquitoes with aspirators, and tick collecting. QUALIFICATIONS: Applicants must have some previous experience mist-netting passerines. Experience taking blood samples and identifying northeastern birds by sight and (especially) by sound will be preferred. Radio telemetry experience, especially with passerines, and nest-finding experience will also be beneficial. It is essential that applicants be able to work as part of a small team and to tolerate biting insects and ticks in a Lyme disease endemic area. LOGISTICS: Salary is $1700-2000/month depending on experience. Housing is not provided, and is about $300/month in New Haven. Mileage reimbursement for travel between study sites and two field vehicles are available. TO APPLY: send cover letter, resume, and the names, phone numbers, and email addresses of 2 references to christopher.field AT yale.edu. Hiring will begin immediately and positions will remain open until filled.

Field Assistant - Biological Field Studies (Vancouver Island, B.C./Ashland, Oregon)
We seek a highly motivated recent college graduate to participate in field research from April 15 through July 31, 2008 on Vancouver Island, British Columbia or Ashland, Oregon. The assistant will participate in projects investigating plant and insect dynamics in response to global change in oak-savanna ecosystems. Duties include conducting butterfly and plant surveys, rearing butterflies for egg collection, collecting weather data and establishing experiments with butterflies and an invasive gall wasp. The assistant must be prepared to work consecutive days outside, in a variety of weather conditions. Other participants in field studies include Ph.D. students and technical staff. Monthly stipend ($1700/month) and housing provided. Interested applicants should send a CV/resume’ with references to Jason Dzurisin (Hellmann lab manager) at jdzurisin@nd.edu. For more information, contact Jessica Hellmann (primary investigator) at hellmann.3@nd.edu or see http://www.nd.edu/~hellmann. This position will be filled as soon as possible and resumes are being continually considered.

Field Assistants - Anole food web interactions
Dates: May 12 – July 18, 2008. Location: Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, Florida. Description: Two field assistants are needed for a study comparing the food web interactions of native and exotic Anolis lizards in Florida. Fieldwork will involve capturing anoles and arthropod prey species and monitoring their interactions in field enclosures. Start and end dates are flexible. Housing and a small living stipend ($200/month) will be provided. Assistants will be responsible for travel to and from Orlando, Florida. This is a great opportunity to see a wide variety of Florida’s herpetofauna and other wildlife. Qualifications: Experience capturing and handling lizards preferred, but not required. Must enjoy working outdoors and be motivated, hardworking, good-natured, and able to work well with others. Applicants must be in good physical condition and willing to work in hot and humid conditions in areas with biting insects and venomous snakes. To apply: Email a letter of interest, resume or CV, and contact information for three references to: Nathan Turnbough, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Tennessee,
nturnbou@utk.edu. Please put “FIELD ASSISTANT” in the subject line. Review of applications will begin March 24 and continue until the positions are filled.

Windfarm Bird and Bat Field Technicians
Murray State University
Seeking full time and part time field technicians to begin as early as April 15, 2008 to assess the impact of wind turbines on birds and bats. Work will be thru private contract with consulting firm. Own field vehicle is required with paid mileage. These are seasonal positions and work will continue until November 15, 2008. Limited housing is provided. Location : Clinton County, NY and Wyoming County, NY Salary : Hourly depending on education and experience. Qualifications : Field experience, rabies vaccination or post vaccination titer, Bird and/or Bat ID skills and AAS or BS preferred. Would consider individuals currently in a Biology related program or high school graduates considering a career in the sciences. Applicant must be physically fit and will need to maintain concentration while searching over long distances in heat, wind and cold. Please send cover letter and CV: Linda Slobodnik, E-mail : sdpuppygirl2@yahoo.com

Research Assistants Needed for Dolphin Study in Australia
WHAT: Volunteer assistants are requested to partake in a PhD project investigating diet and foraging ecology of bottlenose dolphins. WHERE: Bunbury, South Western Australia (180 km south of Perth). WHEN: June to September 2008; January to March 2009; June to September 2009; and January to March 2010. DUTIES: Relative composition and abundance of prey species in the Koombana Bay region will be sampled using beach seine nets, fish traps, and gillnets. Volunteers will be required to manually deploy and retrieve fish traps, seines and gillnets, assist in the operation of a research vessel, identify, count, weigh, and measure fish and invertebrate species. Stomach contents of stranded dolphins and scat samples will be analysed for prey content. This will involve separating and identifying hard parts in scat and stomach samples. Volunteers may also have the opportunity to assist
with post mortem examinations of stranded dolphins. Spatial analysis to determine foraging “hot spots” will be carried out using point observational data. Assistants will be required to assist in the creation of data layers by entering data into an ArcGIS format and learn to use some basic GIS tools. Data entry and management, equipment maintenance, and other office and lab tasks will be required. QUALIFICATIONS: Mandatory: -Primary requirement is a good attitude, work ethic, and ability to work in a physically demanding environment. This can include long hours in extreme weather conditions and long days on the water. Hauling fish traps and nets is physically demanding work. Volunteers must be able to repeatedly lift over 23 kg (~51 lbs). -Must be able to commit to a minimum of one month. People able to commit for longer periods will be preferred. Preferred, but not mandatory: -Undergraduate degree in the biological sciences -Previous field work experience, specifically with fisheries or marine mammals -Experience using ArcGIS or similar spatial analysis software -Experience managing large datasets -Experience operating vessels up to 7 meters in length. COMPENSATION: Regrettably volunteers will be required to arrange their own transportation to Bunbury, accommodation and all living expenses. (Backpackers and rooms in shared houses are available for approximately AU$90/week). Schedules may be flexible to allow volunteers to work on a part-time basis if legally able in Australia (e.g. possession of a working holiday visa). Academic credit may be earned if arranged through your local institution. Valuable field and lab experience in the ecological sciences will be gained through participation in this project. HOW TO APPLY: Please send a CV, letter of interest, and two letters of reference to: Shannon McCluskey, Murdoch University Cetacean Research Unit, c/o Dolphin Discovery Centre, Bunbury, Western Australia 6230 or electronically to: S.McCluskey@murdoch.edu.au

Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) in Plant-Herbivore Interactions
Florida State University Summer 2008
We are seeking two undergraduate students to participate in our ongoing research on the effects of herbivores on plant population dynamics. Students will work in the lab and field on independent research related to our larger project. Research will occur May-September 2008 and is based at Florida State University (FSU) in Tallahassee, Florida. Dates are somewhat flexible, but REUs must commit to at least 10 weeks of full time work. The REU will receive a generous stipend plus funds for travel and housing. This work is a collaboration between Stacey Halpern (Pacific University, ww.pacificu.edu/as/biology/faculty/halpern.cfm), Nora Underwood (FSU, www.bio.fsu.edu/~nunderwood/homepage/), and Brian Inouye (FSU, http://bio.fsu.edu/~binouye/). The ideal candidates will have: (a) completed relevant course work, such as ecology, animal behavior, entomology, plant biology, or field biology; (b) serious potential interest in a career that includes biological research; (c) reliability, attention to detail, people-skills, and self-motivation. Research experience is not required, but please include if relevant (including independent projects for courses). REU students must be US citizens or residents, and cannot have graduated college. We encourage and will give priority to applications from students from groups underrepresented in science (students of color, first-generation college students, etc.). For more information about the project and how to apply, see this website: http://bio.fsu.edu/~nunderwood/homepage/REU%20ad.htm. Applications are currently being accepted.

CMAST Undergraduate Summer Fellows Program
Read the promotional flyer here.

SUMMER COLLEGE in BIOTECHNOLOGY and LIFE SCIENCES (SCIBLS)
NC State's Premiere Scientific Laboratory Research Program for Rising High
School Juniors and Seniors. Summer Positions Available. Program Dates: July 6th -August 1st. Teaching Assistants (Molecular Biology, Microbiology, Biochemistry, Applied Biotechnology). Resident Assistants (Supervising students times during non-course hours). Please send letter of interest and resume to Phyllis_Hilliard@ncsu.edu. Phyllis T. Hilliard,
Diversity & Outreach Coordinator, Center for Integrated Fungal Research, Summer College in Biotechnology and Life Sciences, NCSU.

---TRIPS---

---OPPORTUNITIES FOR GRADUATES---
Graduate Research Associate, Center of Excellence for Ecosystem Studies
Murray State University
Full time position to begin August 2008. Qualifications: B.S. in biology, ecology, or related discipline. Previous experience with amphibians and/or field and laboratory experiments highly desirable. Responsibilities: To conduct research on the evolutionary ecology of ambystomatid salamanders while completing an M.S. degree in Water Science. Salary: $12,000 per year (two years maximum). To Apply: Email a letter of application, curriculum vitae and the names, addresses, and email addresses of at least three references to: Dr. Howard Whiteman at howard.whiteman@murraystate.edu. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply. Murray State University is an equal education and employment opportunity, M/F/D, AA employer.