Outreach for a Botanical Internship on the Cherokee National Forest Summer 2011

The Cherokee National Forest is looking for a summer intern to work full-time (40 hrs/wk) for 10-12 weeks during the 2011 field season to conduct botanical surveys on the North end of the Cherokee National Forest between May 16 - August 26, 2011. Beginning and ending dates are somewhat flexible and people only able to work 30 hours/week will be considered.

Work Duties: Conduct botanical surveys on various Forest Service projects (wildlife, recreation, trails, fire, etc.) and rare species monitoring over a seven county area in the Appalachian Mountains of East Tennessee. Complete field reports, rare species occurrence forms, ID plants collected in the field, map rare occurrences, and enter into the rare species database. Prepare herbarium specimens and bryophyte packets for identification. Other opportunities would include participation in other surveys (fish, salamanders, bird, etc.) and Forest Service events. Transportation for work, field vests, and plant books will be provided.

Interns generally work 8 or 9 hour days, and usually not longer than 10 hours per day. Typical work schedule is Monday -Thursday 7:30-12:00, 12:30-5:00 and Friday 08:00-12:00. The first week of work will concentrate on training (safety protocols, field methodology and report writing). The remainder of the internship will concentrate on field work and associated report writing.

Duty Station: Unicoi, Tennessee (approximately 9 miles south of Johnson City, TN.)

Salary: GS5, step-1 (approximately $15.00/hr); GS4, step-1 ($13.41/hr)

Qualifications: A BS degree in biology, botany, or closely related field. Enrolled in a university for Summer or Fall term 2011. A working knowledge of the local flora including grasses and sedges. A valid driver’ s license. The ability to work in the field independently, read topographic maps, and use a compass and GPS unit with limited instruction. Physically capable of surveying in mountainous terrain for extended periods of time. Students lacking a BS degree, but having field botany training will also be considered at a lower salary (GS-4, $13.41/hr) providing they meet other qualifications.

How to apply/Questions: Applicants should provide a resume by January 28, 2011. The resume should include proof of knowledge of the local flora and proof of enrollment in Summer or Fall term 2011 (if possible). Information and questions should be addressed to Joe McGuiness, North Zone Wildlife Biologist at Unicoi Ranger Station, 4400 Unicoi Drive, Unicoi, TN 37692, or by email (jmcguiness@fs.fed.us) or phone (423) 735-1536. The information provided will be reviewed and applicants will be contacted in February. Interviews will be conducted prior to a final decision in March.

National Academies Research Associateship Programs

The mission of the NRC Research Associateship Programs (RAP) is to promote excellence in scientific and technological research conducted by the U. S. government through the administration of programs offering graduate, postdoctoral, and senior level research opportunities at sponsoring federal laboratories and affiliated institutions.

In these programs, prospective applicants select a research project or projects from among the large group of opportunities listed on this website. Prior to completing an application, prospective applicants should contact the proposed Research Adviser to assure that funding will be available if their application is recommended by NRC panels. Once mutual interest is established between a prospective applicant and a Research Adviser, an application is submitted through the NRC WebRap system. Reviews are conducted four times each year (next one is Feb. 1) and review results are available approximately 6-8 weeks following the application deadline.

See http://national-academies.org/rap for more information.

Postdoc positions available in Armsworth lab

I am currently looking to recruit post-docs to my research group in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology in the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Two 12-month positions are currently advertised, one focused more on ecological theory and the other more on data analysis related to conservation problems (see below).

POSITION 1: Post-Doctoral Research Associate -Ecology & Evolutionary Biology-Pay Grade 00, - Salary DOE&Q - Full Time -Postdoctoral research Associate in biodiversity conservation. A 12 month position beginning January 1, 2011. The PDRA will help collate and analyze spatial data on conservation investment patterns in the US. The project aims to determine the relative effectiveness of different conservation investment strategies in different ecological and socioeconomic contexts. The PDRA will be expected to contribute to grant development and writing, writing papers or reports, giving presentation and other duties required by the Department or Principal Investigator. Ph.D. in Biology or related field is required. Proficiency in English required. Experience with GIS and analysis of spatial ecological data, strong quantitative skills required. Relevant scientific publication experience desired. Relevant grant-writing experience is also desired. To apply: Please send CV and references to Dr. Paul Armsworth, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996-1610

POSITION 2: Post-Doctoral Research Associate -Ecology & Evolutionary Biology-Pay Grade 00, - Salary DOE&Q - Full Time -Postdoctoral research Associate in biodiversity conservation. A 12 month position beginning February 1, 2011. The PDRA will contribute to the development of mathematical models of animal movement and /or models of community dynamics of plant-pollinator networks. The PDRA will be expected to contribute to grant development and writing, writing papers or reports, giving presentations and other duties required by the Department or Principal Investigator. Ph.D. in Biology, Mathematics or related field is required. Proficiency in English required. Must be able to program in mathematical programming languages. Research experience applying models to examine dispersal behavior and/or community ecology is required. Relevant scientific publication experience desired. Relevant grant-writing experience is also desired. To apply: Please send CV and references to Dr. Paul Armsworth, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996-1610.

Dr. Paul R. Armsworth
Assistant Professor
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
569 Dabney Hall
Knoxville, TN 37996-1610
p.armsworth@utk.edu
http://web.utk.edu/~parmswor/

OTS Research Experiences for Undergraduates

With funding from the National Science Foundation, the OTS Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program provides a unique, intensive opportunity for field research to undergraduate students from throughout the United States.

The OTS Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) was designed for advanced biology students interested in conducting field research under the supervision of an experienced tropical ecologist. OTS will support ten undergraduates, selected through a competitive application process, for an eight-week research program at the world-renowned La Selva Biological Station in the Caribbean lowlands of Costa Rica. In collaboration with a research mentor, students will design, conduct, and present field research projects at La Selva. The program will provide students with a first-hand look at the challenges and rewards of tropical field research. Students will participate in a rich academic field environment, including research presentations, discussions, an ethics component focusing on issues in tropical biology and conservation. In addition, participants will have access to the social, cultural, and recreational activities of the rural communities surrounding La Selva.

See program website and introductory flyer.