Ecological Society of America

Office of Education and Diversity Programs

ESA’s Office of Education and Diversity Programs works to increase diversity within ecology-related professions, engage the public in a dialogue on ecological research and issues, and to improve the quality of ecology education at all levels. Internships are available year round. Full description of the Education Intern position can be found here.

PhD Graduate Assistantship
New Mexico State University

Project relates to source-sink dynamics in burrowing owl populations at an ecoregional scale in black-tailed prairie dog colonies with 6 study areas from Chihuahua Mexico to South Dakota.  The Ph.D. student will work with capture-recapture and stable isotope databases related to survivorship, movement patterns and general ecology.  Applicants should have a B.Sc, (M.Sc. preferred). Potential students should have an interest in mathematical modeling, working with large data sets and should have the skills to train and oversee a large crew of technicians.

Applications should include a letter of interest, CV, transcripts, GRE scores, and names and contact information for three references. Review of applications will begin July 15th and will continue until a suitable candidate is found.  Send applications to Dr. Martha Desmond, Department of Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Ecology, Box 30003, MSC 4901, Las Cruces, NM  88003-0003.  Send questions to mdesmond@nmsu.edu.

Conservation and Land Management Intern Program
Chicago Botanic Garden, the Bureau of Land Management,
National Park Service and the USDA Forest Service

This is an amazing opportunity for recent and upcoming science graduates to learn about land management while working with a mentor in the western United States.  We have current openings in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming beginning in June, 2008.  The Conservation and Land Management Intern Program is a partnership between the Chicago Botanic Garden, the Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service and the USDA Forest Service.

Field duties may include:  plant and wildlife monitoring and mapping; endangered species reintroduction; invasive species management; geographic data acquisition and analysis; biological assessments, sensitive species lists and conservation plans; fire ecology; land use planning; archaeology-related activities; recreation areas management; rangeland assessments; seed collection.

Travel and lodging expenses are covered for you to travel to Chicago in late May for a one-week training course held at the Chicago Botanic Garden.  Training includes:  Federal agency orientation; Endangered Species Act and associated programs; plant and animal identification and monitoring; GIS and mapping; and topographical map reading and GPS skills. 

Compensation is $750.00/pay period (every two weeks)

How to Apply:  Applicants must have a visa authorized for employment in the United States of America.  Please send a letter of interest, school transcript(s), resume, and three letters of recommendation to: clminternship@chicagobotanic.org

This opportunity may also be conducted as a research component of a Masters program with Northwestern University and the Chicago Botanic Garden.  For application information, visit:  http://www.plantbiology.northwestern.edu

For more information visit the website:
http://www.chicagobotanic.org/clm

Summer Jobs in Soil Survey

Alaska Soil Survey Program

Homer, Alaska and Fairbanks Alaska

The Alaska soil survey program will be filling up to four Plant Ecologist (Bio-Technician) positions for the summer of 2008. Positions will be located in Homer, Alaska and in Fairbanks Alaska. Length of the assignments will be approximately 18 weeks for the surveys out of Homer (approximately June-October) and 12 weeks (June through August). This is a tremendous experience for qualified individuals to expand their botanical skills, learn soils, landforms, interpretations, mapping techniques, and apply ecological concepts, all while experiencing Alaska up close.

Requirements: Sophomore through Graduate level students who have strong botanical and plant identification skills, coursework and/or vegetation sampling experience, strong outdoor skills, and positive attitudes. Actual job duties and pay scales will be dependent on coursework and experience. The Plant Ecologist (Bio-Technician) will work with the Soil Scientist as a team to identify and describe plant communities, collect data and plant information, and assist in compilation of field data to describe ecological sites. Federal pay grades will range from GS-5 to GS-7 and include a 25 percent cost-of-living adjustment. Pay grade will be based on completed coursework and experience.

Additional Information: Please contact the Project Leader for specific information about the survey, housing situations, and field work. For general information about skills for the position you may also contact Michelle Schuman, Ecologist, 800 W. Evergreen, Palmer, AK 99645 (907) 761-7781 michelle.schuman@ak.usda.gov

College Internship Opportunities in Marine Science
Mote Marine Laboratory
Sarasota, FL

Organization Description
Mote Marine Laboratory, a nonprofit organization, was founded in 1955 as a place “where people can learn more about the sea.”  Today Mote, one of the few remaining independent marine research facilities in the United States, serves as a center for research, scientific collaboration, and public education focused on our marine environment. Mote has gained international recognition through the quality and diversity of its research conducted in over 50 countries by its multidisciplinary staff of recognized scientific research leaders.  Unique to Mote is an adjacent public aquarium open daily with over 400,000 worldwide visitors  annually and over 200 displays and educational programs originating from the Laboratory’s research.

Internship Program Mission
The mission of Mote’s College Internship Program is to inspire students with a life long appreciation and commitment to the conservation and sustainability of our oceans through a unique opportunity to explore hands-on the marine world and its inhabitants under the mentorship of recognized scientific research leaders in their respective fields of study. 

Internship Description
Internships are available year-round.  Duration of an internship runs from 8 to 16 weeks, with longer periods of time considered.  Mote offers a wide variety of internships in seven different research centers as well as several support areas.  The internship areas encompass aquaculture; animal care; environmental chemistry; coastal ecology; fisheries; marine mammal, sea turtle, and shark research.  Research interns get hands-on experience in the field and laboratory with specific duties depending on research area but include animal care and surveys, acoustic monitoring, data processing and analysis, field collection, lab testing and maintenance.  Support area interns gain valuable experience working in our animal care, public aquarium, communications, library, and education programs. 

Applicable College Majors
Undergraduate, graduate, post graduate students are encouraged to apply as well as those taking a sabbatical in order to gain field experience. We seek primarily biology, chemistry, zoology, environmental science, ecology, aquaculture, fisheries, animal science, pre-veterinary, education, communications, aquarium management or related majors/minors for our internships. Under-represented groups  in the sciences are encouraged to apply [Black, Hispanic, Native American and Pacific Islander].

Internship Financial Information
Internships are unpaid. However a limited scholarship program is available. Mote provides assistance in locating housing but interns should plan on spending $75-$100 per week for housing, plus food and entertainment. Interns should arrange for their own transportation due to limited public transportation.

Application Deadline & Contact Information
Mote has a rolling application process, but deadlines apply for scholarship submittals.  Summer and scholarship applications should be submitted as soon as possible due to high demand.  Additional information regarding Mote, intern opportunities, and applications is available online at www.mote.org, or by contacting:
Dana O’Mara – College Intern Liaison: danaomara@mote.org. Phone: 941-388-4441, Ext. 462

Mote Marine Laboratory, 1600 Ken Thompson Parkway, Sarasota, FL 34236
“A non-profit organization dedicated to excellence in marine science”