Upcoming Opportunities & Deadlines

Call for ESA Mentors for 2006 Annual Meeting
SEEDS is seeking ESA members to serve as “meeting mentors” for SEEDS undergraduate students at the 2006 Annual Meeting in Memphis, Tennessee.  SEEDS sponsors Annual Meeting attendance for underrepresented students and those with a demonstrated commitment to the program’s mission.  The mentorship program is integral in helping SEEDS nurture student interest in ecology, ultimately to diversify and advance the field. For more information and to complete the signup form, visit http://esa.org/seeds/activities/AnnualMeetingInfo/mentor.php.

 

SEEDS Chapter Deadlines
A reminder to all Campus Ecology Chapters that May 1 is the annual report deadline. Also, if your Chapter is in good standing, May 5 is the deadline for Special Project Grants. For more information and forms, visit http://www.esa.org/seeds/activities/CampusEcologyChapters.php.

 

SEEDS Highlights

Christina Wong, 2005-06 Undergraduate Research Fellow mentored by Nancy Grimm

I am a senior Biology major at Occidental College in Los Angeles, California and am interested in the fields of urban ecology, biogeochemistry and ecosystem ecology. My love for science and the environment began in my junior year of high school as a member of the Student Conservation Association’s (SCA) San Francisco Urban Youth Corps Program. To read more go to: Christina.

 

Nancy Grimm, Undergraduate Research Fellowship Mentor
I love the SEEDS program. I think it is possibly the best thing that ESA does, so I was honored when I was asked to be a SEEDS mentor. I’ve tried to always have undergraduate students in my research group, and for six years I directed a program at Arizona State University designed to increase minority participation in ecology. It was a small but successful program. In retrospect, we didn’t really get the critical mass going, and that is one way in which SEEDS is really successful. When you see all those SEEDS students helping each other out, communicating constantly—even when they’re at their home institutions—and having a big rocking reunion every time they get together, you begin to understand the power of this student network! To read more go to: Nancy Grimm.

 

Amber Finley, Student Highlight
Hello, my name is Amber Finley. I am a senior Fisheries and Wildlife Biology major at the University of North Dakota (UND). I am an enrolled member of the Three Affiliated Tribes (Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation) and Spirit Lake Dakota (Sioux). I am the current Vice President of the University of North Dakota Indian Association (UNDIA) and the Public Relations Officer for the American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES). I have been a member of AISES since 2000, and it is actually through AISES that I became involved with the SEEDS program. To read more, go to: Amber.

 

Howard University Campus Ecology Chapter
The aim of the Howard University (HU) SEEDS Chapter is to nurture students pursuing a professional career in environmental science through education, career development, and community service. HU’s SEEDS Chapter Student Representative is Shelby Burks who is a sophomore Biology major in the honors program at HU. The SEEDS Chapter also seeks to strengthen the environmental science community at HU by allowing students to connect more easily with the many exciting opportunities provided by the SEEDS program of ESA. To read more, go to: Howard.

 

SEEDS Updates

Two New Campus Ecology Chapters

SEEDS welcomed two new schools into its Campus Ecology Chapter program in March: Chicago State University in Chicago, IL and Clayton State University in Morrow, GA. Read more about these new Chapters at http://esa.org/seeds/activities/CampusEcologyChapters.php.

 

Event Recaps

Fellowship Professional Development Leadership Workshop

The first ever SEEDS leadership workshop was a huge success! Three generations of SEEDS fellowship students and many of their mentors attended this workshop that was held from March 2 – 5 in Tempe, AZ at the Arizona State University (ASU) campus. To read more, go to: Fellowship Workshop.

 

Staff Activities

SEEDS at MANRRS
SEEDS exhibited and sponsored a workshop at the 2006 MANRRS (Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Related Sciences) Annual Conference, March 30 – April 1, in St. Louis, Missouri. SEEDS’ Saturday workshop, “St. Louis Riverfront Trail: How People Use Ecology,” was a field trip that traveled along the twelve-mile trail on the Mississippi River’s west bank, focusing on the natural and cultural sites while learning about local conservation, restoration, and environmental justice efforts.

 

SEEDS at AIHEC
SEEDS Student Coordinator Jeramie Strickland and ESA Education Director Jason Taylor attended the 25th Anniversary American Indian Higher Education Consortium (AIHEC) Conference March 11-14 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. SEEDS co-sponsored the Science Bowl Competition; the Science Oral Interpretation Competition; and the Science Poster Competition with the All Nations Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation. Jeramie and Jason assisted with the Science Bowl Competition and learned more about the students and other tribal schools during the competition. The College of Menominee Nation (CMN) in Keshena, Wisconsin won the Science Bowl Competitions. CMN is in the SEEDS Campus Ecology Chapter cohort. In addition, SEEDS staff interacted with other conference participants and disseminated ecology educational materials along with information about ESA and SEEDS.

Jeramie attended a workshop titled: Managing Your Own Leadership Development: Do You Have a Plan? This workshop allowed Jeramie to reflect on what he has done thus far in his professional development journey and gave him some insights on what he can do in the future to become a well-rounded professional leader. Jeramie plans to share this experience with SEEDS students.

SEEDS is proud to announce that SEEDS 2006-2007 Undergraduate Research Fellow, Marla Collins of United Tribes Technical College in Bismarck, North Dakota was awarded Ms. AIHEC for 2006/2007!

 

SEEDS at ASLO & UHM
From February 18-23 ESA Education Director Jason Taylor attended the American Society of Limnology and Oceanography (ASLO) Ocean Sciences meeting in Honolulu, Hawaii.  Jason participated in a number of sessions related to diversity in the ocean sciences and exhibited SEEDS and ESA to the conference attendees.  Jason also visited with the University of Hawaii at Manoa SEEDS chapter. He was given a tour of the campus by President Andrea Rivera and Vice-President Pollyanna Fisher and discused their planning for the East Maui Ecology Field Trip.

 

Ecology Marketplace

Arizona State University Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU)
Location: Tempe, Arizona         Participation Dates: 10 weeks starting approximately two weeks following the end of spring classes
Through participation in one of several research programs, students will interact with scientists and gain experience conducting independent research projects related to urban ecology in the Central Arizona–Phoenix region. Projects include: investigating interactions between the urban atmosphere and (1) desert-soil arthropod communities, (2) soil microbial activity, and (3) the elemental content and abundance of herbivores; investigating characteristics of urban open space and wildlife-corridors that contribute to higher species diversity; and investigating long-term elemental deposition patterns reflected in accumulation by lichens. Students are encouraged to contact project leaders directly with specific questions about the research projects. Project leaders include: Dr. Nancy Grimm and Sharon Hall (urban atmosphere), Drs. Lisa Shender, Paige Warren, and Stevan Earl (urban open space and wildlife corridors), and Dr. Tom Nash III (elemental deposition patterns).
Benefits: Students receive a $3000 stipend. Additional support for housing and travel may be available if needed.
Eligibility: Students must be undergraduates in summer 2006; that is, May/June 2006 graduates are not eligible for the program. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Women and ethnic minority students are especially encouraged to apply. Prior research experience is not required, but applicants should be in good academic standing and express an interest in learning about research.
Application & Deadline: For application information and to view a detailed description of summer projects, visit: http://sols.asu.edu/ugrad/reu/index.php. Priority deadline to apply is April 7, 2006; however, applications will be accepted until positions are filled or until May 30.
Contact: Stevan Earl at stevan.earl@asu.edu.

 

Sevilleta LTER Site Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU)
Location: Central, New Mexico          Participation Dates: June 3 - August 11
The Sevilleta Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) site is pleased to offer 3 minority undergraduate research opportunities. In 2006, 3 minority students will have the opportunity to design and implement an independent research project of their own, working closely with a mentor scientist. The Sevilleta LTER Project is located about 80 kilometers south of Albuquerque, New Mexico, in and around the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge (NWR). The Refuge, which is managed by the US Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, and its surroundings, are positioned at the intersection of several major biotic zones: Chihuahuan Desert grassland and shrubland to the south, Great Plains grassland to the north, Piñon-Juniper woodland in the upper elevations of the neighboring mountains, Colorado Plateau shrub-steppe to the west, and riparian vegetation along the middle Rio Grande Valley.
Benefits: Participants receive a $3600 stipend for the ten-week program, and free housing at the Sevilleta Field Station.
Eligibility: Undergraduate freshmen, sophomores, juniors or first semester seniors are eligible to apply.
Application & Deadline: http://sev.lternet.edu - April 25, 2006 (extended)
Contact: Jennifer Johnson at jjohnson@sevilleta.unm.edu

 

Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute Center for Tropical Forest Service (CTFS) Research Grants Program
Location: Varies, 18 sites in 15 countries         Participation Dates: Varies, 3 months to 3 years in length
The Research Grants Program of the Center for Tropical Forest Science (CTFS) of the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute supports research associated with the CTFS network of Forest Dynamics Plots. This grants program is intended to provide opportunities for senior researchers, post-doctoral fellows, and graduate students to utilize existing Forest Dynamics Plots and to conduct research with scientists associated with these plots. The CTFS network of FDPs includes 18 sites in 15 countries. Anyone working directly in a Forest Dynamics Plot (FDP), analyzing data from a plot, or generating complementary data that strengthens FDP research programs is eligible to apply. Projects can be field-oriented, laboratory-based, or analytical, and scientifically, basic or applied in nature. The CTFS Research Grants Program will make awards for projects three months to three years in length.
Benefits: Grants will range from $3,000-$30,000.
Eligibility: This opportunity is open to all researchers from graduate students to senior scientists. Applicants are welcome from all nationalities.
Application & Deadline: http://www.ctfs.si.edu - July 28, 2006
Contact: Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute CTFS Grants Program, Apartado 0843-03092, Balboa, Ancón, Panamá, República de Panamá; 507-212-8144

 

University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill Summer Research Assistant
Location: Chapel Hill, North Carolina         Participation Dates: mid April/May - mid August
The position will involve a mixture of field and laboratory work, with the ability to work outdoors in sometimes uncomfortable conditions being essential (i.e. direct sun, occasional rain). Previous research experience and completion of a general ecology course is preferred. Successful applicants will learn basic field ecology techniques and laboratory procedures. The research focuses mainly on the role of viral & fungal plant pathogens and aphid vectors in: (1) controlling or facilitating biological invasions by plants; (2) modulating the effects of global change on terrestrial ecosystems; and (3) structuring plant communities.
Benefits: $8.00 to $9.67/ hr, depending on experience.
Eligibility: Must be either an undergraduate or recent B.S./B.A. graduate. Ability to work full- or part-time in the fall is preferred, but not required.
Application & Deadline: Please submit the following items via email: (1) A current resume; (2) Contact information for two references; (3) Possible and preferred start and end dates; and (4) A brief cover letter. Deadline is April 30, 2006.
Contact: Scott Waring at swaring@bio.unc.edu

 

Help Support SEEDS

We invite you to contribute to ESA's SEEDS Program to help support and encourage greater diversity in the ecology profession. Contributions to the SEEDS program are tax deductible and are used to support special initiatives for underrepresented students. To contribute, visit www.esa.org/seeds/supportSEEDS.php