Graduate Student Grant

A GRANT PROGRAM OF THE COSMOS CLUB FOUNDATION IN SUPPORT OF GRADUATE STUDENTS AT WASHINGTON AREA UNIVERSITIES 

2020 – 2021

PURPOSE
The program provides grants to meet specific research needs not covered by other supporting funds, including but not limited to special supplies, travel, unanticipated expenses that would enhance the work, etc. Specifically excluded are general financial support, tuition, and living expenses (except in connection with supported travel).

SCOPE OF PROGRAM

There is no restriction as to academic field, but the project should be focused on objective scholarly research rather than commercial or political activity, social activism, or other non-academic goals. The number of grants to be awarded is not rigidly fixed, but is expected to be at least fifteen. Amounts of awards will be determined individually and will not exceed $5,000.

ELIGIBILITY
Applicants must be enrolled, on a full-time or part-time basis, in a program leading to a graduate degree (Masters or Doctoral) at one of the local institutions listed on the back panel.

APPLICATION PROCEDURES
The entire application must be submitted online. The Deadline for receipt of applications is Sunday
November 1, 2020 at 12 midnight. Detailed instructions will be posted on the Foundation’s
web site at  www.cosmosclubfoundation.org

Defenders of Wildlife Internship

Defenders of Wildlife is a national, non-profit membership organization dedicated to the protection of all native animals and plants in their natural communities. At Defenders of Wildlife, we focus our programs on what scientists consider two of the most serious environmental threats to the planet: the accelerating rate of extinction of species and the associated loss of biological diversity, and habitat alteration and destruction.

We work to protect and restore America’s native wildlife, safeguard habitat, resolve conflicts, work across international borders and educate and mobilize the public. We stand out in our commitment to saving imperiled wildlife and championing the Endangered Species Act, the landmark law that protects them.

Defenders seeks talented individuals dedicated to the conservation of our nation's wildlife and natural resources, and we offer our staff competitive salary and exceptional benefits.

For more information go here

Brown Environmental Job

Prospective coastal ecology PhD students - Germany

Agricultural Careers and Entrepreneurship Virtual Center

Need help finding an Agricultural Career? The ACE Virtual Center can help. ACE stands for Agricultural Careers and Entrepreneurship. This Virtual Center is a project of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources strategic initiative group on, "Advancing Innovative, Profitable, and Sustainable Agricultural Production Systems".

This virtual center has been created to provide helpful resources, training, and opportunities for current AGNR students, prospective UMD students, K-12 students, and adult citizens who are interested in pursuing a career in an agricultural field to further advance agricultural systems across Maryland. 

To access go here 

Casey Trees - Jobs

Casey Trees, is an urban forestry nonprofit that serves DC. They also have a 700-acre farm in Berryville, VA where they grow many of the trees we plant in the city. There are two openings at the farm now (Farm Crew and Farm Crew Chief) and they are expecting several more openings in DC in the coming months. For information on how to apply go here

Maryland Sea Grant - Graduate Assistant

MDSG is seeking a Graduate Assistant (GA) to help support our research and administration team. The GA will have a flexible schedule in which they will be responsible for several tasks, including supporting proposal and fellowship competitions; supporting recruitment and application efforts for the National Science Foundation-funded MDSG Research Experience for Undergraduates program and other fellowships; supporting MDSG workshops and professional development events; and collaborating on special projects developed by the research team.

This position is for 20 hours/week and follows the UMCES General Stipend Levels (GRA I $25,060.67; GRA II $26,176.88 for 12 months). It includes health benefits and tuition remission (10 credit hours each for the Fall and Spring semesters, as well as 4 credit hours for Summer session). The GA will report to Jenna Clark and Mike Allen.

To apply, please email research@mdsg.umd.edu with the subject line "Sea Grant GA Application" and attach a single PDF with a cover letter, a two-page CV, and contact information for two references. Applications will be accepted until the position has been filled, with review beginning August 17, 2020. 

See the full position posting here. 

Coastal and Island Virtual Conference

The Center for Watershed Protection, Inc. is now accepting abstracts from those interested in presenting at our 2020 Coastal and Island Conference. This Virtual Conference will take place November 16th through 17th, 2020 over an on-line conference platform (Zoom).

The abstract deadline is July 31, 2020.

The Specialty Conference’s central theme is Watershed Management in Coastal & Island Communities

The deadline for abstracts is 7/31/2020.

Please note, if accepted, you must register for the event at the speaker rate by 9/30/20.

For more information click here

EPA Research Opportunity

A research opportunity is available at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Research and Development (ORD), Center for Public Health Environmental Assessment (CPHEA), Public Health and Integrated Toxicology Division (PHITD) located in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. PHITD research focuses on the characterization and biological mechanisms of adverse health effects of environmental pollutants.

This research project addresses the growing need to assess the relative toxicity of regional wildland fire-related particulate matter air pollution. The aims of the project are to assess the ecotoxicology, cardiotoxicity, and irritant potential of wildland fire PMs from various regional burns in zebrafish, assess the respiratory toxicity of the same wildland fire PMs in human respiratory epithelial cells, and elucidate key PM chemical characteristics and biological mechanisms that drive adverse responses.

For more information go here

NOAA Internships

The NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries currently has several openings for volunteer interns at the headquarters office in Silver Spring, Maryland for the fall semester. Volunteer internships may count towards course credit. 

The NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries serves as the trustee for a network of underwater parks encompassing more than 600,000 square miles of marine and Great Lakes waters from Washington state to the Florida Keys, and from Lake Huron to American Samoa. The network includes a system of 14 national marine sanctuaries and Papahānaumokuākea and Rose Atoll marine national monuments.

More information can be found here

Citizens Climate Lobby - Internships

We are accepting applications for Fall 2020 interns. Interns work behind the scenes with our staff on climate conferences, outreach, engagement, and advocacy. In addition to internships with the national organization, students can also intern with local chapters. Please reach out to your local chapter leader to find out if they would like to host an internship. Applications are due August 10. 

Internships with CCL are enriching learning experiences working with our expert staff and volunteer leaders. Our interns go on to top graduate schools and careers in environmental, political, or nonprofit fields. Internships are usually unpaid but receive free registration to CCL’s national conferences in Washington DC and access to CCL’s climate advocacy training. 

For more information go here

Maryland Sea Grant Graduate Assistant - College Park

Maryland Sea Grant (MDSG) is seeking a Graduate Assistant (GA) to help support our research and administration team. The GA will have a flexible schedule in which they will be responsible for several tasks, including: 1) supporting proposal and fellowship competitions; 2) supporting recruitment and application efforts for the National Science Foundation-funded MDSG Research Experience for Undergraduates program and other fellowships; 3) supporting MDSG workshops and professional development events; and 4) collaborating on special projects developed by the research team.

This position is for 20 hours/week and follows the UMCES General Stipend Levels (GRA I $25,060.67; GRA II $26,176.88 for 12 months). It includes health benefits and tuition remission (10 credit hours each for the Fall and Spring semesters, as well as 4 credit hours for Summer session). The GA will report to Jenna Clark and Mike Allen.

See the full position posting here. To apply, please email research@mdsg.umd.edu with the subject line "Sea Grant GA Application" and attach a single PDF with a cover letter, a two-page CV, and contact information for two references. Applications will be accepted until the position has been filled, with review beginning August 17, 2020.

Science Communicator job - MD

The University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, Integration and
Application Network in Annapolis, Maryland, seeks a Science Communicator for its regional, national, and international projects. 

The successful candidate will be responsible for a variety of science communication products that support the goals and objectives of the projects assigned to them. The Integration and Application Network is a global leader in scientific synthesis, science communication, and ecosystem health report cards, with ongoing projects in the US, Australia, Asia, Africa, and Europe. Our projects seek to engage stakeholders and scientists to create solutions to difficult environmental problems. We are seeking a dynamic individual that can help advance these types of projects through effective visual science communication.

Please apply here: https://umces.peopleadmin.com/postings/1385

Applications will be reviewed starting on July 13th.

GIS analyst job - UC Davis - July 9th Deadline

The Cadenasso Landscape and Urban Ecology Lab at UC Davis, Department of Plant Sciences, seeks a GIS Analyst to fill a Research Data Analyst position. The GIS Analyst will work on interdisciplinary projects focused on water use and vegetation in Sacramento, CA. Within this overarching goal, the GIS Analyst will be responsible for locating, curating and analyzing datasets of urban tree inventories; mapping vegetation, parcel, and socio-demographic data; maintaining all appropriate metadata; and contributing to the documentation of methods. A basic understanding of ecology and environmental science is desired so that the candidate can meaningfully engage with the research. The successful candidate should expect to work with a variety of data and data types, be comfortable with ESRI ArcGIS, and be willing to learn new tools and techniques.

The Analyst will work closely with the Principal Investigator (Cadenasso), a Post-Doctoral Researcher, and undergraduate employees and interns located at UC Davis, as well as with members of the larger collaborative team located throughout California. The successful applicant is expected to generate high quality mapping products for reports, publications, and presentations and, maintain and organize databases. They will also be expected to engage with collaborators, handle data sharing, and be able to articulate the goals of the research project to a wide range of audiences, including academic, public agency, and local community groups. The Analyst will be considered a full member of the Cadenasso Lab, and as such will be expected to be an active member of a vibrant intellectual community, preparing for and attending lab meetings and providing critical feedback to other projects occurring in the lab.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in ecology, or related field, with strong GIS skills; Certificate in Geographic Information Systems desired.
• Experience using ESRI ArcGIS software suites, specifically the tools and functions within ArcGIS Online, ArcGIS Pro 2.5+, ArcMap 10.7+, Survey123 (online and desktop) & Collector for ArcGIS utilizing both tabular and geographic data creatively. Experience using & maintaining these software platforms on iPad and desktop connections is highly desired.
• Willingness to think about and use various spatial tools creatively.
• Familiarity with spatial statistics tools within ArcGIS.
• Strong data and file management skills.
• Familiarity with eCognition software a plus.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills; comfortable seeking data and information from other professionals by phone.
• Flexibility to work both as a team member and independently.
• Excited to work with diverse undergraduate interns and graduate students in the lab.
• Willingness to travel to Sacramento for project meetings.

Duration: This position is full time and the initial offer will be for one year with up to a 6 month extension based on performance. Start date is negotiable, but on or before 1 August 2020 is highly desirable. The position includes salary and benefits commensurate with experience and demonstrated accomplishments.

To apply: Please send a cover letter highlighting your relevant experience and expertise, what interests you about the position, and career goals. Include a CV and the names and addresses of 3 professional references that can be contacted. It may be helpful to review the Cadenasso Lab website to get a better idea of the type of research we do: cadenassolab@weebly.com   Email all materials as a single pdf file to Mary Cadenasso at MLCadenasso@ucdavis.edu  , with "Research Data Analyst" in the subject line. Applications will also need to be uploaded to the UC Davis HR site at: https://hr.ucdavis.edu/careers.
Apply by July 9th.

PhD Position in Environmental Microbial Ecology at UW-Madison

Summary: The Freedman Lab at the University of Wisconsin-Madison is recruiting a PhD student to join our Soil Microbiology lab as soon as September 2020. Our research explores the biological, chemical and physical processes that influence soil microbial communities and the ecosystem processes they mediate in a global change context. Competitive applicants will have a strong interest in soil microbiology, ecology or a related field as well as a commitment to contributing to a collaborative, inclusive and fun learning environment. Some experience with assessments of soil microbiomes and biogeochemical processes as well as comfort with statistical analyses and bioinformatics using R is preferred. A wide range of research topics are possible, including but not limited to: (1) investigating the effects of soil nutrient availability on coupled biogeochemical processes in natural and/or managed ecosystems, (2) exploring the influence of biotic interactions (for example, competition and predation) on microbiome diversity and function (3) the development of novel, quick and cost-effective tools to improve predictions of microbial processes in soil. 

Tuition Waiver and Stipend: The selected applicant will be appointed as a Graduate Research Assistant with a stipend of $24,816 per year plus health benefits and tuition remission.

To Apply: Interested students should send a single document with 1) a CV, 2) a one-page personal statement describing your scientific interests and career objectives and 3) contact information for two or three professional references to Dr. Zac Freedman at zfreedman@wisc.edu. Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled. Finalists will be instructed to submit a formal application to the UW-Madison Graduate School to be enrolled in the Soil Science Graduate Program (GRE required).

University and Community: UW-Madison has a strong culture of collaboration across fields, and the selected graduate student will interact with researchers from diverse fields, including microbiology, ecology and environmental studies. The university ranks consistently among the top research universities in the United States. Total student enrollment is 43,000 of which approximately 12,000 are graduate and professional students, and there are over 2,000 faculty. UW-Madison is an exciting place to learn and conduct research! The city of Madison ranks as one of the most attractive places in the U.S. to live and work. For information about the campus and city, please see http://www.wisc.edu/about/

The University of Wisconsin-Madison is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. We promote excellence through diversity and encourage all qualified individuals to apply.

Funded grad position in ecosystem ecology - Idaho State University

The Hale lab at Idaho State University currently has an opening for a graduate student (MS or PhD) to work on NSF-funded research in organic carbon biogeochemistry of intermittent stream networks. The position is funded with an RA for two years (additional years of funding available as a GTA). We are looking for a student who can start as early as Fall 2020 and no later than May 2021.

Come collaborate with a team of ecosystem ecologists and hydrologists to research how spatial and temporal patterns of stream drying affect sources and instream processing of organic carbon. The student will lead synoptic sampling campaigns across a small watershed in southeast Idaho and develop spatial stream network models of stream chemistry and organic carbon transformations. There is also the potential for to develop your own research project within this research (opportunities would include high-frequency sensing of DOC, stream metabolism, DOC uptake, or controls on greenhouse gas fluxes from intermittent streams).

See the lab website (https://rebeccahale.weebly.com ) for more information about ongoing lab research and the ISU Biology website for information on degree programs (https://www.isu.edu/biology/degree-programs/graduate-degrees/).

If interested, please send a letter with your research interests, experiences, and career goals, and a CV to Dr. Rebecca Hale at halereb3@isu.edu  .

Soil Microbiology Technician at U. of Florida Southwest FL Research and Education Center

Position: Biological Scientist I for the Soil Microbiology Lab at the UF-IFAS Southwest Florida Research and Education Center

Work type: Staff Full-time, permanent position

Description: Conducts research to support the Soil Microbiology program at the Southwest Florida Research and Education Center in Immokalee, FL. The incumbent will assist in one or more phases of the research process by performing a variety of technical duties in the laboratory, greenhouse, and field. Duties will include but are not limited to:

• Preparing, maintaining and monitoring experimental trials in the laboratory, greenhouse, and field; collecting, processing, storing and maintaining soil samples from field, greenhouse, and laboratory experiments.
• Conducting various standard and specialized microbiology and molecular biology laboratory procedures such as DNA/RNA extraction/purification/quantification, gel electrophoresis, PCR and quantitative PCR, cloning, culturing; maintaining specialized scientific- or other equipment in and outside the laboratory; preparing microbiological media and chemical solutions; maintaining written and digital laboratory notebooks, maintaining laboratory in a way that work can be accomplished safely and efficiently.
• Recording, analyzing and summarizing data and preparing graphs and tables using standard or specialized software.
• Assisting in the preparation of written reports and publications and reviewing literature pertinent to the research area as deemed appropriate by the P.I.
• Assisting with any related duties required, including purchases of supplies and services, as determined by the P.I.

Advertised Salary: 36,000 – 40,000 annually; commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Minimum requirements: Bachelor's degree in biology or a closely related life science field.

Preferred qualifications: 

•      Knowledge of the terminology, principles and techniques used in biological research.
•      Knowledge of basic principles of microbiology and/or soil sciences.
•      Knowledge of agricultural production systems such as citrus and vegetables.
•      Knowledge of standard laboratory practices.
•      Skill in various standard laboratory procedures such as pipetting, DNA extraction, PCR, gel electrophoresis, bacterial/fungal culturing, maintaining detailed records from experiments.
•      Skill in various specialized laboratory practices such as quantitative PCR, next generation sequencing.
•      Ability to process large numbers of samples in an adequate time frame.
•      Ability to use computer programs such as Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and statistical analysis software such as R.
•      Knowledge of principles of statistics and experimental design.
•      Ability to plan and coordinate research assignments effectively.
•      Ability to adhere to safe laboratory and other practices.
•      Ability to work independently.
•      Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing.
•      Ability to establish an effective working relationship with others.
•      Ability to follow rules and regulations.

Additional characteristics of the position:

• Working under harsh conditions (such as high heat and humidity) outdoors or in a greenhouse for prolonged periods of time.
• Standing, walking or bending for extended periods of time
• Lifting moderately heavy objects for short periods of time.
• Occasional travel to field sites distant from the research station. 

Special instructions to applicants:

Must apply through the UF website:

https://explore.jobs.ufl.edu/en-us/job/514177/biological-scientist-i

Apply soon! Applications close July 14, 2020