Tuesday, July 15, 2025

Course Announcement (Note: this course can count as an ENST elective)

Knight-Hennessy Scholars Program at Stanford University - Info Sessions

Considering Stanford University for Graduate / Professional Studies?

Learn about the Knight-Hennessy Scholars Program at Stanford University, the largest fully endowed graduate scholarship program in the world. The Knight-Hennessy Scholars Program develops a community of future global leaders to address complex challenges through collaboration and innovation.

Every year, up to 100 high-achieving future leaders from around the world will receive full funding to pursue any graduate degree at Stanford University, including the JD, MA, MBA, MD, MFA, MS, and PhD programs, as well as all joint- and dual-degrees.

Please click here to register for upcoming info sessions and application workshops!

To discuss your Knight-Hennessy application plans, and to receive support on your application, please reach out to the UMD National Scholarships Office at scholarships@umd.edu

Eligibility: Citizens of ALL countries are eligible to apply for Knight-Hennessy Scholarships. You are eligible to apply to Knight-Hennessy Scholars if you apply during your final year of study for your bachelor's degree or within four years of earning your bachelor’s degree.

Looking for course instructors: Landscape Ecology, GIS, and Intro to Physical Geography

Hi everyone

Some teaching opportunities below at UMBC this fall that might be appropriate and a good fit for recent grads or someone with a MS
They are looking for someone with a PhD (preferable). A Masters degree with teaching and professional experience can also work out nicely for these courses.

If you interesetd, e-mail mholland@umbc.edu with your CV. Typically new instructors start at $5k per class.

GES 110: The Changing Earth: Climate, Ecosystems, Water, and Landscapes
M/W: 2:30-3:45pm
or
Tu/Th: 1-2:15pm
*This course would have a TA to help with prep and grading.
This course focuses on the dynamics of the Earth's environment, including pressing concerns such as climate change, natural hazards, pollution, and biodiversity. It addresses processes in the atmosphere, in earth's natural waters, in the solid earth, and in the biosphere. The course's concern is with natural and human processes that affect weather and climate, with the spatial patterns of environmental factors (such as temperature, moisture availability, landforms, soils, and vegetation), with the influence of plate tectonics and geologic structure on physiography of the continents and ocean floors, with the interactions that control these patterns and their evolution, and with current threats to biological diversity and human well-being due to changes in the Earth's climate, oceans, and landscapes.

GES 305: Landscape Ecology
Tu/Th: 11:30am-12:45pm
(This would not have a dedicated TA, but could have an undergraduate grader)

Landscape ecology is an integrative discipline aimed at understanding the causes and consequences of ecological pattern, process and change within and across landscapes at local, regional and global scales. This course introduces the fundamental concepts and tools of landscape ecology and explores their application in basic ecological science, biodiversity conservation, environmental management and landscape planning.

GES 386: Intro to Geographic Information Systems
Tu/Th: 2:30-5:00pm
*This class would have a TA and would be compensated at a slightly higher level ($6k), as a 4-credit course.

An overview of the essential characteristics, development and application of Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Students will become familiar with the specialized concepts and methods related to the compilation and manipulation of spatial data, and they will apply those concepts and methods in a laboratory setting.

Wednesday, July 9, 2025

Training Opportunity

Training Announcement

Subject: S-130, S-190, and L-180 Wildland Firefighter Training Cost: $50 Online coursework: August 1 – September 11, 2025. Field Day: September 12, 2025 Location: Wildlife HQ, Oxford, Maryland (https://maps.app.goo.gl/jEs8u489knixfVgHA)

Tall Timbers Research Station, founded in 1958, is a leader in fire science and prescribed fire training. Its research has shaped modern fire management, and it continues to advance regional and national programs with innovative curricula and collaborative approaches to fire management.

Course Description

This blended course combines three foundational NWCG courses: S-130 (Firefighter Training), S- 190 (Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior), and L-180 (Human Factors in the Wildland Fire Service). Delivered in a blended online and in-person format, this training provides a comprehensive introduction to basic wildland fire suppression techniques, wildland fire behavior, and the role of human factors in fire line safety and decision-making. The course is designed to prepare new firefighters for their first fire line assignment and introduce concepts and skills that are essential to safe and effective fire line performance. This course is structured in two components:

  1. Asynchronous Learning – Self-paced coursework available online through the Tall Timbers Fire Learning Portal
  2. Field Session – Instructor-led hands-on field exercises with live fire (weather depending) designed to reinforce and expand the skills acquired during the course.

Registration

  1. Complete the nomination form at https://forms.gle/UoW3zckKtGdrR4iX9 by July 28, 2025.
  2. Students will receive acceptance email with a welcome letter, which will include a payment link. Submit payment using that link.
  3. Once payment is received, a learning portal profile will be created and then the student will have access to the course material.

Course Coordinator

Kyle Magdziuk, Rx Fire Coordinator & Game Bird Biologist
Tall Timbers
Email: kmagdziuk@talltimbers.org
Phone: 315.532.2008

Summer Undergraduate Research Conference 2025

Dear Students,

This summer, the Office of Undergraduate Research will host its second annual Summer Undergraduate Research Conference. Taking place on Friday, July 25 from 1:30-3:30 pm in the lobby of the Brendan Iribe Center for Computer Science and Engineering, this event will provide UMD undergraduates from all fields with the opportunity to share posters about summer works-in-progress and recently completed projects and to learn about research undertaken by other students. Undergraduates from other institutions who are participating in UMD summer research programs are also very welcome to present.

You are warmly invited to attend this showcase of undergraduate scholarship and creativity. We would also be grateful if you would share information about the event with colleagues and students. We encourage students wishing to share a poster at the event to submit a proposal to present by the recommended deadline, Tuesday, July 1 at 11:59 pm. The final deadline for submitting a proposal is Thursday, July 10 at 11:59 pm.

Tuesday, July 1, 2025

Available for UMD students: Google Career Certificates and AI courses (free!)

The University System of Maryland (USM) and Google on Tuesday announced a new partnership that will help thousands of USM students and other Maryland learners earn Google Career Certificates in high-growth fields including cybersecurity, data analytics and project management at no cost.

USM will also offer learners Google’s new AI courses, designed and taught by AI experts at Google to teach foundational skills in artificial intelligence technology. All 12 of USM’s public universities and two of its regional higher education centers will offer this training.

Read official announcement: https://today.umd.edu/usm-google-to-bring-google-career-certificates-ai-training-to-thousands-of-learners

Wednesday, June 4, 2025

Natural Resource Specialist I - Baltimore County

Baltimore County Forest Management has a new entry level position available, Natural Resource Specialist I (Forest Management Maintenance) -- great for you recent grads!

https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/baltimorecounty/jobs/4955957/natural-resource-specialist-i-forest-management-maintenance?keywords=natural&pagetype=jobOpportunitiesJobs

Features
  • Salary: $50,255.00 - $57,461.00
  • Location: Towson, MD
  • Regular Schedule: 35 hours per week
  • For more information click on the above link!

Wednesday, May 28, 2025

Position opening in entomology lab

PAID POSITION: ENTOMOLOGY UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH TECHNICIANS

Title: Undergraduate Research Technician

Location: College Park, MD

Department: CMNS, Entomology

Supervisors: Principal Investigator (PI) Niranjana Krishnan

Salary: $16/hour; maximum of 20 hours/week during the fall/spring semester and 40 hours/week during the summer/winter semesters.

Duration: One year depending on satisfactory performance

Position description: The Krishnan Lab in the Entomology department at the University of Maryland, College Park, is seeking two undergraduate research technicians. The position will start earliest in June 2025. The undergraduate students will help set up insect and plant colonies, maintain them, record data, and assist graduate students with experiments. Most work will be undertaken in the lab and greenhouse, with minimal field work. The position could require working on some weekends/holidays.

Primary responsibilities:
  • Setting up and maintaining Drosophila, beetle, and butterfly colonies.
  • Setting up and maintaining plants in the greenhouse.
  • Assisting with homogenizing leaf samples for pesticide toxicity bioassays.
  • Noting down observations in the lab and greenhouse and taking photos/videos.
  • Entering data into spreadsheets.
Required qualifications:
  • Ability to work a minimum of 10 hours/week most of the year – ideally, at least 20 hours/week in the summer and winter breaks.
  • Ability to perform repetitive tasks precisely and consistently.
  • Ability to work independently and as part of a team (must be confirmed by references)
Preferred qualifications:
  1. Experience rearing insects.
    1. Ability to work with delicate larvae and eggs
  2. Experience rearing plants.
    1. Potting, pruning, watering, transplanting, etc.
  3. Experience undertaking laboratory work.
    1. Ability to use a pipette, microscope/dissecting microscope, and perform insect dissections
  4. Career goals in science, agriculture, or entomology.

Closing date: Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis and the position will remain open until filled. Position start date is between June to August 2025.

Application materials: Interested applicants should send a cover letter, CV/resume, and a list of two references to Niranjana Krishnan (nkrish@umd.edu).

The University of Maryland, College Park, actively subscribes to a policy of equal employment opportunity, and will not discriminate against any employee or applicant because of race, age, sex, color, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, religion, ancestry or national origin, marital status, genetic information, political affiliation, and gender identity or expression. Minorities and women are encouraged to apply.

Post-grad Internship Opportunity - Appalachian Conservation Corps

Appalachian Conservation Corps, in partnership with the National Park Service, is hiring a Chesapeake Gateways Ambassador with the Chesapeake Gateways Network. Our intern will work with the program’s Visual Information Specialist to research and write digital media content, highlighting Chesapeake Gateways Places. They will also participate in a program-wide review and strategic development planning process to help guide the future of the program’s social media strategy.

This 50-week internship will run from 8/4/2025 to 7/17/2026 and is based out of office headquarters in Annapolis, MD. Since this is a full-time, year-long position, we are seeking recent graduates or alumni.

Pay is $720/week and members will receive a $1,000 budget for professional development/free health benefits. After completing the term, members will receive a $7,395 AmeriCorps Segal Education Award to pay back federal loans or for additional schooling.

You can read more about the positions and submit applications here - conservationlegacy:Career Search.

Thursday, May 15, 2025

Hiring Undergraduate Research Assistants in Urban Ecosystem Ecology

Dr. Mitch Pavao-Zuckerman is looking to hire a part-time (15-30 hours/week) Undergraduate Student Research Assistant or two for Summer 2025 to focus on the ecosystem services of green infrastructure and urban forests.

The undergraduate assistant will work with graduate students and the PI in conducting field sampling and lab analysis of plant and soil samples taken from local stormwater green infrastructure and urban forest settings. They will learn protocols to determine physical, nutrient, and biological properties and processes that support ecosystem services. The assistant will also work with a suite of automated apparatus for measuring soil hydrologic properties and contribute to the development of laboratory workflows and protocols. The position would include a mix of field sampling and lab analysis and data entry. Previous experience in lab-based soil and ecosystem analyses is a plus but not necessary. The student must show a demonstrated work ethic, attention to detail, a willingness to learn, and stick to a regular work schedule for field sampling.

Pay rate will start at $15/hour with a need for 15-30 hours availability per week – funding is available for this summer, with potential for extension into the fall. Opportunities include learning research protocols and professional development with mentoring from graduate students, post-docs, and Dr. Pavao-Zuckerman.

Applications should be emailed to Dr. Mitch Pavao-Zuckerman mpzucker@umd.edu. The applications should include an updated resume, a brief cover letter that explains your relevant experience and interest for that position and a schedule detailing the general proposed blocks of time (Monday – Friday from 8am to 6pm) that you would be able to work during the summer.