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.

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

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!

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.

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.

Outdoor Education Position

2025 Takoma Park Lunch and Learn, Inc. Outdoor Educator Scope of Short-Term Contract


Position Summary:

We are seeking experienced teachers for our 2025 Takoma Park, Inc. Lunch & Learn Camp. The Lunch and Learn camp will operate 9:00 pm - 5:00 pm, five days a week, Monday – Friday for six weeks from June 30 to August 8th. The contract is paid in two installments. One at the start of the camp and one at the end of the camp. The Educator is required to attend one day of orientation/training prior to the start of camp.

As an Outdoor Educator focused on Social-Emotional Learning (SEL), you'll design and facilitate outdoor programs that promote social-emotional development and environmental awareness, using nature as a tool to foster key SEL competencies like self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making.

Organization Summary:

Takoma Park Lunch and Learn, Inc. is a community-based nonprofit serving the Takoma Park community. Its mission is to provide people with the knowledge and ability to create healthy, thriving communities, especially in the neighborhoods that bear the greatest burden of socio-economic inequity. We act as a facilitator and a catalyst in generating community driven activities to fulfill community defined goals for health, housing, community development, and youth development.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Develop and implement age-appropriate outdoor education programs that align with SEL competencies (self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making).
• Create a safe and supportive learning environment that promotes positive interactions and collaboration taking into account the diverse needs of students.
• Lead outdoor activities with a focus on student safety and engagement, providing clear instructions and modeling positive behaviors.
• Facilitate discussions on SEL topics, encouraging self-awareness and empathy, while offering feedback.
• Collaborate with teachers to support students' development.
• Work with high school volunteers to enhance their leadership skills and foster positive interactions among students of various ages and backgrounds in the outdoor setting.
• Spend significant time outdoors. Pivot to provide in classroom instruction when weather does not permit being outdoors.
• Sign and abide by Engagement Contract and Code & Conduct

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in education, environmental science, or equivalent.
• Experience in outdoor education and/or social-emotional learning.
• Strong communication, interpersonal, and facilitation skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• First aid and CPR certification required.
• Passion for nature and a commitment to promoting social-emotional development in young people.
• Familiarity with SEL frameworks and best practices.
• Experience with nature-based activities that promote SEL.

Compensation
Stipend of $4,500 will be provided.

Application Process
All candidates will be subject to a background check. To apply, please complete the form online at https://forms.gle/DnZ95v44goftiiV6A. If you have additional questions, contact the Assistant Director at 301-588-4834.

Students are you interested in a Summer fellowship?

BGS forest fellow The position runs from ~June 2-August 26, and pays $7000 total for this work period.

The primary role of this position will be in furthering our understanding of forest health in Baltimore Forest patches individually, and as a collective. You will collect data as it relates to forest health from the canopy to the soil, and you will be working with a team of 3 other forest fellows. You will also support other science projects and occasionally community work as needed.

Field work will primarily consist of performing vegetation and soil surveys across multiple forest sites around Baltimore, and involves early morning, hot days, rough terrain and other potential hardships. We are looking for candidates with a base knowledge of Maryland plants, enthusiasm, and a positive attitude. As needed you will support in measuring candidate trees for dendroband placement, installing dendrobands, recording tree growth measurements, and managing trail cameras in the field. You will be supporting the organization of this data as needed as well.

There will be an office component as well which involves some basic GIS work (of which you will be trained on), data entry and organization, and standardized report creation.

The main qualifications are plant ID skills (at least the basics), familiarity with working with spreadsheets, and capability to work in sometimes difficult field conditions in forest patches in Baltimore. Access to a car is a big bonus, but is not strictly necessary.

Zoo Internship Fall 2025

National Zoological Park- Lion Tiger Department Internship

Contact: Kathryn Juliano, julianok@si.edu

Number of Positions: 1 unpaid internship

Length of Internship: 15 weeks, 240 hours total, during the fall semester (start and end dates flexible)

Intern Schedule: 2 set days per week, 8 hours per day, between 7 am and 3 pm

Internship Description: The selected student will work under a keeper in the Lion Tiger unit of the Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington, DC. The intern will learn husbandry and management techniques for a wide variety of animals including lions, tigers, Andean bears, bobcats, prairie dogs, porcupines, maras, bat eared foxes, lynx, Pallas’s cats, and additional animals as needed. The intern will learn husbandry skills, including diet preparation, enclosure cleaning and maintenance, enrichment preparation, and behavioral observations. The intern will also gain public speaking skills by interpreting animal behaviors to visitors. By the end of the semester, the intern will complete a poster or a presentation with a focus on an animal husbandry procedure.

The intern will not have any direct contact with collection animals. The selected intern must be able to work in all types of weather, lift 50 pounds, follow all safety protocols, complete health screenings, and complete a background check.

Target Audience: This internship is designed to provide interns to explore careers in the zoo husbandry field. The internship is an entry-level program, and as such applicants with prior zoo experience may not find it very beneficial. Applicants interested in other aspects of the zoo field, including laboratory research or veterinary medicine, may not find this internship applicable. Students, recent graduates, or individuals in the workforce with little to no experience in a zoo setting are encouraged to apply. Current students will receive support to earn college credit for their time spent in the program.

The Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute is committed to an environment that is inclusive and welcoming. Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) and others who identify as nonwhite, people with disabilities, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, and those with lived experience with racism and/or misogynoir are encouraged to apply. We celebrate the diverse qualities, perspectives, values, and experiences of all people.

To Apply: Send a resume, cover letter, unofficial transcript (if applicable), and a schedule of availability for the fall semester to julianok@si.edu by June 2. Please highlight why you are interested in this specific internship in your cover letter and how it will affect your career. Selected applicants will be contacted for interviews no later than June 13.