NRAC Director Search

Associate Professor/Professor OR Senior/Principal Agent OR Senior/Principal PTK Ranks AND Director, Northeast Regional Aquaculture Center x

Job Description Summary

The Northeast Regional Aquaculture Center (NRAC) seeks a visionary leader to serve as the Center’s next Director. NRAC’s mission empowers Northeastern aquaculture through cutting-edge science and collaborative partnerships, driving sustainable growth and innovation for a thriving industry and a healthier environment. Building on the Center’s thirty plus-year legacy of providing leadership in addressing the complex issues facing the Northeastern aquaculture industry through research, outreach, and collaborative partnerships, the new Director has a unique opportunity to expand the Center’s growth, visibility, and impact.

Headquartered at the University of Maryland, NRAC is one of five Regional Aquaculture Centers established by the U.S. Congress. Funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and representing 12 states and the District of Columbia, NRAC develops and sponsors cooperative regional research and Extension projects in support of the aquaculture industry in the northeastern United States.

The Center’s research and extension priorities are established by the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) and the Industry Advisory Committee (IAC). TAC includes key aquaculture researchers and Extension agents in the region, while the IAC represents principal commercial aquaculture interests in the Northeast.

The Center’s work utilizes a three-pronged approach to address its mission. First, the Center funds research and Extension projects that meet the aquaculture industry's priorities established by TAC and IAC. Second, the Center’s work focuses on outreach, including all aspects of the Center’s communications, to distribute research findings through videos, social media, newsletters, webinars, and other venues. Collaboration and working with the NRAC Board and the northeast aquaculture and seafood communities is the third cornerstone of the Center’s work. The Board, representing the region's aquaculture industries, academic institutions, and government agencies, provides overall direction and management of NRAC.

For more information about this position including pay, how to apply, and requirements please click here

Job opportunity: forest ecology technician at SERC

BIOLOGICAL TECHNICIAN  IS - 0404 7-1

MAJOR DUTIES

The incumbent will support tree monitoring and field maintenance activities at BiodiversiTREE, a large experimental forest at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center.

Monitoring duties include assisting with and sometimes leading the following activities: tracking tree survival and growth; collecting roots and analyzing morphological root traits as well as collecting samples for identifying mycorrhizal communities; using ingrowth cores to measure fine root production, soil carbon storage, and nitrogen retention; collecting soil water and tree sap for isotopic analyses; using ground-penetrating radar to measure coarse root biomass; and using LiDAR to estimate forest canopy attributes. Accurate data collection requires proficiency with ArcGIS Field Maps, GPS navigation, and strong spatial reasoning to locate designated planting sites and navigate plot treatments.

Field maintenance responsibilities include mowing, applying herbicide in accordance with established safety guidelines, and manually removing unwanted or encroaching vegetation. The incumbent will also identify woody and herbaceous plant species, ensure proper tagging and documentation, and support data management — including developing data collection formats and contributing to a quality assurance program.

KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED BY THE POSITION

Knowledge and Skills

The incumbent should have a working knowledge of forest ecology and experience identifying woody and herbaceous plant species common to the US mid-Atlantic. Familiarity with standard ecological field methods is required, including techniques for measuring tree survival and growth, root collection and trait analysis, and soil sampling. Proficiency with Office software and R statistical software is expected. Experience with ArcGIS Field Maps, GPS tools, LiDAR, ground-penetrating radar, isotopic analyses, or mycorrhizal community assessment is beneficial but not required. The incumbent should be comfortable supporting data management tasks, including, writing protocols, developing data collection formats and contributing to quality assurance. A supervisor is available for guidance on unusual or unexpected problems.

Physical Requirements

Most work is performed outdoors in the field, with occasional sedentary laboratory or office tasks. The role requires prolonged standing, walking over uneven terrain, lifting and carrying loads up to 50 lbs, and operating hand tools and motorized vehicles. The incumbent must be prepared for extended exposure to heat, cold, wet conditions, stinging and biting insects, poisonous plants, and similar environmental hazards, and should take appropriate safety precautions. Travel between field sites may be required.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment includes both typical office and laboratory settings, but the incumbent will primarily work outdoors in terrestrial field environments of the Chesapeake Bay region and similar areas. Most days will involve considerable time spent outside, often under conditions of extreme heat or cold, exposure to poisonous plants, stinging and biting insects, and various forms of inclement weather. Field sites are not within walking distance of restroom facilities; however, a restroom is available at a nearby field location and may be accessed as needed.

Salary: $57,736 plus health benefits 

Appointment Type: Term appointment for 1 year, with the second and third years of funding contingent upon satisfactory progress. (This is not a Federal position)

Deadline: Open until filled. Review of applications will begin immediately. We anticipate a start date in early fall 2026.

Location: This position is based at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center in Edgewater, Maryland. The SERC campus contains nearly 2,700 acres of forest, agricultural areas, wetlands, and streams, and sits directly on the Rhode River estuary on the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay. SERC is a research center of the Smithsonian Institution and is located close to the historic seaport of Annapolis, Maryland, the US capital in Washington D.C., and Baltimore, Maryland, with numerous nearby universities and opportunities for work and play. 

The position is open to all candidates eligible to work in the US. The Smithsonian Institution is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We believe that a workforce comprising a variety of educational, cultural, and experiential backgrounds support and enhance our daily work life and contributes to innovative science and creative solutions. We strongly encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply. We recognize that each applicant will bring unique skills, knowledge, experiences, and background to these positions. The Smithsonian Institution is an equal opportunity employer, committed to a policy of nondiscrimination on the basis of race/ethnicity, national origin, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, age, religion, marital/parental/caregiver status, and disability. 

The Smithsonian Institution provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation should contact SERC_HR@si.edu. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.  To learn more, please review the Smithsonian’s Accommodation Procedures.

 

To apply, please send the following as a single PDF document to John Parker (parkerj@si.edu): cover letter summarizing relevant experience, Curriculum Vitae, and the names and full contact information (email, phone, postal address) of three references.

Travel scholarship for students

Check out this travel scholarship opportunity undergraduates and graduate students. 

Dave Ludwig taught as an adjunct in ENST for a time.  As his bio says, he was a systems ecologist, herpetologist, and naturalist, with a particular interest in marine/estuarine ecosystems. 

Smithsonian's National Zoo PAID Internships

Hello, the Smithsonian’s National Zoo has 9 paid internships this upcoming fall semester. Please share this information with any student that may be interested.

 

These internships will be highly competitive. If a student is interested, I encourage them to apply to multiple internships and to write an individualized statement of interest for each. Note that one internship is located in Virginia, not DC.

 

https://nationalzoo.si.edu/careers/internships

Job Opps for recent grads at CCAN

 Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN) just opened up a few positions (many entry level!)

CCAN Careers page

Position 1: Federal Policy Associate (full time hybrid, salaried, 56-66k + benefits) Prioritized consideration if apply by JULY 31st

Position 2: Campus Climate Organizing Manager (full time hybrid, 70-80k + benefits, travel) Prioritized consideration if apply by JULY 24TH

Position 3: Federal Elections Coordinator (full time, Aug1-Nov 13,2026, $1400/week + benefits)

Prioritized consideration if apply by JULY 10TH

About CCAN: 

Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN) is the only group in the Chesapeake region of Maryland, Virginia, and Washington DC dedicated exclusively to building a powerful grassroots movement to fight climate change. We envision an equitable energy future where truly clean sources of power — solar, wind, and geothermal — sustain every aspect of our lives, efficiency is prioritized, and fossil fuels have been phased out.  

We are working on bold campaigns that would result in energy policies matching the scale of the climate crisis. Since 2002, we have been pushing the envelope of what’s “politicallypossible” in the Chesapeake region and beyond, using every tool inside and outside thebox—from organizing to lobbying to the law.   

CCAN Action Fund is CCAN’s advocacy arm. Through voter education, lobbying, and participation in the electoral process, we seek to move our country into leadership on the most urgent global issue of our time: the climate crisis.   

Tenure-Track Assistant Professor of Soil Science at UMES

The University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) is currently recruiting for a tenure-track Assistant Professor of Soil Science in the School of Agricultural and Natural Sciences.

This is a full-time, tenure-track faculty position with an appointment in research, teaching, and Extension, focused on soil science in agricultural systems. Areas of interest include soil fertility and nutrient management, soil health, soil chemistry, soil physics, soil-water relationships, soil conservation, precision nutrient management, resilient cropping systems, soil carbon dynamics, salinity and saltwater intrusion, and related areas.

The successful candidate will join UMES as part of its 1890 land-grant mission and will have opportunities to build an externally funded, nationally visible program with direct relevance to the Delmarva Peninsula, Maryland, the Mid-Atlantic region, and broader agricultural communities.

Application link: https://umd.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/UMES/details/Assistant-Professor-of-Soil-Science_JR104329-1?q=JR104329

Review of applications will begin on September 15 and will continue until the position is filled. Inquiries about the position may be directed to the search chair, Prof. Simon Zebelo, at sazebelo@umes.edu.

Mel Fellowships closing on July 15!

Mel Fellowship Program 

The Maryland Forestry Foundation is pleased to offer

four annual Fellowships to Maryland college students in

the amount of $10,000 per Fellowship.

Made possible by an annual grant from the Maryland

Department of Natural Resources, the Fellowship

program is intended to encourage students to pursue

careers in Natural Resources and to help them

matriculate in a Natural Resources-related field of study.

The responsibilities of the Fellowship are listed below, a main one being to act as an  ambassador of either the Natural Resources Careers Camp or of various Urban Forestry  programs and initiatives. In travels and meetings across the state, students will be introduced  to a wide range of industry, government and nonprofit professionals, making important  contacts for future job searches.  

Fellowship applications and letters of recommendation must be submitted online. Apply now at www.marylandforestryfoundation.org/programs/students-educators/mel-fellowship-program/ 

Mel Fellowship Positions Announcement 

The Maryland Forestry Foundation, administrator of the DNR Fellowship program, is  calling for applications to fill 4 Mel Fellowship positions, 2 each in the areas of: 

1. Natural Resources Careers 

2. Urban & Community Forestry 

Application process opens: May 15, 2026 

Application deadline: July 15, 2026 

Decision announcement: July 30, 2026 

Fellowship term: October 1, 2026 - July 31, 2027

Mel Fellowship – Application Details 

Applications must be submitted online accompanied by a resume. Two online letters of  recommendation must be received by the July 15 deadline. 

Requirements: Applicant must be a Maryland resident and a college student currently  enrolled in a natural resources field of study. Expectations are that fellowship activities will  require roughly 5 hours/week and may include travel to Annapolis, to locations around the  state and possibly to conferences across the US. However, most work can be carried out from  your home base. 

Two Letters of Recommendation must be submitted online. One from a faculty member in a  natural resources field who verifies the student's enrollment in the college and speaks to the  student's career interest and their ability to manage a fellowship workload in addition to their  academic program. The 2nd letter should be from any other non-family-member acquaintance  who can speak to the personal motivation and character of the applicant and their ability to  work independently with initiative. Note: Inform your references which Fellowship program you  are applying to – they are required to know. 

Expectations: The primary goal of the Fellowship is to help a student successfully graduate in  a Natural Resources field of study. Beyond that, specific Fellowship expectations are found  in Appendix A for Natural Resources Careers and in Appendix B for Urban & Community  Forestry. A final report listing accomplishments and suggestions for how to improve the  Fellowship program must be submitted at the end of the term. 

Remuneration: $10,000 total stipend, paid out monthly, based on mutually agreed upon goals  and deliverables. The Fellowship payments are intended to offset the cost of college and will  not be considered taxable income if the student's tuition and books/fees equal or exceed the  Fellowship payments in each fiscal year. The estimated timing of payments will be $3,000 in  2026 and $7,000 in 2027. 

Students who are awarded a Fellowship are ineligible to apply for future Fellowship positions.

Application Instructions 

Read Appendix A & B to decide upon which Fellowship program is of interest to you.  

Complete the Application online at www.marylandforestryfoundation.org. Attach your resume  and have your two chosen references fill in our online Letter of Recommendation form. All  submissions should be sent in by July 15, 2026. 

An acknowledgement of receipt will be sent to the student. If you experience any problems  with the application process, please email us at info@marylandforestryfoundation.org.

Appendix A 

Expectations 

for the 

Natural Resources Careers Fellowship 

October 1, 2026 - July 31, 2027 

• Primary goal of the Fellowship 

o Successful matriculation in your degree program 

• Promotional goals 

o Promotion of careers within Natural Resources fields by sharing your educational  experiences, work experiences and future career plans with students around the  state 

o Promotion of the Fellowship program within your university and to similarly situated  students for recruitment of future applicants 

• Efforts on behalf of the Natural Resources Careers Camp 

o Become familiar with NRCC (marylandforestryfoundation.org), attend monthly  committee Zoom meetings and visit camp in July of next year to speak with  students and meet NRCC staff and industry participants 

o Assist in the promotion of the camp through social media and online marketing o Work with partners to increase visibility of the camp and recruitment of students:  local Forestry Boards, Maryland Forest Service, industry partners and the Green  School program  

• Support the mission of Maryland Forestry Foundation 

o Conduct research on forest policy, forest landowner incentive initiatives and other  topics pertinent to the legislative efforts of Foundation staff 

o Promote and provide input to the Foundation webinar series and other events o Attend bi-annual Forestry Board Association meetings 

o Attend relevant conferences if possible 

o Assist in conceptualizing and planning a summit meeting to bring together the two  industries of Rural/Traditional Forestry and Urban Forestry 

o Submit 3 blogs to be posted on the Foundation website 

• Reporting duties 

o Submit a final report listing your Fellowship accomplishments and suggestions for  how we can improve the Fellowship program 

o Regular phone and email communication with Foundation staff and partners when  appropriate 

Note: Not all items listed above will be a part of an individual's set of assigned efforts. The  Foundation will work with the student to develop a reasonable plan of expected outcomes.

Appendix B 

Expectations 

for the 

Urban & Community Forestry Fellowship 

October 1, 2026 - July 31, 2027 

1. Primary goal of the Fellowship 

o Successful matriculation in your degree program 

2. Promotional goals 

o Promotion of careers within Natural Resources fields by sharing your educational  experiences, work experiences and future career plans with students in the state o Promotion of the Fellowship program within your university and to similarly situated  students for recruitment of future applicants 

3. Efforts on behalf of the Maryland Urban & Community Forestry committee (MUCFC) o Attend quarterly MUCFC meetings to assist with grant reviews and the PLANT  recognition award program  

(dnr.maryland.gov/forests/Pages/programs/urban/mcfc.aspx) 

o Assist in the promotion of MUCFC and its grant and other outreach programs 

4. Support the mission of Maryland Forestry Foundation 

o Conduct research on forest policy, forest landowner incentive initiatives and other  topics pertinent to the legislative efforts of Foundation staff 

o Promote and provide input to the Foundation webinar series and other events o Attend bi-annual Forestry Board Association meetings 

o Attend relevant conferences if possible 

o Submit 3 blogs to be posted on the Foundation website 

5. Efforts on behalf of the Urban Forestry Careers Camp 

o Assist in updating the curriculum for UFCC and visit camp in mid-July of next year  to speak with students and meet UFCC staff and industry participants 

o Help to promote the camp and to recruit high school students 

o Work with partners to increase visibility of the camp: local municipalities,  universities, Forestry Boards, Maryland Forest Service and industry partners 

6. Reporting and meeting duties 

o Submit a final report listing your Fellowship accomplishments and suggestions for  how we can improve the Fellowship program 

o Regular phone and email communication with Foundation staff and partners 

Note: Not all items listed above will be a part of an individual's set of assigned efforts. The  Foundation will work with the student to develop a reasonable plan of expected outcomes.

Job Openings with the Wildlife Society

Hope everyone had a wonderful 4^th of July Holiday and is staying cool out there.  Summer is in full swing, but the Chapter board is already planning for the Fall 2026 meeting! Stay tuned as we will have more details soon!

 

We are helping spread the word about two positions open at the Wildlife Society and wanted to share these opportunities with the membership:

 

1. TWS Policy and Communications Internship

·       Full time for six months

·       Entry level

·       Fully remote

·       $2,000 monthly stipend without benefits

·       Application due on July 15

 

2.  Editor-in-Chief of the Wildlife Society Bulletin

·       Part time for three years starting Jan 1 with a six-month overlap with the current Editor-in-Chief

·       PhD required

·       Fully remote

·       $15,000 annual stipend, paid travel expenses, and lifetime TWS membership

·       Application due on August 15

 

See attached the job advertisements for full details and applying!