>BOBCAT GENETICS FIELD INTERNSHIP >LOCATION: Pigeon River State Forest, Northern Lower Peninsula, Michigan.
>DURATION: August 14th through November 14th. >COMPENSATION: $1000/month stipend and housing >provided. Technician is responsible for >transportation to field site, food, and personal expenses. > >PROJECT DESCRIPTION: We will be developing >methods to collect noninvasive genetic samples >from bobcats in the NLP, MI. The project is the >first step in developing a method for genetic >mark-recapture population estimation and habitat use assessment. >PRIMARY DUTIES: Collection of non-invasive >genetic samples from hair-snares and >scat-transects. Checking hair-snares will >involve a lot of solo 4WD driving between >stations with short hikes >(.5km). Scat-transects are run as a team >(technician and graduate-student) through >backcountry. Transects will be through >EXTREMELY dense vegetation at times (swamps and >thickets). A working dog trained to detect >bobcat scat will accompany team along >transects. TECHNICIAN WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR >MAINTAINING ORIENTATION ALONG TRANSECTS THROUGH >BACKCOUNTRY. There are opportunities for >technician to take initiative to test additional >hair-snare methods and/or learn genetic laboratory techniques. > >REQUIREMENTS: Ability to maintain a positive >attitude in heat, rain, snow, swarms of biting >insects, muddy roads, stuck trucks, hours of >solo work, bunk-house style accommodations, and >LONG weeks. Strong orienteering skills >required. 4WD experience required (the roads >can be bad!). Previous field experience >strongly desired. Attention to detail a must! >Noninvasive genetic samples are very sensitive >to contamination and must be handled with >extreme attention to protocol. Meticulous field >notes and sample organization. A desire to >learn about wildlife genetics and molecular >ecology is a plus. Individual must be easy to >get along with and companionable with others >living in close quarters. POSITIVE ATTITUDE and >SELF MOTIVATION are the most important requirements. > >PERKS: Beautiful area of Michigan with >fantastic fishing opportunities! Bunkhouse, >while rustic, overlooks Pigeon River. Perfect >location for Elk viewing in fall. Sleeping Bear >Dunes, Traverse City, Upper Peninsula, and >beaches all within a few hours drive. > >TO APPLY: Please send ELECTRONIC copies of the >following materials to [EMAIL PROTECTED]: >1. Letter of Interest (this can be in the body >of an email or attached separately) >2. Resume >3. Contact information (phone preferred) for three references. > >APPLICATION DEADLINE is FRIDAY, JULY 21st. > >PROJECT COORDINATOR: Jennifer White. Fisheries >and Wildlife; Michigan State University. [EMAIL PROTECTED] 203.464.3400 Jim Schneider - Academic Adviser Undergraduate Advising Center Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Michigan State University 40 Natural Resources Building East Lansing, MI 48824-1222 Office: 517-353-9091 Fax: 517-432-1699 E-Mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] FW Web Site: http://www.fw.msu.edu/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ To schedule an appointment to meet with me, go to the web-based Advising Appointment System at http://www.fw.msu.edu/undergraduates/advising.htm OR call the FW Academic Advising Center: 517-353-9091 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
