Re: [ECOLOG-L] Careers in Conservation: Crossing the Barren Waste
Hi RK and fellow ecologgers, I also want to share my experience sorry if its a long story -I'm not a smug success I just found a way to get out of the rut. When I read your email RK I felt like I was reading my own diary from about one year ago. I know exactly what you are going through and can only say that you are not alone and it will end. I graduated from a MSc in 2005 in full of expectations for a glorious conservation career. i chose to study in south africa so that i could be in Africa and after i graduated i spent 14months sitting in my bedroom in my patents house in london writing application letters and crying in between (after about 8 months of this). I was lucky I guess in the end because I got a three month contract as a biodiversity consultant which then led to me being offered a position in an NGO as a secretary to the CEO. Even though typing letters and filing was way under my pay grade and my level of experience I took the opportunity gladly and I learned so much about international conservation at the high end of the game. After one year I persuaded them to send me to Kenya to work on the ground. After 5months the funding ran out and they sent me to Mozambique for 3months, after which the money also ran out. At the time I was very frustrated and angry that they wouldn't/couldn't offer me a full time job which was my only objective- no matter what the pay. Anyway Mozambique ended in 2007. That's almost 5 years ago and since then I returned to home and spent many months again in my bedroom job and phd hunting and eventually took a job working as a technician collecting insects -again nothing to do with my experience or ambition and for minimum wage. After a year that too ended and that was my last paid ecology job to date (2009)! I couldn't find a job doing what I wanted, what I was qualified for, I had tired out all my network asking them endlessly for help, advice and work. I spent a few months volunteering in botswana hoping it would lead to work but they too sent me home, i tried again in zambia to start up a self funded project looking at small carnivores but again no one wanted to help and the project fell flat and i found myself in my bedroom. i spent a terrible slow 13moths falling into depression and feeling totally worthless. I reached rock bottom and lost hope, i resented everyone who had 'made it'; everyone seemed to have found a way except me. i felt the only thing that would help my mood would be a job or a phd but that was beyond my control so I was powerless to change my situation and that made me more depressed. Eventually I couldn't even talk to my friends any more because they would ask me how I was and I couldn't lie and say ok, and they would ask me what I'm up to and I couldn't face telling 'still nothing'. I stopped going out to avoid meeting people would ask me what I do. Because I felt like such a failure and a liar if I said I'm a conservationist. I started lying to people saying i was working in a bar just so that i didnt have to tell them i had failed at my dreams, i couldnt even read nat geo anymore because I would get too jealous. Anyway eventually I could barely get up in the morning and my friends started to worry. My best friend from my masters days suggested I come to visit him in South Africa to get out of the rut and give myself a break. I didnt think it would help but at least I'd be on African soil again but i was angry that he got to live there permanently. It was the best decision I made- within two weeks of not thinking about what to do I was back to my bouncy self. I still was in the same situation but I was a fresh person. I went to a conference (self paid) and met a consultant who offered mea one month contract in South Africa. I took it. During that month I applied for a phd in Zambia and got it- they said I got the position because I had such diverse experience - to me I had a cv full of worthless temporary odd jobs- to them I was worldly, adaptive and had been to the Zambia. So now I'm doing my phd and who knows what will happen afterward. I will probably have another sad bout of frustration and unemployment, but I met my husband (to be) along my travels and I would not have met him if I hadn't got the phd or gone to the conference or gone back to Africa or been unemployed for so long that i got so low and decided to south africa to visit my friend etc etc. it's not that I got the phd that made everything better, it's that i got so low that I popped the hope and glory bubble and no longer had self expectation to be great. I realised i was trying to base my identity on my job an so thereby feeling a failure without one. Without this self pity and blaming others it became resignation and it freed me from the frustration and allowed me to try again without expectations. Now I'm doing the phd but its my work not my life. So my advice even though you ask not to recieve it- is
[ECOLOG-L] Job: Tenure-Track Faculty Position in Ecology at Ryerson University, Canada
*Tenure-Track Faculty Position in Ecology Department of Chemistry and Biology Ryerson University * The Department of Chemistry and Biology invites applications for a tenure-track position in Ecology. The appointment will be at the Assistant Professor level, although an exceptional candidate may be appointed at a higher level. The successful applicant will have a Ph.D., post-doctoral experience, and an outstanding research record of work in ecology. Areas of particular interest include aquatic or terrestrial ecology, conservation biology/biodiversity, behavioral ecology, molecular ecology and invertebrate ecology. The new faculty member must have the ability to establish and maintain a strong, independent, externally-funded research program. The new faculty member is expected to demonstrate excellence in teaching at the undergraduate and graduate levels, to contribute to the teaching of key courses such as Zoology, Ecology, Ecosystems Processes and upper-level Environmental biology electives and to the development of new courses and the evolution of program curricula. This position commences August 1, 2013, subject to final budgetary approval. The Department of Chemistry and Biology is in a phase of dynamic growth, both at the undergraduate and graduate levels. In addition to a B.Sc. in Biology, Ryerson offers a M.Sc. and Ph.D. program in Molecular Science as well as a M.A.Sc. and Ph.D. program in Environmental Applied Science and Management. New faculty members will have the opportunity to supervise students in these graduate programs. The successful applicant will complement a department with current strengths in Environmental Biology and Microbiology and in Cell and Molecular Biology. Interested candidates should prepare their application packages, including cover letter, curriculum vitae, statement of teaching interests and philosophy, research proposal, and up to three recent publications. Research proposals should conform to the guidelines for the “free-form” portion of form 101 for the NSERC Discovery Program—see http://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/OnlineServices-ServicesEnLigne/instructions/101/e.asp?prog=dgunder “Proposal” for details. Candidates should not include form 100 or Part I of form 101 with their submissions; selected candidates may be requested to submit a budget at a later date. Applications should be sent to Dr. Stephen Wylie, Chair, Department of Chemistry and Biology by e-mail (pdf attachments preferred) to cabch...@ryerson.ca. Applicants should arrange to have three letters of reference submitted directly to the Department Chair at the email address above or by post (Department of Chemistry and Biology, Ryerson University, 350 Victoria Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5B 2K3). For e-mail submissions, signed, scanned pdf letters sent from the referee’s official university or business email address are acceptable. Deadline for submission is December 7, 2012 although applications will be accepted until the positions are filled, only those received by the deadline will be guaranteed full consideration. Located in the heart of Toronto, the largest and most culturally diverse city in the country, Ryerson University is committed to diversity, equity and inclusion. The university is known for innovative programs built on the integration of theoretical and practically oriented learning. Our undergraduate and graduate programs are distinguished by a professionally focused curriculum and strong emphasis on excellence in teaching, research and creative activities. Ryerson is also a leader in adult learning, with the largest university-based continuing education school in Canada. These positions fall under the jurisdiction of the Ryerson Faculty Association (RFA). The RFA collective agreement can be viewed at: http://www.ryerson.ca/teaching/employment_resources/rfa.html. The RFA’s website can be found at: http://www.ryerson.ca/~rfa/. A summary of RFA benefits can be found at: http: www.ryerson.ca/hr/working/etoolkit/benefits/rfa/. Ryerson University has an employment equity program and encourages applications from all qualifies individuals including women, Aboriginal peoples, persons with disabilities, and members of visible minorities. Members of designated groups are encouraged to self-identify. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.
[ECOLOG-L] Revised announcement - ORISE/USFS
Postgraduate (BS, MS) Fellowship Program Opportunity US Forest Service Research Development US Department of Agriculture Boise, ID FS-2012-400 Project Description: A postgraduate fellowship project is available (via the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education) with the Rocky Mountain Research Station of US Forest Service Research and Development. RMRS maintains 12 research laboratories throughout a 12 state territory encompassing the Great Basin, Southwest, Rocky Mountains and parts of the Great Plains. The Station employs over 400 permanent full-time employees, including 100 research scientists. The fellow will support the Air, Water and Aquatic Environments Program's science delivery and application activities. AWAE conducts basic and applied research on the effects of natural processes and human activities on watershed resources including interactions between aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. The knowledge we develop supports the management, conservation, and restoration of terrestrial, riparian and aquatic ecosystems and provides for sustainable aquatic resources in the Interior West. The incumbent will work closely with scientists in the Rocky Mountain and Pacific Northwest Research Stations and in close partnership with aquatic and fisheries program managers in US Forest Service regions in the northern Rocky Mountains and Pacific Northwest to support the dissemination of current research and science support to resource managers and stakeholders. Some travel is required. Qualifications: Applicants must have received a Bachelor's or Master's degree in ecology, biology, environmental science, fisheries biology, hydrology, or a closely related field within five years of the desired starting date. The ideal candidate will have strong written and verbal communication skills with demonstrated capabilities in science writing, a proven ability to work independently, and a client oriented focus. Experience in freshwater fish biology and ecology and familiarity with the Pacific Northwest or Intermountain Region is preferred. Experience with web page design, management and publishing software is desired. Under the mentorship of the program leads, the Fellow will: * Help redesign and maintain a new program webpage (content and layout) to showcase AWAE's aquatic program research * Develop communication and marketing materials to increase access to science products that support management decisions * Communicate directly with Forest Service scientists and resource managers about current research as it relates to management concerns * Contribute to science planning and policy evaluation at a national level * Contribute to science syntheses on high priority or emerging issues (e.g., wildlife disease, invasive species, climate change) This position provides an opportunity to: * Learn about natural resource research and management issues at a regional scale * Gain first-hand knowledge of the Forest Service's aquatic research program * Improve science delivery to managers and stakeholders * Understand and contribute to the intersection of science and management While this is primarily an office-based fellowship, opportunities to support field research are possible. The fellow may explore options for future graduate research and take advantage of additional training opportunities. This appointment is full-time for one year and may be extended for up to three additional years upon the recommendation of the Forest Service and availability of funding. The annual stipend range for this position is from $42,209 up to $55,430, depending on qualifications. Housing, transportation and relocation costs will not be paid. Taxes and other federal, state, and local deductions are the responsibility of the Fellow. There will likely be opportunities for some professional travel during this appointment. The fellow must show proof of health insurance. Health insurance is available through Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE). If the fellow selects coverage under the ORISE policy, a supplement to the stipend may be provided to offset a portion of this expense. The fellow does not become an employee of the Forest Service or ORISE. The program is open to all qualified individuals without regard to race, sex, religion, color, age, physical or mental disability, national origin, or status as a Vietnam era or disabled veteran. U.S. citizenship required. Interested applicants are encouraged to provide a preliminary application, consisting of a cover letter with statement of interest and goals and a resume/CV to Dr. Frank McCormick (fmccorm...@fs.fed.usmailto:fmccorm...@fs.fed.us; 208-373-4351). Application materials available at: www.orau.gov/usfs_rpphttp://www.orau.gov/usfs_rpp Frank H. McCormick, Ph.D. Research Program Manager
[ECOLOG-L] Two (2) MS Graduate Student Positions
Two (2) Graduate Student Positions Available, beginning summer/fall 2013 Closing Date: March 1st, 2013 Description: Two graduate positions are available for full-time students wishing to pursue a Master of Science degree in Biology with an emphasis in aquatic/marine molecular ecology at Central Michigan University. Accepted applicants will work with Dr. Andrew Mahon on projects involving molecular detection in aquatic systems, population genetics, biodiversity monitoring, and/or phylogeogrpahy of Antarctic benthic invertebrates and larvae. Currently funded projects incorporate modern molecular methods in combination with significant field research to address important scientific questions on local, regional, and global scales. Student funding of up to $21,000/year is available in the form of research and/or teaching assistantships. In addition, tuition waivers are available (subject to annual renewal). Interested parties should contact Dr. Andrew Mahon directly (contact information below) with a statement of interest and current CV. Additional information on potential research projects can be found at the Mahon Laboratory website (see below). Information and application materials for the Master of Science in Biology at CMU are available at the Biology Department website (http://www.cst.cmich.edu/units/bio/grad.htm). The successful applicant will have a Bachelors of Science degree in a biological field as well as experience with general molecular techniques and undergraduate research experience. To be eligible for consideration students must be admitted to the Graduate School at CMU (http://www.grad.cmich.edu/forms.htm) and have completed a graduate assistantship application (http://www.cst.cmich.edu/units/bio/GAAPPLICATION.doc) to the Department of Biology. If interested please contact: Dr. Andrew Mahon Department of Biology Institute for Great Lakes Research 190 Brooks Hall Central Michigan University Mt. Pleasant, MI USA Web Address: http://people.cst.cmich.edu/mahon2a E-mail: maho...@cmich.edu Phone: 989-774-1177
Re: [ECOLOG-L] Careers in Conservation: Crossing the Barren Waste
Fellow ecologgers, It is comforting to hear that many have had the same frustrating experiences. I did research and co-published as an undergrad and thus finished college exhausted both mentally and physically. Then we had to move to a land-locked city (5 hours from the coast) for my husband's job where there are few options for grad programs in ecology much less marine biology/ecology. I find very few jobs that are even biology/ecology related and there is NOTHING available for a marine biologist other than the occasional aquarist position that requires only a high school diploma and some experience. I would be happy for that job but I didn't get it or any of the other zoo/aquarium jobs in the area which seem to be the only ones remotely related to my interests (ecology/public education/outreach). I often find myself discouraged at the fact that I worked so hard for so long for that degree which IS a great accomplishment and can't even seem to land an entry level job. I was in a difficult feast-or-famine field before so I am trying to re-adopt the mind set I had then - if you can't find the path you want, carve your own. So, in the meantime I am looking into starting my own business. My goal is to do something I feel is important and worth my time, makes me happy, and makes a positive difference even if it is a small one. Although it seems I may not be able to do that in the way I originally intended, I will do it. In the meantime, I am taking this rare opportunity to enjoy the time I have free and spend it with my husband, raise animals in the country, and look for ways outside the box to contribute and use my skills. I realize that sometimes the path you are forced onto turns out to be better than the one you had in mind but that is not always initially evident. To help focus myself and stay positive I am learning new things and taking on hobbies that will keep it interesting and give me a different perspective. Who knows? The experience I gain raising chickens and managing our property could come in handy too. I am not eternally optimistic. I have never been unemployed this long before and I do get angry and frustrated often. I have to rally every day and remind myself that I did accomplish something spectacular and that the knowledge I gained serves me everyday in my life and in my interactions with others. It can never be taken away from me. Additionally, all those odd biology jobs I did as an undergrad added to my previous career experience to give me a unique skill set that will be just what someone is looking for. Cheers, Cynthia Ross On Nov 5, 2012, at 17:26, R K @YAHOO.COM wrote: I would like to know if there's anyone else out there who has fought their way through grad school, and finished with a real sense of accomplishment, only to discover the utter impossibility of finding a job in conservation science, the sham of building a career in this field. I would like to know if there are any others who have gone a year or more since graduation with no work, no prospects, and no hope left. I'm not looking for career advice, especially not from all those who feel so very proud and superior to have a job where I do not. I've had enough contempt, scorn, and smug cold amusement to last me a lifetime. If you're employed, count yourself fortunate and move along. I'm not here to start a discussion; I'd just like to know if there's anyone else living in the same place right now. If you've gone through the endless rounds of application and rejection, if you poured yourself into hopes that have gone to barren dust, I'd like to hear from you. Send me a reply off-list. On Nov 6, 2012, at 3:12 AM, Tania Bird wrote: Hi RK and fellow ecologgers, I also want to share my experience sorry if its a long story -I'm not a smug success I just found a way to get out of the rut. When I read your email RK I felt like I was reading my own diary from about one year ago. I know exactly what you are going through and can only say that you are not alone and it will end. I graduated from a MSc in 2005 in full of expectations for a glorious conservation career. i chose to study in south africa so that i could be in Africa and after i graduated i spent 14months sitting in my bedroom in my patents house in london writing application letters and crying in between (after about 8 months of this). I was lucky I guess in the end because I got a three month contract as a biodiversity consultant which then led to me being offered a position in an NGO as a secretary to the CEO. Even though typing letters and filing was way under my pay grade and my level of experience I took the opportunity gladly and I learned so much about international conservation at the high end of the game. After one year I persuaded them to send me to Kenya to work on the ground. After 5months the funding ran out and they
[ECOLOG-L] ESA Contingent Faculty Survey
Contingent Faculty Survey Please respond by November 30, 2012 https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ContingentFaculty The Ecological Society of America is interested in understanding the needs and concerns of ecologists who are employed as contingent faculty. Thus the Society would like to hear from ecologists who are contingent faculty. The term “contingent faculty” includes both part- and full-time non-tenure- track faculty engaged in teaching and/or research. Specifically, contingent faculty positions are contingent on external or continued funding. Depending on the institution, contingent faculty are also known as non-tenure-track faculty, non-senate faculty, adjunct faculty, clinical faculty, research-grant funded personnel, lecturers, instructors, postdocs, or part-timers. To inform any action the Society takes, it needs to know how many members and potential members are contingent faculty and what their needs are. This survey has been designed to gather this information from ecologists who are or have been contingent faculty working in higher educational or academic institutions. If you are not or have never been a contingent faculty member, you do not need to complete the survey. If you know an ecologist who is or was a contingent faculty member, please send this survey to them. Please take a moment to respond to the Contingent Faculty Survey. We appreciate your response by November 30, 2012. Survey results will be shared in the ESA Bulletin. Thank you for your participation.
[ECOLOG-L] tree climbing course
Hi all, I am a graduate student at the University of Maryland studying the interactions between nectar bats and the plant species they pollinate in the Old World tropics. Many of these plant species are tall trees (10-30 meters tall) and their flowers are difficult to access. I am interested in taking a tree climbing course, preferably one that is designed for researchers. I have looked into a number of courses on the East coast, but would like to hear feedback about them before making a decision. If you have taken a tree climbing course before (somewhere along the East coast between between NY and GA), I would really appreciate hearing your review about it. (What was covered in the course, your opinion about the instructor(s), what you liked or didn't like about it.) Many thanks in advance, Alyssa -- Alyssa B. Stewart Behavior, Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics Graduate Program University of Maryland aly...@umd.edu
[ECOLOG-L] JOB: Project Scientist, UC Santa Cruz. Salmon ecosystem modeling
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SANTA CRUZ INSTITUTE OF MARINE SCIENCES Project Scientist The Institute of Marine Sciences at the University of California, Santa Cruz, and the National Marine Fisheries Service seek a Project Scientist to conduct original research on salmon life cycle and ecosystem modeling. The position will involve development of simulation models that will allow prediction of salmon population response to habitat restoration and changes in flow and water quality. The models will be used to support adaptive management of California#8217;s state and federal water projects and in an evaluation of the effects of the Bay Delta Conservation Plan, an ambitious program intended to ensure the sustainability of the Bay-Delta ecosystem and the reliability of California#8217;s water supply. The work will focus on how flow variability, habitat restoration, salmon behavior, and predation interact to determine the productivity of juvenile salmon. This will require using hydrodynamic models, particle tracking models modified to incorporate fish behaviors, predation models, and tagging datasets to identify plausible behavior models and estimate survival rates at the reach and regional level. The incumbent will analyze results, and summarize them in the form of reports, refereed journal publications and meeting presentations and seminars. RANK: Assistant #8211; Associate Project Scientist SALARY: Minimum $55,000 annually, commensurate with qualifications and experience MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Ph.D. or equivalent in Fisheries, Quantitative Ecology or a related field, must have expertise in working with mathematical and numerical simulation models, statistical methods, parameter estimation and data analysis. Experience in computer programming (MATLAB, R, Java, C or FORTRAN) is necessary. SPECIAL CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT: In order to comply with security measures at the National Marine Fisheries Service (a federal facility on the UCSC campus), the selected candidate will be required to participate in a federal security clearance, be fingerprinted, and wear a photo I.D. badge. Occasional travel for periods up to one week may be required. POSITION AVAILABLE: As soon as possible after close of search. TERM OF APPOINTMENT: Initial appointment is for two years. Should the hiring unit propose reappointment, a review to assess performance will be conducted. In addition, reappointment is contingent upon availability of funding. TO APPLY: Electronic submissions are preferred. Applicants should send 1) Curriculum Vitae, 2) a summary of research, and 3) three letters of recommendation* to steve.lind...@noaa.gov. You will receive email verification that your electronic submission has been received. Please inquire if you do not receive verification. Please refer to position #T13-19 in your reply. Alternate Mailing Address: Steve Lindley NMFS 110 Shaffer Road Santa Cruz, CA 95060 *All letters will be treated as confidential per University of California policy and California state law. For any reference letter provided via a third party (i.e., dossier service, career center), direct the author to UCSC#8217;s confidentiality statement at http://apo.ucsc.edu/confstm.htm CLOSING DATE: Position is open until filled. Initial consideration of applications will begin on November 30, 2012 The University of California, Santa Cruz is an Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity Employer, committed to excellence through diversity. We strive to establish a climate that welcomes, celebrates, and promotes respect for the contributions of all students and employees. Inquiries regarding the University#8217;s equal employment opportunity policies may be directed to: Office for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at the University of California, Santa Cruz, CA 95064; (831) 459-2686. Under Federal law, the University of California may employ only individuals who are legally able to work in the United States as established by providing documents as specified in the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. Certain UCSC positions funded by federal contracts or sub-contracts require the selected candidate to pass an E-Verify check. More information is available here or from the Academic Personnel Office (APO) at (831) 459-4300. If you need accommodation due to a disability, please contact the Academic Personnel Office at a...@ucsc.edu (831) 459-4300. VISIT THE APO WEB SITE AT: http://apo.ucsc.edu
Re: [ECOLOG-L] Careers in Conservation: Crossing the Barren Waste
Yes, yes, YES! I literally worked my way up from cotton-picker, through shoveling shit, slaughter house, nursery, landscaping--which I decided was bs and started trying to work out how to restore damaged ecosystems and integrate local flora into landscaping, making lots of money but finding it unsatisfying. I sat down and filled out, with an old Remington typewriter and carbon paper, forty applications to forty forests all over the US. I got one response and one job--tree surveying and type mapping at GS-4 pay, ($4,440 per year) less than half of what I was making in landscraping, but much, much more satisfying--best job I ever had, taking walks in the woods, coring trees, mapping, photo interpretation, etc. The second year I got promoted to GS-5. After three years, with the draft on my heels, I joined the Air Force, worked in electronic interception, then routing atomic bomb strikes, got out and went back to school, taking 18 units again, and worked more than 40 hours per week for a couple of years until graduation, which I did not attend. Then went to the mountains for a year, studying on my own and doing odd jobs. The into the park business for 11 years, continuing to develop and test ways of accelerating the development of ecosystems (aka restoration) on disturbed sites (road rights-of-way, landfills, and other large-scale stuff. Tired of the bureaucracy, I quit and opened my own consulting business, which I did for 21 years. I never had a project failure in all that time, and I got to learn more and more with each project. Was this the hard way? I suppose so. But satisfying, and even the literal shit work taught me something. Academia gave me wonderful things (thanks to a handful of GREAT professors), and it gave me fits. As Malcolm says, just DO it! Work your way around the world. Take any job you can get. Make a lot of mistakes, but don't kid yourself that you are God's gift to the world because you've suffered the slings and arrows of outrageous academia. To thine own self be true. Read Valuing the Self, by Dorothy Lee. Follow your passion, and scrub the egocentrism out of your heart and mind. Don't hold back; don't fear. Most of all, don't whine. 'Tis friction's brisk, rough rub that provides the vital spark! --A. R. Martin WT - Original Message - From: malcolm McCallum malcolm.mccal...@herpconbio.org To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU Sent: Monday, November 05, 2012 10:48 AM Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] Careers in Conservation: Crossing the Barren Waste I am posting this response to the entire list in case it helps out others. After I completed my MS in environmental biology in 1994, I came home. I had the opportunity to enter a PHD right away, but opted to go home and look for work to help out with a family health issue. When I returned home I applied for positions with the Illinois Department of Conservation and the Illinois Natural History Survey repeatedly with no real luck. I also applied reaptedly to the federal government, but the job prospects there were largely nil. I spent about 4 years looking for positions and got two federal offers with the then Soil Water Conservation Districts as a technician, one landscaping offer, and a research post at the INHS. I managed to wreck my car immediately after acquiring the INHS post and had no money to buy a new one or travel to do that temporary job. I also worked as an urban wildlife biologist (pest catcher) with critter control for about 6 weeks and left. During this time, I got by teaching as a substitute teacher in three different school districts, and teaching as an adjunct at over a dozen colleges and universities. None of this paid all that much. During this time I was trying to study leopard frogs at a small pond and stumbled on to a lot with abnormalities. This made the St. Louis TV and newspapers at the same time that I was applying for a education position at an aquarium I never heard of. In 1997 I was hired as an educational specialist at that aquarium for $20K. After 6 weeks, they moved me to proposal writing and ultimately within a year was director of research and grants. During that job, I was trying to write a research proposal to the USEPA to work on amphibians up and down the Mississippi R basin. I networked a series of universities that were located near the MS R and learned of the new PHD program at Arkansas State. I met Stan Trauth and ended up leaving my job at the aquarium to do my doctorate. I stepped into it knowing the market stunk, that I had tons of deficiencies for the job market, and what it took to get a phd. My eyes were wide open. I entered and took the exact courses I had missed in most federal jobs and state jobs to date. In my case it was Immunology, animal ecology, ecotoxicology, and a few others. I went on to get my PHD adn was fortunate to be hired to a series of academic and nonacademic jobs each with their positives and negatives. What I have
[ECOLOG-L] Job: Assistant Professor of Biology- Vertebrate Biology
ANNOUNCEMENT OF POSITION VACANCY Assistant Professor of Biology- Vertebrate Biology RESPONSIBILITIES: The Biological Sciences Department at Colorado Mesa University invites applications for a tenure-track faculty position in Vertebrate Biology beginning August, 2013. Teacher-scholars with expertise in vertebrate biology employing ecological or evolutionary approaches to the study of aquatic, wildlife or related systems are encouraged to apply. The successful applicant will join a dynamic department, including field, tropical, cellular, molecular and organismal biologists focused on excellence in undergraduate teaching and mentorship of undergraduate researchers. Responsibilities include teaching 12 credits/semester, advising students, offering research opportunities, participating in service to the department and university and other related duties as assigned. Teaching responsibilities will include lower-division majors and non-majors courses, as well as the development of upper-division courses within the candidates specialty. Upper division teaching opportunities may include courses in aquatic biology, ichthyology, or wildlife biology as they relate to the candidates interest. EDUCATION EXPERIENCE: A Ph.D. in biology or a related field is required. Preference will be given to candidates with undergraduate teaching and postdoctoral experience. Colorado Mesa University is particularly interested in candidates who have experience working with students from diverse backgrounds and who have a demonstrated commitment to improving the levels of access and success for underrepresented students within higher education. TYPE OF APPOINTMENT: Full-time, tenure-track appointment beginning August 2013. SALARY: Commensurate with education and experience. Excellent health and retirement benefits package. APPLICATION DEADLINE: Open until filled. To ensure consideration, complete applications must be received by Dec. 7, 2012. APPLICATION: Submit a cover letter describing your qualifications and experience as they relate to the specific responsibilities, requirements, and preferences of this position, CV, unofficial transcripts for all degrees completed (official transcripts will be required upon hire), statement of teaching philosophy, statement of teaching interests and experience (including a list of courses you are qualified to teach), statement of research interests, three letters of recommendation, and the following completed forms: · http://www.coloradomesa.edu/hr/documents/Form-Transcriptauthorization.pdfApplicant Authorization to permit Search Committee members to review candidate transcript · http://www.coloradomesa.edu/hr/documents/ApplicantAuthorization.ReleasetoConductReference.BackgroundCheck.pdfApplicant Authorization and Release to Conduct Reference and Background Check form · http://www.coloradomesa.edu/hr/documents/BACKGROUNDINVESTIGATIONDISCLOSUREANDAUTHORIZATION-CMU.pdfBackground Investigation Disclosure and Authorization form · http://www.coloradomesa.edu/hr/documents/AffirmativeActionInformation.12.11.pdfVoluntary Affirmative Action form Mail to: Vertebrate Biologist Search Committee Human Resources, LHH 237 Colorado Mesa University 1100 North Avenue Grand Junction, Colorado 81501-3122 Phone: 970 248-1820 Colorado Mesa University is a growing institution located in beautiful western Colorado between the high desert plateau and the western slope of the Rockies. The surrounding region provides a diversity of natural habitats for ecological study and supports an avid outdoor recreation community with a wide range of interests. The comfortable size of Grand Junction and Colorado Mesa Universitys focus on delivering personalized educational experiences to students through quality teaching and research opportunities make our region attractive to many students and faculty. Colorado Mesa University is committed to providing a safe and productive learning and living community. To achieve that goal, we conduct background investigations for all final applicants being considered for employment. Background investigations include reference checks, a criminal history record check, and when appropriate, a financial and/or motor vehicle history. Applicant must be able to verify U.S. employment eligibility. Colorado Mesa University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to a culturally diverse faculty, staff and student body. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply. Pos#F4 #1469 -- ___ Susan M. Longest, PhD Assistant Professor of Biology Colorado Mesa University 1100 North Avenue Grand Junction, CO 81501 Phone: (970) 248-1554
[ECOLOG-L] PhD position in Water Use Dynamics of Bioenergy Crops in the Americas
PhD position in Water Use Dynamics of Bioenergy Crops in the Americas A PhD associate position is available with a large interdisciplinary NSF-PIRE funded research project that will examine the social, economic, and ecological implications of bioenergy development in four countries across the Americas: Argentina (eucalyptus for biodiesel), Brazil (conversion of natural forests to soy, palm, and sugarcane for ethanol and biodiesel), Mexico (jatropha for biodiesel), and the U.S. (conversion of hardwood forests to cellulosic ethanol). The focus of this PhD position will be to quantify plant water use (sap flow techniques), water use efficiency, and rainfall interception of biofuel crops and the reference (native) vegetation at each of the four study sites. As part of this PhD position, there will be substantial opportunities to collaborate with other researchers with diverse backgrounds and expertise to conduct more integrated analysis of the impacts of bioenergy production on coupled water, carbon, and nutrient cycles within each of the study systems, and to assess effects of land use conversion on site water balance and water quality. The PhD student will be based at the University of New Hampshire in Durham, NH, and will be co- advised by Dr. Heidi Asbjornsen (UNH) and Dr. Tom Pypker (Michigan Technological University). The position will also require travel for extended periods of time to each of the four study sites. Minimum qualifications include a M.S. degree (or comparable demonstrated experience) in ecology, plant ecophysiology, ecohydrology, or a related field. Candidates will require a strong analytical background and an ability to manage large data sets and supervise field assistants. Additionally, the prospective candidate should have demonstrated motivation and strong work habits, the ability to work independently as well as within a research group, and demonstrated ability to produce publications based on individual research. Preferred qualifications include experience with sap flow techniques, hydrometeorological analyses, and/or other field approaches for measuring plant, soil, or water dynamics. Proficiency in Spanish and/or Portuguese is also desirable. Interested candidates should submit a curriculum vitae, statement of interest, transcripts (unofficial versions are acceptable), and the names of three references to Heidi Asbjornsen, heidi.asbjorn...@unh.edu or Tom Pypker, tgpyp...@mtu.edu. Review of applications will begin October 30, 2012 and will continue until the position is filled. The anticipated start date is sometime between January and May 2013 (negotiable). Funding is available for a total of four years (one year Teaching Assistantship and three years Research Assistantship). The University of New Hampshire is an equal opportunity/Affirmative Action/equal access employer.
Re: [ECOLOG-L] Careers in Conservation: Crossing the Barren Waste
Many tales of woe that I think many of us share in some form or another. A little while back, when I was in the position of having finished grad school, finishing the job I had for a year out of it and not knowing what was coming next I asked the Ecolog community for some assistance in finding where to look. The support from the community was overwhelming and I complied the advice I received into a posting of places to look for work (job boards and such) that will, hopefully be of use to some people. The link is below: http://writingfornature.wordpress.com/links-to-interesting-blogs/finding-work/ Best of luck to everyone searching for work. It is a satisfying but unforgiving and harsh field we have chosen. Neahga On Tue, Nov 6, 2012 at 2:08 PM, Wayne Tyson landr...@cox.net wrote: Yes, yes, YES! I literally worked my way up from cotton-picker, through shoveling shit, slaughter house, nursery, landscaping--which I decided was bs and started trying to work out how to restore damaged ecosystems and integrate local flora into landscaping, making lots of money but finding it unsatisfying. I sat down and filled out, with an old Remington typewriter and carbon paper, forty applications to forty forests all over the US. I got one response and one job--tree surveying and type mapping at GS-4 pay, ($4,440 per year) less than half of what I was making in landscraping, but much, much more satisfying--best job I ever had, taking walks in the woods, coring trees, mapping, photo interpretation, etc. The second year I got promoted to GS-5. After three years, with the draft on my heels, I joined the Air Force, worked in electronic interception, then routing atomic bomb strikes, got out and went back to school, taking 18 units again, and worked more than 40 hours per week for a couple of years until graduation, which I did not attend. Then went to the mountains for a year, studying on my own and doing odd jobs. The into the park business for 11 years, continuing to develop and test ways of accelerating the development of ecosystems (aka restoration) on disturbed sites (road rights-of-way, landfills, and other large-scale stuff. Tired of the bureaucracy, I quit and opened my own consulting business, which I did for 21 years. I never had a project failure in all that time, and I got to learn more and more with each project. Was this the hard way? I suppose so. But satisfying, and even the literal shit work taught me something. Academia gave me wonderful things (thanks to a handful of GREAT professors), and it gave me fits. As Malcolm says, just DO it! Work your way around the world. Take any job you can get. Make a lot of mistakes, but don't kid yourself that you are God's gift to the world because you've suffered the slings and arrows of outrageous academia. To thine own self be true. Read Valuing the Self, by Dorothy Lee. Follow your passion, and scrub the egocentrism out of your heart and mind. Don't hold back; don't fear. Most of all, don't whine. 'Tis friction's brisk, rough rub that provides the vital spark! --A. R. Martin WT - Original Message - From: malcolm McCallum malcolm.mccallum@HERPCONBIO.**ORG malcolm.mccal...@herpconbio.org To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU Sent: Monday, November 05, 2012 10:48 AM Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] Careers in Conservation: Crossing the Barren Waste I am posting this response to the entire list in case it helps out others. After I completed my MS in environmental biology in 1994, I came home. I had the opportunity to enter a PHD right away, but opted to go home and look for work to help out with a family health issue. When I returned home I applied for positions with the Illinois Department of Conservation and the Illinois Natural History Survey repeatedly with no real luck. I also applied reaptedly to the federal government, but the job prospects there were largely nil. I spent about 4 years looking for positions and got two federal offers with the then Soil Water Conservation Districts as a technician, one landscaping offer, and a research post at the INHS. I managed to wreck my car immediately after acquiring the INHS post and had no money to buy a new one or travel to do that temporary job. I also worked as an urban wildlife biologist (pest catcher) with critter control for about 6 weeks and left. During this time, I got by teaching as a substitute teacher in three different school districts, and teaching as an adjunct at over a dozen colleges and universities. None of this paid all that much. During this time I was trying to study leopard frogs at a small pond and stumbled on to a lot with abnormalities. This made the St. Louis TV and newspapers at the same time that I was applying for a education position at an aquarium I never heard of. In 1997 I was hired as an educational specialist at that aquarium for $20K. After 6 weeks, they moved me to proposal writing and ultimately within a
[ECOLOG-L] LAST CALL: Winter 2012 Field Course in Coral Reef Ecology (Caribbean of Panama)
2012 WINTER COURSE ANNOUNCEMENT (December 20th- January 9th) FIELD COURSE IN CORAL REEF ECOLOGY (Caribbean of Panama) http://www.itec-edu.org/coral8.html INSTRUCTORS: Carlos G. A. Ormond, Simon Fraser University, email: corm...@sfu.ca; Elizabeth McGinty, University of Texas-Arlington, email: mcgi...@uta.edu; Laís Chaves, Federal University of Pernambuco, email: lctcha...@gmail.com; Micah Marty, University of North Carolina-Wilmington, email: mjm5...@uncw.edu; and Stephanie Green, Simon Fraser University, email: stephanie.gr...@sfu.ca; COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course is designed to promote the desire for not only discovery and advanced understanding of coral reef ecosystems from an integrated ecological perspective but also an appreciation and understanding of the Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) culture. In addition to learning coral reef ecosystem dynamics, organism identification, and experimental design, this course will also investigate human interactions with coral reef ecosystems, both past and present. To compliment the course, students will be exposed to both Spanish and Portuguese in order to encourage students to interact with the both the local and LAC communities. Using this multidisciplinary framework, the course will demonstrate the importance of balancing investigative field research with respect for local communities and dynamic problem solving. A large component of the course will involve fieldwork, complimented by lectures and discussions on daily course readings. The course will require the completion of group assignments, as well as an individual research project that may be as much sociological as it is ecological in theory. Therefore, the course will not only be of interest to students of the natural sciences but also those of the social sciences. General Topics - Cultural Anthropology and Political History of Panama - Geologic History of Coral Reefs - Oceanographic Principles - Concepts in Ecological Theory - Biogeochemistry and Trophic Dynamics on Reef Systems - Benthic Invertebrates - Fish Ecology and Behavior - Research Grant Proposal Writing - Experimental Design and Analytical Techniques - Coral Reef Conservation and Climate Change - Invasive Lionfish in the Caribbean and Reef Management PREREQUISITES: This course is open to students from all post-secondary levels, from early undergraduates to graduate students, looking for field experience and/or a study site. NOTE: Dive certification is not necessary to enroll in this course, but what is required is an attraction to the ocean and a comfort in being in it. All students will require snorkel equipment (mask and fins) and those with SCUBA certification are expected to bring their own BCD, regulator, and proof of certification. There is the possibility of receiving dive certification from the local dive shops. If this is something that interests you, please contact Carlos Ormond for more information. REFERENCES: Please go to the course website (http://itec-edu.org/coral8.html) for contact info from previous students in this course. LOCATION: The field course will take place at the Institute for Tropical Ecology and Conservation (ITEC) Bocas del Toro Biological Station, Boca del Drago, Isla Colon, Bocas del Toro, Panama: http://www.itec-edu.org The Bocas del Toro Biological Station is located on the north end of Isla Colón in an area known as Boca del Drago. Isla Colón is the northern-most of five large islands and hundreds of smaller ones that form the Bocas del Toro Archipelago. Set in Almirante Bay on the Caribbean side of western Panama, this collection of islands is sometimes referred to as the ‘Galapagos of Central America’. This is because, after having been isolated for 10,000 years by geologic activity, each of the islands has evolved its own unique biota. Taking its name from Christopher Columbus who sailed into this region in 1502, Isla Colón is approximately 14 km long and 7 km wide. Isla Colón is composed primarily of limestone, and has a hilly topography supporting primary and secondary tropical rain forest. This island has a 5 km beach (Bluff Beach) on its east side, mangroves on its west side, and caves in the interior. Marine habitats include extensive turtle grass beds, hard and soft coral reefs, beaches, rocky intertidals, mangrove forests and estuaries. Isla Colón has the highest human population in the archipelago, with most individuals living in the town of Bocas del Toro located on the far side of the island from our facility. Besides being biologically diverse, the region is also culturally diverse with a mix of Latin American, Afro-Caribbean and indigenous Ngöbe. Spanish is the official language but English is spoken. Many Ngöbe speak only their native dialect. There are only two roads on the island, both originating in the town of Bocas. One road travels along the eastern margin of the island to Bluff Beach and the other cuts
