Wildlife Research Technician, University of Illinois

Title:  Wildlife Research Technician

Employer:  Department of Natural Resources & Environmental Sciences, University of Illinois.

Project:  Survival and space use of American mink

Job Description:  We are seeking one full-time technician to help live-trap and radio-track mink in Champaign County, Illinois.  The technician will be responsible for setting and checking live traps, assisting with transmitter-implant surgery, and relocating radio-marked mink.  Duties will also include collecting mink scat and measuring riparian habitat.  Field work is physically intense, and will require tracking mink during the night and possibly weekends.  The project will run from 01 February – 30 April 2013 with the possibility of an extension.   

Qualifications:  Applicants must be enthusiastic and hardworking, with the willingness to work irregular hours including weekends.  Previous field experience requiring data collection is preferred.  Because this is a full-time position, current students should not apply.  Applicants with a B.S. degree will receive preference.

Salary: $11.00/hr, 40 hrs per week.

Application Procedure: Please send a cover letter and resume/CV (including contact information for two references) to Adam Ahlers (aahlers2@illinois.edu), 217-419-2090.

Part-Time Wildlife Epidemiology Laboratory Technician, University of Illinois

The Department of Comparative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is seeking a part-time (20 hours per week) Laboratory Technician for the Wildlife Epidemiology Lab.  The salary range is $17 - $20 per hour.

This position will perform a variety of molecular, hematologic, and serologic assays for use in wildlife health epidemiology studies including:

·         Perform DNA extraction, conventional PCR, and qPCR techniques with precision and reliability.

·         Analyze several clinical samples with direction. 

·         Perform specific assays typical of an epidemiology lab including (but not limited to) reptilian complete blood counts, plasma biochemistries, protein electrophoresis, ELISA, viral isolation, bacterial/fungal culture, and heavy metal toxicology. 

·         Responsible for data recording, inventory, invoicing, and lab maintenance.

·         Occasional animal care duties and field opportunities may occur.

The candidate must be able to work with and provide direction to veterinary, graduate, and undergraduate students that are infrequently in the laboratory.  An ideal candidate will have one year of experience and be positive, have good communication skills, hard-working, and organized.  A bachelor’s degree in biological, chemical, or natural resources science is required.  An advanced degree is preferred.

Qualified candidates should contact Dr. Matthew Allender, mcallend@illinois.edu.

The University of Illinois is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer and welcomes individuals with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and ideas who embrace and value diversity and inclusivity (www.inclusiveillinois.illinois.edu).

Executive Director, Clinton Conservation District (St. Johns, MI) due 9/28

Executive Director, Position Description, 08/24/12

Clinton Conservation District

2343 N. US-27

St. Johns, MI 48879

 

Applications should include a cover letter, resume, and references.

E-mail is preferred; gary.fritz@mi.nacdnet.net

Due date for submittal is Friday, September, 28, 2012

POSITION SUMMARY:

The position is full time with the Clinton Conservation District (CCD) located at 2343 N. US-27, St. Johns, MI, 48879. Starting salary is between $19.00 and $22.00 per hour, depending on qualifications. The Executive Director provides administrative and program information/implementation support to the CCD Board of Directors in carrying out the District’s programs in conformance with the purpose of the District as defined by Michigan law. The position is responsible to a five-member Board of Directors that meets monthly and is directly supervised by the Chairman of the Board. Performance evaluation and decisions regarding salary and other compensation, disciplinary actions and termination of employment are the responsibility of the entire CCD Board of Directors.

Some flexibility with scheduling is permitted and will, from time to time, be required. Employment with the District is terminable at will. An employee may be terminated at any time with or without cause and with or without notice, subject to applicable state and federal laws. Employment is at the discretion of the Board and contingent upon factors determined by the Board including, but not limited to, available funding, job performance, changes in program direction or organization.

This professional position requires skills and experience in program development and administration, communications and financial management. A high degree of confidentiality, along with diplomacy is required. The incumbent must be open to training and mentoring in order to develop an in-depth understanding of conservation practices as well as conservation programs available to assist land users in conserving soil, water, and related natural resources.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:

ADMINISTRATION / PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT / INFORMATION DELIVERY

1. Understands the purpose, powers, programs, and responsibilities of the District.
2. Seeks information and keeps the Board informed about local, state, and federal regulations, laws, programs and/or activities that may impact the District. Compiles background information to facilitate the decision-making and policy-setting function of the Board of Directors.
3. Assists in coordinating District programs with the programs and activities of personnel from NRCS and other federal, state, and local agencies involved in the conservation practices of related natural resources.
4. Seeks and prepares grant applications and other funding proposals as opportunities arise to enhance the District’s programs. Maintains records and submits grant reporting requirements as dictated by the individual grants funded. Oversees the grant deliverables to make sure they are met in a timely manner.
5. Serves as the day-to-day manager/administrator for all District conservation programs grants received. Coordinates volunteer assistance on projects and programs.
6. Assists the District chairperson in planning and conducting monthly board meetings. Prepares and distributes agendas; meeting packets and records minutes of meetings.
7. Assists the Directors in planning and conducting the District’s Annual Meeting and Election.
8. Assists the Board of Directors in developing their strategic plan, annual plan of action and publishing an annual report on the District’s mission, planned actions and accomplishments, priority resource assessment, and goals.
9. Assists Directors in developing closer working relationships with local units of government as well as local state and federal elected officials.
10. Required to supervise other District employees, prepare and update job descriptions, conduct evaluations, and recommend needed training, disciplinary action, and recognition of employee efforts.
11. Assures that all funds received and disbursed according to guidelines in the District Operations Manual. Assumes responsibility for payroll, accounts payable/receivable, taxes, monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reports. Assists with audits as necessary.
12. Assures that a monthly financial report are prepared for the Treasurer and the Board’s review and approval.
13. Responds to telephone calls and walk-in requests for assistance and/or directs the request to the appropriate party/agency for assistance.
14. Assures the inventory of office supplies is sufficient to allow operations to continue efficiently and cost-effectively. Annually, assists in a physical inventory of equipment owned by the District.
15. Understand and comply with the District’s Policy and Procedures handbooks as prepared by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and the Michigan Association of Conservation Districts (MACD).
16. Identify sources and recommend action to the Board to secure adequate operating funds for the District.
17. Performs other duties as requested by the Board of Directors.

INFORMATION/EDUCATION

1. Provides leadership in planning and implementing the District’s information and educational outreach programs.
2. Prepares District news releases and other printed material to promote the District’s mission and programs.
3. Presents programs to key civic groups about the District’s mission, programs, and accomplishments.
4. Maintains website with ongoing programs and information regarding the District.
5. Assist in developing workshops and programs for land users interested in improving natural resources. Seeks cooperation and collaboration with Michigan State University Extension and other partners in planning and implementing these events.
6. Assists and provides information to programs and educational resources available to local school teachers.

TECHNICAL

1. Assists landowners about programs available to provide technical and financial assistance for applying conservation practices on their land.
2. Provide assistance in the execution of grants to fulfill required objectives

POSITION REQUIREMENTS:

1. College degree in natural resources strongly preferred; however extensive experience in a similar position or related field will be considered.
2. Must be able to work independently without daily supervision and prioritize workload so critical tasks are completed in a timely manner. Must be able to be part of a diverse team. Maintains a positive attitude and possess both personal and professional motivation.
3. Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, including a thorough knowledge of English grammar, spelling, and punctuation rules.
4. Ability to work with persons from many other organizations, agencies, and groups in a professional manner to project a favorable image of the District.
5. Ability to use the computer for word processing, data and financial management. Skills and experience in Microsoft Word, Excel, Publisher, PowerPoint as well as computer knowledge using QuickBooks accounting is required.
6. Normal work hours will be 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM Monday through Friday.
7. Participation in a limited number of evening meetings; weekend activities; or special events may be necessary. The Directors will determine policy on compensatory time as needed.
8. Travel outside the office and county on behalf of the District will be necessary and will be reimbursed at a rate determined by the Board in accordance with existing policies. Training sessions, meetings, or conferences may involve travel and/or overnight stays from time to time.
9. Experience recruiting, coordinating and managing volunteers.
10. A valid driver’s license is required.
11. This position will require an USDA-NRCS federal background check and fingerprints. Written authorization to contact a minimum of three references is also required.

Career Opportunities in Certification Verification

By Piper Hodson

CAR, VCS, ISO 14000, FSC, MSC.* These are only a few of the veritable alphabet soup of voluntary environmental standards that companies use to assure consumers that they are environmentally responsible. You may have learned about some of these standards in NRES classes, but have you ever thought about the career opportunities that they create?

These certifications provide information to potential customers. For example, you learned about declining fish populations when you took NRES 102, and wanting to continue to make your excellent grilled salmon recipe, you wonder how you can find salmon you can feel confident was harvested sustainably. The answer is that you use the sustainable seafood product finder provided by the Marine Stewardship Council to find the brands of specific fish species that meet the MSC’s standards of sustainable seafood.

Companies know that there are some consumers who will want sustainably harvested seafood (or lumber or coffee or cars that are produced with attention to sustainability, etc.), so they seek an advantage over their competitors by becoming certified. When a company signs onto one of these standards, it submits its activities to a certification process. Even the most voluntary standards (those not requiring third-party verification of claims) have an organization that needs people to convince companies to participate in the standard, educate the public to look for products with its seal of approval, investigate claims of violations, and manage the certification records. Those standards that require third-party verification generate even more career opportunities, because someone has to do the verification.

As a result, there are businesses that specialize in certification. One such company is Scientific Certification Systems (SCS), which describes itself as “a global leader in independent certification and verification of environmental, sustainability, stewardship, food quality, food safety and food purity claims.” SCS is one of several large companies, Bureau Veritas being another, that offers certification services for a wide range of standards around the world.

To learn more about this career path, you can explore some jobs with certification companies that are currently available:

·         Chain of Custody Technical Associate for Scientific Certification Systems

·         ISO 9000, 14000, and 18000 Lead Auditor for Bureau Veritas

·         Product Integrity Director for the Marine Stewardship Council

·         Accreditation Officer for International Code Council

·         Sustainability Services Program Coordinator for Scientific Certification Systems

·         Client Relations Manager for International Code Council

·         Technical Sales, Environmental Certification Services for Scientific Certification Systems

·         Account Manager for Bureau Veritas

·         Customer Service Specialist for Bureau Veritas

There are similar positions related to enforcing legally required standards, as well. For example, NRES Student Services recently received an e-mail asking us to advertise jobs in the Catch Shares Observer Program run by Alaskan Observers, Inc. Fishing trawlers on the West Coast receive limits on the fish they are allowed to catch, and they are required to carry observers when they are fishing. According to the job description, “Observers in the Trawl Catch Share Observer Program can expect to work at-sea 15-20 days per month, gathering fishing effort and location information, sampling for species composition, and collecting biological data from both prohibited and target species.” These positions require at least a B.S. in a natural science with at least 30 credit hours in biological sciences, one course in math, and one course in statistics. NRES graduates, particularly those in the Fish and Wildlife Conservation concentration, fulfill these requirements very well, and positions related to other types of regulation fit the profiles of other NRES concentrations.

So next time you are thinking about your career, consider standard setting organizations and certification companies as one possible path.

*CAR (Climate Action Reserve), VCS (Verified Carbon Standards), ISO 14000 (International Organization for Standardization standards for Environmental Management), FSC (Forest Stewardship Council), and MSC (Marine Stewardship Council).

Piper's Advice on Searching for Research Based Graduate Program

Once you know that you want to pursue a research based graduate program, you may feel overwhelmed by the idea that, for many programs, you are supposed to find an advisor before you even apply. I frequently get asked, "HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO DO THAT?" So here is my advice:

First, contact faculty from your undergraduate or master's program to see if they have any suggestions, given your research interests. This may or may not provide you with some good leads, but never fear, there is a way to do this for yourself.

Think back to your undergraduate courses and research that you have read. Are there any books or articles that pose intriguing questions that made you want to go find an answer? If so, they can lead you to an appropriate advisor and graduate program, and you should make a note of who wrote them and where they were employed at the time.

If you can't remember or find any of those materials, I'd advise you to do some searching in Google Scholar (http://scholar.google.com/). Of course, journal indexes and abstracts are also great sources, if you have access to them. For example, let’s say that after reading a lot of articles about the drought in the southern United States this summer and fall, you decide that one topic that interests you is how natural resource managers can best adapt their management practices in times of environmental stress. You would type in a search such as [drought "environmental management"], and when you get the results, limit it to more recent articles by using the pull down menu (say, to since 2008).

Then you start exploring. It’s a good idea to try several different versions of search terms for each of your areas of interest, and be as specific as you can. For example, one problem with the example search is that it will include aquatic, terrestrial, and, perhaps even, atmospheric subjects. You would want to specify that in your search. You might not be ready to do that right away, but once you do enough reading, you will be able narrow your searches to reflect your more specific interests.

Once you find books/articles that are central to your research interest, look for the place of employment of the authors (it’s almost always there somewhere). Then you can use Google (or any search engine) to find that faculty member’s university page, his/her individual page, and, most likely, the page of the graduate program(s) in which he/she teaches.

The biggest advantage of doing your search this way is that you are much more likely to find the full range of graduate programs that cover some element of what you want to study. Graduate programs in areas related to the environment are named in many different ways, and, because they are interdisciplinary, they can be found in a range of departments (i.e. in addition to a department such as NRES, you might also find that your area of interest is researched by people in departments of geography, plant science, fish & wildlife ecology, sociology, etc.).

Once you have found the faculty members who research what you want to study, you must begin contacting them. This is extremely intimidating, but for many research based programs, it is an absolute necessity for admission. On some faculty member's lab group pages, you will find specific instructions for how the prospective advisor wants to be approached, and some graduate program web pages will provide suggestions. In most cases, you will be asked to contact faculty via e-mail. In my experience, the most effective e-mail to a faculty member whom you want to enlist as your advisor is one that contains the key elements of

1. demonstrating a well-reasoned interest in their research (and reference to previous publications can be good evidence of that),
2. briefly discussing why their current projects interest you (especially if they have a section on it on their web page or list their current graduate students and their projects), and
3. outlining the skills that you already have and that you would want to develop in graduate school in order to pursue that research area. 

As always, though, no advice is universal, and you should always check to see if the graduate program or faculty member has different elements that they want to see.

Prospective students sometimes tell me that this sounds like a lot of work, and they are correct. This is a TON of work. Graduate school is even more work, though, and research based programs require the kind of self-direction and willingness to dig into a problem that this process requires. If you don't have the skills and perseverence to research potential advisors and the initiative to contact them, you should seriously rethink whether a research based graduate program is the best choice for you. As I discussed in a previous post, there are different types of graduate programs, and it may be that one of the others would better suit your interests. On the other hand, you may find that, in the process of doing all of this advance work, you find the research area that ignites your passion and sets the stage for a great career and life. It's worth some effort to find out, don't you think?

Urbana Forester/Volunteer Coordinator, Indiana Department of Natural Resources

Please see the information below regarding the job opening with Indiana Department of Natural Resources. 

• The position is housed at the Natural Resources Education Center at Fort Harrison State Park in Indianapolis, IN.
• Applicants will need to establish a Profile in the State Personnel Department’s online recruiting tool. http://www.in.gov/spd/2334.htm
• Once a profile has been completed you will be applying for Job ID 576408.

Purpose of Position/Summary:

The purpose of the urban forester/volunteer coordinator(UVC) is to provide technical inventory and tree planting assistance to volunteers to expand private and other non-governmental efforts to improve the practice of urban forestry on a statewide basis. This involves working with volunteers (non-profit groups, citizen organizations, service groups, tree boards and others donating their time).

Essential Duties/Responsibilities:

-Promote and expand Tree Stewards.
-Develop, plan, and carry out workshops.
-Provide tree inventory expertise, assistance, and training to municipal volunteers.
-Research and secure non traditional opportunities to display CUF info.
-Maintain inventory and grant databases.
-Monitor and inspect CUF funded tree planting projects.
-Outreach to non profits involved in urban forestry.
-Provide assistance and appropriate information to customers.
-Organize, contact, and supervise Tree Stewards volunteers for CUF tasks.

Nonessential Duties/Responsibilities:

 -Grant evaluations.

Job Requirements:

-Bachelor's Degree
-Background in forestry, or natural resources with a willingness to learn urban forestry.
-Knowledge of urban forestry tools and equipment.
-Working knowledge of technical equipment such as computers, LCD projectors, tree inventory tools, and inventory software.
-Communication skills, presentation skills.
-General knowledge of disease and insect threats in an urban forestry environment.
- Ability to become an ISA Certified Arborist or maintain existing accredition as such.

Supervisory Responsibilities/Direct Reports:

The  UVC supervises volunteers only.

Difficulty of Work:

The UVC conducts workshops which can mean long hours, overnight travel and a large amount of driving to workshop locations.  The UVC does tree inspections in all types of weather.  The UVC may help with tree planting projects,  which could involve heavy lifting, carrying of equipment, and being in the vicinity of large equipment. 

Responsibility:

Incumbent works independently and is responsible for coordinating and implementing volunteer urban forestry program statewide. Incumbent is responsible for recruiting, training and retaining volunteers for the Community and Urban Forestry Program.  The incumbent consults with the Community and Urban Forestry Coordinator and the  Assistant State Forester and support personnel, but is free to exercise authority and common sense to develop strategies and make decisions to accomplish program objectives within established policy and regulations.  Community and Urban Forestry Program Coordinator periodically reviews program accomplishments, develops or approves annual work plan, provides direction and guidance on an as-needed basis, and provides problem resolution assistance in complex cases.

Personal Work Relationships:

The UVC works with DoF, CUF staff regularly, and serves on various committees.  At various time, the UVC works with volunteers, tree board members, urban forestry professionals, neighborhood residents, municipalities, universities, and other DoF, DNR employees.

Physical Effort:

Physical effort required is heavy lifting of trees, boxes, equipment, mailings, pamphlets, etc.  Tree planting inspections require using tools to dig into soils and root balls and using sharp tools. The UVC may help with inventories, which means lots of walking and being subjected to the elements.

Working Conditions:

The working conditions of the UVC varies.  TIme is spent in a shared office environment, in front of a computer.  Tree inspections are out in the elements, around cities/towns or in parks and along highways.  Workshops are at various locations with sessions being held inside and outside.  

"Graduate School" Means Many Different Things

At this time of year, there is a lot of discussion of “grad school” as an option for what to do after graduation. This can be an excellent next step in your career development, but “grad school” is not just one thing. Any student making a decision about whether or not to pursue an advanced degree needs to be aware of the different types of options.

The most important distinction that prospective graduate students must make is between graduate programs that are research oriented and those that are professionally oriented. This is not always a clear delineation, and many programs have elements of both. When you are considering and applying to programs, it is vital to determine their emphasis so that you can make the best selection for your interests and produce the strongest possible application.

Do you have a passion for working in the lab or the field to make new discoveries? Do you want to go to graduate school to improve your knowledge and skills so that you can design better studies in the future? If so, then you should seek out a graduate program with a research focus. If your answer to those questions is no, and you want to go to graduate school to enter a particular profession or to gain the knowledge and skills to move forward in a non-research career, you should consider programs with a stronger professional focus.

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD or doctorate) programs in the sciences clearly have a very strong emphasis on the pursuit of new knowledge through the use of the scientific method. On the other hand, law school and medical school are easily identifiable as professional programs, because they prepare you for the licensing exam(s) in a particular profession. Likewise, Masters of Business Administration (MBA), Masters of Public Administration (MPA), and Professional Science Masters (PSM) degrees, while not preparing you for a particular license, have a strong focus on developing professional knowledge and skills. This is not to say that these programs do not involve scientific learning and research, clearly medical school and PSMs do, but there is a difference in emphasis.

The type of degree that can cause the most confusion is the Master of Science (MS). There are MS programs that are very research oriented and others that are more professionally oriented. So how do you tell the difference? You should look at what the program’s web page and materials feature as important and also at their advice for your application. Programs with a more research focus often ask you to explore potential advisers and/or discuss the topic you want to research. If the materials seem to assume that applicants will eventually pursue a PhD, that also generally means that it likely emphasizes research.

As you consider graduate school, make sure that you are comparing programs for how they will move you toward your goals. If you do not know what your goals are, graduate school is often a very expensive way to try to discover them. Make an appointment to talk with your academic adviser and/or me (Piper Hodson, NRES Student Services Coordinator) about the grad school option. The Career Center here at Illinois has terrific sources of information available at http://www.careercenter.illinois.edu/gradschool/resources. Another good resource for considering and applying to graduate programs is Getting In: An Applicant’s Guide to Graduate School Admissions, available online at http://www.gettingintogradschool.com/book/applying-to-graduate-school.