Project Opportunities

Air Quality and Outdoor Recreation

Graduate Assistant

 Description

The Department of Natural Resources and Society at University of Idaho is seeking one Ph.D. graduate research assistant with interest in pursuing coursework and research focused on air quality and outdoor recreation. The successful applicant will assist Dr. Chris Zajchowski in pursuing environmental social science research related to the complex affective, cognitive, and behavioral relationships of humans with varying air quality conditions. This funded graduate assistantship will allow the successful applicant to participate in research design, data collection and analysis, reporting and dissemination, grant applications, as well as opportunities to support visitor use and park management research. Specific potential areas of focus include but are not limited to shifting baselines for air quality conditions in the Intermountain West, wildfire smoke impacts to Idaho’s river recreation industry, risk perceptions related to outdoor recreation during wildfire smoke events, and air resource management and policy in parks and protected areas.  

Responsibilities

The primary responsibilities of the successful applicant include, but are not limited to:

• … assisting with the development of qualitative and/or quantitative survey protocols and plans
• … collecting, organizing, and maintaining necessary data
• … analyzing, summarizing, and reporting data
• … coordinating a team of collaborators on research and funding
• … presenting findings to partners and at national and international conferences
• … assisting with state and national park management projects as needed

Qualifications

• Earned master’s degree prior to the start of course work
• Interest in either the on-campus Ph.D. in Environmental Science or Ph.D. in Natural Resources
• Strong leadership, interpersonal, and organizational skills
• Ability to work collegially with others in a variety of formal and informal settings
• Evidence of excellent writing ability
• Knowledge of or experience with a variety of social science research methods
• Proficient with software packages, such as Microsoft Office, Adobe Photoshop, and Outlook
• Valid Driver’s License and ability to meet University’s vehicle policies and procedures
• Experience with air resource monitoring, policy, or management is preferred but not required
• Experience with SPSS, NVivo, Qualtrics, and/or ArcGIS is preferred but not required

Remuneration and Hours

This position requires 20 hours per week on an established schedule that fits with the student’s course demands, including potential work on weekdays and some weekends. The successful applicant will work from the primary University of Idaho campus in Moscow, Idaho. An annual stipend of $26,000.00 will be paid each year for effort during two academic semesters and one summer session. A full tuition waiver will be provided during period of employment.

*Period of Effort

August 2023 - August 2023

*GRAs may conduct field sampling during weekends, Fall and Spring Breaks.

Application Process

To apply please send the following to Chris Zajchowski at czajchowski@uidaho.edu: (1) a short statement of interest clearly stating experience, qualifications, and research interests as they relate to this position; and (2) a current curriculum vitae (CV). Qualified applicants may be contacted for additional information. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled; however, preference will be given to applications received by Friday, March 10th. 

For questions related to this position and more information please contact:

Chris Zajchowski, Ph.D. 

Assistant Professor of Parks, Tourism, and Recreation Ecology

Department of Natural Resources and Society

University of Idaho | Idaho Parks & Recreation

(c) 385-222-1055 | (e) czajchowski@uidaho.edu

We are seeking a graduate student to work on a new USDA-NIFA project to determine the efficacy of oral administration of probiotic (C6-6) in the management of Cold water disease (CWD), columnaris disease and their related co-infections, and immunomodulatory properties of C6-6, effect on pathogenic load following challenge, and determine microbiome composition.

We are open to candidates seeking MS degree, the position will be based in the Department of Fish and Wildlife Sciences at the University of Idaho. The candidate will be supervised by Drs. Ken Cain and Jie (Jessie) Ma and work together with other graduate students in the area of fish health/immunology.

Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in Fish Health/Aquaculture, Microbiology, Molecular biology, or closely related field, a strong interest in Fish Health/Aquaculture research, a good work ethic, and solid communication and quantitative skills.

Additional Desirable Qualifications: Aquaculture experience, Lab competencies in molecular biology, knowledge of bioinformatics.

The salary, fringe benefits, and appointment terms (2 yrs.) are consistent with the current rules for M.S. degree students at University of Idaho (UI). Ideally, the student will begin coursework and research in January 2023 or Summer 2023. Review of applications will begin on October 10, 2022. Application materials should be e-mailed to kcain@uidaho.edu and jiema@uidaho.edu and include the following:

1. A cover letter motivating the application (background, interests, goals)
2. CV
3. Names of 3 professional references
4. Unofficial transcripts.

If selected for this position, the candidate would then need to formally apply through the UI Graduate School.

For additional information please contact Dr. Jessie (Jie) Ma (see below).

Jie (Jessie) Ma
Department of Fish and Wildlife Sciences, University of Idaho
875 Perimeter Dr MS1136
Moscow, ID 83844-1136
email: jiema@uidaho.edu

Funding is available to support M.S. or Ph.D. students interested in the assessment of wildfire adaptation programs or the development of fire adapted human communities. Successful candidates will work with Associate Professor Travis Paveglio in the Department of Natural Resources and Society at the University of Idaho. Projects will involve field work and extensive interaction with a variety of human populations (e.g. residents, land management or conservation professionals, policymakers, emergency managers, firefighters, etc.) spanning case studies in multiple states, including California, Wyoming, Idaho and Washington. The successful applicant(s) will help design, conduct, and publish research on the following topics:

1. Human community adaptation to or planning for wildfire;
2. Evaluation of policies, programs or organizations focused on tailored adaptation to wildfire among diverse human communities; or
3. How conservation and land management agencies collaborate to advance wildfire adaptation across land ownerships.

Research efforts will likely include interviews, focus groups and surveys with human populations surrounding wildfire management actions.

Preferred qualifications:

• Knowledge of or experience with a variety of social science research methods
• Strong interpersonal skills and an ability to effectively communicate with a wide range of
  non-academic or academic audiences
• Experience conducting social science as it applies to wildfire, resource management, hazards, or other environmental issues
• An interest in applying social or policy theories to resource management or hazard management actions
• A willingness to recruit for and conduct field work with a diverse range of stakeholders, including in-person interviews, drop-off surveys, focus groups, or workshops

Other desirable attributes include:

• Existing experience with wildfire management or wildfire/hazard planning and mitigation
• Ability to travel and stay at various research locations throughout the year
• Documented experience with qualitative, quantitative, or spatial analysis techniques
• Working knowledge of programs and platforms such as SPSS, NVivo, Qualtrics, and/or ArcMap

Successful candidates would start in Summer or Fall of 2022. They would work from the primary University of Idaho campus in Moscow, Idaho. To apply please send the following to Associate Professor Travis Paveglio at tpaveglio@uidaho.edu: (1) a short statement of interest clearly stating experience, qualifications, and research interests as they relate to this project; and (2) a current curriculum vitae (CV). Qualified applicants may be contacted for additional information. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis until positions are filled. However, initial review of applications will begin on March 21, 2022.

If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact Associate Professor Paveglio at tpaveglio@uidaho.edu or 509-595-1607.

For more information about the University of Idaho M.S. and Ph.D. graduate degrees, including eligibility requirements, visit the graduate programs webpage for the College of Natural Resources.

Salary: Approximately $26,500 - $30,000/yr plus tuition and fees

Start date: flexible, fall semester 2022

Last date to apply: open until filled

Description: We are seeking an outstanding student to pursue a Ph.D. at the University of Idaho in either (student’s choice): the Department of Fish and Wildlife Sciences, the Department of Animal and Veterinary Science, the Environmental Science Program, or the Water Resources Program. The project will evaluate effects of livestock grazing of riparian habitats on ecological services including provisioning of resources for greater sage-grouse. The student will evaluate responses of plants important to sage-grouse but will be expected to develop additional questions related to wildlife habitat or other ecological services and livestock grazing management. The successful applicant will be responsible for: (1) conducting three field seasons of field survey work at public lands grazing allotments in southern Idaho and western Wyoming; (2) analyzing and interpreting data collected from the field; and (3) publishing results from the study in peer-reviewed journals. Fieldwork involves plant species identification in riparian habitats and working around livestock. The position offers a unique opportunity for interdisciplinary training and excellent preparation for a career in rangeland ecology.

The successful applicant will be funded through a combination of research and teaching assistantships. The student will be co-advised by Tracey Johnson (website: http://traceynjohnson.com) and Melinda Ellison.

Minimum qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in range science, wildlife science, animal science, or related field; minimum GPA 3.0. Applicants with strong quantitative skills, a background in habitat ecology, and experience conducting research in riparia, sagebrush steppe, or western grasslands will be given preference. The successful applicant must be capable of collecting data under adverse field conditions (heat, rattlesnakes, etc.) and of successfully and safely supervising field technicians in remote locations; must have a strong work ethic, strong verbal communication and writing skills, and the ability to work well independently and with permittees and state and federal agency personnel; must have a driving record that will allow use of state vehicles.

Preferred qualifications: Master’s degree in range science, wildlife science, animal science, or related field; background in spatial ecology, familiarity with GIS, and riparian ecology; experience publishing in the primary literature.

To apply: Email the following information to traceyj@uidaho.edu

1. Personal statement – this should describe your research interests and career goals, and explain how your skills and experience make you a strong candidate for this position. (2 pp. max)
2. CV
3. Transcripts (unofficial okay)
4. Contact information for three references

The selected student is expected to enroll at the University of Idaho in the fall semester of 2022, but competitive students may be able to start before or after that date as an hourly employee on the project. Applicants can find additional details on the graduate programs at: http://www.uidaho.edu/cnr/students/graduate-students

https://www.uidaho.edu/cals/majors-and-degrees

U of I is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer committed to assembling a diverse, broadly trained faculty and staff. Women, minorities, people with disabilities and veterans are strongly encouraged to apply. AA/EO.

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service is trying to identify highly motivated college students who may be interested in an opportunity to gain some experience in the summer of 2022. The work they would be doing is associated with the conservation of native fish. As such, it would be ideal to find students seeking a degree or career in a field related to biology, conservation, or fish. While the positions are not compensated, per se, they do come with a modest award. In addition, some students may see the positions as valuable networking and resume-building opportunities.

Duties are associated with the conservation of native trout, salmon, or lamprey. Some work may involve collecting water samples for DNA analysis, seining, constructing and operating weirs, backpack electrofishing, deep-water electrofishing (from a research boat), handling and anaesthetizing fish, tagging fish with visual implant elastomer or Passive Integrated Transponders (PITs), the collection of tissue for genetic analysis and habitat surveys. Work may be conducted in remote, wilderness, national forest as well as suburban and urban areas.

 TO APPLY: Please provide the following (electronically):

1. Cover letter (500 words or less), including a statement of why you are interested in this opportunity
2. A resume or Curriculum Vitae
3. Copy (unofficial) of college transcripts
4. Contact information for 3 references (available for contact in the spring of 2022)

Student Contact: 

William Simpson email: William_simpson@fws.gov

This opportunity is available during the Spring, Summer, and Fall semesters.

Tetra Tech, an environmental consulting firm, with an office in Boise, Idaho is looking to fill a variety of open positions based in Ely, Nevada. These positions will be conducting vegetation and soils monitoring throughout the Ely District of Nevada Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands.

Ecological Monitoring Crew Leaders

• Positions potentially run from April to November with office work post-field season.
• Recent graduates encouraged to apply!

Botanical Monitoring Crew Members

• Position potentially runs from late May to early October.
• Recent graduates, current students and seniors are encouraged to apply!

Soils Monitoring Crew Members

• Position potentially runs from late May to early October.
• Recent graduates, current students and seniors are encouraged to apply!

Ecological Monitoring Crew Members

• Position potentially runs from late May to early October.
• Recent graduates, current students and seniors are encouraged to apply!

These positions offer competitive pay ranging from $16-$20+/hour (DOE) plus a daily $50 (non-taxable) field per diem. Paid holidays and opportunity for health insurance are available.

Extensive travel in remote areas during the field season, with up to eight days/seven nights of overnight camping per field hitch is anticipated. Field hitches are eight 10-hour days, Tuesday to Tuesday, with six days off between hitches or four 10-hour days Monday to Thursday with three days off. The hitch schedule will be modified around federal holidays. Day trips from Ely may occur during some hitches.

Ely is a small town located in eastern Nevada with wide-ranging services including groceries and restaurants. Outdoor recreation in the area is plentiful. Mountain biking and hiking trails start right outside town and Great Basin National Park is an hour away. The nearest major metropolitan areas are Las Vegas and Salt Lake City, which are both about three and half hours away.

 This opportunity is available during the Spring, Summer, and Fall semesters. There is no deadline to apply.

If you or anyone you know is interested in any of these positions, please reach out to Lucas Kerner at 208-316-7223 or lucas.kerner@tetratech.com or Michael Ottenlips at 314-258-6629 or michael.ottenlips@tetratech.com.

Erik R. Coats, Professor of Environmental Engineering at the University of Idaho, is seeking a highly motivated student interested in pursuing a Ph.D. focused around SARS-CoV-2 wastewater surveillance and, more broadly, wastewater based epidemiology with an emphasis on biological indicators. Candidates will be considered who are interested in earning their Ph.D. in environmental engineering, microbiology, molecular biology, or bioinformatics/modeling.

Candidates must have:

1. an earned M.S. degree in environmental engineering, microbiology, molecular biology, biochemistry, or bioinformatics/modeling;
2. research experience applying molecular biology methods and procedures; and
3. demonstrated experience conducting independent research.

Preferred qualifications: demonstrated knowledge of biological wastewater treatment practices; research on mixed microbial consortia associated with wastewater treatment; and experience applying PCR and qPCR for genomic and transcriptomic analysis.

Strong communication skills, both written and oral, are necessary.

Coats conducts research in a highly interdisciplinary environment; his team is currently co-leading a team of Idaho laboratories focused on SARS-CoV-2 wastewater surveillance across the state of Idaho as part of a CDC effort.

Interested candidates should email Prof. Coats at ecoats@uidaho.edu. Provide a CV and cover letter.

We are seeking a Ph.D. student interested in studying mechanisms and species of phosphorus in soil amended with recycled phosphorus. The research will focus on recovery and reuse of phosphorus from dairies in Idaho and the Pacific Northwest. Applicants should have an M.S. degree and experience in analytical chemistry (including molecular-level analysis) and soil science. Position will begin in Fall 2022. Graduate school requirements are posted at the University of Idaho, College of Graduate Studies website (https://www.uidaho.edu/admissions/graduate). Please direct questions to Dan Strawn dgstrawn@uidaho.edu. Application review will start in February 2022.

(Faculty contact: Kenneth Wallen):

• Conduct conservation or fish and wildlife management research through the lens of human behavior. Work on projects that produce actionable insights from rigorous psychological, sociological, and behavioral science inquiry with observational, experimental, and survey methods. Explore the nature of and reasons for environmentally significant behavior; contribute to conservation or fish and wildlife management via insights into human behavioral patterns and processes. Projects may be in partnership with the Idaho Department of Fish and Game.

 (faculty contact: Leona Svancara):

Nearly 85% of Idaho's vertebrate animals are classified as nongame wildlife; if you include invertebrates and plants, almost 98% of the state's native species are not hunted, fished, or trapped. Focusing on the highest priority at-risk species, the Idaho Department of Fish and Game Wildlife Diversity Program works to maintain state management authority and help prevent species from becoming listed as Threatened or Endangered under the Endangered Species Act. Students interested in a senior thesis, non-thesis research project, and/or internship will work with IDFG staff and UI faculty to develop specific objectives as needed. Several potential projects may be available such as assisting with revision and implementation of various aspects of the State Wildlife Action Plan, addressing climate change effects on species and/or habitats, and contributing to educational materials for citizen scientists and the public.

(Faculty contact: Greg Latta):
Projects involve developing and modifying models linking the forest resource base with forest product markets to evaluate the potential effectiveness of natural resource, energy, and climate policies. Examples include:

• Projecting changes in rates of U.S. forest carbon sequestration and/or emissions in response to differing macroeconomic futures.
• Evaluating the potential delivered wood cost effects of an expansion of wood-based bioenergy or mass timber production.
• Exploring how policy focus when changing federal harvest rates affects private timber supply and fire risk mitigation.

(Faculty contact: J.D. Wulfhorst):
Projects examine the ecosystem service challenges to provision resources needed for food and forage production while attending to resource conservation and sustainability needs. Research designs may have case sites as well as connectivity within LTAR – the Long Term Agroecosystem Research network. Examples include:

• Investigating trends of rural community stability and cohesion in food production landscapes grappling with challenges of emigration, climate fluctuation, and new social risks (e.g., opioids).
• Examining core indicators of rural prosperity and community well-being tied to risks and sustainability within the U.S. food production system. Focal areas may concentrate on rangelands or crop production aspects of food and fiber demands.
• Design of secondary data analyses to construct an ‘atlas’ of human dimensions aspects within services and tradeoffs of agroecosystems. Outcomes of this approach will concentrate on measurable impacts within sustainable intensification as the long term network evolves.