Jobs and research in ecology and aquatic biology
Here, you can find a list of current job opportunities and good places to look for others. When there are paid opportunities available in the Aquatic Ecosystems Lab, I'll highlight them here; otherwise, feel free to contact Dr. Fork about opportunities for research-for-credit at WCU.
Paid opportunities in the Aquatic Ecosystems Lab:
We are looking for 2-4 PAID STUDENT RESEARCHERS to join Team Trash for Summer 2024!
Student researchers on this project are asked to work an average of 5-10 hours a week for most weeks of the summer (that is, vacations are totally fine, but please don’t apply if you’ll be away for more than 4 weeks in a row). Duties of student researchers will include:
You will also have the chance to contribute as authors to any scientific papers and presentations generated from the research (which is a GREAT thing to have if you want to go to grad school someday). This could also lead to an opportunity to participate in independent research-for-credit (Bio391/491) in future semesters.
For more information about the project, please check out the information sheet linked here.
How to apply: Please download and complete the application form linked here. Submit your application by email with the subject line “Team Trash Summer 2024” to [email protected] before April 15th, 2024.
Dr. Fork generally does not accept students as volunteers in the lab for equity reasons. If you are interested in doing research for credit (Bio 391 or Bio 491) on one of our current research projects, please contact Dr. Fork.
The Gordon Natural Area is looking for PAID INTERNS for Spring and Summer 2024!
The Gordon Natural Area (GNA)—a 126-acre preserve on WCU's South Campus—is seeking students to fill a GNA Student Internship Position for the spring of 2024 and beyond. The successful applicant will work in the natural area with the GNA Stewardship Manager and other Student Interns and will be available to work both during the second half of the Spring Semester and during the summer. Learn more about the tasks that GNA interns work on and find out how to apply here. Apply by March 18th!
Please see below for paid opportunities outside of WCU.
We are looking for 2-4 PAID STUDENT RESEARCHERS to join Team Trash for Summer 2024!
Student researchers on this project are asked to work an average of 5-10 hours a week for most weeks of the summer (that is, vacations are totally fine, but please don’t apply if you’ll be away for more than 4 weeks in a row). Duties of student researchers will include:
- Participating in local stream clean-up fieldwork. We collect trash from 9 research sites around southeastern Pennsylvania. We visit each site approximately monthly for about 2 hours and visit 3-4 sites in a given day. The fieldwork for this project consists of crouching, kneeling, or crawling on wet, muddy ground, sometimes with thorny or thick vegetation. We do not do fieldwork when it is raining, but you should expect to be outside wearing chest waders during hot weather. You will never work on your own; all members of the project will always work with a partner or group.
- Cleaning and cataloging trash found in streams according to scientific sampling methods. You will also contribute to the laboratory processing of our trash samples. Specifically, you will help to clean and air dry each piece of trash, then measure and record it’s mass, dimensions, color and other information on a hard copy data sheet. You will also carefully and accurately enter data into a shared Excel sheet.
- Maintaining field safety for themselves and others. You will be expected to uphold agreed-upon safety standards in the field and lab to make sure that you and the people you are working with stay safe.
You will also have the chance to contribute as authors to any scientific papers and presentations generated from the research (which is a GREAT thing to have if you want to go to grad school someday). This could also lead to an opportunity to participate in independent research-for-credit (Bio391/491) in future semesters.
For more information about the project, please check out the information sheet linked here.
How to apply: Please download and complete the application form linked here. Submit your application by email with the subject line “Team Trash Summer 2024” to [email protected] before April 15th, 2024.
Dr. Fork generally does not accept students as volunteers in the lab for equity reasons. If you are interested in doing research for credit (Bio 391 or Bio 491) on one of our current research projects, please contact Dr. Fork.
The Gordon Natural Area is looking for PAID INTERNS for Spring and Summer 2024!
The Gordon Natural Area (GNA)—a 126-acre preserve on WCU's South Campus—is seeking students to fill a GNA Student Internship Position for the spring of 2024 and beyond. The successful applicant will work in the natural area with the GNA Stewardship Manager and other Student Interns and will be available to work both during the second half of the Spring Semester and during the summer. Learn more about the tasks that GNA interns work on and find out how to apply here. Apply by March 18th!
Please see below for paid opportunities outside of WCU.
Paid opportunities outside WCU:
Job boards and lists:
Wildlife and Fisheries Science Job Board (lists lots of opportunities all over the U.S. and beyond)
Ecological Society of America ECOLOG listserv (registration free but required; lists lots of opportunities all over the U.S. and beyond)
Josh's Water Jobs (all kinds of water-related jobs, from ecology to infrastructure, at all levels and in lots of places)
PA Green Jobs list (list of jobs in Ecology, Conservation, etc. in Pennsylvania)
PA Association of Conservation Districts Job Board (lists jobs with conservation districts throughout the state, at a range of levels)
Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts Job Board
Paid internships and seasonal research/job opportunities:
Current entry-level job opportunities in and near PA:
Wildlife and Fisheries Science Job Board (lists lots of opportunities all over the U.S. and beyond)
Ecological Society of America ECOLOG listserv (registration free but required; lists lots of opportunities all over the U.S. and beyond)
Josh's Water Jobs (all kinds of water-related jobs, from ecology to infrastructure, at all levels and in lots of places)
PA Green Jobs list (list of jobs in Ecology, Conservation, etc. in Pennsylvania)
PA Association of Conservation Districts Job Board (lists jobs with conservation districts throughout the state, at a range of levels)
Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts Job Board
Paid internships and seasonal research/job opportunities:
- Environmental Internship (Natural Resources) with GHD in King of Prussia [posted February 15th]
- Summer entomology internships at Stroud Water Research Center [apply by March 15th]
- National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) - These are opportunities to expand your professional network and research experience by taking on independent research at other universities. Programs offer a summer stipend and some provide room and board. See a list of ecology and evolution-related opportunities at this link. Here's another list another REU list with a broader Biology focus, organized by due date. NOTE: both of these lists are from 2023, but it is worth checking if these programs are running for summer 2024! Here is the list of all Biology-related REU opportunities for 2024 from the NSF.
- Summer internships available with the Western PA Conservancy [updated frequently]
Current entry-level job opportunities in and near PA:
- Multiple full and part time positions with Pasa Sustainable Agriculture [updated frequently]
- Various entry-level positions with Western PA Conservancy [updated frequently]