Organization of Biological Field Stations

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, HIGHLANDS BIOLOGICAL STATION

The Highlands Biological Station, an Inter-institutional Center of the University of North Carolina located in Highlands, North Carolina and administered by Western Carolina University seeks a full-time Associate Director whose duties will be split between Station administration duties and (fall semesters) program coordination with some academic instruction.  Salary is $43,000-$46,000 per year, commensurate with experience, plus full NC State benefits.

Position Description
(1) Assist with administration of the Highlands Biological Station, including assisting the Executive Director with staff supervision, operations and planning, budget oversight, grant-writing, and other efforts aimed at institutional improvement as well as scheduling, implementation, and oversight of instructional and research activities at the Biological Station.

(2) Co-direct, with the Executive Director, an annual fall semester-in-residence program held at HBS in cooperation with UNC-Chapel Hill's Institute for the Environment.  Responsibilities for this program include planning and coordination, some teaching at the advanced undergraduate level (likely to include modules in conservation biology, biodiversity, biogeography, and related topics), and assistance with coordinating student research internships and group project.

Education, Skills, and Abilities Required
The successful candidate must have a PhD in biological sciences, environmental sciences, or a related field.  Applicants should have experience and a strong interest in teaching undergraduates, and be capable of taking on administrative responsibilities related to program planning, management, and grant-writing.  Excellent organizational and written and oral communication skills, as well as an ability to work effectively with diverse personalities (colleagues, general public, students, researchers, Board members, etc.) are required.  Experience in project/program management, website maintenance, and grant writing is desirable.

To apply, please go to jobs.wcu.edu/applicants/Central?quickFind=52460.  Western Carolina University is an AA/EOE and conducts background checks.

Mountain Lake Biological Station, University of Virginia

The Mountain Lake Biological Station (mlbs.org) in Giles County, VA is accepting applications for a Station Manager to oversee daily operations. This position will support the research, educational and outreach activities at the Station and will work closely with the Associate Director, Director and other faculty members, staff, students and visiting researchers. 

The Station Manager will provide a wide range of functions that include managing Station housing and dining operations and the Station office. Manager also provides technical, logistical, and administrative support to research and teaching programs, supervises summer staff, coordinates subcontracts and Station projects, and supervises general activities of the grounds, especially when Associate Director and Director are not in residence. Manager oversees use of laboratories, equipment, woodworking shop and vehicles.

Candidate should have knowledge of various technical, mechanical, and administrative functions pertinent to supporting academic activities, including basic laboratory skills, record keeping, billing, account management, library skills, computer competency, skills and safety knowledge related to biological fieldwork, vehicle safety and maintenance, and woodworking shop skills. This position requires the ability to interact and communicate positively with a large number of faculty, researchers, students, and public associated with the Station.

Link to full announcement:  http://mlbs.org/node/518

The Claremont Colleges seek to hire a Director for the Robert J. Bernard Biological Field Station (BFS), a natural study area adjacent to the Colleges' campuses. The BFS comprises a diversity of habitat types, including native sage scrub, non-native grasslands and an artificial lake, which are used by undergraduate courses in ecology and environmental biology at the five Claremont Colleges, as well as for student and faculty research.

This is a full-time co-terminus staff position with 0.75 FTE devoted to field station direction and 0.25 FTE to teaching responsibilities in the Pomona College Biology Department. The Field Station Director oversees the day-to-day operations of the field station, including coordinating field station use, maintaining the habitat and facilities, working with a Faculty Advisory Committee to develop and implement academic programs and policies, and managing financial resources, as well as establishing and maintaining a long-term ecological monitoring program and database of ecological data, projects, and results. The Director is expected to participate in grant-writing and other development activities to raise funds for programmatic and facilities needs.

Qualifications: Ph.D. in ecology, conservation biology, or other relevant field and experience with biological field stations. Strong interpersonal and communications skills, and a passion for the mission of field teaching and research are required. Experience in ecological monitoring of terrestrial communities, familiarity with Southern California ecosystems, and a record of attracting funding are preferred.

To apply: Send curriculum vita and statement of interest and have three letters of recommendation sent to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or the Department of Human Resources, 550 N. College Avenue, Pomona College, Claremont, CA 91711. For more information, contact Jonathan Wright, Department of Biology, at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Review of applications will begin December 15, 2011, and continue until the position is filled. Pomona College, one of the Claremont Colleges, is a highly selective, coeducational liberal arts college located 35 miles east of Los Angeles. Pomona College is an Equal Opportunity employer and especially invites applications from women and members of underrepresented groups.

Full Job Description at INHS website

Assistant Research Program Leader in Large River Ecology/Field Station Director with an emphasis on ecology, management, and conservation of aquatic species (especially fishes) and their associated riverine habitats.
Location: Illinois River Biological Station, Havana, Illinois.

Job Description: The INHS seeks an outstanding scientist to lead an established and nationally recognized riverine research and monitoring program at the Illinois River Biological Station. The successful candidate for this position will conduct basic and applied research, translate findings and provide scientific advice to natural resource management agencies, and supervise graduate students and staff at the Illinois River Biological Station in Havana, IL.

We seek a scientist and program leader who can develop a robust, externally-funded research program on large river ecology. As part of that program, the Director will be the Principal Investigator for one of the trend areas (the La Grange Reach of the Illinois River) of the Long Term Resource Monitoring Program (LTRMP), an established multi-state and federal agency program. This program provides consistent funding for 4-6 staff with an annual budget of approximately $350,000. In addition, the Director will be a Co-Principal Investigator for State's Long-Term Electrofishing monitoring program (with an annual budget to the Station of approximately $300,000). Facilities at the Illinois River Biological Station include wet and dry laboratories, offices, research boats, vehicles, and large-river sampling equipment. The Director will disseminate research results through peer-reviewed publications, technical reports, and presentations at scientific and professional meetings. Research Program Leaders at INHS serve as research faculty for the University of Illinois and often serve as academic adjunct faculty members, mentoring graduate students within the University of Illinois or other universities, and have the opportunity to teach undergraduate or graduate classes in an area of their specialty. Excellent collaborative opportunities exist with the other field stations associated with the Illinois Natural History Survey, as well as with The Nature Conservancy, the National Great Rivers Research and Education Center, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service NWRs, USGS, and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

Qualifications: The successful candidate must possess a Ph.D. by date of hire; have research expertise closely related to the ecology of large rivers or other large freshwater ecosystems; and have a proven history of or potential for attracting grant or private funding. Post-doctoral experience with demonstrated ability to work with interdisciplinary teams is highly desirable. Strong interpersonal and communication skills, and the ability to supervise, mentor, and motivate staff at an off-campus location are critical to this position. Other essential requirements include a strong record of publication in peer-reviewed scientific journals and the ability to translate research findings into management recommendations and expressing those findings coherently to a broad set of partners and constituencies. Experience working in large systems (large rivers or comparable freshwater ecosystems), and managing budgets, facilities, and personnel is highly desirable. The successful candidate will have strong quantitative and research skills (specific disciplines could include aquatic invertebrate ecology, malacology, aquatic vegetation, microbial ecology, fish ecology, or floodplain/lateral wetland ecology) that will complement the INHS's traditionally progressive approaches to large-river ecology. Candidates with expertise or interest in applications of research to species conservation, habitat restoration, and adaptive resource management issues are especially encouraged to apply.

Salary: $65,000 to $70,000/year commensurate with experience; 12-month, state funded, research faculty position;

Available: Summer 2012

Application: To ensure full consideration, applications must be received by December 2, 2011. Interested candidates must submit an online profile through https://jobs.illinois.edu by the close of the posting period. Qualified candidates must upload cover letter, CV, statement of research experience and interest, and contact information for three professional references. All requested information must be submitted for your application to be considered. Incomplete application will not be reviewed.