Internship 8 week summer internship: Grass productivity responses to fire and grazing (eastern Montana)
Job Description
8 week summer internship: Grass productivity responses to fire and grazing (eastern Montana)
Dates: mid to late June – August 2021 (8-week appointment, flexible start/end dates). Please specify your available start and end dates in your application.
Internship Description/Duties: This internship will focus on a collaborative research project between two USDA ARS labs in eastern Montana, the Northern Plains Agricultural Research Laboratory in Sidney and the Livestock & Range Research Laboratory in Miles City, where the field work will be conducted. The research goal is to assess drivers of grass productivity following fire and grazing. Fire is a natural process in rangeland ecosystems, which provide important grazing resources for livestock that support rural livelihoods worldwide. Knowledge generated from this project will increase the ability of people who depend on rangelands to produce livestock profitably and sustainably. The intern will gain knowledge of ecological interactions in a globally-important ecosystem and learn specific skills applicable in a broad suite of plant and soil sciences.
The intern will implement a study that uses a combination of prescribed burning and clipping of focal plants (to simulate livestock grazing) to assess productivity effects of fire and grazing for 4 grass species with different photosynthetic mechanisms (C3 vs. C4) and growth forms (sod-forming vs. bunch grasses). The intern will be responsible for conducting fire and grazing treatments and collecting plant growth, soil chemical and microbial, and plant physiological data. Training will include techniques for measuring plant and soil responses to treatments in the field and lab. The successful candidate will be expected to present their research findings to the labs upon completion of the research.
Salary: Full time, $13.45 (GS-3) per hour. Housing is not covered, but we will assist in finding affordable housing in Miles City, MT, where the field component of the internship will be conducted.
Qualifications: The candidate must be a US citizen, with a valid driver’s license. Additionally, the candidate should be physically fit, and comfortable spending time outside in uncomfortable field conditions (hot, biting insects etc.). Introductory coursework in either biology or ecology is required. Coursework in field ecology or plant biology is preferred. Field experience related to plant and soil sampling is preferred.
How to Apply
Application process: Please send cover letter outlining relevant experience/skills, resume (including relevant coursework and prior employment), and names and contact information of two references (electronically) in a single file to Carissa Wonkka (Carissa.Wonkka@usda.gov). Be sure to include available start and end dates. Open Period: Evaluation of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. For more information on our research programs visit our websites at https://www.ars.usda.gov/plains-area/miles-city-mt/larrl/ and https://www.ars.usda.gov/plains-area/sidney-mt/northern-plains-agricultural-research-laboratory/ or contact Carissa Wonkka or Devan McGranahan (Devan.McGranahan@usda.gov) directly. Title: Biological Science Intern Series: 0404 Grade: GS3 Vacancy Announcement Number: Seasonal L/A Location: USDA-ARS Livestock & Range Research Laboratory (primary field location) and Northern Plains Agricultural Research Laboratory USDA is an equal opportunity employer. Reasonable Accommodation: If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, or have questions regarding reasonable accommodation and/or accessibility for any part of the application and hiring process, please contact the Disability Program Manager on 202-720-6161 or through the DC Relay Service on 202-855-1234 (TDD).338 total views, 0 today