Drs. Brian Olsen and Amanda Klemmer (UMaine) are looking for a M.S. student to investigate the community and food-web ecology of intertidal, rockweed-dominated (Ascophyllum & Fucus spp.) habitats in light of commercial rockweed harvesting. The candidate is expected to begin their assistantship in Orono, Maine in January 2018. In conjunction with partners at the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Park Service, and Maine Maritime Academy, the project’s objective is to assess linkages between rockweed, the invertebrate community, and coastal bird populations in a changing, multi-use landscape. The position will involve coastal bird surveys, assistance in Purple Sandpiper capture on rocky marine islands during the winter, and discussions with a consortium of stakeholders to identify and address questions regarding rockweed as a resource for humans and wildlife.
The successful candidate will possess a strong academic record, field experience, and the ability to identify coastal birds of the Atlantic shore of North America. Preference will be given to candidates with experience supervising field crews; building partnerships with industry, governmental agencies, non- profits, and public stakeholders; managing databases; identifying intertidal invertebrates; and constructing statistical models (or interest in gaining such an experience). An enthusiasm for cold temperatures, wet feet, curious landowners, the bold beauty of the Maine coast, and other blessings of field work is required. Interested candidates should send an email with the subject line “Intertidal Food-Web Student Search” to brian.ol...@maine.edu with the following materials attached: cover letter, curriculum vitae, unofficial transcript, GRE scores, and contact information for three references. Consideration of candidates will begin on October 15th until the position is filled.
