>> Amphibian Internship Available at Patuxent Wildlife Research Center
>>> Patuxent Wildlife Research Center (Laurel, Maryland, USA) is working
> with the National Park Service and the Environmental Protection
> Agency to develop an information center on amphibian declines in
> eastern North America (with possible expansion later) and to work on
> NAAMP related monitoring protocols.
>> Due to circumstances beyond our control, our initial internship
> applicant had to back out at the last minute. Consequently, we need
> to bring someone into the project rather rapidly. The internship will
> last for 6 months (with some possibility for extension), room would be
> provided (either at Patuxent or in the area), and a stipend of
> $1,000.00 per month provided. Interns would be provided with a
> computer, software, Internet Access, E-mail accounts, and desk space
> with the other folks who are working on NAAMP and other monitoring
> projects. We would like the Intern to begin sometime during the week
> of the 21st of April.
>> Duties would fall under 3 general categories (in order of priority).
>> 1. Development of a World Wide Web-based information center for
> declining amphibians. The Intern would help define the extent, look,
> and feel of this center and would be responsible for gathering that
> information and putting it up on the site (no programming would be
> involved). In general, it will be a Web-site where outside folks can
> come to find bibliographic information, researchers, projects, data
> sets, programs, web sites, and geographic locations associated with the
> latest information on amphibian declines.
>> 2. Collection of Data Sets. The Intern will be hunting down and
> manipulating data sets from the Eastern region that can be used to
> evaluate monitoring program's ability to precisely track changes in
> amphibian populations. This may extend into actually doing some of
> the analyses in conjunction with the Biostatistician position.
>> 3. Validation of monitoring techniques. In some cases we may set up
> field programs to statistically validate monitoring methodologies,
> this would largely be done in collaboration with other researchers.
>> 4. There is a forth category, which is the category that includes new
> ideas that we may decide to tackle as the project grows.
>> What we are looking for in the prospective Intern candidate.
>> General computer skills. Must be very comfortable in a Windows. X
> environment, experience in word processors, spreadsheets, and
> databases are important, any experience with web applications would be
> great, but we expect that most folks will pick that up on the job.
> HTML experience is useful, but, not a must.
>> Ability to communicate with irrational biologists. This position will
> require that the Intern have the ability to articulate information
> about the project to many researchers and outside collaborators, both
> by email and on the phone in a way that doesn't alienate those who
> they are talking to.
>> Drive, creativity, and curiosity. The Intern will be expected to
> largely work independently using the staff here at Patuxent as their
> resources, but without day-to-day oversight. They must be willing to
> self-organize and follow-up on leads and obscure sources of
> information or collaborators.
>> Herpetological insights and a desire to do something good for
> amphibian conservation. A background in herpetology is not required,
> but would obviously add a lot to the candidates rating. What is
> required is a strong interest in amphibian conservation and the will
> to make a contribution to their long-term health and presence in North
> America.
>> Candidates from outside the U.S. may also apply, but travel costs to
> Patuxent cannot be covered and the candidate will have to deal with
> obtaining Visas themselves.
>> For general information about NAAMP and amphibian monitoring see our
> web site at:
> www.im.nbs.gov/amphibs.html
> For general information about Patuxent see our web page at:
> www.pwrc.nbs.gov
>> Contacts:
>> Through April 3 you can contact Sam Droege (301-497-5840 or
>frog at nbs.gov) after that date until the 10th you can contact Brett
> Hoover (301-497-5819 or Brett_hoover at nbs.gov). We will close the
> search at the end of the day on the 10th.
>
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Dr. Richard Gordon, Department of Radiology
University of Manitoba, Room ON104, Health Sciences Centre
820 Sherbrook Street, Winnipeg, MB R3A 1R9 Canada
Phone: (204) 789-3828, Fax: (204) 787-2080, Home: (204) 589-0411
E-mail: GordonR at cc.UManitoba.ca
