Department Newsletter: 04-16-2024 (2024)

EES NEWSLETTER

WEEK OF APRIL 16, 2024

EES 5010 Geoscience Seminar - 4/19/2024

This week’s planned seminar with guest Dr. Jessica Oster (Vanderbilt) has been rescheduled for October 18, 2024.

There is no seminar this week.

Reminders:

Early registration - fall 2024: 4/8 - 4/26/24
last day to drop a course - undergrad/grad: 4/15/24
last day to withdraw without collegiate approval - undergrad/grad: 4/15/24
final exam reports due - grad - 4/16/24
single thesis deposit (5PM CST) - 4/23/24
close of classes: 5/3/24
final exam week: 5/6 - 5/10/24
Commencement: 5/9 - 5/12/24
First Day of Summer classes - 5/13/24

End of semester gathering

Everyone - students, grad students, faculty, and staff - is invited to an end of semester celebration on Wednesday, May 1st, at 5:30PM. Please join us in 115B TH for food and drinks. We’ll have tables and chairs set up in the hallways.

Please join in celebrating one another’s accomplishments this past academic year!

Student awards

Congratulations to PhD candidates Ryan Shanks, Joshua Laird, and Nathan Platt, who all received Karl Hirsch Memorial Grants from the Western Interior Paleontological Society. Ryan and Josh are students of Dr. Jonathan Adrain, and Nathan is a student of Dr. Christopher Brochu. Congratulations to all three!

Graduate student defenses - SPring/Summer 2024

STUDENTS AND FACULTY ARE ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND EACH STUDENT’S PRESENTATION (FIRST 30 - 45 MINUTES)

6/6, Thursday, 10:00AM (CST) - Samson Bruxvoort [Master’s Defense] - 135 Trowbridge Hall - [faculty advisor: Bill McClelland]
- Title TBD

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

PROFESSIONAL/POST-GRAD

Geologic Mapping Lab Manager - University of Idaho- Moscow, Idaho

The Idaho Geological Survey (IGS) is looking for a motivated and enthusiastic Geoscience Manager to join our team and lead and manage the Geologic Mapping Lab.

This position oversees a staff of GIS analysts and cartographers to guarantee operations of a nationally renowned geologic mapping lab; collaborates with geologic staff on federal, state, and industry-funded research projects; advises the IGS Director on scientific and technology needs to continue IGS’s tradition of excellence in geologic mapping and digital publications; and supports the development of the next generation of geologic data products.

The ideal candidate will have:

• Broad geoscience background.

• Experience supervising staff to achieve team objectives.

• An ability to take on large, multi-faceted projects.

• Innovative problem-solving skills.

• Ability to communicate information and ideas clearly and concisely both verbally and in writing.

• Leadership qualities that motivate others.

• Ability to navigate and manage competing deadlines.

The position is housed on the University of Idaho campus in Moscow, ID (https://visitmoscowid.com), a family friendly community that merges the progressive vibes of the university with the classic and outdoor feel of the beautiful Palouse (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palouse).

For a more comprehensive list of job duties and responsibilities, please visit https://www.uidaho.edu/research/about/jobs

To apply, please visit https://uidaho.peopleadmin.com/postings/44139

Stable Isotope Laboratory Manager - The University of Kansas - Lawrence, Kansas

The W. M. Keck Paleoenvironmental and Environmental Isotope Laboratory (KPESIL) in the Department of Geology at the University of Kansas invites applications for a laboratory manager with experience in low temperature stable isotope geochemistry. The successful applicant will be responsible for the daily function of KPESIL and ensures smooth operation of the laboratory that includes two Thermofinnigan MAT 253 isotope ratio mass spectrometers and peripherals including Kiel IV carbonate device. The successful applicant will report directly to the lab director and in consultation, will responsibility and autonomy for day-to-day decisions on laboratory management, including training, supervision and scheduling of GRAs, and student hourly employees.

Field Geologist - Montana Technological University- Butte, Montana

The successful candidate will join a team of geologists with diverse backgrounds who share a love of fieldwork and geologic mapping in Montana, a state renowned for its complicated geology with a stunning backdrop of rugged mountains, pristine river valleys, and expansive plains. The position may entail several weeks of field mapping annually, working alone or with other geologists in remote areas of Montana. The successful candidate will work with MBMG’s geologists, GIS specialists, cartographers, and laboratory technicians to produce and publish geologic maps, analytical data, and associated databases. The candidate will participate in writing proposals, managing projects, disseminating geologic information, and interacting with MBMG’s stakeholders, including the public, members of industry, and the research community. The candidate will also participate in applied projects involving geologic hazards, glacial geology, economic geology, or hydrogeology investigations. The position is based in Butte, Montana, a historic mining city that offers many exceptional recreational opportunities, festivals, and affordable housing. The position is supported by and contingent upon grant money administered by the U.S. Geological Survey’s STATEMAP program. . Visit www.mtech.edu/employment for more information and to apply. EEO/AA

Instructor in Geology - UCCS - Colorado Springs, Colorado

$50,000 Per Year - Full Time

The Department of Geography and Environmental Studies (GES) at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS) invites applications for an Instructor in Geology, to begin in August 2024. Primary responsibilities include teaching geology courses for the geology minor (https://ges.uccs.edu/academics/geology-minor). Instruction will comprise teaching 24 credit hours per year of introductory and advanced geology courses, such as Physical Geology, Historical Geology, Paleontology, Sedimentology and Stratigraphy, or other classes. Minimum of a Master’s degree in Geology or relevant geoscience field required.

We are especially interested in individuals who demonstrate excellence in teaching and have a strong commitment to in-person learning, a passion for field work and field-based teaching, knowledge of the diverse geology of the Rocky Mountain West, and skills in geological field mapping.

Applicants should submit a cover letter, a curriculum vitae that clearly details teaching experience, three references, and a concise teaching philosophy statement. Please submit materials through this link at CU Careers:

Position is open until filled. Applications received by April 24, 2024 will receive priority consideration. Applications submitted through email or surface mail will not be considered. Please contact search committee chair Eric Billmeyer (ebillmey@uccs.edu) if you have questions.

This is a non-tenured 9-month, academic year (August - May) position, expected to be renewed annually. Starting salary is $50,000. The University of Colorado offers a comprehensive benefits package. Information on benefits programs can be found at: https://www.cu.edu/employee-services/benefits.

Opening & Closing Dates: 4/9 - 4/22/2024

As a Fish and Wildlife Biologist your duties will include but are not limited to the following:

Representing the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) in fish passage settlement negotiations and hearings with agency/tribal entities and industry;
Working with agency/tribal entities and industry to design and review fish passage and other aquatic and riparian species studies;
Working with agency/tribal entities and industry to implement adaptive management strategies;
Coordinating with other Ecological Services field offices, Service programs, and the Regional Hydropower Coordinator on landscape-scale fish passage and recovery strategies for endangered and at-risk species (e.g., Atlantic salmon, American eel, American shad, river herring, etc.);
Preparing, filing, and maintaining all associated license documents for the FERC administrative record in coordination with the Solicitor's Office.

Qualifications

Only experience and education obtained by 04/22/2024 will be considered.

In order to qualify for this position you must possess both the Basic Requirement and Minimum Qualification.

Basic Requirement:

Degree in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position. OR
A combination of education and experience that includes courses equivalent to a major in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position, PLUS appropriate experience or additional education. This combination of education and experience sufficiently demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform work in the 0401 occupational series and is comparable to completion of a full 4-year course of study with a major in an appropriate field as described previously.
Minimum Qualification [GS-11]One year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-9 grade level in the Federal service performing work in or directly related to the position to be filled. Qualifying experience includes (1) assisting with the preparation of written documents, participating in internal discussions, and delivering oral presentations regarding impacts of hydropower projects or other development projects on fish, wildlife, and plant resources; (2) providing technical assistance on and implementing policies and procedures specific to hydropower or other natural resource-related issues and opportunities; (3) reviewing and summarizing available scientific literature relating to aquatic organism passage at hydropower facilities, as well as methods to mitigate impacts and minimize habitat destruction; (4) supporting planning efforts with public and private groups and other agencies (federal, state, tribal, local) to achieve organizational goals; (5) coordinating with senior staff to inspect projects for compliance with organizational policies, standards, and plans, followed by recommendations to support compliance. OR
Three years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree -OR- possess a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree with major study in or related to the work of the position to be filled (e.g., fish and/or wildlife biology, ecology, conservation science, etc.).OR
A combination of education and experience as described in 1 and 2 above which together equals 100% of the requirement.
Minimum Qualification [GS-12]One year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service performing work in or directly related tot he position to be filled. Qualifying experience includes (1) preparing objective and complete written documents, leading internal discussions, and delivering oral presentations regarding impacts of hydropower projects or other development projects, reviews, or investigations on fish, wildlife, and plant resources; (2) serving as a technical expert on fish/aquatic organism passage, hydropower, and other natural resource-related issues, providing assistance on related issues and opportunities, and developing guidance on proper implementation of policies and procedures; (3) providing recommendations to support aquatic organism passage at hydropower facilities, mitigate impacts, and minimize habitat destruction; (4) participating in diverse, complex, and multi-disciplinary planning efforts with public and private groups, and agencies (federal, state, tribal, local) to achieve organizational goals; (5) inspecting projects for compliance with policies, standard, and plans, and providing recommendations to ensure compliance.

Required Documents

Resume
college transcripts
cover letter

agency contact information

human resources staffind division - fwshiring@fws.gov

INTERNSHIP, RESEARCH, SCHOLARSHIP, FELLOWSHIP, & GRANT OPPORTUNITIES

RESEARCH

Fully Funded Summer Field Camp Opportunity - Univ of Texas, Permian Basin - Odessa, Texas

Few spots are still available in the Advanced Field Geology Course at UT-Permian Basin. Come join us as we study the fascinating world-class geology of the western United States. The course includes field lessons in the following locations: Big Bend National Park, Guadalupe Mountains, Carlsbad Caverns, White Sands National Monument, Petrified Forest National Park, Meteor Crater Natural Landmark, Grand Canyon, Carrizozo Valley of Fires (volcanic lava flows), and the Arches of Utah. Best of all, Texas students’ tuition and fees are fully covered through a scholarship. We will leave May 13th and come back June 2nd. Contact Dr. Mohamed Zobaa (zobaa_m@utpb.edu) to sign up or for more information.

Promotional Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzuQ-w-NfA8

Graduate Research Assistantships in Urban Hydrology - Marquette University Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Closing date: May 11, 2024

Dr. Walter McDonald in the Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering at Marquette University is seeking Masters or PhD students for two graduate research assistantship positions.

Position 1: Evaluating PFAS in stormwater systems. The goal of this project is to evaluate the extent of PFAS in stormwater systems using stormwater monitoring methods. This student will be tasked with developing a monitoring program to evaluate the presence of PFAS in different stormwater systems in Wisconsin. Preference will be given to candidates with background in urban stormwater management and or environmental engineering.

Position 2: Monitoring green stormwater infrastructure. The goal of this project is to monitor the pollutant mitigation of newly installed green infrastructure practices to treat stormwater runoff from a highway overpass. The student will be responsible for installing and maintaining monitoring equipment, collecting stormwater runoff samples, testing those samples in the lab, and developing reports.

We are seeking highly motivated individuals with the ability to work across disciplinary boundaries. In addition to the desired project-specific qualifications, the successful candidates will have a Bachelors or Masters degree in civil and environmental engineering or other related field, and excellent written and oral communication skills.

The positions have an anticipated start date of Summer or Fall of 2024 or Spring 2025. Interested candidates should send a statement of interest and a resume to Dr. Walter McDonald (walter.mcdonald@marquette.edu), as well as complete a graduate school application athttp://www.marquette.edu/grad/future-apply.php/.

MSc studentship - BETY Lab - Winnipeg (City), Manitoba

Closing date: May 8, 2024

The recently funded NSERC Discovery Grant proposal entitled OCEANic organic carbon dynamicS IN the PhanerozoiC (OCEAN SINC) is a multi-year hypothesis-driven approach to understanding ancient oceans and Earth system processes and feedback to climate and environmental change. Our lack of comprehension of how oceanic dissolved organic carbon (DOC) interacts with the atmosphere, biosphere, and hydrosphere severely limits our understanding of how oceans influence climate and environments at timescales of 100’s to 10,000’s of years. Furthermore, our poor grasp of paleo-DOC dynamics makes it difficult to forecast how carbon cycle dynamics will change at civilizational timescales.

Dr. Ricardo L Silva from the University of Manitoba and Dr. Jamie Wilson from the University of Liverpool (UK) are searching for a highly motivated MSc student to conduct a research study on oceanic organic carbon dynamics during several Mesozoic carbon cycle perturbations. The successful MSc student will work on problems related to the processing of oceanic organic carbon and DOC in oceans and assess global paleoenvironmental constraints on regional to global oceanographic processes.

The successful candidate has a 4-year Bachelor's degree in Geology, Earth Sciences, or Oceanography (or equivalent experience) and a solid background in sedimentology and paleoceanography. Experience with Earth system modelling (or awareness of its uses in a paleoceanographic context) and an Honours thesis on these topics is an asset. The successful candidate should have a GPA > 3.0 out of 4.5 (University of Manitoba scale). The position is fully funded via an NSERC Discovery Grant awarded to Dr Silva, and the student will integrate the BETY Lab of the PaleoSed+ Research Group at the Department of Earth Sciences, Clayton H. Riddell Faculty of Environment, Earth, and Resources, University of Manitoba.

Duties and responsibilities

Fieldwork, laboratory work, data analysis, thesis writing, course work, and dissemination (conference participation).

Skills and benefits

The student will be trained in sedimentology and computational Earth system modelling, and the mix between these two components will be flexible and dependent on the successful candidate's skills. The student will also gain experience in project management, report and manuscript preparation, and oral presentation. Graduates from this program are trained for careers in industry, government, or further academic studies.

To apply, please send a CV and a letter outlining your interest in this position to Dr. Ricardo L. Silva at ricardo.silva@umanitoba.ca. Applications will be reviewed starting May 1st and will continue until the position is filled.

For more information:https://umanitoba.ca/environment-earth-resources/earth-sciences/graduate-programs-earth-sciences

UPCOMING EVENTS

CAMPUS EVENTS

UNIVERISTY OF IOWA EARTH MONTH EVENTS

April is Earth Month. Discover an exciting lineup of activities on theUI Earth Month Hub! From nature hikes and litter cleanups to clothing swaps and sustainability lectures, there's something for everyone to celebrate Earth Month.

Join EES in Trowbridge Hall on Saturday, April 20th, from 1 - 4PM for our Earth Day Open House!

WORKSHOPS/PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Missouri S&T is excited to host the fourth annual workshop on “Resilient Supply of Critical Minerals.” The workshop series brings together interdisciplinary stakeholders from academia, industry, and government. Our goal is to provide a long-term collaborative platform to help implement action and disseminate research on critical minerals.

Registration opens April 2024

2024 Topical Sessions including:

The Critical Mineral Potential of the US: Evaluation of existing and exploration for new resources
Critical Minerals Workforce Development: How to grow the US critical minerals workforce
Mineral Processing & Recycling: Maximizing critical mineral recovery from existing production streams
Policy & Supply Chain Economics: Reshoring critical mineral production

Workshop sponsor: National Science Foundation

Iowa Groundwater Association Spring Meeting - APRIL 30TH - INDIAN CREEK NATURE CENTER – CEDAR RAPIDS

Clickhere to view calendar event, full agenda, and to register

Registration Opens March 5 at 6AM

When: April 30, 2024 8:00am - 5:00pm

Where: Indian Creek Nature Center - 5300 Otis Rd SE - Cedar Rapids, IA 52403

Topics: Drought, Groundwater Levels, and Groundwater Contamination

CEUs for Well Contractors, Water Operators, and Groundwater Professionals will be offered, amount is TBD and will be updated ASAP.

iowa project aware - 21st annual volunteer river cleanup - skunk river - july 7 - 12, 2024

Volunteer to clean up a river for a day, the whole week, or anywhere in between
Navigate down a river up to 20 miles a day, loading trash into your canoe as you paddle
Daily registration fees include catered meals, canoes, and paddles
Tent camping areas provided each night of the journey

Pre-sale deadline: April 15 - $50/day

Early bird deadline: May 15 - $55/day

Regular deadline: June 15 - $65/day

Late deadline: after June 15 - $75/day

Space may be limited, early registration is recommended

For more information, visit www.iowaprojectaware.org, or contact Charlie at charlie@iowaprojectaware.org

WANT TO SHARE SOMETHING IN THE WEEKLY EES NEWSLETTER?

The EES Department newsletter is published every Tuesday during the academic year, outside of semester breaks. If you would like to add an event, club meeting, or other item of interest, please submit an email to clas-ees@uiowa.edu, with the subject heading "Newsletter Item," on Fridays by noon, and your submission will be added to the following Tuesday's newsletter.