Summer internship USGS Canyonlands Field Station

.UNITED STATES

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

TEMPORARY RECRUITMENT BULLETIN

VACANCY NUMBER: 13-07 CRS


OPEN DATE: 5/6/2013

SALARY: $11.95/hr

CLOSE DATE: 5/10/13, 5/17/13, 5/24/13

POSITION: Biol Sci Aid (Student), GG-0404-03

TYPE OF APPOINTMENT: Temporary, NTE 180 working days

TOUR OF DUTY: 180 day (2 months)

AREA OF CONSIDERATION: U.S. Citizens

LOCATION: Moab, Utah


There are     1       position(s) to be hired from this announcement. Open dates are         5/6/2013       through       5/24/13     . This announcement will be open until all positions are filled, or closed on     5/24/13       . On each of the above dates the announcement will be closed and applications received as of that date will be evaluated. All applications must be received by 5:00 PM MST of the closing date(s).

THESE ARE TEMPORARY EXCEPTED SERVICES POSITIONS for which all qualified applicants, with or without Federal status, may apply and be considered. Appointment to these positions, however, will not convey permanent status in the Federal service. Appointment will only be for the duration of the position, normally 3-6 months. Temporary employees are covered by the Social Security Retirement System and annual and sick leave will be accrued except in intermittent status.  Employees are ineligible for health and life insurance coverage.

DUTIES:

Conducts field sampling of biological soil crusts, vegetation, and soils of the Colorado Plateau with accuracy and precision specialized techniques at pre-selected study sites under supervision of field crew leader.

Prepares samples and performs laboratory analysis of crust, plant, and soil samples to determine specific chemical, physical, and/or biological characteristics under supervision of a project lead.

Enters data on a Windows-based computer using spreadsheets.

Operates a government motor vehicle.

Knowledge of basic laboratory safety protocols.

Basic knowledge of common field methods, sufficient to collect data in a scientifically sound manner.

Basic knowledge of procedures and techniques utilized in a laboratory setting for measuring the chemical parameters of soils.

Basic knowledge of scientific techniques and practices in gathering, compiling, and entering in a Windows-based PC program (e.g., Excel).

Basic knowledge of biological, physical, chemical and ecological science principles applicable to plant ecology, soil ecology and plant physiology.

Practical knowledge of the processes, methods and procedures of biological science to perform a variety of assignments.

Knowledge of routine field data collection procedures in order to collect biological data.

Skill in the operation, maintenance, and servicing of a variety of biological recording and measuring instruments.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

This is a two-month seasonal position. Incumbent will perform laboratory and field work from mid-May to mid-July. This position is in the Canyonlands Research Station, Moab, Utah. Work is performed over a wide geographic area requiring overnight trips and possibility of work in remote areas for up to 10-days. Incumbent participates in a research program focusing on the ecology and physiology of plants and biological soil crusts, soil ecology, biogeochemistry, physical soil science, plant-soil interactions, and invasive plants. Course work in botany, plant physiology, chemistry, and soil science is optimal. Incumbent will perform routine laboratory and field work. Duties include long days of collecting field data under extreme conditions, processing vegetation and soil samples for chemical analysis or archiving, use of complicated scientific instrumentation, and use of excel and/or access for data entry and summary.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Three months field survey party experience OR 1 year subprofessional experience OR 6 months college work related to field of employment. College work related to the field of employment which includes successful completion of at least one-half of an academic year (15 sem/23 quarter hours) of post high school education in an accredited college, junior college, or technical institute which included at least 3 semester/5 quarter hours in any combination of courses such as biological or physical science, engineering, or any branch of mathematics.

ELIGIBILITY:

Current students in an accredited high school, college (including 4-year colleges/universities, community colleges, and junior colleges); professional, technical, vocational, and trade school; advanced degree programs; or other qualifying educational institution pursuing a qualifying degree or certificate.

BASIS OF EVALUATION: All applicants will be evaluated on the basis of education and experience (including unpaid or volunteer experience). Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

First preference in referral will be given to eligible applicants entitled to 10 point veteran’s preference who have a compensable service-connected disability of 10 percent or more. All other qualified applicants entitled to veteran’s preference will be given preference over qualified applicants not entitled to veteran’s preference.

ALL APPLICANTS MUST BE UNITED STATES CITIZENS: Under regulations in the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, employment in this position is limited to those persons who are authorized to work in the United States. Verification of employment eligibility will be required at the time of appointment.

As a condition of employment, all new employees reporting for duty with the Department of the Interior will be paid through direct deposit to a financial institution of their choice.

Applicants selected for Federal employment will be required to complete a Declaration of Federal Employment, OF-306, prior to being appointed to determine their suitability for Federal employment and to authorize a background investigation. Failure to answer all questions truthfully and completely or providing false statements on the application may be grounds for not hiring the applicant, or for firing the applicant after he/she begins work. Also, he/she may be punished by fine or imprisonment (U.S. Code, Title 18, Section 1001).

Prior to or at the time of appointment, male applicants born after December 31, 1959, will have to certify that they have registered with the Selective Service System in order to be appointed to a position with the United States Geological Survey, unless legally qualified for an exception.

Employees of the U.S. Geological Survey are subject to the provisions of Title 43, U.S. Code, Section 31 (a) and may not according to this legislation and related regulation: (a) have any personal or private interest, direct or indirect, in lands or mineral wealth of such lands or a region under survey and whose title is in the U.S.; (b) execute surveys or examination for private parties or corporations; or (c) have personal or private interest, direct or indirect, in any private mining or mineral enterprise doing business in the U.S. except where specifically authorized by the Director of the U.S. Geological Survey.

HOW TO APPLY: Carefully read all information and instructions. It is the responsibility of the applicant to insure the application is complete. The personnel office will not be responsible for soliciting additional information from applicants or from official personnel records, but will consider individuals based on their applications as submitted. Applications must be received in the             Canyonlands Research Station          office by the closing date on the announcement in order to be considered.

WHAT TO SUBMIT:

1.      Resume

2.      College transcript or list of college courses, specifying the title of course work, completion date, semester or quarter hours earned by course title, and grade earned.

3.      If claiming 5-point veteran’s preference, a DD-214 showing character of discharge is required.

4.      If claiming 10-pint veteran’s preference, a SF-15 with proof of claim is required.

APPLICATION MUST INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:

1.      Job Information

a.       Announcement number, title, and grade(s) of the job for which you are applying.

2.      Personal Information

a.       Full name, mailing address (with zip code), day and evening phone numbers (with area code)

b.      Country of Citizenship

c.       Veteran’s Preference

d.      Highest Federal civilian job held.  Give job series, grade, and dates held)

3.      Education

a.       High School (name, address)

b.      Colleges and Universities (names and addresses)

c.       Majors

d.      Type and year of any degrees received.  If no degree, show total credits earned and indicate whether semester or quarter hours.

4.      Work Experience (paid and non-paid) related to the job for which you are applying.

a.       Job Title (give series and grade if Federal)

b.      Duties and accomplishments

c.       Employer’s name and address

d.      Supervisor’s name and phone number

e.       Starting and ending dates (Month, day, and year).

f.       Hours per week

g.       Salary

h.      Indicate if current supervisor may be contacted.

5.      Other Qualifications

a.       Job-related training courses (title, length, and date taken)

b.      Job-related skills (i.e., other language, computer software; hardware, tools, machinery, typing speed, etc.)

c.       Job-related certificates and licenses (current only)

6.      Job-related honors, awards, and special accomplishments (i.e., publications, memberships in professional or honor societies, leadership activities, public speaking, and performance awards). Give details but do not send documents unless requested.

SEND YOUR APPLICATION TO:

***Email applications are preferred.

PLEASE LABEL EACH FILE WITH YOUR NAME AND THE POSITION NUMBER CRS 13-07.

EMAIL: crs_jobs@usgs.gov

ATTN: Erika Geiger

U.S. MAIL: Canyonlands Research Station, 2290 S. West Resource Blvd, Moab, Utah 84532

APPLICATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED BY THE CLOSING DATE OF THE ANNOUNCEMENT TO BE CONSIDERED.

THE U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

THIS AGENCY PROVIDES REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS TO APPLICANTS WITH DISABILITIES

It is against the law to submit applications for employment using government franked envelopes or mail services (18 USC 1719). All such applications will not be considered

Fort Hill site selection trip April 2013

We recently completed a recon trip to select study sites for our crust restoration studies. This one is Fort Hill Air Force Range, where we were hosted by Russ Lawrence and Aaron. Many thanks to our gracious hosts for a very successful trip. This is a beautiful cold desert area just to the west of the Great Salt Lake. Present were myself, Nichole Barger, Jayne Belnap, Mike Duniway, Ana Giraldo, and Anita Antoninka, who is away setting up experiments there as I write. I'd been to Salt Lake City a zillion times before, but due to the overcast sky this was the most beautiful plane landing. It was made all the more interesting since I was sitting next to two adult, male My Little Pony enthusiasts going to a Pony convention. I didn't know this phenomenon existed previously. They are called "bronies". Google it if you don't believe me. Oh yeah...the lake and snowcapped mountain combination was stunning. The base has that unique, lonely gray beauty that says "Great Basin!!!". It truly is the most underappreciated of North American deserts. The crusts did not disappoint either, we found lots of areas with fascinating crust flora, and all in all this seems to be a great place to work.

Due to low light and continuous hydration, these filamentous cyanobacteria have come to the soil surface. They will retreat when the soil drys or when the light increases.

This is what happens when I shout "Look happy, people!" to Ana (L) and Anita (R). Ana is about to collect some cyanobacteria to culture for her graduate project in the Garcia-Pichel lab. Anita is getting familiar with the place prior to installing hundreds of experimental plots.

Psora decipiens - what a show-off

Aspicilia rogeri - this species used to be considered A. fruticilosa, an Asian taxon, but the North American species turned out to be a new species which was named after Roger Rosentreter. It's a vagrant, just like Roger.

Catapyrenium??? I'm stumped by this. I first thought it was a Collema, but after I picked it up I'm convinced its a phycolichen with very little squamules. Maybe its Catapyrenium congestum?

On the ancient lake sediments, the biocrusts had polygonal cracks, and a Sharpei-skin surface structure.

Ditto, closer.

This is an invasive plant (bur buttercup) which loves to grow in the cracks between polygons whether or not there is crust present.

Russ chatting with Mike, Anita, and Ana.

Searching for a cheatgrass-free sandy soil. You can just make out that the salt flats in the far background are currently hosting a lake.

"Secret life of the Sonoran Desert" featuring Ferran Garcia-Pichel

Ira Flatow's Talk of the Nation (Science Friday), from NPR. Listen here:

Cambridge Journals Online - Abstract - Algal stacks and fungal stacks as adaptations to high light in lichens

Cambridge Journals Online - Abstract - Algal stacks and fungal stacks as adaptations to high light in lichens

The earliest records of internally stratified cyanobacterial and algal lichens from the Lower Devonian of the Welsh Borderland Honegger 2012 New Phytologist Wiley Online Library

The earliest records of internally stratified cyanobacterial and algal lichens from the Lower Devonian of the Welsh Borderland Honegger 2012 New Phytologist Wiley Online Library

Random (or at least haphazard) photo dump

The benefit of never downloading your photos is that there are forgotten gems in there when you do get around to it. These shots are from a river trip in the Grand Canyon, in Fall 2011. I volunteered on a bighorn sheep research trip, and while looking for sheep feces I also made a ton of magnetic measurements of rocks and checked out the crust flora. Don't ask, these are just things I do in my spare time.

These are some shots from the vicinity of mile 30 or so, or crusts growing on soils derived from the redwall limestone in Marble Canyon.

Psora crenata. This species is not common on the Colorado Plateau, but really the canyon bottom is getting close to a hot desert climate. I also see lets of this near Sedona, AZ, on soils derived from the Supai formation, and in the verde valley, AZ, on the verde limestone.

 

Peltula sp. (maybe richardsii). I did not collect this, but it does look distinct from the teeny, mostly sterile Peltula patellata I am used to seeing in Colorado Plateau environments. The giant red apothecia were clearly visible from a standing position, and caught my eye from meters away. The squamules are notable smoother than patellata. There's also a tiny bright green Bryum moss clearly visible.

Saharan and Asian dust, biological particles end global journey in California

the more we learn about dust, the more we realize that it runs planet Earth



Saharan and Asian dust, biological particles end global journey in California

Garcia-Pichel lab is hiring a post-doc

Want to work in a "microbial nursery"? Check this out.

http://garcia-pichel.lab.asu.edu/research_opportunities.html

This position is part of a collaborative project  (Barger, Belnap, Garcia-Pichel, Bowker, Duniway, Reed) seeking to improve crust restoration technology, and apply it to military lands. Ferran needs someone with a blue-green thumb.

New moss book

Reviewed on Moss Plants & More

Want to learn the California mosses?

Crust workship abstract deadline extended again

Received by email a few days ago:

Dear colleague,

Just to let you know that the abstract submission period for the II International BSC workshop, which will take place in Madrid between 10 and 13 June 2013, has been extended until the end of January 2013. We have received more than 30 abstracts so far, and encourage you to submit yours to the meeting. Please pass this information to any colleague that
may be interested in attending.

All the updated information on the meeting can be found at its webpage:

https://sites.google.com/site/biocrust2013/home

We hope to see all of you in Madrid on next year!

With our Best Wishes for 2013,

Fernando T. Maestre
Leopoldo G. Sancho