The Fish and Wildlife Service is accepting applications for summer field work in coastal invasive plant species.
Position Description: Rhode Island’s 400 miles of coastline include coastal wildlife habitat as well as public beaches, walking trails, shoreline cliffs, and historical lighthouses. New England’s coastal habitat currently faces a number of threats including aggressive exotic invasive plant species. Interns will carry out much needed control of invasive plants threatening coastal shrub-scrub and salt-marsh habitat, which are critical to migrating and breeding birds, as well as many other species of wildlife. Control methods include hand-pulling, herbicide application, and cutting and digging with hand tools. Duties also include conducting annual monitoring of rare plants such as Agalinis acuta (sandplain gerardia) and Platanthera ciliaris (yellow-fringed orchid), and habitat mapping using GPS technology.
Qualifications: Applicants must possess excellent field botany skills, and have the ability to work outdoors in all types of weather conditions, especially heat and humidity, endure biting insects, and to work well with others. Must be a team player and willing to work on other biological program projects such as Piping Plover protection and monitoring.
Additionally, applicants must be in good physical shape and be able to hike long distances while carrying tools and bagged plants, and possess a valid driver’s license. Experience using GPS units or GIS is a plus.
Duration: Two positions available from May 29 to August 24. There is the possibility of a position extending through November 2 depending upon funding and job performance. If extended, responsibilities will also include assisting with mist-netting and banding of fall migratory songbirds and shrub land vegetation surveys.
Salary: Compensation $215/wk plus possibility of housing.
Send letter of interest, resume and contact information for 3 references to Rhonda Smith, 50 Bend Road, Charlestown, RI 02813 OR email materials to Rhonda_Smith@fws.gov. Application deadline is January 27.
