Freshwater mussel intern

Freshwater Mussel Internship – Northeast Missouri

Deadline for Application: February 17, 2012

Agency Name: Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC)

Contact Name: Krista Noel or Travis Moore

Mailing Address: 3500 S. Baltimore, Kirksville, MO 63501

Phone Number: Krista: 660-785-2424 x6510, Fax: 660-785-2553

Travis: 573-248-2530 x6385

Email: Krista.noel@mdc.mo.gov Travis.moore@mdc.mo.gov

Job Title and Number: Freshwater Mussel Intern

Forms Necessary for Application:

To apply for this position, please follow the process below. Failure to do so may result in your application being denied.

1. Go to http://www.ngrrec.or....php/interships, then select the link to fill in the on-line application. Note: the form does not allow you to go backwards. Please make sure you have entered all of the information you want on each screen before hitting “continue.”
2. Once you have completed the application process, you MUST send a copy of your transcripts and resume to Crystal Bartanen at the address below. Include a note that you are interested in the freshwater mussel position.
Crystal Bartanen
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
1102 S. Goodwin Avenue
N-411 Turner Hall, MC-047
Urbana, Illinois 61801
217-244-8160
3. Mail, email, or fax a copy of your resume to Krista Noel (contact information at the top of this announcement).
Pay Rate: $4,000 for a 10-week period (equates to $10/hour), housing stipend may also be available.

Starting and Ending Dates: May 29 – August 7, 2012 (Also see below)

The intern must attend a 4-day orientation/field course in Alton, IL from May 29 – June 1. Lodging and meal expenses are paid by the internship program and work hours begin on the 29th. The intern must also attend and present at a post-internship symposium in Alton on August 6 – 7. Again, lodging and meal expenses are paid by the program.

Applicant Requirement:

This program is administered by the National Great Rivers Research and Education Center (NGRREC). NGRREC requires that applicants have a 3.25 GPA on a 4.0 scale and that preference will be given to college sophomores and juniors. However, we encourage all interested parties to apply.


Freshwater Mussel Internship Information Continued

Description of Job Duties:

The primary purpose of this internship is to assist MDC staff with collecting and identifying the distribution and abundance of freshwater mussels in the interior streams of Northeast Missouri. The intern and MDC staff will travel area streams by boat, canoe, or kayak when possible and sample for mussels via wading and shoreline surveys. The ability to accurately record data will be important.

It is anticipated that the intern will spend 3 – 4 days per week in the field with the rest of the time spent on data entry, data management, and writing the project report.

This position will be headquartered in Kirksville, but opportunities exist to work in other parts of Northeast Missouri and on other natural resource projects (turtles, amphibians, marsh birds, fish, etc). Field activity will be weather dependent, in most cases. Office space and field equipment will be provided to complete assigned tasks.

Normal work hours are expected to be 8 am to 5 pm daily, Monday through Friday. Longer work days or occasional weekend assignments are possible, but not common. Work will not exceed 40 hours per week.

Applicants interested in this position should be in good physical condition. Field conditions can vary but will likely include warm temperatures and potentially long days as we float river reaches that may be as long as 10 miles in a given day. The ability to swim is preferred.

Applicants will be expected to abide by MDC policies and procedures and demonstrate regular and predictable attendance.

The ability to work independently and accurately record field data is a must. Although not required, applicants who have experience at these skills will receive additional consideration:
• Canoeing and/or kayaking
• Identifying freshwater mussels (applicants not familiar with mussels will be trained on identification)
• Good writing ability
• Working with GIS/ArcView

Other Necessary Information:

A housing stipend MAY also be available. We will know a little later. Kirksville is home to Truman State University so subleases are available. Another viable option is to stay at a local hotel. Weekly and monthly rates are available, are comparable to most leases, and include kitchenettes, cable TV, internet access, and weekly maid service.
The intern will be responsible for their own meals while in the field.
While the MDC is hosting this intern, the internship program is administered and funded by NGRREC. NGRREC also requires that the intern:
• Attend a 4-day orientation/field course from May 29 – June 1 in Alton, IL.
• Prepare an internship poster and write a 7-page paper about their internship project.
• Prepare and present a Powerpoint presentation at a symposium on August 6-7 in Alton, IL.

Other NGRREC internships are available in other states. Visit http://www.ngrrec.or....php/interships and click on the “2012 Intern Projects” link for additional information.

While participating in this internship program requires more from the intern than other summer positions, this will definitely be a fun experience and a highlight on any resume. 1/25/12