Illinois Lakes Management Association 2025 conference - Call for Presentations and Scholarship Application

 Scholarships Announcements For Students attending an Illinois college or university or, Any Illinois resident attending college or university in Indiana, Minnesota, Michigan, Ohio, or Wisconsin. 

Funding Sources The Undergraduate/Graduate Scholarship is supported by the membership of ILMA through the donations received from the bucket raffle and boat raffle at the annual conference 

Mr. Robert Esser. long-standing member of ILMA, and lake monitoring volunteer, is sole sponsor of the Robert Esser Student Achievement Scholarship. 

The ILM Research Scholarship is funded by the ecological restoration company ILM, headquartered in Waukegan Illinois. Research projects should focus on new advances in the science and practice of ecological restoration in wetlands, streams, ponds, and lakes including the study of invasive species and nuisance aquatic plant management. 

Who's Eligible to Apply? Illinois Undergraduate/Graduate Scholarship ($1,000): Full time undergraduate or graduate students who have a college or university cumulative GPA of at least 2.5 on an undergraduate 4.0 scale and 3.0 on a graduate 4.0 scale, enrolled in a natural resource discipline related to lake and/or watershed management. Eligible applicants include Illinois residents enrolled in accredited colleges and universities within the above listed six states and/ or students enrolled in an accredited Illinois college or university. Emphasis will be placed on scholarship money going towards work or project related expenses in a lake / watershed area. 

Robert Esser Student Achievement Scholarship ($500): Illinois resident attending an Illinois accredited college or university. A full time junior or senior undergraduate student or graduate student is preferred. Attendance at the Annual Meeting of the Illinois Lake Management Association (ILMA) is strongly encouraged. Student must be enrolled in a lake-related curriculum with clearly articulated personal goals and objectives geared toward Illinois lakes. Emphasis will be placed on volunteer experiences

The ILM Research Scholarship ($500): Illinois resident attending an Illinois college or university, or one of the five Midwest universities mentioned above. A full time junior or senior undergraduate student or graduate student is preferred. Student will be required to send quarterly updates on their research project to ILM and will be invited to present their findings to ILM staff if logistically appropriate. Attendance at the Annual Meeting of the Illinois Lake Management Association (ILMA) is strongly encouraged. Student must be enrolled in a science curriculum with an emphasis on ecology or natural areas management. 

What are the Primary Selection Criteria? The ILMA Scholarship Committee will consider academic achievement, major field of study, statement of career goals and student special interests. Most awards are given on the basis of academic achievement combined with a course of study consistent with our mission.

Notification and Disbursement of Awards: The ILMA Scholarship Committee meets in January of each year to review the applications and determine the awards. All applicants will be notified by February 1st as to the committee’s final decision. Scholarship funds are provided to the recipient to offset the tuition and fee expenses for the appropriate semester(s) and/or approved research project expenses. 

What’s my deadline to get the application in? Applicant must submit the Scholarship application forms to meet the deadline date of December 31. Application forms can be obtained from the ILMA web site or by contacting the Illinois Lake Management Association at 1-800-338-6976 (Access Code 01). P. O. Box 20655, Springfield, IL 62708 

How the application process works: The student completes this application and returns it and all supporting materials by the due date, to the address listed above. Late applications will not be considered. Once the application is received, the Illinois Lake Management Association will: Send a letter confirming application receipt within 10 days of the application deadline, and Provide a timetable for the review process and award notification. 

Before sending this application did you: 

• Properly complete the application? 

• sign the application form? 

• attach or forward the necessary (2) letters of recommendation? 

• attach or forward the required “Official Transcripts”, and consider submitting your research ABSTRACT for the ILMA newsletter 

• Include a project description, budget, and description of how the scholarship money will be spent? Send the completed application and all supporting materials by December 31st to:

Illinois Lake Management Association P.O. Box 20655 Springfield, IL 62708

Current Conservation Job Opportunities

 USFWS Morris and Big Stone Wetland Management Districts/National Wildlife Refuge

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (National Wildlife Refuge System) is announcing 7 openings for seasonal Biological Science Technicians, at the GS-6 pay scale, including TWO located at Morris Wetland Management District and one at Big Stone NWR. Applications deadline December 9, 2024. The announcement can be found here or by searching USAjobs.gov for announcement number TS-25-12586529-MR-DE. This position will assist the biology and management programs at Morris WMD to monitor and manage prairie and wetland habitats. Primary duties will include waterfowl surveys, prairie monitoring, invasive plant management, native seed harvest, and managing the station's GIS data. The employee may also assist with prescribed burning if qualified. The position will last 6 months, approximately April-October 2025.  

**Note that the application deadline is Dec 9!**

Minnesota DNR

DNR is hiring a Regional SNA Specialist Senior in Fergus Falls, MN. Application deadline is December 10^th, 2024. This is a great opportunity to work with some of Minnesota’s most rare resources including native plant communities, rare species, and rare features. We are looking for a person that is skilled in natural resources management and experienced in natural ecosystems. The position will plan and coordinate natural area management, development, acquisition, outreach/education, monitoring, and research on state Scientific and Natural Areas and Native Prairie Bank Easements throughout the Fergus Falls work area in NW MN. Providing leadership to area staff, crews, contractors, cooperators, and others is another important role of the SNA Specialist Senior. See attached flyer or go to MN Careers website and search for Job ID 81668.

 

Pheasants Forever

PF is hiring 2 Habitat Partnership Specialist positions located at U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service offices in Windom and Fergus Falls. Application deadline is December 13^th, 2024. Habitat Partnership Specialists will identify, process, evaluate, and coordinate conservation easement acquisitions within the Windom and Fergus Falls Wetland Management Districts (WMD). Find more details here. Interested applicants can contact Jon Beyer (office: 507-831-2220 ext 11) with questions.

 

We have a Farm Bill Biologist vacancy in Swift County, based out of the Benson USDA office. Application deadline is December 15th. 

 

The Nature Conservancy

TNC is partnering with Conservation Corps of Minnesota to host year-long CCM crews in NW and west central MN in 2025. Application deadline is December 12^th, 2024. Projects include prescribed fire, tree removal, invasive species control, native seed harvest, grassland monitoring surveys, firebreak preparation, and prairie restoration. Apply through CCM and indicate you interest in working with TNC on the application’s location preferences.

TNC is hiring a Field Steward for the Prairie Coteau landscape covering SW Minnesota and eastern South Dakota, based in Clear Lake, SD. Find more details here. Application deadline is December 19^th, 2024. The Field Stewards will help manage 12 TNC preserves consisting of rare calcareous fens, pothole wetlands, restorations, and native grasslands. As the Field Steward, you will identify conservation goals and objectives in collaboration with the program manager and others and effectively utilize resources to achieve identified goals and complete projects. You will help develop and implement various conservation management techniques such as grazing, prescribed fire (leading the fire line,) and invasive species management. You will also be responsible for leading seasonal employees, equipment maintenance, facilities management, and administrative tasks associated with projects. Contact Joe Blastick with questions (jblastick@tnc.org).

TNC is hiring a Grassland Conservation Fellow in South Dakota! Find more details here. Application deadline is January 3^rd, 2025. The Grassland Conservation Fellowship program is designed to provide talented individuals with opportunities to advance their skills for conservation. The Fellow will assist with conservation projects focusing on conservation land management and ecological monitoring while learning from and networking with professionals throughout our chapter. The Fellow’s main workstation will be at the Ordway Prairie preserve near Leola, SD where housing, (shared with employees, volunteers, and partners,) is available. You will be expected to travel between the main workstation and other project areas across the MN-ND-SD Chapter. Contact Mary Miller with questions (mmiller@tnc.org).

 

Coming Soon! TNC will post 2025 seasonal positions across MN, ND, and SD (including Morris, MN) in the next week or two. Check the TNC Careers website frequently and apply early. Follow this link, click “Jobs at TNC”, and search by state to find relevant job postings quickly.

Graduate Student Opportunity // Urban Ecology and Sustainability Lab @UBC

UEIC ListServ: Seeking PhD student for social science microgrid research

 PhD Student Research Assistant

STORM: Data-Driven Approaches for Secure Electric Grids in Communities Disproportionately Impacted by Climate Change

Stipend: $29,175 per year for 12 months

Tuition: 13 credits per year

Health Insurance: up to $3,083 per year

Timeline

Start: September 1, 2025 (there may be a possibility of a June 1, 2025 start if desired)

End: August 31, 2026

Second year of funding contingent upon performance during first year

Current funding is limited to two years; we can work together to try to find funding beyond two years

Workload

20 hours/week

Project Description The National Science Foundation-funded STORM project builds upon a current U.S. Department of Energy-funded Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) collaboration involving Maine, Alaska, South Dakota and Puerto Rico. STORM emphasizes smart grid advancements to help communities disproportionately impacted by climate change and the convergent, co-production of knowledge with communities.

STORM encompasses expertise in electrical, computer and civil engineering, economics, community and environmental resilience, climatology, and mathematics and statistics. Research and workforce development objectives are built around three intersecting themes: (1) Engagement of underserved communities in local climate change solutions and knowledge translation for microgrid design; (2) Improvement of post-disaster power grid resilience in underserved communities through accelerated big data modeling, estimation, and secure control frameworks, and (3) Development of regionally relevant cyber-physical research infrastructure for studying community-engaged data-driven operation of power grids. This position will support research associated with Theme 1 and will require knowledge of and communication with researchers in Themes 2 and 3.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

· Lead research on how to engage underserved communities in local climate change solutions and knowledge translation for microgrid co-design

· Conduct outreach with underserved communities and bridge communications between these communities and more technically-focused members of the STORM team

· Prepare manuscripts for publication and technical reports, fact sheets, and/or other white papers in collaboration with researchers, community partners, and student assistants.

· Present research findings and community project case studies at public and professional meetings in collaboration with researchers, community partners, and student assistants.

· Write applications and funding proposals to fund this position beyond 2 years.

· Help mentor students as appropriate.

· Maintain accurate records of research findings, analysis of results, and community project activity.

· Coordinate annual updates to the Theme 1 strategic/implementation plan and annual reporting that represent Klein’s team’s research

· Lead regular communication across multiple research teams and external partners (e.g., email, Zoom and in-person meetings, manage Google Calendar invitations, detailed shared notes, etc.).

· Perform other reasonably related duties as assigned to facilitate the success of the project.

Knowledge and Skill Qualifications:

Required:

· Master’s degree or a Bachelor’s degree with a sufficient combination of education and experience.

· Knowledge of and experience with social science research methods (e.g., surveys, interviews, qualitative data analysis, etc.).

· Institutional Review Board certification or willingness to achieve certification upon hire.

· Knowledge of and/or experience with microgrids or one or more components of microgrids (energy supply, electronics, cybersecurity, etc.) along with a willingness to learn about the other components

· Knowledge of and/or experience with quantitative modeling/data analysis methods (e.g., techno-economic analysis, statistical analysis, or similar).

· Demonstrated commitment to solutions-focused, community-driven, transdisciplinary research and applications.

· Demonstrated commitment to solve pressing problems using innovative methods (qualitative, quantitative, transdisciplinary and/or community-engaged).

· Experience with collaborative projects.

· Willingness to learn and expand knowledge & skills beyond existing/historic experience/understanding.

· Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (oral and written) and the ability to work effectively with a wide range of constituencies.

· Excellent organizational and time management skills.

· Ability to develop manuscripts and deliver presentations.

Preferred:

· Preferred fields of study: interdisciplinary combination of social sciences (e.g., anthropology, psychology, indigenous studies, economics, public policy, etc.) and engineering.

· Knowledge and experience of/with community-level decision making, organizing, and/or project implementation preferred.

· Knowledge and experience of/with Wabanaki Nations.

· Knowledge and experience of/with Maine communities.

· Knowledge and experience of/with rural communities.

· Knowledge and experience of/with disadvantaged populations.

The description above reflects the general duties and requirements considered necessary to perform the principal functions of the job and shall not be considered a comprehensive description of all work requirements, which may be inherent to the position.

How will this position benefit my career?

● Gain new skills and knowledge in a growing interdisciplinary field (community microgrid co-design).

● Network with people in a variety of positions (local, state, and tribal governments, non-profit organizations, citizen groups, academic institutions, and businesses) throughout Maine and the United States working in these areas.

● Support cutting edge research by faculty and students from UMaine and other institutions across the country.

● Gain experience in multiple professional settings: meetings, emails, calendar management, newsletters, collaborative reporting.

How do I apply for this position?

To avoid applicants who may not be qualified for this position spending time and money on an official application to UMaine, and to accommodate existing UMaine students, please fill out this form (https://forms.gle/bUMD3DtdHWoAZH7k7) to express interest in this position. I will reach out to discuss the position more/ invite you to apply to UMaine if I think your knowledge and experience are a good fit for the position. If you are not already a UMaine PhD student, and I invite you to apply to UMaine, you must adhere to the application requirements included on the UMaine Graduate School website and in the UMaine Graduate Catalog for the program to which you apply.

NNGO Spring 25 classes