The University of Minnesota Extension is recruiting candidates for Extension Educator

The University of Minnesota Extension is recruiting candidates for Extension Educator - Aquatic Invasive Species Position at Andover or St. Cloud, Minnesota

For any questions about the job or application process please see the contact information at the end of the blog message.

ABOUT THIS POSITION
    The Extension Educator is responsible for developing, implementing, and evaluating educational programs that build local capacity for aquatic invasive species detection and response. These educational programs will provide training and tools to local governments, lake associations, AIS professionals, and citizens groups to prevent, detect, monitor, track, and control the establishment and spread of state-listed aquatic invasive species.
    To accomplish this, the AIS Extension Educator will, in coordination with MAISRC staff and researchers, Extension colleagues, and DNR staff: 1) develop and lead a statewide citizen science program aimed at tracking AIS population changes to inform management and research, 2) contribute to a statewide citizen science program for early detection of AIS; 3) contribute to other research-based AIS programs developed in response to state needs , 4) foster partnerships with state and local governments, lake associations, AIS professionals and citizens organizations, 5) provide programming to these partners to implement on-the-ground AIS prevention, detection, monitoring and control efforts, 6) assist with development of an online data repository for collecting and reporting data generated through these prevention, detection, monitoring and control efforts 7) assist in securing funding to sustain AIS programming efforts. Training and other program delivery will include using a variety of communication strategies appropriate for the intended target audience, including but not limited to workshops, classes, webcasts, social media, publications, mass media and community coalitions.
    The AIS Extension Educator will be affiliated with the Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center (MAISRC) and act as a critical interface between local community groups, university scientists, and state natural resource agency managers. The AIS Extension Educator will coordinate with other Extension Educators and Specialists involved in AIS programming and with MAISRC researchers to operate as a team. The AIS Extension Educator will also coordinate communications efforts with MAISRC communications staff.

To Learn More About this JOB click here

TO APPY for Job Opening ID: 305531 you will need: 

• Vitae
• Cover letter
• Transcripts for all college work (unofficial transcripts are acceptable at the application stage). 
• Names and contact information for three professional references.

First click here to apply online and submit cover letter and resume

Click here to submit your transcript(s) and names and contact information online

• Click on Employment
• Click on “Using the Job Application System” (5th bullet on the left hand side of the screen)
• Click on “My Activity” under “Application Activities”
• From the drop box select: Transcripts or Reference Attachments

FOR QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR APPLICATION CONTACT: Naaz Babvani, Extension Human Resources 260 Coffey Hall, 1420 Eckles Avenue, University of Minnesota St. Paul, MN 55108 Telephone: 612-624-3717 Fax: 612-624-7749 babva001@umn.edu
FOR QUESTIONS ABOUT THE POSITION CONTACT:
Faye Sleeper
Program Leader for the Extension Center of Food Agricultural and Natural Resources Sciences
Associate Director, University of Minnesota Water Resources Center
173 McNeal Hall, 1985 Buford Street
St. Paul, MN 55108
The University of Minnesota Extension Water Resource team's mission is to make a difference by connecting community needs and University resources to address Minnesota's critical water resource issues by providing and modeling effective education to ensure safe and sustainable water resources.
Phone: 612-624-3738       Email: fsleeper@umn.edu 

America’s Longleaf Restoration Initiative

America’s Longleaf Restoration Initiative Longleaf Partnership Council: 2014 Range-wide Accomplishment Report

Key Overall Findings 

"The combined efforts of the many partners involved in longleaf restoration across the Southeast resulted in over 1.55 million acres of various on-the-ground longleaf restoration accomplishments. These restoration activities included tree planting, prescribed burning, mid-story treatments, invasive species control, native understory plant establishment, over-story treatments, and land acquisition/easements. Approximately 69% of the total accomplishments occurred within the SGAs. Approximately 61% of the overall 2014 accomplishments occurred in Florida (38%), Alabama (12%), and Georgia (11%), states which make up two-thirds of the current range-wide longleaf-dominated forest acreage. Most of the work on public lands (55%) occurred in Florida and Georgia and totaled over 658,000 acres. Restoration activities on private lands in Alabama and Georgia accounted for roughly one-half (175,000 acres) of the range-wide private lands total. Approximately 21% of the overall accomplishments occurred in the western range (Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas), while 17% occurred in the eastern range (South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia)." To read the full Report:  2014 Range-wide Accomplishment Report

Emerging Plant Disease and Global Food Security

NC State University is looking to hire four faculty to form a new interdisciplinary faculty cluster.
Faculty members can be on any level and will create a new and basic knowledge to understand the fundamentals of emerging diseases caused by pathogens of plants to facilitate quick action to minimize potential damage of new threats. According to the University's announcement, it believes understanding and managing of new plant disease can be accomplished by a "collaborative approach with expertise in epidemiology, population biology, microbial evolution, geospatial modeling and bioinformatics".

For more information about the four positions, or how to apply, please visit the Emerging Plant Disease and Global Food Security page.

For consideration, a curriculum vitae, cover letter, a statement of research experience and goals as it relates to the cluster and contact information for references are requested. Materials for consideration will be accepted electronically via http://jobs.ncsu.edu/postings/58983/. A comprehensive review of applications will begin by Dec. 15, 2015 and continue until the positions are filled. The target start date for is August 2016; however, a mutually beneficial time may be negotiated. Questions about the position may be directed with a subject line “GFSCluster inquiry to Jean Ristaino (jean_ristaino@ncsu.edu) or globalfoodsecuritycluster@ncsu.edu.

NC State University is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, age, sexual orientation, genetic information, status as an individual with a disability, or status as a protected veteran. Persons with disabilities requiring accommodations in the application process please call (919) 515-3148.

Florida EDDMapS Reporting Updates Website, iPhone and Android

eBay: A Forum for Invasive Plant Trade

Auctions aren't just good for scoring rare collectibles and cheap second-hand items.  Individuals interested in rare and exotic species are using the site to buy and sell live specimens around the world.  Researchers from the Institute of Integrative Biology surveyed eBay and nine other auction websites for flora/plant species over 50 days.  Their survey found that 2,5625 plant species were available for purchase from 65 countries.  Of those species, 510 of them have been documented as an invasive concern somewhere in the world.  In fact, 35 of those species are on the list of top 100 invasive species put out by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.  This type of trade isn't monitored as intensively as shipping plants through typical retail exchanges, and can bring in more than just the desired plant.  People interested in diversifying their garden, should always check if there is a species native to their area that fits their need.  If a native can't be found, research any non-natives for invasive status before buying, as their fun new plant can cause years of battling the invasive tendencies and won't endear you to your neighbors if it spreads to their property.

Tropical soda apple (Solanum viarum) Growing out of a bag of cow manure, in 1991 by Randy Westbrooks, Invasive Species Prevention Specialist, Bugwood.org

Original Source Article: How eBay Could Be Messing Up the World’s Ecosystems