Alumna serving with AmeriCorps

Megan Liggett '13

Alumna Megan Liggett (’13, Biochemistry) reports that she has found a position serving with AmeriCorps with the Monday Creek Restoration Project in southeastern Ohio:

Megan writes: “I am serving as an AmeriCorps State and National volunteer with the nonprofit organization Rural Action.  Rural Action consists of a variety of projects including watershed restoration projects, Environmental Education, and Zero Waste Initiative, as well as work with several partner organizations, all working towards the goal of environmental, economic, and social development in Appalachian Ohio.  My specific assignment is with the Monday Creek Restoration Project in New Straitsville, Ohio.  Monday Creek has been heavily affected by acid mine drainage (AMD) as a result of mining that has occurred in the area over the past century. The primary goal of this project is to work with the community within the Monday Creek Watershed to address AMD and other environmental factors in order to improve the water quality of Monday Creek and its tributaries, and to improve the overall health of the watershed.  Over the course of the next 12 months I will be involved in a wide variety of projects including chemical water quality assessment, biological assessments, environmental education, training, and community involvement, as well as a number of other tasks both in Monday Creek and Rural Action.  I’m very excited to have this opportunity to serve the community in such a unique way, while learning skills that will help me with my future career and making memories that will last a lifetime.”

Monday Creek

Job Outlook Bright in the Sciences

A new report from Change the Equation.org finds that the job outlook is good for individuals with a science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) background. Their analysis of online job postings and unemployment data in the past 3 years finds that across the STEM fields, job postings outnumbered unemployed people by almost 2-to-1, while overall, unemployed people outnumbered job postings by well more than 3-to-1.  For healthcare occupations that require STEM training, there were 3.2 jobs per unemployed person.

"Our analysis of online job postings and unemployment data shows similar patterns across every state," said Linda Rosen, CEO of Change the Equation. "For their own economic vitality, states must put in place policies that help workers get retrained with STEM skills, offer incentives to students to master STEM knowledge, and focus on the pipeline--beginning in elementary school--to create a robust supply of STEM-adept citizens."

The "STEM Help Wanted" Vital Signs report is available at the organization’s website at www.changetheequation.org/stemdemand.  Change the Equation is a nonprofit, nonpartisan initiative that is mobilizing the business community to improve the quality of science, technology, engineering and mathematics learning in the United States. 

Environmental Science major benefits from summer job with environmental services company

Mary Cargill (AU’12) is an Environmental Science and Biology major who spent the summer of 2011 interning with EnviroScience, a Stow, OH, based company that offers environmental services throughout the US and Canada. She worked for EnviroScience’s lake management division and was able to travel a lot for the job (Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Maryland, and Ontario)! Mary is very positive about this experience, saying “[o]verall, it was a very fulfilling internship that demonstrated how to apply all the knowledge I had acquired in the classroom... It's also convinced me to seek an environmental consulting position upon graduation.”

There are lots of opportunities in environmental consulting. Mary reports that this particular company has several departments, including “bioassay (water quality lab), commercial diving, ecological restoration, emergency response team, and lake management group. I worked along side aquatic biologists while assisting the lake management division this summer. I primarily assisted with their 'Milfoil Solution' which consists of using a native beetle (Milfoil Weevil) as a native biological control to control the invasive aquatic plant Eurasian Water Milfoil (EWM).”

The work Mary did used lots of knowledge and skills from her training at Ashland University. The milfoil weevils were collected and cultivated in the lab, numbers of eggs and larvae were assessed microscopically, and some statistical analyses were needed to assess these cultures. Before treatment was started at each lake site (for example, see photo of reservoir on Menominee River, WI), Mary and her colleagues had to do visual assessments (while scuba diving!) of Eurasian Water Milfoil density and the percentage of milfoil versus native plants. Next, she would “identify the type of milfoil present [there are several species], look for any visible damage to the plants, and also do a native plant survey... Determining the type of milfoil was essential because milfoil weevils only accept EWM and variable water milfoil as hosts...[Plant] transect [samples] would be brought back to the lab and be analyzed for existing weevil damage, eggs, larva and adults to determine whether or not there was a native weevil population.” After all this, seed population size would be recommended, weevils introduced to each site, and follow-up surveys conducted after a couple of months. And (of course!) “after the follow-up survey was completed I would write a final report.”

EPA Fellowship Opportunity for Recent Grads

Brenda Parris (AU'03, Environmental Science/Biology) is now an Environmental Scientist with the US-EPA Office of Groundwater and Drinking Water. She is recruiting applicants for a one-year, paid fellowship opportunity (w/option for renewal) working on an applied research project at their Technical Support Center in Cincinnati, OH. The position requires a Bachelor's degree and is well-suited for recent graduates.

The fellowship research project will focus quality control data from newly developed analytical methods for monitoring emerging contaminants in drinking water. The successful applicant will conduct research on analytical methods, develop problem-solving skills, and be involved in the process of implementing an environmental regulation (in this case related to the Safe Drinking Water Act).

For more detailed information on eligibility, submission requirements, and additional opportunities related to the project, please contact Dr. Soren Brauner or Dr. Patty Saunders. The application package must be postmarked by June 30, 2010.

Job searching and career advice

It is that time of the year when many of you are looking for job opportunities and career advice as you prepare to step out into the "real world".  This is a perfect time to take advantage of the resources of the Ashland University Career Development Center.  The staff at the CDC is trained to help you identify job opportunities, develop your resume and interview skills, and even help you find career opportunities if you are unsure of what you want to do.

This Wednesday (Feb 24th) the Career Center will be hosting the Ashland University Career Fair from noon - 4 pm in Upper Convo.  This is a fantastic opportunity for graduating seniors and alumni to meet with potential employers and graduate school representatives.  There will also be information about internship opportunities available whether or not you are graduating this Spring.  This event is for current students in any class (freshman-senior) and for alumni.

You should dress in professional business attire and bring multiple copies of your resume.  You can do some research on the companies and schools that will be participating here.  WIL Research laboratories will be at the fair and very interested in meeting Ashland science majors.  Feel free to call the CDC if you have any questions at 419-289-5064.

Check back for more career advice in the coming days and weeks.  Good luck with your searches.

Summer field biology experiences

Here are three opportunities for those of you interested in field biology:

• The Ohio Wildlife Center in Columbus is hiring summer interns to work at their pre-release animal rehabilitation center.  The applications for the first internships are due January 30th.  This is an unpaid position, but great experience if you want to explore a career in animal care work.  
• Camp Whitewood in Windsor, Ohio is hiring a summer naturalist.  
• The Appalachian Forest School is offering several courses in 2010, including a forestry course in Southern Ohio in June.