May 8, 2014

ESGP newsletter: May 8, 2014

News, News, News

ESGP-Student Association Changes Leadership

The Environmental Science Graduate Program - Student Association (ESGP-SA) organizes events for students, faculty and alumni to network and share ideas. These gatherings providemeaningfulopportunities for ESGP peers to come together asinterdisciplinary scientistswho may nothave otherwise due to workingin a different lab in a different department or even ata different campus. We'd like to take this opportunity to thank the past leadership of Molly Semones (president), Pat Bell (vice-president), Claire Sutton (secretary), and Chenyi Yuan (treasurer), for theireffortsbringing our disparate groups together and wish them the best in their continued academic pursuits.The new board is looking forward to carrying on their efforts by bringing an even larger social interaction component to the program.

The 2014 – 2015 ESGP-SA Board

President: Tim Morin (morin.37@osu.edu) – A PhD student with Gil Bohrer as his advisor in Civil and Environmental Engineering, Tim plans to arrange more social events as the new president of the ESGP-SA with the hopes of more student-faculty networking and research collaboration.

Vice president: Krystaal McClain (mcclain.247@osu.edu) - Currently working on an internship in Panama examining spatial variability of soil respiration, Krystaal is a MS student working with Gil Bohrer on animal movement analysis usingMovebank. As an undergraduate she served as secretary for the Council of Green Affairs and was the main organizer for the 50th anniversary party hosted at her school. She hopes to use these skills to help the ESGP community grow stronger through socials, parties and off campus trips. She also plans to assist in the creation of an ESGP-SA webpage, which will provide an opportunity to share student ideas with the community.

Secretary: Yaoping Wang (wang.3866@osu.edu) – Yaoping recently graduated with her MS and her research is going so well she is continuing on to pursue her PhD. With Gaj Sivandran (CEGE), as her advisor, Yaoping is researching spatial and temporal downscaling techniques to global climate model output and hopes to assist with ESGP-SA’s interdisciplinary mission by representing the physical sciences.

Treasurer: David Hsu (hsu.389@osu.edu) –David is a PhD student, working with Jiyoung Lee in Environmental Health Sciences. As treasurer, David’s goals are to make the best use of money to benefit each member of ESGP as well as maintain the financial wellness of the organization.

Jobs and Internships

Research Associate in Vegetable Physiology

Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center, Uvalde is seeking a full-time Research Associate to join adynamic and expanding Vegetable Crop Physiology program with focus on stress management strategies, waterconservation and irrigation systems, stand establishment and hormonal regulation of transplants, genetic ×environmental x management interactions for root, shoot and yield traits, and germplasm screening for stressadaptation. The candidate will plan, conduct and/or participate in controlled and open field experiments, use ofequipment (gas exchange analyzer, minirhizotron, soil/plant sensors), collect plant phenotypic data, use data loggers,utilize statistical analysis and image processing tools, evaluate data and summarize results for reports, scientificpublications and presentations.

He/she will assist in the preparation of grant proposals and train and supervisestudents and technicians. Required qualifications include a Master of Science in plant/crop physiology, horticulture,agronomy, soil science or closely related field; 2 years of scientific research experience; familiarity withenvironmental stress physiology research equipment and field measurements, handling scientific data, and basiccomputer skills; excellent English communication skills, and an ability to interact with staff in a multiculturalenvironment. Preferred qualifications include Ph.D. degree in horticulture, agronomy, plant Physiology/biology orrelated discipline; good organizational skills, proficiency at multitasking and time management.

Research Associate in Cropping Systems

Texas A&MAgriLife Research and Extension Center, Uvalde is seeking a Research Associate to join the VegetablePhysiology and Crop Ecophysiology programs to actively participate in a multidisciplinary Cropping System project.The project involves deficit irrigation strategies (ET based) under center pivot in a crop rotational system with cotton,corn, wheat, onion, pepper, and melon germplasm. The candidate will evaluate and quantify root and canopy traitsassociated with drought tolerance, and determine the spatial and temporal variability of those traits and theirassociation with water use efficiency, yield and quality. He/she will use gas exchange analyzer, minirhizotrons,soil/plant sensors, and dataloggers to collect and process phenotypic data. He/she will use statistical models tointerpret data and summarize results for reports, scientific publications and presentations. The candidate will alsoassist in the preparation of grant proposals and train/supervise students and technicians as needed. Requiredqualifications include a Master of Science in plant/crop physiology, horticulture, agronomy, soil science or closelyrelated field or B.S. degree in a relevant field plus two years of related professional experience; excellent Englishcommunication skills, and an ability to interact in a multicultural environment. Preferred qualifications include Ph.D.degree in horticulture, agronomy or related discipline. The initial employment is for two years, with continued hirebased on progress and financial support.

For additional information please contact Dr. Daniel Leskovar at(d-leskovar@tamu.edu). Review of applications will begin May 25, 2014 and will continue until a suitable candidate isidentified. Interested parties should apply at Texas A&M jobs websitefor NOV#07698. Texas A&MAgriLifeResearch is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Veterans/Disability Employer.Seeking Environmental Engineer with 3 to 5 years of consulting experience in the technical implementation and management of investigation/remediation, facility compliance, and groundwater monitoring projects. Some level of field work will be required.

Program Manager, Energy Efficiency / Ohio

Description

Energy, Environment & Transportation

Energy Efficiency Division

Location: Ohio

About ICF International

If you want to work on the leading issues of the day, if you want your work to reflect your passion in life, if you truly want to make the world a better place, then you want to work at ICF International. Whether ensuring efficient use of energy resources, protecting the environment for generations to come, supporting cancer and HIV/AIDS patients and returning veterans, keeping young people in school and educators informed, delivering results in emergency preparedness, or breaking ground in any number of today’s issues, ICF works in the topics that lead the news.

We have a passionate commitment to our work and to helping our clients achieve their objectives. We combine technical expertise with world-class analytics. We provide room for entrepreneurial thinking and grass-roots innovation to achieve compelling results for both our clients projects and our own company. All our work is done in a professional, collegial, and intellectual environment that allows individuals the latitude they need to perform work that parallels their passions.

Job Description

We are currently seeking a Manager for our Energy Efficiency Division to help manage and grow ICF’s energy efficiency business. The successful candidate will lead the development and management of integrated energy solutions that target the residential and/or commercial and industrial (C&I;) sectors including energy efficiency, demand response, smart grid, and renewable energy offerings; manage program budgets; build relationships with clients; hire and mentor staff; design and implement program strategies and plans; as well as develop and execute strategies to influence market adoption of energy efficiency services.

The ideal candidate will have a demonstrated track record of developing and managing successful energy efficiency programs, with experience leading the capture and management of large energy efficiency procurements. Additionally you will provide thought leadership and implementation support, guidance in the development of new tools and resources that support ICFs overall initiatives, and help grow our team of professional staff in a fast-paced environment. The successful candidate will also build and strengthen senior client relationships to achieve superior client management support.

Key Responsibilities:

Program design, including identification, analysis and selection of appropriate energy efficiency measures and development of effective delivery strategies.

Program implementation, including development and execution of detailed and effective implementation and management plans.

Program evaluation, including analysis, data collection and reporting.

Providing resource management, quality control, and budget accountability to maximize efficiencies and client satisfaction.

Building and maintaining client and industry relationships while driving businesses towards the implementation of energy performance improvements through the use of existing market knowledge and proven energy-efficient technologies.

Support development and implementation of long-term business plans for growing energy efficiency work in the commercial and industrial sectors.

Manage a multi-functional project team comprised of technical and marketing specialists (some ICF internal staff and some subcontractors) to ensure timely and professional completion of all tasks and achieve specific program goals. Manage consultants remotely and in-house; staff will consist of energy analysts, engineers, marketers, account managers, communication specialists, and technical trainers.

Basic Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree (Concentration in Engineering or Energy Resources, Sciences, Policy, Business)
8+ years of experience developing and managing successful energy efficiency and demand side management programs for utilities, state energy offices, state/local governments, regional non-profits, or corporate organizations.
Demonstrated experience providing quality control and budget accountability.
Experience with the residential and/or C&I; markets and with related energy-efficient and renewable technologies.

Preferred Skills/Experience:

Master’s degree.
An understanding of energy management, regulatory support, design, account management, and engineering.
Industry certifications, professional affiliations, and publications.
Knowledge of energy efficiency and US policies for residential, commercial and industrial sectors.
Knowledge of water efficiency issues
Knowledge of sustainable building practices and technologies.
Experience managing consulting projects for electric utilities or public benefit agencies, or for the Department of Energy, Federal Energy and Regulatory Commission, or Environmental Protection Agency.
Experience with implementation of corporate energy management programs and continuous improvement standards, such as ISO 50001.

ICF offers an excellent benefits package, an award winning talent development program, and fosters a highly skilled, energized and empowered workforce. For more information: please visit our Career Center at www.icfi.com/careers/.

Ohio Environmental Council: Scenic River Intern

The Ohio Environmental Council (OEC) is seeking an intern to assist with the OEC's scenic river work. The intern will work with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources to assist in holding Stream Quality Monitoring (SQM) trainings, training volunteers on SQM, collecting data on scenic rivers, and entering in data into the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) water quality monitoring database.

Responsibilities

Assist Scenic River Coordinators plan and implement SQM trainings
Possibly train volunteers how to collect data using SQM
Collecting data using SQM on streams around the state
Entering past SQM data into the Ohio EPA's water quality monitoring database

Qualifications

Biology background in aquatic entomology and knowledge of macro-invertebrates preferred
Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal
Excellent interpersonal skills
Self-motivated and flexible
Detailed oriented

Status: Small stipend available of $500

Time Commitment

10 hours/week minimum.Subject to intern schedule.

The Organization

The OEC’s mission is to secure healthy air, land, and water for all who call Ohio home. The OEC is a statewide, nonprofit environmental advocacy organization with a full-time staff of 17, a 20-member Board of Directors, more than 100 group members, more than 3,000 individual members, and thousands of e-activists. The OEC’s annual budget is approximately $1.5 million, with three-quarters coming from foundation grants, and the rest coming from private donors. The OEC is Ohio’s leading advocate for fresh air, clean water, and sustainable land use and has a widely respected 40-year history of innovation, pragmatism, and success. Using legislative initiatives, legal action, scientific principles, and statewide partnerships, we secure a healthier environment for Ohio’s families and communities. Additional information about the organization and its programs can be found on our website.

To Apply: Send your resume to oec@theoec.org with “Scenic Rivers Intern” in the subject line.

Deadline: Tuesday, May 13, 2014

Seminars and Courses

Summer Meeting at Stone Lab, Thursday, 12 June 2014

1:00-5:00 PM

Stone Lab

BACKGROUND HISTORY

The Great Lakes Aquatic Ecosystem Research Consortium (GLAERC) was formed in 1992 within the Ohio Sea Grant College Program to bring together aquatic scientists from colleges and universities across Ohio in response to a call for Consortia Proposals from the Ohio Board of Regents. With Jeff Reutter as the Director of Ohio Sea Grant and GLAERC, the founding members included: Bowling Green State University (Dr. Rex Lowe), Heidelberg University (Drs. David Baker, Kenneth Krieger, and R. Peter Richards), Kent State University (Drs. Robert Heath, Stephen Cabaniss, and Karl Havens), Miami University (Drs. Michael Vanni and Sheldon Guttman), and Ohio State University (Drs. Susan Fisher, David Culver, and Roy Stein). The Consortium rapidly grew to twelve institutions with the addition of Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland State University, John Carroll University, Ohio University, the University of Mount Union, the University of Toledo, and Wright State University.

The mission of GLAERC is to make Ohio’s top scientists more effective and competitive for federal funding, and thereby to enhance their ability to address the critical issues and problems affecting Ohio’s surface waters. GLEARC strives to enhance collaboration, cooperation, and communication between its member investigators, encourage the development of multi-institutional proposals, and to aid in the sharing of equipment and facilities. Historically, there has been no cost to join GLAERC, but each participating institution has agreed to support the participation of its member faculty and to designate an individual to serve as the Institutional Representative from that school. Stone Laboratory serves as the Consortium’s shared research facility. With very minor updates, the following sections on Goals, Institutional Commitment, and Advantages of Membership come directly from the original formative documents.

GOALS

The overall goals of the Great Lakes Aquatic Ecosystem Research Consortium are:

to enhance the ability of research scientists at Ohio’s colleges and universities to compete effectively for federal research dollars as Consortium members and as individuals;
to create a true center of excellence in aquatic ecosystem research and management by combining the nationally recognized expertise of scientists at Ohio’s great academic institutions;
to enhance opportunities for cooperation and collaboration between scientists at some of Ohio’s major research institutions;
to coordinate and focus some of the best minds in the country on basic research to enhance our understanding of the way aquatic ecosystems function and on applied research addressing critical problems and issues impacting Ohio’s aquatic resources;
to expand opportunities for research by Consortium members at Stone Laboratory, Ohio’s and OSU’s Lake Erie Laboratory since 1895; and
through the participation of the Ohio Sea Grant College Program and specifically its education, communication, and extension components, to assure rapid and maximum utilization of research results, particularly where they can stimulate Ohio’s economy and improve the quality of STEM education in our schools.

SUMMER MEETING 2014 INVITATION

A Meeting for New Ohio Investigators at universities and state and federal agencies from 9:30-12:00 will precede the GLAERC meeting. Our goal with the meeting is to re-invigorate GLAERC by identifying new institutional representatives, review and identify target issues and research priorities, discuss partnership opportunities, learn more about what each of us is doing, and help new investigators meet potential collaborators and partners and better understand the multitude of commissions and agencies operating in both the US and Canada in the Great Lakes region. The New Investigators Meeting will be co-hosted by the Lake Erie Millennium Network and Ohio Sea Grant. You are invited to attend either or both meetings. For those registering in advance, lunch will be provided in the Stone Lab Dining Hall for $15. Both meetings are open to all Ohio investigators and the GLAERC meeting is also a good time for new schools and investigators to get involved.

REGISTRATION

Participation for these programs will be limited to 70 people and lunch registrations will be limited to 60. Please register on our website.

Workshops and Conferences

Building Capacity for Outreach and Engagement Scholarship

May 22, 2014
MLK Auditorium, Hale Hall, 154 W. 12th Ave
Columbus, Ohio

Session 1

9:00 – 11:00 a.m.

“Engagement Scholarship 101: Building Engagement into Your Scholarship”

Session 2

11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

“The Culture of Engagement at The Ohio State University”

Session 3

2:00 – 4:00 p.m.

“Building Bridges Between Our Silos: How Boundary Spanning and Boundary Spanners Can Build Strong Relationships”

Workshop Facilitators

Katherine Loving, MSSW, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Susan Harden, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Education, University of North Carolina-Charlotte

For more detailed information about each session, and information about the facilitators, go to http://go.osu.edu/oeworkshop. Contact Mark McCann in the Office of Outreach and Engagement at 247-7795 or mccann.249@osu.edu for more details.

Understanding Climate Change Risks & Identifying Opportunities for Mitigation and Adaptation in Ohio

Thursday, May 15, 2014

9:00 am - 4:00 pm (lunch provided)

Byrd Polar Research Center, The Ohio State University

On March 30, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released Climate Change 2014: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability and in February, Climate Change: Evidence and Causes was published jointly by the National Academy of Sciences and the Royal Society. Both documents provide summaries of the current science of climate change, but what does this information mean for local businesses, government agencies, and the people of Ohio?

The impacts of climate change are evident and will become more widespread and pervasive over the next half-century. Regardless of your role, it is critical to gather the knowledge you need to make informed decisions, assess risk, develop sustainable solutions, and enhance opportunities for mitigation and adaptation, as we shape our collective future.

We invite you to learn more about the impacts of climate change on agriculture, forests, infrastructure, public health, and Lake Erie from some of Ohio State’s most respected scientists. Please join us on May 15 for Understanding Climate Change Risks and Identifying Opportunities for Mitigation and Adaptation in Ohio.

Keynote Speaker:

Rear Admiral Jonathan White, Director, U. S. Navy Task Force for Climate Change

Speakers:

Dr. Lonnie Thompson, Dr. Jeff Reutter, Dr. Ellen Mosley-Thompson, Dr. Peter Curtis, Dr. Jiyoung Lee, Dr. Richard Moore and Paula Brooks, Franklin County Commissioner

Questions? Contact Jason Cervenec, cervenec.1@osu.edu, 614.688.0080

Funding and Papers

RFP: Synthesis Research for Graduate Students

The National Socio-Environmental Synthesis Center (SESYNC) seeks proposals for independent synthesis research by graduate student teams focused on two broad themes:

Cities in Sustainable Resource Management
Surprise in Human Adaptation to Environmental Change

The goal of this program is to engage graduate students and to offer experiential opportunities in team science, socio-environmental synthesis research, and transdisciplinary collaboration.

Teams will conduct an independent synthesis research project (“Pursuit”), which involves a series of face-to-face meetings at our Center in Annapolis, MD. Graduate student Pursuits will last 12–18 months and involve up to three meetings of approximately three days each at our Center. Although the composition and number of participants in each Pursuit will depend upon the skills, expertise, backgrounds, and time necessary to complete the proposed activities, we anticipate that core teams will be composed of 5–7 PhD students. In addition to the PhD students, Pursuit teams may also recruit up to three "external experts" whose targeted experience can provide supplemental input on how synthesis products may yield actionable outcomes. If recruited, external experts will supplement the activities of the core team as needed, and may include, for example, policy professionals, decision makers, government analysts, academic faculty, postdocs, NGO workers, master’s students, undergraduate students, and members from end-user communities.

SESYNC will provide support for travel and accommodations for all team members to attend meetings at the Center in Annapolis. Additional resources and expertise—particularly in areas of data aggregation, computational science, and informatics—may be available through SESYNC.Upon Pursuit completion, each core team member will receive a $2,000.00 stipend and the title of SESYNC Graduate Student Fellow.

More Information & Submission Instructions:

Visit SESYNC for complete opportunity details.

Applications are due July 30, 2014.

National Wildlife Federation’s Emerging Leader Fellowship Program

Calling ALL young environmental leaders - current college students and post-grad young professionals!

National Wildlife Federation’s Emerging Leader Fellowship Program is currently accepting applications for our 2014 class of Emerging Leader Fellows.

This year, the Emerging Leader Fellowship program will be a one-year intensive leadership development program for 10 select young professionals and 10 college students interested in leadership opportunities, additional skill trainings, and support from a diverse network of peers and mentors. The focus of this year’s fellowship will be on leadership and professional development, providing in-depth development opportunities throughout the program. By focusing on intense leadership and professional development, skills learned can be used in a wide range of settings to advance career and educational objectives.

Fellows will have the unique opportunity to develop leadership skills through:

Professional development trainings and networking throughout the fellowship term;
Opportunities to represent NWF at conferences and events related to your fellowship;
Support in identifying funds for your work or project;
One-on-one coaching sessions with the training facilitator(s);
Strategic and administrative support for your project from NWF Staff; and
Attending a four day in-person intensive leadership training retreat.

Please visit NWF to learn more and APPLY.

Miscellaneous

Webinars by outreach, education, and diversity partners in May and June

Each year, Ohio State has faculty who submit proposals to the NSF Faculty Early Career Development program. The NSF CAREER program has a strong emphasis on the integration of faculty research with outreach, education, and diversity efforts.

To help familiarize CAREER applicants with potential proposal partners, STEM Initiatives is offering a series of webinars in May and June that highlight programs that are interested in collaborating on outreach, undergraduate education, or diversity efforts. Ohio State's NSF CAREER applicants are encouraged to watch the webinars, but they are open to anyone who is interested in learning more about the highlighted programs.

Previous webinar presenters have included OSU Extension, UCAT, WOSU, the Office of Diversity and Inclusion (videorecordings available at the Brown Bag webinars information page). Upcoming webinars are described below:

COSI "Portal to the Public" program connects scientists to public

Andy Aichele (Director of Human Capital Development at COSI) describes COSI's professional development to help scientists communicate their research to public audiences during this Adobe Connect webinar on Wednesday (5/14) from 12-1 p.m. Portal to the Public cohorts participate in a series of workshops focused on creating interactives based on current research. The cohort culminates with a science career day at COSI, featuring face-to-face public interactions that promote appreciation and understanding of current scientific research and its application. Register today!

Research, outreach, and evaluation: The OSU-COSI connection

As a researcher, working with COSI can provide many exciting opportunities to conduct research and access a diverse public audience. Rita Deedrick and members of COSI's Center for Research and Evaluation describe how to connect with the museum to further your research agenda, provide research findings to the general public in a unique learning atmosphere, and evaluate your outreach efforts during this Adobe Connect webinar on Friday (5/23) from 12-1 p.m. Register today!

Summer youth STEM programs at the Ohio Supercomputer Center

Offered through the Ohio Supercomputer Center, the Summer Institute and Young Women’s Summer Institute focus on engaging young minds in STEM education through firsthand access to high performance computing and networking. Both programs offer participants hands-on experiences and the practical knowledge they need to continue their interests in STEM education. Learn more about what OSC has to offer and how you can help through fulfillment of your NSF broader engagement requirements during this webinar on Tuesday (5/27) from 12-1 p.m. Register today!

The good, the bad and the ugly of engaging schools

Kate Harkin, director of Ohio State’s P12 Initiative, will offer insights and suggestions on ways to establish productive and mutually beneficial relationships with schools - a foundation for research success - during a STEM Initiatives Virtual Brown Bag Carmen Connect webinar on Wednesday (6/11) from noon-1 p.m. Jack Conrath, former superintendent of Whitehall City Schools and director of the College of Education and Human Ecology’s Superintendent’s Licensure Program will co-present. Register today!

The Ohio LSAMP Alliance: Supporting STEM undergraduates from underrepresented groups

The Ohio LSAMP Alliance is an NSF-funded program that works to increase the recruitment, retention, persistence and attainment of degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) by underrepresented students at eleven Ohio institutions of higher education, including four community colleges. Barbara Fink and other members of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion will describe how faculty and staff can collaborate with LSAMP on faculty-mentored undergraduate research and other programming during this Adobe Connect webinar on Friday (6/13) from 12-1 p.m. Register today!