Job openings: internships, summer field work and even a few "real" jobs

For all those students and recent graduates who are going to be looking for work this summer, now is the time to start paying attention (there are even a few "real" jobs showing up). Jobs and internships have started to be advertised and are often popping up until around February/March, so keep your eyes peeled. Check the SVP jobs page for updates as well.

Here are a few that are currently open:

2012 GeoCorp Positions (applications due by February 1, 2012) -

• Badlands National Park (Interior, SD):  Field Paleontologist
• Badlands National Park (Interior, SD): Quarry Paleontologist
• Dinosaur National Monument (Jensen, UT): Field Paleontologist (2 Positions)
• Dinosaur National Monument (Jensen, UT): Information Technology / Paleontologist
• Great Basin National Park (Baker, NV): Field Paleontologist (2 Positions)
• Bryce Canyon National Park (Bryce Canyon, UT): Field Paleontologist / Geomorphologist / Geologist 
• Wind Cave National Park (Hot Springs, SD): Field Paleontologist / Preparator / Curator
• John Day Fossil Beds National Monument (Kimberly, OR): Geologist / Paleontologist
• John Day Fossil Beds National Monument (Kimberly, OR): Geologist / Paleontologist [Guest Scientist] *
• Grand Canyon National Park (South Rim, AZ): Paleontologist
• Denali National Park and Preserve (AK): Paleontologist / GIS Technician (2 positions)
• Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument (Florissant, CO): Paleontology / Museum Intern (2 Positions)
• Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument (Florissant, CO): Paleontology Intern [Diversity Internship] **
• Guadalupe Mountains National Park (Salt Flat, TX): Paleontology Technician 
• Fossil Butte National Monument (Kemmerer, WY): Public Education Geology / Paleontology (2 Positions)
• Fossil Butte National Monument (Kemmerer, WY): Paleontology Museum Technician [Diversity Internship] **
• White Sands National Monument (Alamogordo, NM): Field Paleontologist [Diversity Internship] **

Petrified Forest National Park
Petrified Forest National Park in northeastern Arizona currently has a position open for a GS-7 Physical Science Technician. This is a full-time seasonal position that will start in May of 2012 and continuing through August of 2012 (dates are flexible for students). This position will be the lead for a field based program working in exposures of the Upper Triassic Chinle Formation, including intensive prospecting as well as excavation of vertebrate fossils from existing quarries.  As the lead this person will oversee all aspects of field work including daily supervision of student interns. This position will work closely with the Park Paleontologist to successfully carryout and document this work. Interested applicants should have experience in the collection of vertebrate fossils, especially successful construction and removal of field jackets as well as the willingness/ability to supervise this type of work. This is a U. S. federal government position open to all U.S. citizens. The incumbent must possess a valid U. S. drivers license. This job also requires the successful completion of a background check as currently required for all U. S. Federal positions.

For more information and to apply please see the current job announcement at www.usajobs.gov
(http://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/303892400). Please review all details especially the section on "How to Apply".

The position will close on December 9, 2011.


The Wyoming Dinosaur Center 

The Wyoming Dinosaur Center is looking for undergraduate and graduate students interested in paleontology, biology, geology and education to help with summer programs. Responsibilities will include excavation of dinosaur quarries, tours, cleaning fossils in the prep lab, assist in the molding and casting lab, and participation in the Dig-for-a-Day and Kids Dig programs. No paleontology field experience is necessary but preferred. Preference will also be given to those with an interest in Morrison Fm. fauna and associated paleoenvironments in the Big Horn Basin. Housing is provided. Valid drivers license is required. Training will begin May 24th, please send resume. For more information contact Angie Guyon at angie@wyodino.org


"REAL" JOB ALERTS: 

1. GS-7 Museum Technician (Fossil Preparator, permanent full time), Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument: Primary duties will be preparation of Pliocene-aged mammals from the Hagerman Horse Quarry. This position closes December 9th and can be found on USAJOBS.
2. Assistant or Associate Professor in Paleontology, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology -  The Department of Geology and Geological Engineering at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology invites applications for a nine-month tenure track position in paleontology at the Assistant or Associate Professor level. The successful applicant should have a robust background in analytical paleontology, such as geochemical applications in paleontology, and will teach courses and advise student research at the undergraduate and graduate level. He or she is expected to develop an externally funded research program that complements current departmental research strengths. The department offers BS, MS and Ph.D. degrees with emphases in geology or paleontology, including an MS in Paleontology. The Museum of Geology’s paleontology collections, consisting of 500,000+ specimens, are housed in the James E. Martin Paleontology Research Laboratory. A Ph.D. in geology or a closely related field is required at the time of appointment. Nine-month salary range will be commensurate with background and experience. Application deadline: February 1, 2012 [link]
3. Vertebrate Paleontologist: Assistant or Associate Professor, Fort Hays State University - Fort Hays State University is seeking a Vertebrate Paleontologist at the Assistant or Associate Professor level (tenure track) beginning June 11, 2012. This position is a joint appointment between the Department of Geosciences (0.5 FTE) and the Sternberg Museum of Natural History (0.5 FTE). ...  Preference will be given to individuals with knowledge of vertebrate fossils from the Late Cretaceous or Late Cenozoic of the Great Plains....Application deadline: January 15, 2012 [link] 
4. Earth Sciences Collection Manager, University of Alaska Museum - The Earth Science Department at the University of Alaska Museum in Fairbanks seeks a full time Collections Manager to help oversee its paleontological and geological collection. The Collections Manager’s responsibilities include the day-to-day care and organization of the collection, managing collections data using a computerized database (Arctos), specimen preparation and conservation, supervising students and volunteers, administering loans, and public contact. ... The minimum qualifications are a Master’s degree in a related field (paleontology, biology, geology, museum science) or equivalent training and experience. Preference is given to applicants who have are familiar with using a relational database, and have at least two years experience conducting fossil preparation. To view a full position description or apply for the job, go to: www.uakjobs.com/applicants/Central?quickFind=75729 Application deadline: December 15, 2011 [link]

Good luck to all the applicants! 

* This position is classified as "Guest Scientist" positions. This position generally requires a higher level of qualifications and may involve a longer project and a higher stipend. Past GeoCorps participants can ONLY apply to Guest Scientist positions. Those who have not participated in GeoCorps before can also apply. To see details and eligibility requirements, please go to the About GeoCorps page.


** The following positions are part of the GeoCorps Diversity Internship Program and the GeoCorps American Indian Internship Program. To see details and eligibility requirements, please go to the GeoCorps Diversity Internship home page and the GeoCorps American Indian Internship home page.


© ReBecca K. Hunt-Foster

SVP prep calendars available online

Just a note to remind everyone that the SVP prep calendars are now available online!! They are only $20 (+ shipping) and all of the funds go into the pot for the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology Preparator's Grant! Its a great cause and a cool calendar to have hanging around your lab, office, or home. We had one in our lab last year and it was so popular that I ordered a new one for our lab today!



© ReBecca K. Hunt-Foster

Proposed Mining on Ellesmere Island

Please check out this link for important information regarding proposed mining on Ellesmere Island.

"A proposed coal mining project by Westar Resources, Inc. on Ellesmere Island (Nunavut) in Canada's eastern High Arctic is currently under review by the Nunavut Impact Review Board (NIRB), an environmental assessment agency established under the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement whose objectives are to protect and promote the well-being of the residents, communities and ecosystems of Nunavut. The proposed development area includes fossil sites of a broad range of ages that include some of the most significant sites in the world, and the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology (SVP) is deeply concerned over the possible loss of these valuable resources...."

Continue reading here.

Pachycephalosaurus-Stygimoloch-Dracorex debate now in print (sort of)

At the 2007 Society of Vertebrate Paleontology meeting Jack Horner presented a talk on Pachycephalosaurus, Stygimoloch and Dracorex, basically saying that Stygimoloch and Dracorex are growth stages of Pachycephalosaurus. This talk has been being debated pretty much every day since it was given by someone (see an example of past blog post discussion here). Now people can finally read the findings of Horner and Goodwin in PLoS ONE (here). As I have not even had a chance to read it yet I will leave the analyzing and debating to the numerous other blog post that I am sure will start to trickle in today and throughout the rest of the week. Enjoy!

Dracorex (top left) and Stygimoloch (top right), as growth stages of Pachycephalosaurus (bottom). Art by Holly Woodward from the November 23rd, 2007 issue of Science.

Citation: Horner JR, Goodwin MB (2009) Extreme Cranial Ontogeny in the Upper Cretaceous Dinosaur Pachycephalosaurus. PLoS ONE 4(10): e7626. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0007626 (link)

Horner JR, Goodwin MB, Woodward H (2007) Synonymy consequences of dinosaur cranial ontogeny. J Vert Paleont 27: 92A

Amateur!!

Where does you mind go to when you hear someone, or yourself, called an amateur? Are you offended? Are you indifferent? Do you smile and say, "Yes I am, thank you!"?

A post tonight on the Perogative of Harlots blog got me thinking....For those of you who are members of the Vert Paleo Listserve you may have noticed the recent outburst of arguing (friendly debating?). For those of you who are not on the list, a bit of background: Post have been going back and forth recently about the Paleontological Resources Preservation Act [information at the SVP site can be found here]. Some members of the list are worried that this bill will take away the rights of "amateur" fossil collectors and/or think more trouble than good will come from it (rangers taking kids fossils away, rangers throwing people in jail/fining them for collecting fossils they will still be able to collect legally because the ranger is not properly trained on what can and can not be collected, peoples private property being seized if they are found to have illegally collected fossils in their possession, ect....).

I, personally, think some of these issues are making a mountain out of a molehill. They may spring from a misunderstanding of the bills wording, a misunderstanding or general lack of information/knowledge regarding current policies and practices, general suspicion of anyone who is a paid paleontologist, someone who may have had a bad (or many bad) experiences, others with (what appears to be) a very large chip on their shoulder.....this list could go on, and I just call it as I see it.

As much as you try to help them see the light or explain how things are now and what the bill will or will not change, it does not seem to mater. It is always something. And there are certain people you just cannot please, no mater what you say. They should, in my opinion, be sent the direct answers to their questions, without screwing with their head and creating a feeding their frenzy of back and forth emailing. Just answer them and let them go. If they keep pushing, hit delete. Let it go. Don't let it get to you. If people would stop pushing their 'buttons', they would stop pushing back. (Hopefully.)

My question is, WTF is the big deal with the whole "Amateur" vs. "Professional" crap anyway?

What defines a "Amateur?" What defines a "Professional?" Why do we even need to be classified? Why do people get so mad about being called one or the other!?

I am not going to refer to Wikipedia for my definitions. Why would you cite a source where you can go in and create the definition you want in the first place? Lets start with "Amateur," from Webster:

Amateur
One entry found.
Main Entry: am·a·teur
Pronunciation: \ˈa-mə-(ˌ)tər, -ˌtu̇r, -ˌtyu̇r, -ˌchu̇r, -chər\
Function: noun
Etymology: French, from Latin amator lover, from amare to love
Date: 1784

1 : devotee , admirer
2 : one who engages in a pursuit, study, science, or sport as a pastime rather than as a profession
3 : one lacking in experience and competence in an art or science


Two of the three definitions here are positive! What is wrong with being a devotee of fossils?! An admirer of fossils?! One who engages in the pursuit, study, science, or sport of paleontology as a pastime rather than as a profession!? Sounds pretty sweet and stress free to me! No need to worry about what school you are going to/went to. No need to worry about getting that one to five jobs that come up in a year, competing against the 500 students who are currently members of SVP and will be looking for jobs in the very near future (not to mention all the un/underemployed PhD paleontologist out there looking for jobs). You could go on digs, collect fossils, research, anything you love that has to do with fossils at your leisure! Sounds pretty nice! And to quote an amateur "I consider myself to be a kind of dedicated amateur. I am here for the love of it." ~ Priscilla McKenna. I think that sums it up and is what it should all be about. What is so wrong with that!?

So why do people get all offended about being called an amateur? Why do they immediately have to zone in on the negative definition of the word?

and the next...

Professional
Main Entry: pro·fes·sion·al
Pronunciation: \prə-ˈfesh-nəl, -ˈfe-shə-nəl\
Function: noun
Date: 1811

one that is professional ; especially : one that engages in a pursuit or activity professionally

So basically a "professional" paleontologist is one that engages in the pursuit or activity of the studying fossils professionally. But what does the act of being professional include:

Function: adjective
Date: 1606

1 a: of, relating to, or characteristic of a profession b: engaged in one of the learned professions c (1): characterized by or conforming to the technical or ethical standards of a profession (2): exhibiting a courteous, conscientious, and generally businesslike manner in the workplace

2 a: participating for gain or livelihood in an activity or field of endeavor often engaged in by amateurs b: having a particular profession as a permanent career c: engaged in by persons receiving financial return

3: following a line of conduct as though it were a profession

So a professional engages in their learned profession, that is characterized by or conforming to the technical or ethical standards of a profession (such as member of the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology agreeing to uphold the ethics statement of the organization). Or paleontologist exhibiting a courteous, conscientious, and generally businesslike manner in the workplace. Or "professional" paleontologist who make money being paleontologist and doing research/teaching/field work/pursuit/study...of paleontology. To me this does not imply that to be a "professional paleontologist" you need to be a professor or curator of a museum. Professional paleontologist, in my book, include those people, but also include the technicians, collections managers, preparators, grad students, post docs, researchers (federal, state and private), consultants -anyone who studies fossils and gets paid to do so.

I think this last definition is really what heats up the debate. From my perspective, some people are not happy that they either a) do not make money doing paleontology (they are possibly doing something they had not planned on doing/do not like/or are "just getting by" in order to make a livelihood?) or b) feel as though a individual or group of "professional" paleontologist are trying to keep them from making money doing paleontology. I do not understand where all the mean spiritedness and down right hatred comes out though, and why people feel the need to fight and argue about this. It is simple - if you feel the need to be defined as a "professional" paleontologist then get the training (though school, experience, whatever) and get a paying job doing paleontology. If it really bothers you that much. Otherwise, be cool with what you do and quite worrying what defines you (and you probably already know this).

When I look in the mirror, I do not know how to define myself. I am not even sure I need to be defined when it comes to being a paleontologist. I know that I am one, and that is all that should mater to me. I am not sure what others see when they look at me. A amateur paleontologist? I feel as though I am devoted to paleontology and admire fossils. I can fit that description. A professional paleontologist? I make my livelihood at the moment working with fossil. I hope to do this for the rest of my life. Do I have a Ph.D. No. Did I go to college to become trained and better educated in geology and paleontology. Yes. Do I have a degree. Yes. Does it mater? To some yes, to others no. I know several people in paleontology who have contributed greatly to the science and do not have advanced degrees. I look at the armies of volunteers that keep many museums afloat and contribute highly to the field. Without them paleontology would be years behind where we are now. They do not get enough recognition.

This is also not the first time, and sure to not be the last time, the "Amateur" vs. "Professional" debate will happen on the Vert Paleo List. Funny how these people will duke it out online, but get them together in a room and they do not talk about it. At the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology meetings I have attended, while all have been great, I have noticed a voluntary separation that seems to occur. Mammal people hang out with Mammal people. Triassic people hang out with other Triassic people. The Chicago people hang out with other people who went to school in Chicago. The paleo art people group up. The Ornithischian people form herds. The groupies flock after their lords......(generalizations of course).
You get the picture. Some of this is understandable. They may be colleagues you only see once or twice a year, people who have similar interest, school mates.... It is not that it is really a big deal. But if you want people to consider you "part of the group" and not some outlier (or "evil amateur") who no one wants to talk to, you have to jump in there. I wish people would talk about this "Amateur" vs. "Professional" bullshit at the meetings. Maybe meeting face to face and working this crap out would help people. Or lead to some interesting fights. But hopefully it would help, talking face to face. Maybe SVP should have a round table on that!

Why did I not post this on the Vert Paleo list? Because I do not want to bother everyone with my rambling rants like some others there do. If you made it this far, thanks for reading. Let me know what you think!!

(Sorry for the long rant. Thanks to Ville at Dots in Deep Time for the link to the video - a proud amateur himself!
Sorry to the light post as of recently (and in the near future). I have my hands full with my sick cat who I am still feeding through a tube. Hopefully when she is better I will have more time to post. )

© ReBecca K. Hunt-Foster

What is a Paleontologist?

This is the second in a monthly series of articles in the Vernal Express celebrating 100 Years of Discovery at Dinosaur National Monument, written by Dinosaur National Monument Park Guide Matthew Greuel. You can read his first article here, on the Vernal Express website [my previous blog link]. Look for the third article coming soon.

So, what is a Paleontologist?
by Matthew Greuel (01.28.09)

"Start talking paleontology, dinosaurs and other fossils, and often certain images pop up: men in laughably clean khakis and pith helmets removing bones with paintbrushes at digs in remote and exotic desert locations.

Jim Jensen with Supersaurus scapulocoracoid (Jensen 1985). Khakis? ✓ Pith helmet? ✓ Paintbrush? ✓ Remote/exotic location? Depends on your definition of Colorado. I give a partial check.

Scientists tell us that a paleontologist is someone who studies fossils, the remains of long-dead animals.

The Society of Vertebrate Paleontology defines a paleontologist as “a person who studies fossils … Fossils are any naturally occurring objects that tell us about ancient life. They can be bones, teeth, shells, leaf impressions, footprints, insects trapped in amber, or any number of other sorts of things.”

However, what does it really mean to be a paleontologist?

Paleontology, like many other sciences, is a combination of skills and disciplines. Geology, chemistry, biology, botany, math and engineering are among the dominant disciplines.

Fossils are a large and very important chapter in the history of Earth, telling us about different environments and changes that have occurred. Paleontologists use these disciplines to help read fossils and ancient landscapes – read the stories and information they hold, and interpret them and what they mean.

One of, if not the most well known fossil that paleontologists study are dinosaurs. Dinosaurs can be considered a gateway fossil: They have unparalleled power to capture imaginations, especially the imaginations of children, and lead to interest in and study of other sciences.

Think back to when you were young – did dinosaurs not evoke some kind of response? Totally change what you thought is possible in the world? Maybe give you a nightmare or two?..."

Keep reading here.


Original article © Vernal Express; photo1 from SVPOW and Jensen, James A. 1985. Three new sauropod dinosaurs from the Upper Jurassic of Colorado. Great Basin Naturalist 45 (4): 697-709; photo2 from Apropos of Something.

SVP 2008

This year was my 8th time to attend the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology annual meeting. They have all been great meetings, and I love getting to see every one each year and hear about all of the new and exciting research taking place in my field! I take my camera pretty much everywhere I go (in case you might not have noticed), and I love to document the things that happen at these meetings. I have been posting my pictures from SVP every year on my website (Dinochick.com) and I have done the same with this years pictures. I wish I could have posted them a bit more quickly than I have, but that is life, and I do the best I can with the time I have. So please feel free to check out the SVP 2008 pictures. I hope you enjoy them and please feel free to pass them on! I am always open to suggestions also, so if you see something you like, or dislike, please feel free to let me know!
If anyone happens to know any of the people in the pictures below can you please let me know (sorry, it is hard to remember everyone's names at these meetings!). Thanks :)



Who is the girl with the fun shirt?



Who are these three nice men?


Who is the lady to the left please?



Who is Bill talking to here?

We are SVP

If you were not at SVP this past month (and even if you were...), be sure to swing by the SVP website to see the "We Are SVP" video. The video tells the story of the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology: who we are, what we do, and why our work is important. This was debuted at this years meeting and is narrated by Sam Waterston of Law-and-Order fame (I think it is so cool they got him to do it!). You can also watch it chapter by chapter if you do not have time for the entire 33.30 minuets.

John A. Wilson, 1914 - 2008

Dr. John A. Wilson of the University of Texas at Austin passed away yesterday, in Austin, Texas, at the age of 93, where he was surrounded by his family. Dr. Tim Rowe shared the news with those of us on the verpaleo listserver. I thought I would pass the information along for those of you who are not on the list.

In Dr. Rowe's words:

"Jack, as he was known to his many friends, was born on November 3, 1914, in Lawrence, Massachusetts. He received a B.A. degree in 1937 and a Ph.D. in 1941 from the University of Michigan, where he studied under the supervision of E. C. Case. Jack served in the U.S. Naval Reserve during 1943-1945, and saw action in the Pacific during WW II. He taught geology at the University of Idaho School of Mines from 1940-1942 and, following the war, from 1945-1946.

In the fall of 1946, Jack moved to Austin where he joined the staff of the Department of Geology at the University of Texas. He was promoted to Professor of Geology in 1955 and taught until 1976, when he retired and became Professor Emeritus. In 1948, Jack founded the
University of Texas Vertebrate Paleontology Laboratory and its graduate training program. To date, some 90 students have earned graduate degrees from the program that Jack started, and over the course of a long and productive career he touched thousands of students in the most positive ways. Even during his retirement, Jack remained active in field work and was deeply involved in the Texas graduate training program.

Jack was a charter member of the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology. He served the SVP as Secretary-Treasurer from 1949-1951 and as President in 1952. Jack was awarded the Romer-Simpson Medal by the SVP in 2000, at the Mexico City meetings. Jack worked in many
different areas of vertebrate paleontology during his long career, but he is best known for his pioneering research on the Tertiary mammals and biostratigraphy of west Texas and Mexico.

Jack was a giant in our profession and he leaves an exceedingly high standard of professional accomplishment and integrity, a very high bar for the rest of us to live up to."

This is a very sad loss for the field of vertebrate paleontology. To read more about Dr. Wilson's accomplishments please visit the UT Austin Vertebrate Paleontology Lab History page (picture from that page).

Edit: Also see Bill Parker's recollections over at Chinleana

I'm back....

Hello all. I am back from SVP, which was a blast, as always. I unfortunately came home with an unwanted survivor - the cold that was going around. At least it waited till I got home but it had better be gone before my Vegas weekend in a few days with Mr. Jimmy Buffett and the Coral Reefers.

I have a few hundred pictures to post on my website for the 2008 SVP page (see past years here), but as always, enjoy contributions. If you have any pictures you would like to share with me, please drop me a line (or comment). All pictures will be given credit to the appropriate photographer. I feel like including other peoples pictures makes it a better representation of the entire meeting, and not just my perspective. For now you can see a sneak peak here.



Hopefully I will be over this bug soon and will be back to posting. It was great to see those of you who made it to SVP!

Thanks for reading! ~ ReBecca

SVP urges repeal of Louisiana Science Education Act

Here is a recent press release from the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology's website. I miss this one so I thought I would pass it on:

"Deerfield, IL (September 4, 2008) – Today the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology (SVP), the world’s leading organization of vertebrate paleontologists, urges Louisiana citizens and legislators to repeal the “Louisiana Science Education Act” and to prohibit the injection of religious content in America’s public school classrooms. The SVP added its voice to those of other leading scientific societies, scientists and citizens concerned about Louisiana’s new “Science Education Act” (the Act).

The Act was drafted under the guise of “academic freedom” and appeals to cherished values of fairness and free speech. However, SVP says the Act intends to garner support and legal protection for the introduction of religious, creationist concepts, including intelligent design, in public school science curricula. By permitting instructional materials that are not reviewed by the state’s science standards committees, the Louisiana Act and those like it encourage teachers and administrators to work outside these standards. This makes it possible for local school boards to define science and science education to suit their own agendas, thereby compromising the quality of science education for students, and allowing religious discrimination in America’s public school science classrooms."

Link