SAVE THE FROGS! has officially opened its first international branch, SAVE THE FROGS! Ghana, based in Kumasi, Ghana, West Africa. Africa is fraught with both social and environmental problems, and Ghana is an excellent location from which to initiate SAVE THE FROGS! programs that we plan to spread far and wide across the African continent. SAVE THE FROGS! Founder Dr. Kerry Kriger and Vice President Jonathan Tourzan were in Ghana for the month of September implementing SAVE THE FROGS! programs in schools and universities, and training SAVE THE FROGS! Ghana’s Executive Director & Ecologist Gilbert Adum to lead Africa’s amphibious revolution.

We are extremely excited about SAVE THE FROGS! Ghana, which is already receiving widespread support from Ghana’s people, and which will serve as a model for future SAVE THE FROGS! branches in many countries around the world. Ghana is an extremely poor country with very few internal funding opportunities and thus SAVE THE FROGS! Ghana relies on your support — wherever you are in the world — in order to get this much needed project off the ground. Twenty dollars goes a long way in Ghana, so we can assure you that your donation (which can be placed through STF! America) will help save many frogs!

SAVE THE FROGS! Founder Dr. Kerry Kriger speaks to 7th graders in Kpetoe, Volta Region, eastern Ghana:

Meet Gilbert Adum, Executive Director of SAVE THE FROGS! Ghana:

The E. E. Williams Research Grant Committee is now accepting applications for the Herpetologists’ League E.E. Williams Graduate Student Grant for graduate research (full announcement attached). These awards are named in honor of the late Ernest E. Williams, the first Distinguished Herpetologist of The Herpetologists’ League.

We are soliciting proposals from graduate students from any country in the world who is (or becomes) a member of the Herpetologists’ League (cost for students is US$35 [on-line only] or $60 [with print copies of the journals]). Winners are selected in each of 5 categories (conservation, behavior, morphology/systematics, ecology, and physiology) and will be announced at the World Congress of Herpetology, this year’s meeting venue for herpetologists belonging to the Herpetologists’ League, the Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, and the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists.

In an effort to reach more students, we are broadening our advertising for this grant and we would appreciate it if you could post the attached notice on your website or in your journal. As the proposals are due in mid December, a posting date before November would be most appropriate, but earlier postings are welcome.

We would like to point out that the grant is now in the amount US$1000.00 for each category.

Please let me know if you intend to post information about this grant. For more information on this grant and on the Herpetologists’ League, please go to:

http://www.herpetologistsleague.org and http://www.herpetologistsleague.org/dox/eewilliamsgrant.pdf

Thank you very much for your time.

Sincerely,
Ann Paterson
E. E. Williams Research Grant Committee
870-759-4171
apaterson@wbcoll.edu

JONES-LOVICH GRANT IN SOUTHWESTERN HERPETOLOGY

Thanks to the generosity of Larry Jones and Rob Lovich, 100% of the proceeds from the sale of their book, Lizards of the American Southwest (2009, Rio Nuevo Press), goes to support herpetological field research in the American Southwest. HL student members have the chance to compete for a single $1000 grant each year.

1. An award ($1000.00) will be presented to one winner who is studying the amphibians or reptiles of the North American Southwest, including the southwestern United States or northwestern Mexico. This research can focus on any aspect of amphibian or reptile
biology, including behavior, conservation, ecology, physiology, or morphology and systematics.

2. See the HL web site for application form, complete rules and details, along with the cover page at:

http://www.herpetologistsleague.org/dox/joneslovichgrant.pdf

3. Entries must be received by 5:00 pm Pacific Time on 9 January 2012.

4. Send complete application (cover page, proposal, budget, CV) as a single PDF electronically to: Carol Spencer at

atrox@berkeley.edu

Please put ‘‘Jones-Lovich Research Grant’’ in the subject line.

5. One letter of support should be sent, preferably by email,
directly from the supporter to Carol Spencer at

atrox@berkeley.edu

6. Proposals will be reviewed by at least three professional scientists from the Jones-Lovich Grant Committee, and written feedback will be provided to the students by April 2012.

7. Funding will be dispersed in April 2012 and winners announced at 2012 World Congress of Herpetology in Vancouver, B.C.

THE RULES

1. The applicant must be a member in good standing of The Herpetologists’ League.
2. Both M.S. and Ph.D. graduate students are eligible. The applicant must be registered and in good standing in a degree-granting program.
3. One proposal is allowed per applicant per year.
4. The project must be original work that is authored and conducted by the applicant.
5. Projects that are already fully supported by other sources are not eligible.
6. The research must involve amphibians or reptiles that occur in the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. The animals’ distribution must include at least one of the following states: Arizona, California, Nevada, Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico,
Utah, Chihuahua, Sonora, Sinaloa, Baja California, Baja California Sur, Coahuila, Zacatecas, Durango, Nuevo Leon, or San Luis Potosi.

PREPARATION GUIDELINES
(also check the HL website for updates to these details)

1. Word limit: 1200 words, not including citations, budget, cover page or CV.
2. Double spaced, 12 pt font.
3. Margins: 1 inch.
4. Include the cover page provided at the HL website.
5. Include a detailed budget, as well as sources and amounts of current and pending support.
6. Include a two-page CV that includes telephone number, and e-mail and mailing addresses.
7. Arrange in advance for one letter of support to be sent separately by the supporter.

This announcement brought to you courtesy of:
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
3 October 2011

Position Title: M.S. Assistantship (wetland amphibian conservation)

Agency/Location: Iowa State University, Dept. of Natural Resource Ecology and Management, Ames, IA http://www.nrem.iastate.edu/

Responsibilities: Conduct research on conservation of amphibians in agricultural landscapes. The study will be carried out under the direction of scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey-Iowa Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit and Iowa State
University in collaboration with scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey–Fort Collins Science Center and the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. Research will evaluate the effectiveness of constructed wetlands as amphibian habitats as reflected in water quality, evidence of reproduction and population size estimates of native amphibians. The student will carry out all aspects of the project with guidance from supervisors. The student will supervise one or more field technicians, maintain quality control of data collection, analysis, archiving, preparation of annual progress reports and other routine duties as needed. Completion of the project will serve as partial fulfillment of the requirements for a M.S. degree from Iowa State University. Other requirements include satisfactory completion of coursework, a teaching experience, and submission of
one or more manuscripts for publication.

Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in wildlife biology, ecology, zoology, biology, environmental science, or related field. Coursework and research/internship experience in herpetology, aquatic ecology, wetlands, wildlife biology, population assessment, and environmental science is highly desirable. Candidates with demonstrated written and oral communication skills and strong academic credentials are preferred. Must be physically capable and willing to work long hours in demanding outdoor conditions. For departmental graduate admission requirements and other information see
(http://www.nrem.iastate.edu/graduate/admissions.php).

Salary/Benefits: $19,000/year, benefits and 50% tuition waiver (tuition is in-state)

Closing/Starting Dates: Open until filled – review of applications begins October 17,
2011. Starting date January 9, 2012.

Contact: Send pre-application (cover letter, résumé, transcripts and GRE scores) electronically to Dr. Clay Pierce, Dept. of Natural Resource Ecology and Management, Iowa State University, cpierce@iastate.edu. (Transcripts and GRE scores can be
unofficial scans of your copies for the pre-application.)

A postdoctoral position is available in lab of Dr. Karen Lips, Department of Biology,
University of Maryland, College Park. Creative and enthusiastic candidates are invited to
apply for a Postdoctoral Scientist position working at the intersection of disease ecology
and amphibian conservation in the neotropics. Dr. Lips is working on a variety of projects
related to the abundance and diversity of amphibians and the impact of Batrachochytrium
dendrobatidis (Bd) on individuals, populations, and species at multiple
sites in Central and South America. The position will focus on host-pathogen interactions
at multiple spatial scales, including large-scale field surveys, indoor/outdoor
experiments, and spatial analyses at multiple scales.

To qualify, applicants should have a background in disease ecology, mark-recapture
techniques, population biology, physiology, or related field, demonstration of strong
analytical and writing skills, a record of consistent and high-quality publications, and the
ability to work independently. Preference will be given to applicants who have experience
in Latin America, working with host-pathogen systems, physiology and/or in population
biology.

Primary responsibilities of this position include: (1) conducting mark-recapture studies of
target species of amphibians at multiple sites in Panama and Costa Rica, (2) quantifying
disease prevalence of infection among species, habitats and sites, (3) studying amphibian
thermal physiology, (4) analyzing data and writing manuscripts, (5) contributing to
preparation of grant proposals for future work, and (6) coordinating projects of
undergraduate students involved in similar research in the lab.

Starting salary is $36,000 plus University of Maryland benefits. Funds are available for one
year, and renewable for a second pending satisfactory progress. This position will be
based at the University of Maryland, College Park, but will include fieldwork in Central and
South America. Starting date is negotiable.

Review of applications will begin 1 September 2009 and continue until a suitable
candidate is found. Target start date is Fall 2009. Interested applicants should send a pdf
of their CV, contact information for four references, and a brief statement of research
interests to

Dr. Karen R. Lips
Department of Biology
University of Maryland
College Park, Maryland 20742
klips@umd.edu

NEWS RELEASE by:
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas

http://www.cnah.org

11 August 2009

NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
23 March 2009

SALAMANDER RESEARCH POSITION FOR JUNE-AUGUST 2009

I am looking for one or two field assistants to help with research on Long-toed
Salamanders in the Pacific Northwest this summer. The field season will run from June
until the end of August. The job involves helping to locate and catch salamanders, taking
notes and conducting habitat analyses. There is also a small laboratory component during
which the assistant will help with DNA extractions and PCR.

Qualifications:

1) Experience hiking and camping required. Preference will be given to applicants with previous field experience.
2) Physically fit. The job will involve hiking to field sites with gear, actively looking for salamanders and long stretches of time outdoors.
3) A willingness to learn, enthusiasm for research and full dedication to the project
4) Must be comfortable working and living in small groups
5) Driver‚s license and first aid certification, are not required but are helpful

Additional Requirements:

1) Canadian citizenship or valid work permit for Canada
2) Successful applicant must have valid health insurance, including coverage in Canada
and the USA for the duration of the field season.

Salary:

Will depend on experience but, at a minimum, will be more than sufficient to cover living
expenses during the field season

Other Benefits:

1) Learn about amphibians and get experience in the field
2) Great for outdoors enthusiasts as there is lots of hiking, camping, etc. involved
3) An interesting way to see the Western United States and Canada (Alberta, British
Columbia, Montana, Washington and Idaho)
4) Opportunities for credit and/or an independent project can be discussed

Deadlines:

I will be accepting applications until April 15 but interviews will commence before then as
I am hoping to fill this position by May. If interested, please contact Julie Lee-Yaw at:

lee-yaw@zoology.ubc.ca

for more information and to obtain an application form.

Julie A. Lee-Yaw
Graduate Student
Zoology Department
University of British Columbia

NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
4 March 2009

SALAMANDER SEASONAL TECHNICIAN

Agency: Purdue University, Department of Forestry and Natural Resources
Location: Southwestern North Carolina

Job Description: A seasonal field technician is needed for research investigating headwater
stream community ecology in the southern Appalachian Mountains. Field work will involve capturing, identifying, gut flushing, and measuring salamanders found in and around headwater streams, as well as collecting water quality data and aquatic macro-invertebrates. Laboratory work will involve identifying salamander gut contents and processing water samples, although the majority of the work will be field based. Field work will begin in late May and last through the middle of August.

Qualifications: Successful applicants must be able to work long hours in sometimes
inclement weather while hiking in mountainous terrain. Preference will be given to applicants with a strong interest in stream ecology, herpetology, community ecology, or wildlife conservation. Previous experience working in the field or with salamanders is desirable, but not required. To apply please send a resume, brief statement of interest (1-2 paragraphs), and contact information for two references to Conor Keitzer at:

skeitzer@purdue.edu

Salary: $8.50/hour and housing will be provided at a field research station.

Last Date to Apply: Open until filled.

Contact Information:

S. Conor Keitzer
Graduate Research Assistant
Forestry and Natural Resources
Purdue University
715 W State Street
West Lafayette, Indiana 47907-2061
(765) 494-9597

NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas

http://www.cnah.org

17 February 2009

Job Announcement

BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE TECHNICIAN (AMPHIBIANS)
GS-0404-08 USGS
PATUXENT WILDLIFE RESEARCH CENTER

The USGS Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative Northeast program will be hiring a full time biological science technician to support research in amphibian populations in the northeastern United States.

This is a term position: to be filled for one year, renewable for up to three years. The technician will be a member of a science team conducting amphibian surveys at National Parks and National Wildlife Refuges in Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia (e.g. C&O Canal National Historic Park, Patuxent Research Refuge, Prince William Forest Park, Rock Creek Park, and Shenandoah National Park).

Field work involves identifying, catching, measuring, and marking amphibians, and collecting water quality and environmental data. The technician will be required to conduct field surveys using techniques including visual encounter surveys, dip netting, stream transect searches, temporary removal sampling, and conducting a mark-recapture study using visual implant elastomer. All fieldwork will be conducted as part of teams of 2-3
people, so a demonstrated ability and desire to work effectively with a group is imperative.

In addition, the technician provides support for the ARMI lead researcher by completing data processing (data entry and quality control). The technician creates summaries, and conducts preliminary analyses as directed by supervisory researchers. The technician also completes graphical presentations of field and laboratory data as needed for publication and other presentations. The position also requires database and website management.

Previous field experience with amphibians common in the northeastern US is highly recommended. The position requires the use of GPS units, digital cameras, and computer software for data entry and presentation (e.g. Microsoft Excel, Access). The successful applicant may also be asked to mark amphibians with injectable florescent elastomer.

Most of the work is outdoors, sometimes under harsh or hot conditions or in rain. The position requires good physical condition, as the job requires long hours in the field (including some night-time surveys) and hiking with up to 25 pounds of equipment. Some overnight travel may be required.

The position will be located at the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center in Laurel, Maryland, and will be advertised at the GS-08 level.

Please apply for the position through the:

usajobs.gov website

and search under position # ER-2009-0132.

For more information contact:

Evan Grant
USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center
12100 Beech Forest Road
Laurel, Maryland 20708-4038
ehgrant@usgs.gov (preferred)