Freshwater Mussel Fieldwork at a Dam Impoundment in MA

We are seeking a highly motivated student to assist with canoe fieldwork in a dam impoundment in Massachusetts. This work supports a study on predation of stranded freshwater mussels during a dam removal. This position will entail loading/unloading boats on a vehicle, driving to a field location, paddling along an impoundment, and conducting a freshwater mussel survey along the banks of the river. Timing of surveys are dependent on phases of the dam removal and may require one or more surveys per week. In addition, the student will contribute to a global meta-analysis examining the impacts of dams and dam removals on freshwater mussels. Responsibilities include locating scientific and grey literature, reading and extracting relevant data in accordance with standardized study protocols, entering data into a collaborative database, and helping maintain data quality. This effort will be conducted in partnership with a team of five other undergraduate researchers.