Seasonal Maintenance & Monitoring Tech
Position Summary: This position is a part-time (32 hours per week, Monday – Thursday) seasonal position (12 weeks, May – August 2026). Additional hours up to 40 hours can be worked by the Seasonal Technician, if pre-approved by the Conservation Program Director. Fridays and weekend dates may be requested for Seasonal Technician work with advanced notice. A work day will consist of an 8 hour day, but may be extended to a 12 hour day depending on the work task. No overtime is permitted for this position. All duties must conclude at or before a 40 hour workweek.
The Seasonal Technician will primarily assist the Conservation Program Director, the Conservation Technician, and the Project Coordinator, and other Friends of the Cheat staff in maintenance and monitoring of restoration projects, as well as other events and activities.
Seasonal Recreation Technician
Position Summary: This position is a part-time, seasonal position (32 hours per week, typically Monday through Thursday) from April – October 2026. For the months of April, September, and October, a “ramp up and ramp down” schedule can be negotiated depending on FOC work needs and the Seasonal Technician’s personal, education, and work life balance. The Seasonal Recreation Technician will assist the Associate Director and other FOC staff in general maintenance at FOC’s recreation and river access sites, monitoring trail data and surveys, and assisting at FOC outreach events and in the office as needed.
This position will require working primarily outside in various and potentially inclement weather conditions as well as working in and near water sources such as rivers and lakes. It will also include using and maintaining various forms of equipment, including motorized vehicles and small machines in a safe manner.
M.S. Assistantship (Eastern Hellbenders)
The Herpetology and Applied Conservation Lab in the Department of Biological Sciences at Marshall University (Huntington, WV) is seeking two highly motivated graduate students (M.S.) to conduct research on eastern hellbenders in West Virginia. Applicants must be able to swim and have a valid state motor vehicle operator license. Prior experience with field research and an interest in hellbender ecology are required. Candidates with a demonstrated interest in population ecology and demographic modeling are encouraged to apply. Applicants must be committed to following strict safety protocols, tolerant of uncomfortable field conditions, clearly demonstrate maturity, have a history of working well with others (peers and technicians), and be willing to work independently as needed.
The successful candidates must be fully committed to working on the externally-funded hellbender research project while pursuing an M.S. in Biological Sciences under the mentorship of Dr. Jayme Waldron and Dr. Shane Welch (lab PIs). Research will be conducted collaboratively among state, federal and NGO stakeholders and graduate students will be expected to actively communicate with and work alongside project collaborators. Under PI mentorship and with assistance from senior lab personnel, graduate students are encouraged to develop and implement an M.S. thesis housed within the funded research project.
Field work duties will include:
- Visual surveys for hellbenders (snorkeling)
- Hellbender mark-recapture surveys
- Nest surveys
- eDNA sampling
- Processing and cataloging digital images and videos
Graduate duties will include:
- 32 hours of graduate coursework, including a thesis
- Teaching duties as graduate teaching assistant for at least four (up to six) semesters
- Grant writing, under guidance of the PIs and senior lab personnel
- Participation in data analysis and report writing for lab research under guidance of the PIs and senior lab personnel
Visit Marshall University Degree Requirements for more information on the graduate program. A minimum GPA of 3.0 from an undergraduate institution is strongly preferred for enrollment.
The funded positions require a three-year minimum commitment (starting August 2026). Students will be expected to teach biology labs in the Department of Biological Sciences as Graduate Teaching Assistants. Successful applicants will be expected to manage and train field technicians, as needed.
Salary and compensation: ~$18,000/year plus a tuition waiver (excluding fees).
Merge application materials into one pdf file that includes a 1-page state of interest, resume (including contact information for three references), and unofficial transcripts. Send the document to Jayme Waldron in an email addressed to: waldron3@marshall.edu; welchsh@marshall.edu; emily.gray@marshall.edu. We will begin reviewing applications immediately and the positions will remain open until filled.
Jayme L. Waldron, Professor
Biological Sciences
Marshall University
One John Marshall Drive
Huntington, WV 25755
304-696-3361
http://science.marshall.edu/waldron3
Request for proposals
for a Progressive Design Build Contractor
Friends of the Cheat (FOC) has released a Request for Proposals (RFP) for a Progressive Design Build Contractor for the removal of the Albright Power Station Dam on the Cheat River in Albright, WV. The full RFP document outlining the required criteria for the submittal of Proposal packages can be found in the RFP PDF document.
A site visit will be held Wednesday, April 22. Interested Proponents must confirm attendance for site visit and/or confirm intention to submit a Proposal and provide contact information by April 17 at 5 PM ET by emailing the Project Manager at madison@cheat.org. Proposals are due Friday May 29 by 5 PM ET.