Hiring field assistants for spring/summer 2016!
The Gratton lab group is hiring field assistants for 2-3 different projects. Please follow application instructions at the bottom of each position summary—if you are interested in all projects, please apply separately to each contact person.
1. Field Assistants: Prairie Grassland Ecology
Our bioenergy group is hiring motivated research assistants to work in prairie grasslands. Our project examines how local factors (e.g. management, resource diversity) and landscape-level factors (e.g. surrounding habitat amount, type, and arrangement) influence the local diversity of beneficial insects (pollinators and predators) and ecosystem services (pollination and biocontrol, respectively).
The position requires: sampling insects & running field experiments, processing & identifying insect samples in the lab, greenhouse work, and outreach. Preference will be given to students with backgrounds in ecology, entomology, or plant biology but students with genuine interests in these fields, strong work ethic and good attention to detail will also be considered. These are full-time positions (40 hours/week) from May to August with opportunities to stay on part-time throughout the academic year. Opportunities exist to conduct independent research projects. Research assistants must have clean driving records and be able to drive university vehicles. Students and recent graduates are encouraged to apply.
If interested, please contact Dr. Tania Kim at tania.kim@wisc.edu. Please provide a cover letter, transcripts (unofficial OK) and CV including any relevant work experience and references by March 31. In your cover letter, please include a brief description of yourself (e.g. what are your interests? long-term goals?, what do you like to do in your free time?, what do you hope to gain from this position? ). For more information about what life is like in the Gratton lab visit this link.
2. Field assistants: Bat and Insect Ecology in Southern WI
- Provide field & laboratory assistance for a project on the role of bats as insect predators in Wisconsin agro-ecosystems and effects of white-nose syndrome on bat foraging patterns
- Conduct insect surveys using sticky traps, black-light traps, etc.
- Assess bat activity via acoustic monitoring and guano collection
- Perform various laboratory tasks (with emphasis on microscope identification of insects)
- Salary: $10/hr undergraduate; $12/hr with BA/BS degree
- Undergraduate or recent graduate, with previous coursework in biology and/or ecology
- Valid driver’s license and clean driving record
- Ability to work up to 40 hrs/week from May to late August
- Ability to work irregular hours while performing strenuous and often repetitive tasks
- An interest in biodiversity, conservation, and agricultural ecology
- A sense of humor
- UW-Madison student or current Wisconsin resident
- Completion of Entomology 302 or equivalent introductory entomology course
- Knowledge of insect taxonomy and/or North American bat ecology
1. CV or resume with clear description of relevant work experience
2. Brief statement outlining why you are qualified and interested in this position
3. Unofficial transcript copy
Applications will be considered on a rolling deadline until the position is filled. Last day to submit for full consideration: 25 March 2016
3. Field Assistant: Bumblebee foraging ecology and floral resource distribution in southern WI
The Gratton lab is hiring a part-time, student hourly to assist with summer field work with bumblebee pollination ecology. Students will have a chance to gain valuable field experience working on a unique and fun project located in southern Wisconsin.
To be eligible for this position, applicants must:
•Be in good academic standing
•Have 15-25 hours a week in availability (including some weekends)
•Be comfortable working outside in a variety of conditions (weather, etc.)
•Have a valid drivers license, and be eligible to drive UW fleet vehicles
•Be comfortable working with stinging insects
•Be able to work independently and have excellent written and oral communication skills
Preference given to those with:
•Previous field research experience
•Plant identification and sampling skills (esp. native WI wildflowers)
Compensation:
$10/hr undergraduate; $12/hr with BA/BS degree
Email Jeremy (hemberger@wisc.edu) if you are interested! Send a cover letter and resume as a single PDF file.
This article was posted in Agroecosystems, Bioenergy, Conservation, Ecosystem Services, Food Webs, Uncategorized.