Research Assistant: Grassland Insect Ecology (4 to 5 month position)

Job Description:  The USDA, Agriculture Research Service, Northern Plains

Agriculture Research Laboratory in Sidney, MT is seeking an enthusiastic and

hard-working individual to serve as a biological science aide.  Our research

focuses on grassland insect and rangeland ecology; specifically how fire and

livestock grazing can reduce grasshopper outbreaks, how grasshoppers and

interactions between grasshoppers and Mormon crickets affect grassland

health and livestock grazing sustainability, and how drought affects

grasshopper outbreaks.  Work may include sampling grasshoppers and other

rangeland insects in large scale experiments, sampling rangeland plants,

setting up and conducting manipulative cage experiments in the field, and

lab work sorting, processing and identifying samples collected. Most field

work will be conducted on diverse and beautiful native rangelands in eastern

Montana and on the Little Missouri National Grassland in western North

Dakota, with some research conducted at 9000 feet elevation in the Bighorn

Mountains in northern Wyoming. Some overnight travel to sites in eastern

Montana and Wyoming will be required.=20

Salary: $11.48 =96 12.53 per hour (GS-2 =96 GS-3) dependent on experience and

education.  The candidate will receive overtime pay when working more than

40 hours per week. Dorm-style, shared housing is available on location for

~$140 per month, including utilities and internet.

Dates: Starting May 15th or 29th through ~the end of September or October,

depending on a candidates availability.

Qualifications: The candidate must be a US citizen.  Additionally, the

candidate should be physically fit, able to walk rapidly over rangeland, and

comfortable spending long hours outside in hot conditions. Willingness to

work long days, and some weekends when necessary is also a must. Undergraduate course work in ecology, entomology, range or environmental

sciences, and previous field work experience is preferred, but not required.=20

Application process: Please send cover letter, resume, and names and contact

information of two references (electronically) to Nicole Davidson

(nicole.davidson@ars.usda.gov).  Be sure to include available start and end

dates. In your cover letter or resume, please describe any experience or

coursework you have in relevant areas such as field ecology, insect

identification, or plant identification.

Evaluation of applications will begin around February 14 and continue until

the position is filled. For more information on the grasshopper research

program visit:  www.ars.usda.gov/pa/nparl/dbranson or contact us directly.=20

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