Field and Office Assistant (Student Services Contractor) Invasive Species Monitoring, 1 position available

Location: Great Lakes Science Center, Ann Arbor, MI

Salary: $16.93/ hr

Duration of position:  This is a contract position that will begin by May 1st, 2016. The intended duration is May 1, 2017 =96 January 1st, 2017.

Project:  The Phragmites Adaptive Management Framework (PAMF)

Position Description:  The student contractor will serve as a Field and Office Assistant with a focus on the wetland plant Phragmites australis (common reed).  The contractor will be based at The Great Lakes Science Center in Ann Arbor, MI.  S/he will play a support role for researchers in the Coastal Ecosystems branch of the USGS-GLSC by assisting with a variety of duties. Duties include, but are not limited to, testing, refining, and demonstrating a new monitoring protocol, providing assistance to landowners and land managers involved in PAMF, entering data, and supporting data management. There is potential for additional coastal wetland work (i.e., water quality data collection and processing).

Education/Experience Requirements: The successful candidate must have a bachelor=92s degree in natural resources, biology, ecology, or a related field, and must either be 1) currently enrolled as a student pursuing a graduate degree in natural resources, biology, ecology or a related field or 2) must have received a degree (bachelor=92s, master=92s, or PhD.) within one year prior to beginning the contract.

Field experience is required. Experience working with non-native Phragmites or other invasive plant species is preferred. Experience entering data and QA/QC is desired. Strong verbal and written skills are important. The student contractor should have a strong attention to detail and desire to learn.

S/he also should be highly motivated and comfortable working both as a member of a close team and independently.

Other Details: This contract covers an 8-month period, with an anticipated start date of May 1st, 2017. The student contractor will not receive holiday pay, annual or sick leave, or health care benefits, nor will s/he receive overtime pay for hours worked in excess of 80 within a two-week period.  Hours in excess of the established 80 per two weeks will be paid at the regular hourly rate.  The student will report to the Great Lakes Science Center in Ann Arbor, MI for all duties, unless otherwise specified.  Office work will occur in a room equipped with a computer workstation.  Field work will occur outdoors in the Great Lakes basin, often during challenging weather conditions. Paid travel will be required for multiple days at a time.  Moving expenses will not be paid.=20 Lodging will only be provided when in travel status.

The successful candidate will be hired as an independent contractor.=20 This is not a government position, and time does not count toward time-

in-service.

Application deadline is March 24th. To ensure consideration of your application, please send a cover letter, resume or CV, and a list of three references to Abram DaSilva (adasilva@usgs.gov, (734) 214-7291).