Field tech positions studying plant-pollinator interaction networks in southwestern US

The Ponisio Lab is seeking two field technicians to conduct fieldwork for a

new experiment investigating pollinator interactions in the Madrean Sky

Islands. This long-term project will explore how interaction patterns at

the individual, species, and network levels affect ecosystem resilience and

function, and how the assembly history of a community influences those

patterns. This is a collaborative project with Shalene Jha at the

University of Texas and Terry Griswold at the USDA Logan Bee Lab. Our

non-profit partner is Robinson Sudan at New Leaf.

We will be sampling plant-pollinator communities in southeastern Arizona

and northern New Mexico from mid-June to August 2017. A typical field day

will involve either driving or hiking to sampling sites in high-elevation

meadows, collecting pollinators for approximately four hours, and pinning

samples back at the campsite. We intend to camp for around five days at a

time, then return to one of two field stations (Southwestern Research

Station in Arizona and Sevilleta Field Station in New Mexico). We will work

in teams of two, and rotate the teams around the sampling sites.

*Responsibilities*

   – Field monitoring and collection of pollinators

   – Processing insect specimens in the lab including pinning bees,

   labeling samples

   – Data entry into spreadsheets

   – Periodic monitoring of trap nesting surveys or other miscellaneous

   pollination experiments

*Qualifications*

*Required*

   – Interest in botany, entomology, conservation biology and field ecology

   – Previous field or lab experience or coursework related to botany

   and/or entomology

   – Attention to detail (will be collecting and working with original

   data)

   – Highly motivated and able to work independently

   – Basic computer skills (Word, Excel)

   – Ability to work in field under sunny conditions for long hours

   – Car camping and/or backpacking experience

   – Valid Drivers License

*Preferred*

   – Bachelors degree in relevant field

   – Previous experience studying pollinators, especially native bees

   and/or monitoring other insect populations

   – Previous field experience in the southwestern U.S.

The salary for this position is $2641- $3082 monthly, depending on previous

experience.

Candidates should apply for this position by March 27, 2017 by emailing

Kaysee Tom at kathleen.c.tom@gmail.com with =E2=80=9CField Tech Application =E2=80=93

YourLastName=E2=80=9D as the subject line, e.g., =E2=80=9CField Tech Application =E2=80=93

Ponisio.=E2=80=9D Please include a cover letter, C.V., and the names and contact

information for 2-3 references.

————

*About the Ponisio Lab*

The Ponisio Lab (http://www.ponisiolab.com) is a new lab at the University

of California, Riverside. With continued degradation of ecosystems, we need

to know how to restore biodiversity, both for conservation and to ensure

the provision of essential services provided by nature. To manage and

restore diversity in human-modified systems, however, we need to understand

the mechanisms that originally maintained biodiversity. The Ponisio Lab

studies the mechanisms operating in complex systems, specifically

ecological communities, that underlie diversity maintenance.

The questions we are currently tackling are along these lines: 1) How do

the characteristics of communities affect interaction patterns? 2) How do

interaction patterns feedback to affect the characteristics of communities?

3) How can we design (restore) degraded communities to promote stability

and evolutionary potential (applying all the principles learned from the

above)?

— Kaysee Tom

Lab Manager, Ponisio Lab, UC Riverside

kathleen.c.tom@gmail.com