Hello! My name is=A0James Lichtenstein=2C and I=27m a graduate student at the University of California Santa Barbara=2C in the Pruitt lab=2E I=27m excited to offer this research opportunity! It should provide invaluable experience in executing experiments on animal behavior and ecology in general=2E

Description=3A

We are hiring two paid field assistants to help us perform lab/field insect=A0behavioral ecology work in western Pennsylvania=2E We will be probing the ecological consequences of personality in mantids and other insects=2E Therefore=2C the job will largely consist of=3A 1) capturing insects via sweep=A0net=2C 2) painting/performing behavioral tests on insects=2C and 3) setting up mesocosm trials=2E=A0You will be expected to be up early to assist with projects and assist with data entry in the evenings=2E Expect long=2C 10+ hour workdays=2E The job starts around late May or early June and goes until early August=A0at your convenience=2E

We will be working with these mantises around Linesville=2C Pennsylvania=2E Although this is a sleepy small town=2C we=27ll have access to hiking=2C canoes=2C etc=2E There won=27t a ton of time for exploring this kind of recreation=2C but not no time=2E

Compensation=3A

Your housing and dining costs will be covered=2E We will be staying at either a field station or a rented house in the area=2E Although we=27ll be preparing our own meals=2C you will not be expected to cook=2E There will be access to wifi=2C but it may be quite=A0slow=2E We can cover travel costs within the continental united states=2C but preference will be given to students from Pennsylvania and Ohio=2E If you do well=2C I am happy to write letters of recommendation=2C and we traditionally include assistants as authors on all publication=2E Finally=2C we will pay each assistant =24500 dollars per month=2E

Requirements and considerations=3A

1=2E Seriously interested in pursuing a career in ecology

2=2E Excellent academic performance

3=2E Undergraduate or recent graduate

4=2E Must be able to stay for the entire 2 month duration

5=2E Experience with insects or behavioral testing is preferred=2C but not required

6=2E Must not be squeamish working with insects=2E We will=A0capture and thousands of them=2E

7=2E If you have pollen allergies=2C this project may be an ordeal for you=2E Sweep netting insects boils down to meandering through a field and hitting plants with a stick=2E This results in intense pollen exposure=2E We can provide masks to reduce this exposure=2E

I am sorry for the short notice of this offer=2C so we will be making a decision very quickly=2E If you=A0wish to apply=2C please=A0send a short cover letter=2C your CV=2C and some sort of unofficial transcript to mantispersonality=40gmail=2Ecom=2E Finally=2C if you have any questions=2C please don=27t hesitate to ask!

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