DESCRIPTION: The Yeager lab (https://sites.cns.utexas.edu/yeagerlab) at the University of Texas at Austin Marine Science Institute (UTMSI) is looking for a technician to begin February 2018. Research in the Yeager lab spans topics in marine community ecology, effects of climate change on coastal habitat function, food web ecology, and landscape ecology. UTMSI is located in Port Aransas, which is on the Texas Gulf coast near Corpus Christi. A wide variety of environments is readily accessible from UTMSI including many bays and estuaries with oyster reef, seagrass, salt marsh and mangrove habitats. UTMSI manages the Mission-Aransas National Estuarine Research Reserve, which at 185,708 acres is the third largest estuarine reserve in the nation. Extensive wet laboratory facilities with running seawater are available for maintaining marine organisms.
DUTIES: Key duties for this position will include: field work from small boats in estuarine habitats; fish, invertebrate, and seagrass sampling with a variety of gears; deployment of data loggers in the field; underwater surveys with baited underwater video; construction of artificial seagrass units; sample processing and species identification; equipment upkeep and purchasing; data entry/data management; fish dissection; and stable isotope analysis. The technician will also assist the PI on routine tasks associated with lab management. Opportunities to develop field and laboratory skills will be readily available. The technician will also be encouraged to pursue opportunities for intellectual development via attending public lectures/seminars and aiding other technicians/students at UTMSI and thereby sampling diverse research topics.
START DATE: February 15th, 2018 (or as soon as possible thereafter)
DURATION: This will be a 12-month position with possibility for extension contingent on satisfactory performance and available funding.
MONTHLY SALARY: $2,500 + benefits
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS: A BS/BA in biology, zoology, ecology/evolution, environmental science, marine science, or mathematics is expected. Interest in a career in marine ecology, fisheries ecology, or the ocean sciences will be favorably considered. Willingness to work from boats and in estuarine waters for long hours and strong communication and organizational skills are required.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS: Previous field work experience, ability to operate small boats, familiarity with fishes of the Gulf of Mexico and estuarine ecology, experience with fish dissections, experience with data entry/management and QA/QC procedures.
APPLICATION: Interested candidates should submit an application through UT at:https://utdirect.utexas.edu/apps/hr/jobs/nlogon/171208024222