Research Technician position, plant-herbivore interactions

The Underwood-Inouye lab at Florida State University, in collaboration with the Halpern lab (Pacific University), is hiring a research technician to assist with greenhouse, lab, and field experiments studying plant-herbivore interactions. Information about the project (Measuring and Modeling the Ecological Consequences of Associational Effects) can be found here: https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https:%2F%2Fwww.bio.fsu.edu%2F~nunderwood%2Fhomepage%2Fresearch1.html&data=02%7C01%7Cmadeline.hennessey%40uconn.edu%7Cb8d318b0d5b242375dde08d7807e8f55%7C17f1a87e2a254eaab9df9d439034b080%7C0%7C0%7C637119153379417156&sdata=Qbj51a65mhrV7TuRLPRNuXGK6Vy2E59kjIxxGFNAVMY%3D&reserved=0.

The technician will help with overall lab organization and assist with field experiments characterizing associational effects in old-field species. This project involves field, lab, and greenhouse experiments in conjunction with mathematical modeling. Specific responsibilities of the technician will include:

•setting up and tending experiments in the field and greenhouse;

•collecting, entering, and analyzing data;

•caring for experimental organisms (plants and insects);

•maintaining detailed records of experimental protocols;

•supervising ordering of research supplies;

•communicating regularly with principle investigators

•supervising undergraduate research assistants;

•assisting with other projects in the lab.

The technicians may also have the opportunity to participate in experimental design, publishing results and educational outreach.

The minimum requirements for the position are:

•a bachelor’s degree in biology, ecology, entomology, botany, or other relevant field;

•research experience outside of formal coursework;

•a willingness to work in hot, humid, sometimes buggy conditions;

•a demonstrated work ethic that includes reliability, attention to detail, independence, self-motivation, organization, and the ability to work with a range of different people.

Desired additional qualifications are experience with:

•data entry and curation

•using R to organize or analyze data

•writing scientific papers

This position is full-time, and can range in length from partial-year (through end of August 2020 is essential) to a full year with the potential for continuation. Start date between January-March 2020, with earlier start dates preferred. Salary $25-27K/year, commensurate with experience. Benefits include vacation and sick leave.

The technicians will join a dynamic lab that is part of an interactive group of ecologists and evolutionary biologists at Florida State University in Tallahassee, FL. Tallahassee is an affordable small city situated near a variety of easily accessible natural areas.  The technicians will be encouraged to join in the intellectual life of the department by attending reading groups and/or taking a graduate course (tuition waived for employees).

Review of applications starts January 15 and will continue until the position is filled.

Please submit an application including: (1) a letter that explains your qualifications, career goals, what you hope to learn from this job, and when you are available to start, and also; (2) resume or cv; (3) college transcripts (unofficial Ok); and (4) contact information for at least two people who can speak to your qualifications for this position. Please combine all files into one PDF or MS Word file (transcripts may be separate if needed), named in the following way:

“AE Technician Application: Your Last Name, Your First Name”.

If you need to send transcripts as a separate file, name that file as “AE Technician Transcripts: Your Last Name, Your First name”.

Files named in other way may not be reviewed.

Please submit your application to the following e-mail, which will automatically upload it to our application folder.

Technic.b5lctvk3ic99pkhs@u.box.com

Questions may be directed to Dr. Brian Inouye (binouye@bio.fsu.edu)

FSU is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

For further information on the PIs, see:

Halpern lab: https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fweb5.lib.pacificu.edu%2Fshalpern%2F&data=02%7C01%7Cmadeline.hennessey%40uconn.edu%7Cb8d318b0d5b242375dde08d7807e8f55%7C17f1a87e2a254eaab9df9d439034b080%7C0%7C0%7C637119153379417156&sdata=Zno8Y3M%2FzvfV%2Bb7x0QaeCxmuKUNYVss3h%2B83ZNXxlBs%3D&reserved=0

Underwood-Inouye lab: bio.fsu.edu/~nunderwood/homepage/