Scientists in the Global Change Conservation Lab at the Missouri Botanical Garden are seeking to hire two field technicians for the summer of 2020. The technicians will be involved with a project that examines how microclimate and macroclimate affect the distributions of woody and herbaceous species of temperate mixed-species forests. Specifically, the field technicians will work with project staff at the Missouri Botanical Garden and Washington University in St. Louis to survey forest plots and monitor microclimate stations at Tyson Research Center. Tyson is a large, mostly forested, field station located ~10 miles West of Saint Louis, Missouri. Saint Louis has a highly active and friendly ecology and evolution community, and this position will provide opportunities to interact with multiple researchers at Tyson Research Center, Washington University, and the Missouri Botanical Garden.
Requirements include:
• Interest in botany and a demonstrated ability to identify eastern US tree species
• Prior field work experience is required for this position
• Ability to traverse rugged terrain, carry a 20-lb backpack
• Ability to work outside in inclement weather conditions
• Ability to work independently of supervision
• Careful attention to detail
Desirable qualifications include:
• Ability to identify forest herbs
• Prior experience using a hand-held GPS unit to locate forest plots or other sampling sites in field conditions
• Prior experience establishing and monitoring forest plots
• Prior independent research experience is a plus
Technicians would be responsible for their own transportation to and from Tyson, as well as for room and board, although there is a possibility to rent an apartment at the Missouri Botanical Garden for most of the summer (conditional on availability of Garden housing). Work will be as an independent contractor for $15/hour for 40 hours a week. We envision a starting date for both positions in late May, and expect the positions to last for ~2 months.
To apply, please send: 1) a cover letter; 2) a resume; and 3) contact information for three references to CV to Dr. Stephen Murphy (smurphy@mobot.org). For questions, please contact Dr. Murphy or Dr. Adam Smith (adam.smith@mobot.org).
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Message: 3
Date: Thu, 30 Jan 2020 00:01:25
From: Szymek Drobniak JU <szymek.drobniak@uj.edu.pl>
Subject: Field assistant job at UppsalaUni/Jagiellonian Uni – Gotland bird study
Expenses paid field assistant positions to study the breeding ecology of blue tits and collared flycatchers on the wonderful island of Gotland.
For the upcoming field season (20 April-20/30 June 2020) we are looking for an expenses-paid field assistant to join the team working on the Swedish island of Gotland. It is a famous bird study site, with over 40 years of bird ecology monitoring. Additionally an amazingly beautiful and unique location for all bird lovers, a major birding and bird migration hotspot.
The period of stay is flexible – longer stays will be preferred but in your application please specify which period in the field season you would be able to cover.
Our current project concerns two species: the blue tit and the collared flycatcher. Apart from general monitoring of both species’ breeding we conduct specific research, which now concentrates on colour biology and expression in the blue tit. The work requires long hours spent in the forest in variable weather conditions (although the weather has been very gentle the past few seasons on Gotland), precision in handling the birds and recording the data, and the ability to work in a team. Daily workload varies from a couple of hours to 8-9 hours, depending on the time in the season. The team will consist of 7-11 assistants, plus an additional collaborating team of similar size from France, staying in another location close by. Basic procedures used during fieldwork involve catching adult birds with mist-nets, ringing of adults and nestlings, morphological measurements, blood-sampling of some birds for genetic analyses. We provide training on the procedures, but a basic knowledge of bird morphology and bird handling experience is more than welcome.
Qualifications:
(1) BSc/MSc in Biology, Ecology, Evolution or similar qualification (current students will also be considered on a case by case basis)
(2) Previous field experience will be a big plus
(3) Ability to work in small teams and sociable personality
(4) Bird ringing and mist-netting experience is desired but can also be learned on site
(5) EU-valid driving licence will be an advantage
(6) Good English (it is a working language in the team)
We will cover for the accommodation (lodging in rooms shared with other field assistants – usually up to 2 persons per room – in a beautiful & comfortable, large house in the middle of the fieldwork area), travel expenses from and to the study site (within reasonable limits and up to 450 EUR; if more is expected – let’s discuss possibilities on a case by case basis), as well as the living expenses.
Applications – including a CV, a lshort letter of motivation (1/2 A4 page) and the
name of one referee – should be send to Szymon Drobniak
szymek.drobniak@gmail.com, ideally as a single PDF file.
Full consideration will be given to applications received until the 15th of March. After that date applications will be monitored if any additional assistants would be required.
Please do not hesitate to write to us if you have more and specific questions.
Dr Szymon Drobniak
Jagiellonian University (PL) & University of New South Wales (AU)
Prof. Lars Gustafsson
Uppsala University