tudent Services Contract – Biological Science Technician

Agency

United States Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey

Duty Station Location (Field work occurs in Midwest, see below)

Fort Collins Science Center

2150 Centre Ave Bldg C

Fort Collins, CO 80526

Contract Dates Approx. 15 Apr 2020 through 15 Jun 2020

Submit resume and attachments in a single pdf to jmola@usgs.gov and ipearse@usgs.gov by February 25. Please title the email subject “RPBB Technician”

Introduction

The USGS Fort Collins Science Center is conducting studies to aide in the recovery of the endangered Rusty Patched Bumble Bee (RPBB) to better understand pollinator populations. Work on this topic includes field studies, data analysis, modeling, and genetics.

Types of Service Required

The student contractor(s) shall assist on projects related to bumble bee conservation including, identification of bees, mapping of nest sites, collection of samples for genetic analysis, and rapid habitat assessments. Additional tasks may include genetic analysis, design and implementation of targeted experimental studies on bees, writing reports, and analysis of data. The work schedule will vary from part-time to 40 hours per week. Flexible scheduling is possible.

Required Expertise/Skills

Progress on or completion of a Bachelor’s degree is required. Ability to conduct field work in both urban and rural habitats. Experience working with native bees, and ability to develop skills in making sight-IDs of bumble bees. Applicant must be a U.S. citizen. Proficiency in data collection and organization.

Desired (but not required): Progress toward a graduate degree in ecology, entomology, or related field. Experience programming in R.

Description of Working Conditions

Work will be performed at field sites near Minneapolis, MN and Madison, WI.

Compensation

Compensation is commensurate with the level of education and experience and is based on federal pricing tables for student contractor services.

Application Requirements

Resume should include: legal name, mailing address, telephone number, email address, education – including description of relevant classes, work or volunteer experience in related field. Other documentation: Transcript listing courses taken and the student’s overall GPA. Transcript does not have to be the official version. Student must be enrolled at least part-time in school or have graduated within the last 12 months.

Special Terms

For all legal purposes, student is regarded as an independent contractor. Payments for services are reportable and taxable as earned income. No Federal, State, or Local income taxes will be deducted. No social security or Medicare taxes will be deducted. Student is responsible for payment of all taxes as a result of income received under this order.  The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) will report the total amount paid under this order to the Internal Revenue Service on a Standard form 1099. The student is not considered an employee and will not receive a W-2 form. For payment, student must have a checking or savings account at a financial institution that will accept direct deposits.

Student will be required to complete computer security awareness training and comply with the USGS Computer and Network Security Handbook.

The USGS is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Selection for this position will be based solely on merit, fitness, and qualifications without regard to race, sex, color, religion, age, marital status, national origin, non-disqualifying handicap conditions, sexual orientation, or any other non-merit factors. This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities.

Contact Information

The work will be overseen by Ian Pearse and John Mola. For questions, contact John Mola at jmola@usgs.gov, 970-226-9134.

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