Two Research Assistant positions

Date: Tue,  1 Sep 2020 21:22:40

From: privateemail67714@community.esa.org

Subject: Fall research assistant position with Applied Ecology lab at University of Nevada Las Vegas

Fall 2020 Research Assistant position with the Applied Ecology Research Laboratory at the University of Nevada Las Vegas

Start date: November 1, 2020 or earlier

End date*: January 31, 2021.

*Interested parties can also submit an application for the spring 2021 position, if the botanist position is of interest. Please read requirements below for the spring 2021 position since these positions have different qualifications.

Requirements: Due to potential COVID-related travel restrictions and the nature of the work this fall, local southern Nevada applicants or those willing to relocate to southern Nevada are particularly encouraged to apply. All applicants must be a United States citizen, have a current and valid state driverÃf¢ÒÂEURÃ’Â(tm)s license, and have no personal at-fault accidents in the last five years. Applicants will be required to fill out an I-9 form and submit personal identification for review before a contract is issued; therefore, the applicant must present identification in person at least 2 weeks before the negotiated start date. Applicants will also be required to follow University policies related to coronavirus at all times, including wearing a mask while on campus, in campus facilities, and in University vehicles.

Position: Research assistants will participate in greenhouse, laboratory, and field research; new field project installations; and field sampling. The fall position will mostly entail working in the laboratory and greenhouse at UNLV. Our current fall projects focus on seed ecology, and include seed germination/viability testing, seed extraction, and seedling emergence. Duties will including using laboratory equipment, such as microscopes, cameras, local flora databases or botanical keys, to extract, identify, and document seeds or seedlings, and test seed viability or germination; participate in field sampling of soils and contents of seed traps and process samples in the laboratory; assist with establishing new greenhouse studies and assist in general greenhouse research maintenance and monitoring; and assist with new installations at a local field site.

Qualifications: Applicants should have at least a bachelorÃf¢ÒÂEURÃ’Â(tm)s degree in biology, natural resources, environmental science, or a related degree, or equivalent yearsÃf¢ÒÂEURÃ’Â(tm) experience (3-4 years). Applicants should also have an interest in participating in professional research. Although some experience using dichotomous keys, operating a 4WD truck or other 4WD vehicle, and experience with field navigation (compass, map, GPS) is preferable, these are not mandatory requirements for this fall position. Some outdoor/field experience (e.g., camping, hiking, backpacking) is required and an explanation of the applicants participation in these activities must be included in a resume and introductory letter if these activities were not obvious duties in previous position descriptions.

This is a great opportunity for those looking for a career bridge out of a college undergraduate program or have little project management experience and want to gain this type of experience to become more competitive for future jobs.

Spring 20201 Research Assistant/Botanist

Starting in November 2020, we will be accepting applications for 3-4 botanist/research assistant positions.

Start date: February 1, 2021

End date: May 31, 2021- June 30, 2021, end date negotiable

Requirements: Due to potential COVID-related travel restrictions, local southern Nevada applicants, those living close to southern Nevada and willing to travel, or those willing to relocate to southern Nevada are particularly encouraged to apply. All applicants must be a United States citizen, have a current and valid state driverÃf¢ÒÂEURÃ’Â(tm)s license, and have no personal at-fault accidents in the last five years. Applicants will be required to fill out an I-9 form and submit personal identification for review before a contract is issued; therefore, the applicant must present identification in person at least 2 weeks before the start date. Applicants will also be required to follow all University policies related to coronavirus at all times, including wearing a mask while on campus, in campus facilities, and in University vehicles, unless otherwise notified by the University administration.

Position: This is mostly a field position, with some laboratory or assistance with greenhouse projects. Botanists/research assistants will be responsible for aspects of field and associated laboratory projects, including organizing a field/laboratory schedule with colleagues if needed, data collection and entry, QA/QC, maintaining a digital photograph and plant database archive, data analysis preparation when applicable, and compiling literature. Field project sites are located in southern Nevada and southeastern California (Mojave Desert and Sonoran Desert). All applicants are encouraged to review climate and weather conditions for the southern Nevada and southern California regions before applying.

All camping will be car camping. State vehicles will be provided for projects. If a State vehicle is available but applicant would prefer to use a personal vehicle, no gas reimbursement will be provided. Using a personal vehicle requires School-level permission before use for work trips. Per diem applies to specific out-of-state projects only. No housing is provided for this position.

Qualifications: Applicants should have at least a bachelorÃf¢ÒÂEURÃ’Â(tm)s degree in biology, natural resources, environmental science, or a related degree, or equivalent yearsÃf¢ÒÂEURÃ’Â(tm) experience (3-4 years); experience using dichotomous keys (academic or professional); experience operating a 4WD truck or other 4WD vehicle; outdoor/field experience (e.g., camping, hiking, backpacking, Corps experience); and experience with field navigation (compass, map, GPS).

A preference will be given to candidates that have professional or academic experience with plant identification in the Mojave and Sonoran deserts, are familiar with and have used regionally applicable dichotomous keys (e.g., Desert Jepson, Arizona Flora, the Flora of Utah), and have some field or laboratory project management experience.

To apply, please send a statement of interest to introduce yourself, a CV or resume, and two-three references to Lindsay Chiquoine (lindsay.chiquoine@unlv.edu). Please include in the subject line the position and the season and year (botanist/research assistant position Spring 2021).