The Jackson lab in the Nicholas School of the Environment and Earth
Science and Biology Department at Duke University is seeking a
technician for the 2010 winter field season, starting late January.
This is a full-time temporary position with a hiring period of a month
and a half to two months, and offers an excellent opportunity to learn
field techniques employed in ecosystem ecology and biogeochemistry research.
We study ecosystem responses to global changes such as effect of
elevated CO2 or land-use changes on plant/soil/microbial systems and
nutrient and water cycles (see http://www.biology.duke.edu/jackson for
full project descriptions). The position will last 2 months and
successful applicant will work closely with a graduate student on a
project on ecosystem consequences (water and carbon) of agricultural
conversion of grasslands. Sites for this research are located in
grasslands and cultivated fields of southern Great Plains, including
Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and New Mexico. The research technician’s
primary responsibilities will include, but may not be limited to, the
following:
1) Assist with deep coring of soil samples using a van-mounted GeoProbe
machine.
2) Collecting data on the soil cores, subsampling, and sieving the soil
samples for analysis.
3) Interviewing land-owners and researchers about land-use history data.
4) Building and installing probes that measure deep soil CO2 fluxes.
5) Entering data onto excel spreadsheets.
Previous experience with soil sampling and soil sample preparations, and
experience using Microsoft Excel are all desirable but not required.
Approximately 85% of the technicians’ work will be in the field, and 5
to 6 different sites will be visited. Applicants should be in good
physical condition and willing to work long hours in the field under a
variety of outdoor conditions. The position requires ability to work
efficiently and thoroughly and ability and willingness to drive long
hours. Expected pay between $1,400 to $2,000 per month depending on the
experience level and hours worked. Due to time constraints on the
project, up to 60 hours of work per week may be sometimes necessary.
Field housing and a work vehicle are provided. You will be sharing field
housing with a graduate student. The projected start date is end of January.
Application materials should include a cover letter of one page or less
describing your background and interest in the position, and a resume
that documents your relevant experience, skills, and abilities, along
with a contact list of references. Please submit these materials
through e-mail as a single document to John Kim ([email protected]) by Jan
15, 2010.
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Charles W. (Will) Cook w 919-660-5144
http://www.duke.edu/~cwcook [email protected]
Box 90338, Biology Dept., Duke Univ., Durham, NC 27708
