Summer Research Assistant: Grassland Insect Ecology Job Description: We are looking for enthusiastic and hard-working individuals to assist in all aspects of research on grassland insect ecology and rangeland ecology at the USDA, Agriculture Research Service, Northern Plains Agriculture Research Laboratory in Sidney, MT. Research looks at how fire and livestock grazing can reduce grasshopper outbreaks, how grasshoppers affect grassland health and livestock grazing sustainability, and how drought and predators affect grasshopper outbreaks. Work may include sampling grasshoppers and other rangeland insects in large scale experiments, sampling rangeland plants, and setting up and conducting small scale manipulative experiments in the field. Most field work will be conducted on diverse and beautiful native rangelands in eastern Montana and on the Little Missouri National Grassland in western North Dakota. Some overnight travel may be required.
Salary: $12.07 or 13.55 per hour (GS-3 or 4) (dependent on experience and education), plus overtime pay at time and a half. Housing is not provided, but we will help you find housing. Dates: Two positions are available starting either May 18th or June 1st and can last until approximately mid-August or late September. Please specify your available start and end dates in your application. Qualifications: You must be physically fit, able to walk rapidly over rangeland, and comfortable spending long hours outside in hot conditions. Willingness to work long days, and some weekends when necessary, is also a must. You will receive overtime pay when working above 40 hours a week. Undergraduate course work in ecology, entomology, range or environmental sciences, and previous field work experience is preferred but not required. Application process: If you are interested in applying for this position, please send a cover letter explaining your interest in the job; a resume describing relevant experience and college classes; names and contact information for two professional references; to Dave Branson ([email protected]). Evaluation of applications will begin April 1 and continue until the positions are filled. For more information on our research program visit our website at: www.ars.usda.gov/npa/nparl/dbranson or contact us directly.
