Summer Research Assistant: Conservation Biological Control and Sustainable Agriculture
Job Description: The USDA, Agriculture Research Service, Northern Plains Agriculture Research Laboratory in Sidney, MT is seeking an enthusiastic and hard working individual to serve as a biological science aide on a project examining the influence of landscape structure on pest insects and their natural enemies (e.g. ladybeetles, parasitoid wasps). The research is focused on developing ecologically-based, sustainable and environmentally friendly approaches to pest management in agricultural systems. This position will involve a mixture of field work to collect insects (10-20%), and lab work to sort and identify insect natural enemies and rear pest insects to assess rates of parasitism ( ≥ 80%). The successful candidate will gain hands on experience in field sampling and insect rearing and identification techniques, and the chance to work with the diverse insect fauna associated with cropping systems in a team oriented research environment. Salary: $12.07 per hour (GS-3). You will receive overtime pay when working above 40 hours a week. Housing is not provided, but we will help you find housing. Dates: This is a 12 week appointment, with a potential to extend. Please specify your available start and end dates in your application. Qualifications: The candidate must be physically fit, and comfortable spending time outside in sometimes uncomfortable field conditions (hot, biting insects etc.). Willingness to work long days, and weekends when necessary is also a must. Undergraduate course work in ecology, entomology or environmental science, and previous field and lab work experience is preferred. Application process: Please send cover letter, resume and names and contact information of two references (electronically) to Dr. Tayana Rand ([email protected]). Evaluation of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. For more information on our research program visit our website at www.ars.usda.gov/npa/nparl or contact us directly.
