Official Domain: Grassland Systems Field Station, Clinton, Missouri
Title: Botanical Research Assistant
Pay Rate: $9.32/hr
Dates: May 18, 2015 – September 4, 2015
Hours: 40 hrs/week
Number of positions: 2
Supervisor: Dr. Elizabeth Middleton, Grassland Botanist, Missouri
Department of Conservation
Summary: The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) Grassland Systems
Field Station is recruiting 2 Botanical Research Assistants to assist in
vegetation data collection in the tallgrass prairies of West-Central and
Southwest Missouri. Assistants will work along with the grassland botanist
and the botany crew leader to identify prairie plant species and record
vegetation data for a long-term study investigating the effects of patch
burn grazing on remnant prairie plant communities. This position offers an
opportunity to further develop botanical identification skills, gain a
better understanding of prairie ecosystems, and interact with professionals
in the natural resources field.
Duties: Project tasks include identifying 200+ prairie plants to species,
assessing species presence/absence, estimating plant coverage, searching
for rare species tracked in the Heritage Database, and driving an MDC truck
with trailer. Assistants will be responsible for independently collecting
presence/absence data as well as working with the grassland botanist or the
botany crew leader to collect plant community diversity data. Other duties
include collecting and mounting plant specimens and assisting in herbarium
maintenance as time allows.
Qualifications: A Bachelor’s Degree in Botany, Ecology, or related field
with completion of a plant taxonomy, field botany, or similar course is
preferred. Experience with vegetative sampling and field research is highly
desired. Assistants must have interest in learning about tallgrass prairie
plant communities. Botanical training will be provided, but basic taxonomic
knowledge is a prerequisite for the position. Research Assistants must be
detail-oriented, self-motivated, enthusiastic, and possess a strong work
ethic and excellent organizational skills. Assistants must work effectively
with minimal supervision and as part of a research team. Assistants must be
able to hike 1 to 4 miles a day on uneven terrain, cheerfully endure heat
and high humidity, and orient plots with the use of a compass. Assistants
will be required to work long hours outdoors with work often beginning at 6
am, and they will be expected to endure harsh field conditions (heat,
humidity, ticks, chiggers, spiders, briars, and uneven terrain). Assistants
must be able to travel statewide including frequent overnight stays.
Assistants must have a valid driver’s license and be comfortable driving
4-wheel drive trucks, hauling ATVs on trailers, and backing trailers. A
field vehicle is provided. The available MDC-sponsored housing is in a
rural locale without internet access and is shared by other field station
hourly staff. The successful candidate must submit to a drug screen
following the offer of employment.
Application:
Please send the following materials to Elizabeth Middleton
([email protected]). Please put ‘Botanical Research Assistant”
in the subject line of your email.
1)electronic cover letter,
2)detailed CV,
3)college transcripts (unofficial is ok, but must be able to obtain
official transcript on request), and
4)phone and email contact information for at least 2 professional
references, including a recent employer.
For more information, contact:
Elizabeth Middleton
Missouri Dept of Conservation
Grassland Botanist
Phone (preferred): 660-885-6981 x 230
Email: [email protected]
Deadline: 5:00 PM February 13, 2015
