Research Assistant: Insect Identification and Ecology Job Description: The USDA, Agriculture Research Service, Northern Plains Agriculture Research Laboratory in Sidney, MT is seeking two enthusiastic and hard-working individuals to serve as full time technicians primarily identifying insect samples from research focused on plant community restoration, weed management, and disturbance ecology. Our primary projects involve studies on how insect communities respond to restoration after invasive species removal and the impacts of oil development, rangeland restoration and other management practices on grassland insect communities. The primary duties of this position will entail sorting, counting, and identifying diverse insect fauna to family from samples collected in rangeland and riparian areas, but will include other research opportunities both in the field and laboratory. The successful candidates will gain diverse research experience in applied insect ecology working with a multidisciplinary research team of 5 scientists.
Salary: $12.33 or $13.84 per hour depending on experience and education. Housing is not covered, but dorm-style shared housing is available on location for ~$138 per month, and also includes utilities and internet. Dates: We are looking for individuals who can work at least 3 months and up to 6 months during the period from November through May. Please specify your available start and end dates in your application. Qualifications: Candidates must be a US citizen. Must be able to rapidly learn new skills, remain focused in a shared work environment and be comfortable working long hours at repetitive tasks in the lab. Undergraduate coursework covering insect identification to family level, or equivalent work experience, is required. Work experience sorting arthropods to family is preferred. Experience working with ants, flies or spiders would be beneficial, but is not required. Application process: Please send cover letter, resume and names and contact information of two references (electronically) to Dr. Dave Branson ([email protected]). Evaluation of applications will begin immediately, and continue until the positions are filled. Please note that due to long processing times for federal hiring, there will be a minimum of 5-weeks delay between selection of the successful candidate and receipt of all application materials, and the actual start date of work at the lab. For more information on the application process or our research program visit our website at www.ars.usda.gov/npa/nparl or contact us directly.
