Research Assistant: Grassland Insect Ecology (4 to 5 month position) 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. Our research focuses on grassland insect and rangeland ecology; specifically how fire and livestock grazing can reduce grasshopper outbreaks, how grasshoppers and interactions between grasshoppers and Mormon crickets affect grassland health and livestock grazing sustainability, and how drought affects grasshopper outbreaks. Work may include sampling grasshoppers and other rangeland insects in large scale experiments, sampling rangeland plants, setting up and conducting manipulative cage experiments in the field, and lab work sorting, processing and identifying samples collected. 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, with some research conducted at 9000 feet elevation in the Bighorn Mountains in northern Wyoming. Some overnight travel to sites in eastern Montana and Wyoming will be required.
Salary: $11.48 – 12.53 per hour (GS-2 – GS-3) dependent on experience and education. The candidate will receive overtime pay when working more than 40 hours per week. Dorm-style, shared housing is available on location for ~$140 per month, including utilities and internet. Dates: Starting May 15th or 29th through ~the end of September or October, depending on a candidates availability. Qualifications: The candidate must be a US citizen. Additionally, the candidate should 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. Undergraduate course work in ecology, entomology, range or environmental sciences, and previous field work experience is preferred, but not required. Application process: Please send cover letter, resume, and names and contact information of two references (electronically) to Nicole Davidson ([email protected]). Be sure to include available start and end dates. In your cover letter or resume, please describe any experience or coursework you have in relevant areas such as field ecology, insect identification, or plant identification. Evaluation of applications will begin around February 14 and continue until the position is filled. For more information on the grasshopper research program visit: www.ars.usda.gov/pa/nparl/dbranson or contact us directly.
