Hello everyone, We would like to announce the opening of 2-3 summer positions working on a plant ecology field project. The position is based in Duluth, MN but requires travel throughout the continental US during the summer. Please see details below, and feel free to pass this along to anyone you think might be interested. Feel free to contact Nicole Soper Gorden ( [email protected]) with any questions. Thanks!
Best, Nicole Soper Gorden Postdoctoral Associate Project Baseline: www.baselineseedbank.org University of Minnesota Duluth *Summer Field Assistant(s) Working on Project Baseline Seed Collection* *Project Overview: *The lab of Dr. Julie Etterson (Biology, University of Minnesota, Duluth) is hiring 2-3 field assistants for summer 2013 for Project Baseline (www.baselineseedbank.org), a national seed banking effort. The goal of Project Baseline is to collect and preserve seeds from plants of interest to ecologists and evolutionary biologists for future studies of evolution in response to natural and anthropogenic change. The seeds will be collected from throughout the continental US, stored in a USDA germplasm bank (www.ars.usda.gov/main/site_main.htm?modecode=54-02-05-00), and will be available for future researchers to request for experiments. This will provide a “baseline” of plant genotypes and phenotypes based on plant populations now, and will allow researchers to compare future plant traits to this baseline to look for adaptation to large scale environmental changes, such as climate change. *Salary: *Starts at $8.63 per hour, full time during the summer *Job Description: *This position is headquartered in Duluth, MN. However, the job requires the ability to travel extensively to sites throughout the country to collect data and seeds, frequently leaving Duluth for weeks at a time. The person(s) who are hired will travel with a field crew manager and visit some of the most beautiful and pristine nature preserves in the country. This will involve long drives across the country, camping, and spending weeks at a time together, often in very rural areas. Field crews will spend nights at state parks or other municipal campgrounds (barring severe weather events). Food and camping expenses will be paid by the project. However, accommodations in Duluth are the responsibility of the employee(s). Additionally, applicants should be flexible in terms of their schedule, willing to complete tedious or strenuous physical activities, work long days during travel weeks, and work and camp outdoors for weeks at a time, often in hot summer temperatures that may exceed 100°F. * * *Job duties:* · Scouting sites and finding plant populations (using maps, a compass, and/or GPS) · Help find and identify plants of target species · Laying out transects and plots · Collecting seeds and estimating seed fill · Taking and pressing plant samples · Taking photos of sites and plants · Collecting basic site information (using a compass, clinometers, etc) · Help driving and navigating to field collection sites · Sorting, cleaning, and packing seeds · Basic labeling, organization, data entry, etc · Interacting with field managers, park rangers, botanists, and volunteers · Help with setting up campsites, preparing meals, etc · Help with other field or lab work as needed (e.g. collecting flower samples, setting up pollinator video cameras, weighing biomass, etc) *Qualifications*: · Experience with and/or interest in plant identification · Ability to listen to directions well and learn protocols quickly · Flexible schedule, especially during summer · Valid US driver’s license · Willingness and ability to travel long distances, camp outdoors, do physically demanding work, and work in hot or otherwise uncomfortable conditions · (Preferred) Ability to use a compass and GPS *To apply:* Send a cover letter including information about why you are interested in the job, a resume, and contact information for up to three references as a PDF to both Julie Etterson ([email protected]) *AND*Nicole Soper Gorden ( [email protected]). Alternately, you may submit application materials by mail or in person: Julie Etterson, 1035 Kirby Dr, SSB 207, Duluth, MN 55812. Applications will be reviewed as they are received, beginning immediately, until the positions are filled.
