Research assistant

The Range and Forage Sciences Program in the Department of Agronomy and Horticulture has several research assistant positions open for summer 2005 at the Gudmundsen Sandhills Laboratory near Whitman, the Barta Brothers Ranch near Long Pine, and the UNL East Campus. The Gudmundsen Sandhills Laboratory (13,000 acres) and the Barta Brothers Ranch (5,500 acres) are research ranches in the Sandhills that are owned and operated by UNL. Research at the ranches includes studies relating to grazing management, cattle grazing pattern response to environmental and management factors, livestock grazing-wildlife interactions, native plant response to water and defoliation stress, and ecology and management of subirrigated meadows. Research on the UNL East Campus and surrounding areas includes management of grass-legume pastures, interseeding of legumes into grass pastures, pasture renovation, and seeding of roadsides.

One research assistant or more is needed at each location to assist the research technologists and graduate students in collecting and managing data, maintaining research plots, and processing samples in the lab. Housing is available at the two Sandhills locations. Appointment will be from approximately 12 May to 15 August 2005. Previous experience in ranch work or plant sciences is not required, but is helpful. Wages are commensurate with experience and are set by university policy. Appointments will require a significant amount of outdoor work. For more information on positions or locations, please feel free to contact:

Dr. Walter Schacht
Associate Professor of Rangeland Ecology
347 Keim Hall
402-472-0205
wschacht1@unl.edu