DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:
The position is 90% + field work. Assistants will help set up (assemble, catch grasshoppers and stock experiments), monitor, and take down experiments. Daily work will include monitoring grasshopper densities in the experiments, maintaining experimental cages, and sampling vegetation and soils. Assistants will gain experience with a wide variety of ecological field techniques, including insect enclosures, soil nutrient manipulation experiments, quantification of herbivore damage and plant growth, and insect behavior. Assistants also will learn relevant principles of experimental and sampling design in field ecology, as well as identification of key insects and plants in Palouse Prairie grasslands.
QUALIFICATIONS:
. Bachelor's degree preferred and/or a background in biology, ecology or conservation biology.
. Previous field experience a plus, not required.
. Strong attention to detail and organizational skills are important.
. Capacity to learn identification of grasshoppers and Palouse Prairie flora, including grasses.
. Experience with handheld data recorders, computers (knowledge of Excel for data entry), and other field equipment is a plus.
. Ability to work independently as wells as contribute to a positive group dynamic.
. Must be willing to work long hours outdoors in unpredictable weather and conditions, some heavy lifting is required.
APPLICATION DETAILS:
Number of positions: 1
Start date: July 1, 2011 or as close to that as possible
End date: September 30, 2011 preferred, but may be negotiable. Shared housing is available near research site.
Review of applications will begin immediately; applications will continue to be accepted until the position is filled. Hiring is through the University of Notre Dame.
Please send cover letter, resume and contact information (name, position, phone, e-mail and mailing address) for 3 references to Jennifer Belovsky by e-mail belovsky.2@nd.edu
For more information visit the Belovsky labpage:
http://www.nd.edu/~gbelovsk/
