Description:
The Public Lands Field Assistants will work with faculty in the Department of Biology to survey for pollinators and native plants, perform taxonomic identification of plants and pollinators, perform data entry, and interface with volunteers. Job duties vary throughout the year, but can involve driving long distances on dirt roads, scouting for large wildflower blooms, collecting plant specimens that will be stored in regional herbaria, collecting environmental data, collecting environmental DNA, using GIS to identify field sites and upload data into Survey123, sorting and labeling specimens, developing independent research projects, collecting seeds, and estimating seed numbers. Training will be provided. Qualified candidates will have a background in biology, and deep interest in genetics, conservation biology, public lands management, natural resources, pollinators, taxonomy, native plants, invertebrate taxonomy, and/OR the intersection between technology and biology.
Qualifications:
Ideal candidates will be able to meet weekly with biology faculty mentors that include Drs. Jackie Grant, Rachel Bolus, Sam Wells, and Matt Ogburn, but should also be able to carry out work independently. Candidates must be professional, responsible, independent, and punctual. Must be comfortable interacting with professionals at the Bureau of Land Management and the Dixie National Forest as well as members of the general public. Biology majors and minors preferred, but other majors will be considered. Spring semester hours: 5 per week; 20-40 hours per week in summer months.
Special Instruction to Applicants: Please send resume, class schedule, and a copy of the Student Professional Development Survey (https://docs.google.com/document/d/1vLCTtDVLuZ0tunxOV2X8pluiYp4IBxK5l3eeo7g6R14/edit?usp=sharing) to Dr. Jacqualine Grant by emailing jacqualinegrant@suu.edu. Access the Student Professional Development survey through the link, download it to your drive then edit it and send it to or share it with Dr. Grant.