Grassland Bird Research Technicians (7)

The Cooperative Wildlife Research Lab at Southern Illinois University is hiring six experienced research technicians for a project investigating the influences of management actions and surrounding habitat type on grassland community structure and grassland bird productivity. The field season will begin in early May and continue until late July. Fieldwork will include lots of nest searching for grassland birds (via rope dragging) and nest monitoring, as well as avian point counts, vegetation surveys, snake surveys using coverboards, small mammal trapping, invertebrate sampling, and mesopredator identification from motion-sensor cameras. We will also be trapping and tracking bobwhites using radio telemetry. Fieldwork will be conducted at Burning Star State Wildlife Management Area, located approximately 20 miles north of Carbondale, Illinois. This position is a great opportunity to gain more experience with a variety of survey methods, and investigate important questions related to grassland restoration and community ecology. Carbondale provides many outdoor recreation opportunities, with several state parks, wildlife areas, and national forests located nearby. Salary is $2000/month. Housing is not included.

Qualifications: To be considered for this position, applicants must have previous fieldwork experience, and have or be working towards a Bachelor’s degree in Biology, Natural Resources, Environmental Science, or a related field. Preferred applicants will have field experience in grassland systems, as well as experience with one or more of the survey methods described above. Applicants must be comfortable with the rigors of fieldwork, including working long and irregular hours in hot and buggy conditions, and being an integral part of a field crew consisting of several other technicians and grad students.

To apply, send an email containing your resume, a brief cover letter describing your interest in the project and relevant experience, and contact information for three references, to Alex Glass (alexander.glass@siu.edu) or Caleb Crawford (calebcrawford30@siu.edu). Please write “Research Technician” in the subject line of the email. Applications will be received until positions are filled.

Start date: May 7, 2018