Summary:
The Larson Aquatic Ecology Lab at UIUC is seeking a summer undergraduate technician to assist with field work in Wyoming, Idaho, and Utah for five weeks of summer 2026 from mid-July to mid-August. The technician will be assisting a graduate student in sampling native and non-native crayfish populations. This will be a full-time position (40 hours per week) at a rate of $15 per hour with travel, lodging, and meals provided.
Duties:
Work will include using seines, nets, and traps to collect crayfish, and will require wading in streams and rivers, hiking in rough terrain, and camping in remote locations.
Qualifications:
Preferences for the hire include sophomore standing or higher with coursework in ecology and natural resources, experience/comfort hiking and camping in remote locations, previous experience in field biology/ecology, and a valid driver’s license.
To apply:
Email Jacob Watson at jacobbw3@illinois.edu a one-page cover letter, resume, and contact information for 2-3 references as a single PDF by February 27th, 2026. Use “Summer Field Technician Application” in the email subject line.