Seasonal Plant Pollinator Technician (Hourly)
Illinois Natural History Survey
Prairie Research Institute
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Job Description
The Plant-Pollinator Ecology Team is seeking field technicians for statewide biological monitoring of grasslands, including monarch butterflies and milkweeds. Field technicians will be measuring the abundance of nectar plants, aiding with pollinator surveys, and observing monarch butterfly eggs and larvae. Duties will include conducting field surveys of flowering grassland plants, planting milkweed plants in the field, driving and navigating to study sites, data entry in an office setting, assisting with other office and fieldwork as needed, and working and traveling in small teams.
Qualifications
Candidates must have field experience in plant or insect biology (candidates that have worked on other taxa will be considered), and/or undergraduate course work in biology, ecology, botany, entomology, or related fields. A valid driver’s license is required. Applicants must be willing and able to work outside under sometimes difficult field and environmental conditions (summer heat, rain, biting and stinging arthropods, poison ivy, etc.) while following detailed protocols for data collection. Applicants must be comfortable with travel to study sites, sharing driving responsibilities, overnight stays as it is a major part of this position. Competent use of a computer, compass, light power tools (Drills), and GPS (Garmin) are also required for this position. A strong applicant will demonstrate good organizational skills as well as the ability to work independently and in a group setting.
Salary: $13.50 per hour, 40 hours per week.
Availability: This position will begin on approximately May 23, 2022. Position will end during the first half of September. Start and end dates are somewhat flexible.
