Health and Stress of Urban Wildlife Intern (Davee Center for Endocrinology and Epidemiology)
Seasonal
Job Description: This position will assist in the Davee Center’s activities in the health and stress of urban wildlife initiative. Specifically, this person will primarily help with the urban small mammal project, but will also provide support for other projects including field, camera, and some lab components. There will be occasional work on zoo grounds, but the internship is primarily field-based with early mornings and late afternoons around the city for some projects.
Lincoln Park Zoo is committed to an environment that is inclusive and welcoming. We celebrate the diverse qualities, perspectives, values and experiences of all people. For Wildlife. For All.
Job Responsibilities:
- Provide fieldwork support to existing health and stress projects including live-trapping, handling, marking/ear tagging, and identification of small mammals.
- Perform wildlife disease monitoring through tick dragging techniques.
- Assist with equipment maintenance including cleaning field equipment.
- Assist with data entry including entering data into current databases.
- Provide some lab support to existing projects including processing wildlife hair for stress analysis.
- Participate in other Davee Center projects as needed.
- Provide general organizational assistance with all Davee Center activities.
- Perform other duties as assigned by Matthew Mulligan of the Davee Center and Urban Wildlife Institute.
- Maintain a positive attitude and flexible approach to daily responsibilities. Trap checks will commence early in the day, and time of day may change as weather changes (with earlier trap checks as temperatures get warmer). The ideal candidates will be comfortable working long hours in the outdoors with little shade, and with potential exposure to biting insects and ticks.
- Works well in a team environment as well as independently.
- Job will require a substantial amount of travel. Ideal candidates will need their own means of transportation in order to meet at select sites if requested.
- Available for occasional work on nights and weekends.
Job Qualifications:
- Possess expertise in the specific areas covered in ‘essential job functions’.
- Demonstrate a basic understanding of endocrinology and ecology including Midwestern fauna.
- Successful candidates would ideally have experience in field procedures.
- Possess strong computer, organizational, and communication skills (written and spoken).
- Represent Lincoln Park Zoo in a professional manner at all times.
- Interact courteously and respectfully with supervisors and fellow employees, volunteers, zoo visitors, and general public.
- Demonstrate a commitment to wildlife conservation through management of wild and captive populations, and willingness to participate in the department’s team approach to conservation research projects.
- A recent Bachelor’s degree in biology or closely related scientific discipline (within the last 2 years or expected May 2018).
- Ability to lift and carry field equipment (ex: metal live traps) weighing up to 40 lbs through thick vegetation on foot.
- Willingness to work outdoors in a variety of weather conditions (rain, heat, cold, etc).
- Valid driver’s license.
- Strong work ethic and a good sense of humor are ideal, especially while aiding in trap cleaning.
Preferred experience:
- Previous experience working with wildlife and/or conducting scientific research.
- Preference for those that have animal handling experience.
- Experience conducting or assisting with wildlife ecological studies, including mammal live-trapping and monitoring.
- Possess knowledge of Illinois fauna, particularly mammals.
- Rabies vaccination helpful, but not required.
To apply: To complete an application for employment at Lincoln Park Zoo, download and open this PDF, fill in your information, save the form and e-mail it to hrjobs@lpzoo.org. We require a cover letter, resume, and application for all positions. Incomplete submissions will not be reviewed. Lincoln Park Zoo is an equal opportunity employer.
