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The Prairie Research Institute (PRI) and its five constituent surveys—the Illinois Natural History Survey, Illinois State Archaeological Survey, Illinois State Geological Survey, Illinois Sustainable Technology Center, and Illinois State Water Survey—serve the state of Illinois and beyond by providing rigorous, objective scientific research, data, and expertise to help understand, manage, and protect our essential natural resources. With around 600 full-time staff, PRI is one of the largest research institutes at the University of Illinois.

PRI is based in Urbana-Champaign, a diverse, affordable, micro-urban community. Learn more about Urbana-Champaign. 

U of I HR provides more information about applying to and working at the University of Illinois, including available benefits.

If you have questions about any PRI open positions or the application process, contact a member of our human resources team:

blog posts

  • Illinois Water Resources Center—Undergraduate Hourly: Student Assistant – Social Media Intern

    Oct 4, 2024 10:45 pm

    The Prairie Research Institute and the Illinois Water Resources Center, a multidisciplinary research institute at the University of Illinois, is seeking a motivated, resourceful, and tech-savvy undergraduate student to join our team.

  • Illinois Water Resources Center—Undergraduate Hourly: Student Assistant -Web Intern

    Oct 4, 2024 10:30 pm

    The Prairie Research Institute and the Illinois Water Resources Center, a multidisciplinary research institute at the University of Illinois, is seeking a motivated, resourceful, and tech-savvy undergraduate student to join our team.

  • Illinois Water Resources Center—Undergraduate Hourly: Student Assistant -Operations Intern

    Oct 4, 2024 10:30 pm

    The Prairie Research Institute and the Illinois Water Resources Center, a multidisciplinary research institute at the University of Illinois, is seeking a motivated, resourceful, and tech-savvy undergraduate student to join our team.

  • Illinois Water Resources Center—Undergraduate Hourly: Student Assistant -Marketing Intern

    Oct 4, 2024 10:15 pm

    The Prairie Research Institute and the Illinois Water Resources Center, a multidisciplinary research institute at the University of Illinois, is seeking a motivated, resourceful, and tech-savvy undergraduate student to join our team.


  • Data & Research Hourly Assistant - Illinois Natural History Survey

    Oct 3, 2024 3:45 pm

    The Illinois Natural History Survey is seeking a candidate to assist with data acquisition and compilation related to wildlife-vehicle collisions. We are for someone interested in investigating the causes and locations of wildlife-vehicle collisions, developing spatial analytic tools to better understand where they occur, and means of mitigating their occurrence. 

  • Lead Research Software Engineer - Prairie Research Institute - Application Deadline: October 31, 2024 by 6:00 PM

    Oct 3, 2024 10:00 am

    The Prairie Research Institute is seeking a Lead Research Software Engineer who will research the complexities of indexing, curating, and sharing of biological, cultural, and social science data. Collaborate with research groups to deploy, maintain, and improve critical cloud software applications for the Prairie Research Institute. This position will be located in Champaign, Illinois. 

  • Postdoctoral Research Associate - Illinois Sustainable Technology Center, Prairie Research Institute

    Oct 1, 2024 12:00 pm

    The Illinois Sustainable Technology Center is seeking to hire a Postdoctoral Research Associate to conduct laboratory and field experiments for plant uptake and mitigation of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) derived from biosolids applicaiton. In particular, there is interest in developing new treatment techniques to remediate these forever chemicals in various environmental media including water, soils, biosolids and food plants.

  • Hydrology in Water Supply Planning - Illinois State Water Survey, Prairire Research Institute, Illinois

    Sep 27, 2024 2:00 pm

  • Fisheries/Aquatic Ecology Research Technician (Hourly): Kaskaskia Biological Station: Sullivan, Illinois: Deadline to Apply: August 16, 2024

    Sep 27, 2024 1:30 pm

    The Kaskaskia Biological Station which is part of the Illinois Natural History Survey is seeking field technicians to conduct field and laboratory work in support of research projects on sportfish management and invasion biology in lakes and rivers. Current research projects include spatial ecology and food web effects of habitat enhancements in reservoirs, experimental harvest regulations, and the ecology and management of invasive carp in the Illinois River. This position will be located in Sullivan, Illinois. 

  • Graduate Student Hourly - Illinois Sustainable Technology Center, Prairie Research Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

    Sep 27, 2024 1:15 pm

    The Illinois Sustainable Technology Center (ISTC) is part of the Prairie Research Institute (PRI) at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, which is centrally located between Chicago, St. Louis, and Indianapolis. ISTC integrates applied research and technical assistance to advance efforts in the areas of pollution prevention; water and energy conservation; renewable energy, greenhouse gas mitigation, materials recycling, and beneficial reuse. Learn more at go.illinois.edu/PRIjobs.


    The University of Illinois is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action employer that recruits and hires qualified candidates without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, or veteran status. For more information, visit http://go.illinois.edu/EEO.


    Major Duties and Responsibilities: A graduate student hourly position is available to conduct research project and develop a process for the electrochemical waste water treatment. Key responsibilities will include literature survey, planning and executing experiments, data analysis, and report preparation. A position needs to learn to use instruments and discuss the obtained data with ISTC staff to improve the process

  • Strategic Content Specialist - Web

    Sep 25, 2024 10:15 am

    PRI is seeking to hire a Strategic Content Specialist – Web to (as part of the PRI Strategic Communications team) write, manage, and optimize content for PRI’s major websites. Develop and implement website content strategies based on best practices, analytics, and SEO to ensure high-quality user experiences. Assist with management of PRI’s major websites and microsites. Build and maintain relationships with subject matter experts across PRI.

  • Molecular Plant Pathology Lab Technician (Hourly) - Illinois Natural History Survey

    Sep 5, 2024 9:15 am

    The Illinois Natural History Survey’s Molecular Plant Pathology Lab is seeking undergraduate/graduate students or hourly technicians for lab work on DNA extraction, detection, and identification of phytoplasma plant pathogenic bacteria. Applications should be received by September 13, 2024. However, posting will remain open throughout the Fall Semester. 

  • Graduate Research Assistantship (Ph.D.) (Pollinators) - Illinois Natural History Survey

    Aug 22, 2024 12:15 pm

    The Illinois Natural History Survey (INHS) and the Department of Entomology at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is seeking a Graduate Research Assistant at the Ph.D. level to work on plants, pollinators, and conservation in Illinois. The student will work with Drs. Mark Davis (INHS) and Dr. Adam Dolezal (Entomology).

  • Climate Change & Climate Services, Postdoctoral Research Associate - Illinois State Water Survey

    Aug 18, 2024 12:00 pm

    The Illinois State Climatologist Office is seeking to hire a Postdoctoral Research Associate to help advance actionable climate information and services for urban planning and hazard resilience across Illinois. The scientist will work in close collaboration with the State Climatologist, the State Emergency Management Agency, and National Weather Service offices to develop web-based climate tools and services that meet the needs of regional planning, urban development, and hazard mitigation partners around the state. The scientist will also assist the State Climatologist Office with stakeholder engagement to ensure the development of climate services meets the growing needs of partners at state and local levels. The position is an excellent opportunity for scientists who are interested in climate services and engaging public and private sector partners to advance climate resilience in Illinois.

  • Hazard Mitigation Planning - Illinois State Water Survey, Prairie Research Insitute, Illinois

    Aug 14, 2024 11:15 am

    The Illinois State Water Survey (ISWS) is seeking to hire an entry level Hazard Mitigation Planner (Official Title: Scientific Specialist, Hazard Mitigation Planning ) to conduct research related to hazard mitigation projects as well as perform outreach for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Risk Mapping, Assessment, and Planning (Risk MAP) grants and other projects as assigned within the Coordinated Hazard Assessment and Mapping Program (CHAMP). Produce and prepare technical reports for FEMA regulatory and Risk MAP products and other projects and communicate and disseminate technical reports and research data

    The ISWS CHAMP group has many funded projects that assess local flood hazards, identify high-risk areas, and engage community partners to inform, educate, and empower others to take action in preventing losses from natural hazards. CHAMP is a Cooperating Technical Partner with the Federal Emergency Management Agency creating maps and products as reflected on https://illinoisfloodmaps.org/.

  • Hazard Mitigation Planning, Illinois State Water Survey, Prairie Research Institute, Illinois

    Aug 14, 2024 11:15 am

    The Illinois State Water Survey (ISWS) is seeking to hire an experienced Hazard Mitigation Planner (Official Title: Senior Specialist, Hazard Mitigation Planning ) to conduct research related to hazard mitigation projects as well as perform outreach for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Risk Mapping, Assessment, and Planning (Risk MAP) grants and other projects as assigned within the Coordinated Hazard Assessment and Mapping Program (CHAMP). Produce and prepare technical reports for FEMA regulatory and Risk MAP products and other projects and communicate and disseminate technical reports and research data

    The ISWS CHAMP group has many funded projects that assess local flood hazards, identify high-risk areas, and engage community partners to inform, educate, and empower others to take action in preventing losses from natural hazards. CHAMP is a Cooperating Technical Partner with the Federal Emergency Management Agency creating maps and products as reflected on https://illinoisfloodmaps.org/.

  • Director and Principal Research Scientist - Illinois State Water Survey/PRI

    Jul 25, 2024 12:30 pm

    The Illinois State Water Survey (ISWS), whose research and service programs provide citizens, industries, and government agencies at all levels with timely, science-based information and analyses necessary to manage our water resources wisely for economic development and a sustainable environment, is seeking a Director who will provide strategic direction and overall administration for the Survey while also serving in a Principal Research Scientist role to administer research activities of the Survey by conceiving, recommending, implementing, directing, and participating in scientific research focused on the selected candidate's area of study while contributing to the overall scientific mission of the Prairie Research Institute (PRI).  This is an in-person position based in Champaign, Illinois.  

  • Medical Entomology Field Technician (Hourly): Illinois Natural History Survey

    Feb 2, 2024 1:15 pm

    The Illinois Natural History Survey’s Medial Entomology Lab is seeking undergraduate students or hourly technicians for seasonal field and lab work on mosquito and tick surveillance and research. The position is based at the Illinois Natural History Survey Medical Entomology Lab, within the University Research Park. 

  • Student Hourlies GIS & Programming - Illinois State Water Survey, PRI

    Oct 27, 2023 3:45 pm

    We are seeking several University of Illinois graduate students to assist with preparing digitally available GIS data and analyzing streamflow statistics regionalization at the Illinois State Water Survey. The primary duty will be to assist our staff to compile a geodatabase with geology, hydrogeology, land use/land cover, soil, and climate information. It is also expected that the student will prepare data for streamflow statistics regionalization. Detailed documentation is required.