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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

  • Human Dimensions Technician (Hourly) - Illinois Natural History Survey: Deadline to Apply: May 2, 2025

    Apr 23, 2025 1:00 pm

    The Illinois Natural History Survey is seeking a technician(s) to assist with all aspects of Human Dimensions Research, including, but not limited to, mail surveys, telephone interviews, data entry, and analysis. 

  • Driller Helper - Extra Help

    Apr 10, 2025 8:00 am

    Driller Helper (Extra-Help position that could lead to permanent position) needed to operate and maintain a variety of equipment during geological exploration and soil testing. During periods where unable to conduct drilling, provide back up and support to PRI facilities group. Including equipment maintenance, office and equipment relocation, and conducting skilled manual work to support scientific research needs. This is a position that requires travel out of town Monday to Friday. 

    This position is a traveling position that requires staying overnight in a hotel when on a drilling project, often staying in a hotel Monday through Thursday during much of the drilling season (approximately March – October). Most weeks travel to the drilling site occurs on Monday morning and travel back to Champaign occurs on Friday morning.  Weekends home. 

  • Undergraduate Hourly Technician (Entomology) - Illinois Natural History Survey/PRI

    Apr 7, 2025 1:30 pm

    INHS is seeking Undergraduate Students to work on research projects related to the ecology, behavior, and management of corn and soybean insect pests (principally western corn rootworm beetles/larvae) in corn, soybean, or other crops.

  • Director, Roadside Ecology Center, Prairie Research Institute

    Apr 1, 2025 1:00 pm

    The Prairie Research Institute (PRI), a research and service institute of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, is seeking a dynamic Director for our Roadside Ecology Center. As a member of the PRI Leadership Team, the Director will participate in strategic project leadership and overall administration for the development, coordination, and implementation of scientific research.   

    This is an in-person position based in Champaign, Illinois, with competitive compensation and the chance to collaborate with top experts across diverse disciplines. 

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

    Mar 10, 2025 2:45 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. 

  • Undergraduate Hourly, Graduate Hourly, Academic Hourly

    Mar 4, 2025 8:00 am

    We are seeking up to three motivated individuals to participate in and support original research and technology development in one or more areas of carbon capture & utilization, critical materials recovery, and the beneficial utilization of waste materials. Responsibilities include participating in laboratory and bench-scale experiments and analytical characterization to evaluate new materials and processes, assisting in the assembly and troubleshooting of experimental setups, analyzing experimental data, supporting modeling efforts, performing literature searches, as well as preparing reports and documentation.

  • Grants and Contract Assistant, Specialist, or Coordinator

    Feb 28, 2025 11:00 am

    PRI is seeking to hire either a Grants and Contracts Assistant, Specialist, or Coordinator (dependent upon experience) to provide expertise and facilitate operations for its Grants and Contracts office.

  • Black-Billed Cuckoo Field Technician (Hourly) - Illinois Natural History Survey

    Feb 21, 2025 4:00 pm

    The Illinois Natural History Survey is seeking 2 field technicians to assist on an M.S. research project studying Black-billed Cuckoo (BBCU) migration. The position will begin in Mid May and run through Mid July. 

  • Visiting Scientific Specialist, Environmental Assessments - Illinois State Geological Survey - Deadline to Apply 6:00 p.m. April 1, 2025

    Feb 11, 2025 8:45 am

    The Illinois State Geological Survey is seeking to hire a Visiting Scientific Specialist, Environmental Assessment Researcher to perform sponsored research on environmental assessments.  The assessments will involve evaluating potential environmental and geologic hazards and risks for Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) infrastructure improvement projects. IDOT's infrastructure projects range in size and can involve anything from a single property to hundreds of properties across many miles of existing or future highways.  IDOT uses the assessments completed by ISGS to protect workers and public safety, to reduce IDOT's liability, and to minimize delays by operating in an efficient and cost-effective manner.  Please visit jobs.illinois.edu for further information regarding application procedures, or you may contact Jill Billerman at jrandell@illinois.edu. Application deadline is 6:00 p.m. (CST) on Tuesday, April 1, 2025.

  • Macroinvertebrate Technician (Hourly) - Illinois Natural History Survey : Macomb, Illinois

    Nov 19, 2024 5:00 pm

    The Illinois River Biological Station is seeking two technicians to conduct applied research in aquatic ecology and large river systems and process riverine samples for aquatic macroinvertebrates.  throughout the state of Illinois. This position will be 40 hours per week and will be based in Macomb, Illinois.

  • 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 are seeking a Graduate Research Assistant at the Ph.D. level to work on plants, pollinators, and conservation in Illinois. The student will work with Dr. Mark Davis (INHS) and Dr. Adam Dolezal (Entomology).