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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

  • Undergraduate Hourly Research Technician - Illinois Natural History Survey

    Mar 22, 2023 9:15 am

    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. Position is located at the Forbes Natural History Building in Champaign, IL. 

  • Equipment Specialist I or Equipment Specialist II

    Mar 20, 2023 10:00 am

    PRI is seeking to hire an Equipment Specialist I or II to provide assistance to Research Shop Employees, recommend maintenance for, and conduct maintenance and repair of equipment and resources in support of PRI staff and research activities. This is a Civil Service position based in Champaign, Illinois.

  • Visiting Scientific Specialist, Stream Ecology - Illinois Natural History Survey

    Mar 15, 2023 1:45 pm

    The Illinois Natural History Survey is seeking a Stream Ecologist to develop and implement research and service projects focused on monitoring and assessing the ecological responses of stream communities to a variety of best management practices under the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) in Illinois. This position will be based in Champaign, Illinois.

  • Aquatic Field Technician (Hourly) - Illinois Natural History Survey - Starved Rock State Park, Oglesby, Illinois

    Mar 13, 2023 9:45 am

    The Illinois Natural History Survey is seeking 3 Field technicians to conduct applied research in aquatic ecology and large river systems throughout the state of Illinois. Technicians will assist large river ecologists in the collection of standardized long-term river monitoring data with additional targeted data collection. This position will be 40 hours per week and will be located in Oglesby, Illinois at Starved Rock State Park.

  • Aquatic Field/Fisheries Technician (Hourly) - Illinois Natural History Survey - Havana, Illinois

    Mar 13, 2023 9:15 am

    The Illinois Natural History Survey is seeking up to 8 technicians to conduct applied research in aquatic ecology and large river systems throughout the state of Illinois. Technicians will assist large river ecologists in the collection of standardized long-term river monitoring data with additional targeted data collection. This position will be 40 hours per week and will be located in Havana, Illinois.

  • Botany Field Technician (Hourly) - Illinois Natural History Survey

    Mar 9, 2023 9:30 am

    The Illinois Natural History Survey at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is seeking 2 or more Field Technicians to work with Survey botanists to conduct statewide monitoring of forest, wetland, and grassland vegetation for the Critical Trends Assessment Program (CTAP).  Duties include: 1) assist with field surveys of plants in forests, wetlands, and grasslands throughout Illinois, 2) share extensive driving responsibilities to and from field sites, 3) conduct sweep samples of insects in the field, 4) enter data collected in the field into a Microsoft Access database and 5) assist with other office and field work as needed. This position is based in Champaign, Illinois.

  • Visiting Scientific Specialist, Wetlands Geology - Illinois State Geological Survey

    Mar 7, 2023 10:30 am

    The Illinois State Geological Survey is seeking to hire a Visiting Scientific Specialist, Wetlands Geology (up to 2 depending on applicant pool and programmatic need) to participate in specialized assessment and monitoring of the hydrogeology and geochemistry of wetlands, streams, bioswales, and other related environments. This position is for a specialist dedicated to field data collection and analysis to support Illinois state agencies under their environmental programs, including the Illinois Department of Transportation, Illinois Tollway, and Illinois Nature Preserves Commission. This position will support the analysis and reporting for compliance with various federal (e.g., Clean Water Act) and state regulatory programs.  Position is based in Champaign, Illinois.

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

    Mar 6, 2023 11:15 am

    A Ph.D. Graduate Student Assistantship is available at the University of Illinois to conduct research evaluating shovelnose sturgeon metapopulation dynamics (population estimates, movement, survival, and growth) at strategic locations in the Rock River near Erie/Moline, Illinois and connected waterways to help guide shovelnose sturgeon sportfish management in Illinois.

  • Graduate Research Assistantship in Aquatic Ecology (Ph.D.) - Illinois Natural History Survey

    Mar 6, 2023 10:15 am

    The Illinois Natural History Survey (a division of the Prairie Research Institute of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign) is seeking a Graduate Research Assistant (Ph.D.). In collaboration with researchers from Purdue University and the Shedd Aquarium, we are developing hydroacoustic array in the area with an intent to answer several questions important to fisheries management. Successful candidate will develop a project within the larger framework of research related to the movement of post-tournament released smallmouth bass in the Illinois nearshore waters of Lake Michigan and connected Chicago land waterways.

  • Student Hourly GIS - Illinois State Water Survey, PRI

    Feb 28, 2023 11:45 am

    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.

  • Archaeological Collections (Scientific Specialist, Senior Scientific Specialist, or Assistant Research Scientist) - Illinois State Archaeological Survey

    Feb 22, 2023 3:00 pm

    As part of its long-term mission and responsibility for management of University of Illinois collections, the Illlinois State Archaeological Survey is seeking to hire up to two individuals at either the Scientific Specialist, Archaeological Collections level, the Senior Scientific Specialist, Archaeological Collections level, or the Assistant Research Scientist, Archaeological Collections level depending on qualifications, who will conduct laboratory documentation of archaeological materials held in University of Illinois collections. Collections specialists will be expected to ensure all activities are completed in compliance with applicable institutional policies as well as state and federal laws as directed by the ISAS Curator and in collaboration with the University of Illinois’ Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) office. Responsibilities also include compilation of existing records and publications related to the collection inventory process, assisting with tribal and other stakeholder consultations, and working with local, state, and federal agencies as needed.   This position is based in Champaign, Illinois.

  • Public Health Entomology Technician (Hourly) - Illinois Natural History Survey

    Feb 21, 2023 9:45 am

    We are seeking hourly technicians for seasonal field and lab work on mosquito and tick surveillance and research. Applicants should be available for either two consecutive days per week or full-time for the entire or part of this period. The position is based at the Illinois Natural History Survey Medical Entomology Lab, within the University Research Park in Champaign, Illinois.

  • Fisheries/Aquatic Ecology Research Technician (Hourly): Kaskaskia Biological Station: Sullivan, Illinois

    Feb 21, 2023 9:00 am

    The Kaskaskia Biological Station is seeking 1-2 hourly Research Technician to conduct field and laboratory work in support of research projects on sportfish management and invasion biology in lakes and rivers.  Job offers come with an expected commitment of 12-24 months and this position will be based out of the Kaskaskia Biological Station in Sullivan, IL.

  • AI Remote Sensing

    Feb 17, 2023 1:15 pm

    The Prairie Research Institute is seeking to hire either an Assistant (lower) level (Official Title: Assistant Research Scientist, AI Remote Sensing 1014958) or an Associate (higher) level (Official Title: Associate Research Scientist, AI Remote Sensing 1014529)  to conduct research and program-building activities of ISWS by planning, directing, conducting and seeking external funding for Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in remote sensing in the Climate & Atmospheric Sciences Section of the Illinois State Water Survey (ISWS).

  • Stream and River Research Technicians (Hourly) - Illinois Natural History Survey/PRI

    Feb 13, 2023 1:00 pm

    The Illinois Natural History Survey is seeking up to 7 research technicians to conduct bioassessments of aquatic life in streams and rivers in Illinois. The position will be stationed in Champaign Illinois, but travel will occur throughout the state.

  • Fisheries Technician (Hourly) - Illinois Natural History Survey

    Feb 3, 2023 1:15 pm

    INHS is seeking a fisheries technician to work with survey scientists to conduct data collection on various projects related to the ecology of sport fishes in Illinois. This position will be based out of Champaign, Illinois. 

  • Aquatic Field Technician (Hourly) - Illinois Natural History Survey: Macomb, Illinois (Summer)

    Feb 3, 2023 9:00 am

    INHS is seeking field technicians (1-3) to conduct applied research in aquatic ecology and large river systems throughout the state of Illinois, focusing on the Mississippi River. Technicians will assist large river ecologists in the collection of standardized long-term river monitoring data with additional targeted data collection and lab sample processing. This position will be 40 hours per week and will be based in Macomb, Illinois. 

    Technicians will need to be available to work from May 2023 - August 2023, with potential for extension. 

  • Aquatic Field Technician (Hourly) - Illinois Natural History Survey: Macomb, Illinois (Spring)

    Feb 3, 2023 9:00 am

    INHS is seeking field technicians (1-3) to conduct applied research in aquatic ecology and large river systems throughout the state of Illinois, focusing on the Mississippi River. Technicians will assist large river ecologists in the collection of standardized long-term river monitoring data with additional targeted data collection and lab sample processing. This position will be 40 hours per week and will be based in Macomb, Illinois. 

    Technicians will need to be available February 2023 - May 2023, with potential for extension. 

  • Postdoctoral Research Associate - Illinois Sustainable Technology Center

    Jan 25, 2023 12:45 pm

    The Illinois Sustainable Technology Center is seeking to hire a Postdoctoral Research Associate to conduct research related to emerging chemical contaminants, e.g., pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs), per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and/or disinfection by-products (DBPs). In particular, there is interest in developing new treatment/mitigation systems using combinations of biochar and hydrothermal conversion processes to destruct these emerging contaminants.  Position is based in Champaign, Illinois.

  • Seasonal Fisheries Technician (Hourly): Kaskaskia Biological Station - Sullivan, Illinois

    Jan 11, 2023 10:15 am

    The Illinois Natural History Survey is seeking Seasonal Fisheries Technicians to work during the Summer of 2023 conducting fisheries related work for the Kaskaskia Biological Station located in Sullivan, Illinois. This position will be 40 hour per week (weekdays and weekend).