Temporary Summer Research Assistant

Role Overview

• Join Woodwell’s Evolving Meta-Ecosystems (EvoME) project as a Temporary Summer Research Assistant in stream ecosystem ecology contributing to the EvoME Institute
• Work both independently and collaboratively as a field team leader with EvoME Institution PIs, students, and other researchers to complete fieldwork, process samples, and enter, manage, analyze and interpret and and write journal articles
• Develop and manage databases and workflows across multiple collaborating institutions for the collection, sharing and archiving the data collected by the institute
• Communicate well both verbally and in writing to non-science audiences
• The fieldwork involves collection of ecological, genetic, and species trait data and samples across a 300 mile latitudinal gradient in Arctic Alaska, including vegetation, soil, water, terrestrial and aquatic organisms, and environmental data, identifying aquatic and terrestrial organisms, assessing and monitoring species traits, collecting genetic samples, and completing environmental field surveys
• Assists in project planning, supervise and schedule work of other assistants or interns and provide mentorship, required

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree ecology, biology, ecosystem science, natural resources, data science or related field with 2+ years of relevant experience or Masters degree ecology, biology, ecosystem science, natural resources, data science
• Willing to live at field sites (Arctic Alaska at Toolik Field Station in North Slope AK, or camping) for extended periods (up to 3 months)
• Experience with diverse aquatic sampling techniques (e.g., stream discharge, metabolism experiments, TASSC additions, soil samples, weather station)
• Experience in chemical lab analysis of carbon and nitrogen, nutrients, % organic matter, chlorophyll, etc
• Willing to travel via foot, truck, plane, helicopter, or boat; work long/unusual schedules; camp in remote Alaska with a team of five
• Ability to hike long distances (5-8 miles) over rough terrain carrying up to 40 pounds of field equipment and field gear
• Ability to lift, push, pull up to 10 times/day and carry up to 40 lbs for up to 5-8 miles
• Self-motivated leader with critical thinking skills; works independently and collaboratively
• Possesses or willing to develop technical computer based skills (statistics, stream metabolism modeling, database management, lab/field techniques, R code, possibly Python)
• Engages in data analysis, poster presentations and journal article writing with the team
• Experienced in quantitative analysis, statistical modeling, and database management
• Organizes and enters field data into spatial/tabular databases
• Experience with stream ecosystem research and eco-evolutionary interactions
• Professional, respectful communicator with team members, communities, landowners, and agencies.

Tech Stack

• Python

Benefits

• generous benefits package
• work life balance