Careers @ MSU

Position Summary(Basic Job Function)

This is a temporary or an on-call position. Provides technical support. Responsibilities may include computer programming or operations; research support; medical patient care; technical equipment maintenance, repair, fabrication or operation; or other technical support functions.

Unit Position Summary

LTER Technician - Kellogg Biological Station (Hickory Corners, MI)

The LTER Technician hired for this position will be responsible for maintaining a rain-exclosure experiment at the KBS LTER Main Cropping System Experiment, and for performing bird surveys in the LTER’s and LTAR’s prairie strips. Duties pertaining to the rain-exclosure experiment will include construction, watering, soil sampling, plant sampling, arthropod sampling, phenological measurements, soil processing, and other miscellaneous tasks required of fieldwork. This technician may also assist other project personnel with surveying plants in the LTER, collecting plant fruits, harvesting plant biomass (ANPP), sorting plant biomass to species, and weighing dried plant biomass. Duties pertaining to the bird surveys will include morning bird count surveys 2-3 times a week under the supervision of LTER collaborators. Depending on the technician’s skill/experience with bird identification, they may assist with assessments of birds’ impacts on production, such as food safety, instead of or in addition to bird count surveys. Also dependent on experience/expertise, they may help with nest searching in prairie strips.

Desired Qualifications

Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Biology, Geology, Agronomy, or related fields preferred but not required. Demonstrated ability to work independently as well as within a large, diverse team. Prior field experience preferred, and prior bird surveying experience highly preferred. Applicants without expertise in surveying Michigan bird species may still be considered for the position but would be assigned other tasks such as fecal contamination surveys.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability or protected veteran status.

Required Application Materials

Cover letter, resume, and three references with their contact information and relation to the applicant.

Work Hours

STANDARD 8-5

Summary of Physical Demands

Must be able to lift objects weighing 50 lbs and carry objects up to 25 lbs, and will be working outdoors in the Michigan summer.