[PCA] Job Posting: full time Research Assistant at the Morton Arboretum

[Sean Hoban]

The Morton Arboretum (Lisle, Illinois, USA) is currently hiring a full time
Research Assistant.  Details of the position qualifications are presented
below- applicants should carefully consider these details and highlight
their suitability in the application letter and CV.  Inquiries can be made
to Sean Hoban (shoban at mortonarb.org).  Applications must be submitted
online only at
https://themortonarboretum.hireology.com/careers?id=57240&ref=http://www.mortonarb.org/visit-explore/about-arboretum/working-arboretum/open-positions#57240
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*Research Assistant Job advertisement- Forest Ecology and Tree Conservation
Biology*

We seek an applicant with at minimum a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in
Ecology, Genetics, Evolutionary Biology, Botany, Mathematical Biology, or
similar biological field, and at minimum one year experience in laboratory,
field, or relevant mathematical research, especially in a molecular
genetics lab and/or in field ecology.  This one year experience could
constitute an Honor’s thesis, Master’s thesis, research internships during
undergraduate studies, or employment or volunteer work after graduating.  This
is an ideal job for a Masters-trained early career scientist or
undergraduate with strong post-graduate experience.


The Research Assistant will be supervised by the Forest Ecologist and Tree
Conservation Biologist.  These research programs combine elements of field
ecology, forestry, natural history, genetics, modeling, mathematical
biology, and management and study of living collections (e.g.
arboreta).  Research
assistants are closely involved in all aspects of research: the RA will
participate in planning and executing laboratory and field work, utilize a
variety of scientific instruments, assist with lab management, train and
oversee volunteers and work in close collaboration with colleagues, attend
and contribute to lab group discussions, organize data and perform
analysis, discuss results, and help prepare manuscripts.  The RA will also
organize and order lab supplies.  There is opportunity to collaborate on
papers, present research at national meetings, and work with collaborators
on international projects. Eventually, the research technician may be
responsible for developing and executing new research projects. The ideal
candidate is one who seeks professional development as a scientist and is
therefore interested in reading current scientific literature and being
intellectually engaged on research projects.


The RA should also be prepared for sometimes tedious and repetitive tasks
such as labelling samples, cleaning equipment, manuscript editing, repeated
measuring, inventorying lab supplies, and repeated pipetting.  Work may
take place in all weather conditions, in laboratories, or in standard
office conditions.


The Research Assistant must be well organized, enthusiastic, able to work
(after training) without constant supervision, able to quickly learn new
skills, have very strong attention to detail and meticulous lab notebook
keeping, show capacity to work both independently and collaboratively, be
strongly self-motivated, communicate clearly and cooperate with supervisors
and co-workers, and solve problems.  The successful applicant will have a
strong background including coursework and research in plant sciences,
ecology, evolutionary biology, informatics and/or molecular biology with
both lab and field experience.  The applicant must demonstrate curiosity,
enthusiasm for ecology and genetics, and an interest in developing a broad
range of skills in forest biodiversity science.


*Review of applications will begin immediately. The position will start as
soon as possible. *


Preferred past experience may include

   - Planning lab activities and keeping detailed lab notebook
   - Experience in molecular lab- PCR, qRT-PCR, dilutions, gel
   electrophoresis, DNA/RNA extraction, DNA/RNA sequencing,
   labeling/organizing samples, trouble-shooting and optimizing lab protocols
   - Experience in plant science lab- measurements (leaves, tree cores),
   assays (pH), microscope work, plant physiology or biochemistry
   - Experience in the field or greenhouse- planning field expeditions,
   field sampling (biotic or abiotic- soil, plants, insects, forest
   measurements), seed collection, plant propagation, plant identification,
   trait measurement, data collecting and organizing
   - Statistics/ mathematics- Organizing data in a statistical program
   (SAS, JMP, STATA, R, etc.) or database program (ACCESS, SQL, etc.), basic
   statistical analysis, basic plots, advanced statistics, spatial statistics,
   theoretical ecology or genetics
   - Computer programming/ informatics- advanced statistical models,
   dynamic biological models, writing and troubleshooting cod
   - Report writing- literature search, meta-analysis, writing reports



-- 

Sean Hoban
Tree Conservation Biologist
The Morton Arboretum <http://www.mortonarb.org/>
4100 Illinois Rt 53, 3rd Floor Research Bldg, room 324, Lisle, IL
630-719-2419
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