[PCA] Job Announcement Full Time, 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 http://www.mortonarb.org/visit-explore/about-arboretum/
working-arboretum/open-positions.  Please share this announcement with your
colleagues!

*Research Assistant (RA) Level 1 Job advertisement- Conservation
Biology/Genetics Project*

I seek an applicant with at minimum a Bachelor’s degree in Ecology,
Genetics, Evolutionary Biology, Botany, Mathematical Biology, or similar
biological field, and at minimum one year experience with laboratory work,
especially in a molecular genetics lab.  A Master’s degree is advantageous.
*It is strongly desirable for* the applicant to have familiarity and
experience (with limited supervision, i.e. not just in a class laboratory
exercise) in PCR, DNA extraction, DNA analysis, primer design and
optimization, gel electrophoresis, and repetitive pipetting.  *It is
advantageous if *the applicant has experience analyzing DNA fragment or
sequence data, using statistical analysis, computer coding, and/or managing
a database (e.g. Access).  *It is also advantageous for* the applicant to
have some experience in field ecology or other outdoor experience.  Full
details on skillsets are listed below.  The 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 Tree Conservation
Biologist (Sean Hoban).  Research assistants are 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, organize supplies, train and oversee volunteers, attend and
contribute to lab group discussions, organize data and perform analysis,
and discuss results. There is opportunity to collaborate on papers, present
research at national meetings, and work with international collaborators.
The ideal candidate seeks professional development as a scientist and is
interested in reading current scientific literature and being
intellectually engaged.  This RA will focus on the following tasks:
cataloging samples, extracting DNA, sequencing/ genotyping, planning field
expeditions, analyzing results, and testing/ optimizing protocols for a
funded grant proposal <https://www.imls.gov/grants/awarded/mg-30-16-0085-16>
in ex situ conservation genetics.  The position is funded at least 18
months; if further grant support is obtained the term may be extended.


The RA should 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 RA 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, cooperate in a congenial manner *with
supervisors and co-workers, and solve problems.  The successful applicant
will have a strong background including coursework and research in plant
sciences, evolutionary biology, and/or molecular biology with both lab and
field experience.  The applicant should demonstrate curiosity and
enthusiasm.


Review of applications will begin immediately. The position will start in
January.  Preferred experience may include the following (at least two
categories preferred).  *Please note your experience in these activities in
your application letter and be prepared to explain them in a future
interview.  APPLY HERE
<https://careers.hireology.com/themortonarboretum/85378/description>.*

·         Planning lab activities and keeping detailed lab notebook

·         Experience in a molecular lab- PCR, qRT-PCR, dilutions, gel
electrophoresis, DNA/RNA extraction, DNA/RNA sequencing,
labeling/organizing samples, trouble-shooting and/or optimizing lab
protocols

·         Experience in the field or greenhouse- planning field trips or
expeditions, hiking, camping, logistics, 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, theoretical ecology or genetics

·         Computer programming/ informatics- advanced statistical models,
dynamic biological models, writing and troubleshooting code

·         Report writing- literature search, meta-analysis, writing reports

If you have questions please contact Sean Hoban (shoban at mortonarb.org or
630-719-2419).  Note that this description is more detailed than that on
the Morton Arboretum website.


-- 

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

--
Please check out the conservation genetic workshops I will be co-leading
this year:
IUCN World Congress, September:
https://portals.iucn.org/congress/session/9629
NIMBioS, November: http://www.nimbios.org//workshops/WS_nextgen

--
research webpage: http://sites.google.com/site/hoban3/
ResearchGate Profile: http://www.researchgate.net/profile/Sean_Hoban/
food blog: http://cuisineraveclevin.blogspot.it/
blog about invasive species: http://invasivore.org/
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