<div dir="ltr">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 (<a href="mailto:shoban@mortonarb.org">shoban@mortonarb.org</a>).  Applications must be submitted online only at <a href="https://themortonarboretum.hireology.com/careers?id=57240&ref=http://www.mortonarb.org/visit-explore/about-arboretum/working-arboretum/open-positions#57240">https://themortonarboretum.hireology.com/careers?id=57240&ref=http://www.mortonarb.org/visit-explore/about-arboretum/working-arboretum/open-positions#57240</a>  Please share this announcement with your colleagues!<br><br>

<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:107%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Research Assistant
Job advertisement- Forest Ecology and Tree Conservation Biology</span></b></p>

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:107%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">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.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> 
</span>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.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">  </span>This is
an ideal job for a Masters-trained early career scientist or undergraduate with
strong post-graduate experience.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:107%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><br></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:107%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The Research Assistant will be supervised by the Forest
Ecologist and Tree Conservation Biologist.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> 
</span>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).<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> 
</span>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, <span class="">train and oversee volunteers and work in close
collaboration with colleagues</span>, attend and contribute to lab group
discussions, organize data and perform analysis, discuss results, and help
prepare manuscripts.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">  </span>The RA will also organize
and order lab supplies.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">  </span>There is
opportunity to collaborate on papers, present research at national meetings,<span class=""> and work with collaborators on international projects.</span>
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. <br></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:107%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><br></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:107%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">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.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">  </span>Work may take place in all weather conditions,
in laboratories, or in standard office conditions. </span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:107%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><br></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:107%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">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.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">  </span><span class="">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.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> 
</span>The applicant must demonstrate curiosity, enthusiasm for ecology and
genetics, and an interest in developing a broad range of skills in forest
biodiversity science.</span></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:107%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><br></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:107%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><b>Review of applications will begin immediately. The
position will start as soon as possible. </b><br></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:107%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><br></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:107%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Preferred past experience may include</span></p>

<ul><li><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:107%;font-family:Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore"><span style="font:7pt "Times New Roman""></span></span></span><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:107%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Planning lab activities and keeping detailed lab
notebook</span></li><li><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:107%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">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</span></li><li><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:107%;font-family:Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore"><span style="font:7pt "Times New Roman""></span></span></span><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:107%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Experience in plant science lab- measurements
(leaves, tree cores), assays (pH), microscope work, plant physiology or
biochemistry</span></li><li><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:107%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">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</span></li><li><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:107%;font-family:Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore"><span style="font:7pt "Times New Roman""></span></span></span><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:107%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">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</span></li><li><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:107%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Computer programming/ informatics- advanced
statistical models, dynamic biological models, writing and troubleshooting cod
</span></li><li><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:107%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Report writing- literature search,
meta-analysis, writing reports</span></li></ul>

<br clear="all"><div><br>-- <br><div class="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><span><br>Sean Hoban<br>Tree Conservation Biologist<br><a href="http://www.mortonarb.org/" target="_blank">The Morton Arboretum</a><br><span><div>4100 Illinois Rt 53, 3rd Floor Research Bldg, room 324, Lisle, IL<br></div></span><a href="tel:630-719-2419" value="+16307192419" target="_blank">630-719-2419</a></span></div><br></div></div></div></div>
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