<div dir="ltr"><br>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" target="_blank">shoban@mortonarb.org</a>). Applications must be submitted online only at <a href="http://www.mortonarb.org/visit-explore/about-arboretum/working-arboretum/open-positions" target="_blank">http://www.mortonarb.org/<wbr>visit-explore/about-arboretum/<wbr>working-arboretum/open-<wbr>positions</a>. Please share this announcement with your colleagues!<br clear="all"><br>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:107%;font-family:"arial","sans-serif"">Research
Assistant (RA) Level 1 Job advertisement- Conservation Biology/Genetics Project</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:107%;font-family:"arial","sans-serif"">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.<span>
</span>A Master’s degree is advantageous.<span>
</span><u>It is strongly desirable for</u> 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.<span>
</span><u>It is advantageous if </u>the applicant has experience analyzing DNA
fragment or sequence data, using statistical analysis, computer coding, and/or
managing a database (e.g. Access).<span> </span><u>It
is also advantageous for</u> the applicant to have some experience in field
ecology or other outdoor experience.<span> </span>Full
details on skillsets are listed below.<span>
</span>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.<span> </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 Tree
Conservation Biologist (Sean Hoban).<span> </span>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, <span class="gmail-m_-98804697323822632gmail-textexposedshow">train and oversee volunteers</span>, 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,<span class="gmail-m_-98804697323822632gmail-textexposedshow"> and work with international collaborators.</span>
The ideal candidate seeks professional development as a scientist and is
interested in reading current scientific literature and being intellectually
engaged. <span> </span>This RA will focus on the
following tasks: cataloging samples, extracting DNA, sequencing/ genotyping,
planning field expeditions, analyzing results, and testing/ optimizing
protocols for </span><a href="https://www.imls.gov/grants/awarded/mg-30-16-0085-16" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:107%;font-family:"arial","sans-serif"">a
funded grant proposal</span></a><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:107%;font-family:"arial","sans-serif""> in ex situ conservation genetics.<span> </span>The position is funded at least 18 months; if
further grant support is obtained the term may be extended.</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 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> </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"">The RA must be <u>well organized, enthusiastic</u>, able
to work (after training) without constant supervision, able to quickly learn
new skills, have very strong <u>attention to detail</u> and meticulous lab
notebook keeping, show capacity to work both independently and collaboratively,
be strongly self-motivated, <u>communicate clearly, cooperate in a congenial
manner </u>with supervisors and co-workers, and solve problems.<span> </span><span class="gmail-m_-98804697323822632gmail-textexposedshow">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.<span> </span>The applicant
should demonstrate curiosity and enthusiasm.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:107%;font-family:"arial","sans-serif""><span class="gmail-m_-98804697323822632gmail-textexposedshow"><br></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:107%;font-family:"arial","sans-serif"">Review of applications will begin immediately. The
position will start in January. <span> </span>Preferred
experience may include the following (at least two categories preferred).<span> </span><b>Please
note your experience in these activities in your application letter and be
prepared to explain them in a future interview.<span>
</span>APPLY <a href="https://careers.hireology.com/themortonarboretum/85378/description" target="_blank">HERE</a>.</b></span></p>
<p class="gmail-m_-98804697323822632gmail-MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst"><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:107%;font-family:symbol"><span>·<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></p>
<p class="gmail-m_-98804697323822632gmail-MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:107%;font-family:symbol"><span>·<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 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</span></p>
<p class="gmail-m_-98804697323822632gmail-MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:107%;font-family:symbol"><span>·<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 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</span></p>
<p class="gmail-m_-98804697323822632gmail-MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:107%;font-family:symbol"><span>·<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, theoretical ecology or genetics</span></p>
<p class="gmail-m_-98804697323822632gmail-MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:107%;font-family:symbol"><span>·<span style="font:7pt "times new roman"">
</span></span></span><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 code
</span></p>
<p class="gmail-m_-98804697323822632gmail-MsoListParagraphCxSpLast"><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:107%;font-family:symbol"><span>·<span style="font:7pt "times new roman"">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:107%;font-family:"arial","sans-serif"">Report writing- literature search,
meta-analysis, writing reports</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:107%;font-family:"arial","sans-serif"">If you have questions please contact Sean Hoban (</span><a href="mailto:shoban@mortonarb.org" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:107%;font-family:"arial","sans-serif"">shoban@mortonarb.org</span></a><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:107%;font-family:"arial","sans-serif""> or
<a href="tel:630-719-2419" value="+16307192419" target="_blank">630-719-2419</a>).<span> </span>Note that this
description is more detailed than that on the Morton Arboretum website.</span></p><br clear="all"><br>-- <br><div class="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><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><br><br>--<br>Please check out the conservation genetic workshops I will be co-leading this year:<br></span></div><div><span>IUCN World Congress, September: <a href="https://portals.iucn.org/congress/session/9629" target="_blank">https://portals.iucn.org/congress/session/9629</a><br></span></div><div><span>NIMBioS, November: <a href="http://www.nimbios.org//workshops/WS_nextgen" target="_blank">http://www.nimbios.org//workshops/WS_nextgen</a><br></span></div><div><span><br>--<br>research webpage: <a href="http://sites.google.com/site/hoban3/" target="_blank">http://sites.google.com/site/hoban3/</a><br>ResearchGate Profile: <a href="http://www.researchgate.net/profile/Sean_Hoban/" target="_blank">http://www.researchgate.net/profile/Sean_Hoban/</a> <br>food blog: <a href="http://cuisineraveclevin.blogspot.it/" target="_blank">http://cuisineraveclevin.blogspot.it/</a><br>blog about invasive species: <a href="http://invasivore.org/" target="_blank">http://invasivore.org/</a><br></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>
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