Wanted: Field Research Assistant June-August 2021
The Anderson Lab at the University of Georgia is searching for one field research assistant from June-August 2021. We study the ecological and evolutionary consequences of climate change for natural plant populations. We focus on research on Drummond’s rockcress (Boechera stricta in the plant family Brassicaceae), a mustard plant native to the Rocky Mountains. Our studies take place around the Rocky Mountain Biological Lab, which is located in Gothic, Colorado near the wildflower capital of Colorado (Crested Butte). We quantify plant fitness and traits to ask whether climate change could disrupt long-standing patterns of local adaptation, and to test whether phenotypic plasticity will enable populations to persist in the short-term. We perform large-scale reciprocal transplant experiments to examine patterns of adaptive evolution and natural selection in contemporary landscapes. Since fall 2013, we have planted >150,000 seeds and seedlings into five experimental gardens ranging in elevation from 2500 m to 3340 m (8202 feet to 11000 feet). Our summer research involves intensive monitoring of these experimental plants to record data on germination success, survival, growth, reproductive success, as well as life history and morphological traits. We conduct most of our work in the field, with a small proportion of indoor lab work.
The successful candidate will assist with ongoing field and laboratory studies for 10 weeks from June – August. The exact start and end dates are negotiable. We are offering $12/hour for a full-time field assistant (40 hours/week) from June through August. We will cover housing costs and station fees at the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory and reimburse travel expenses up to $400, but the field assistant would be responsible for their own food costs. Fieldwork will involve hiking to experimental gardens through rough terrain (1-3 miles one-way daily).
The University of Georgia is committed to maintaining a fair and respectful environment for living, work, and study. We celebrate diversity in human identity, experience, and perspective. Collectively, we excel when we learn from each other and when we remain open to new points of view. We seek to cultivate an inclusive lab culture, open to people of all racial, socioeconomic, religious, cultural backgrounds, family structure, gender identities, and sexual orientations, and to people with disabilities. To this purpose, we encourage applications from individuals excited to study evolutionary ecology in nature.
Members of the Anderson field team are expected to be masked and maintain social distancing in public locations as detailed in RMBL and Gunnison county public health guidelines.
The application consists of a cover letter listing your qualifications, a CV/ résumé and contact information for two references, all of which can be emailed to Dr. Jill Anderson. Vaccinations against COVID-19 are not required.
Applications are due by March 22nd, 2021.
Feel free to contact Dr. Anderson if you have any questions about the position. Additional information about our work can be found here.
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