Seasonal Ecology Research Field/Lab Tech

UNC-Chapel Hill•Chapel Hill, NC

10d•Onsite

About The Position

Assist with research on plant disease ecology in field and lab settings. The research technician will work on a grant-funded project examining how seasonal epidemics of infectious diseases are influenced by both climatic variables and ecological interactions among microbial species. Specific duties include extensive vegetation surveys of foliar fungal pathogens, management of data collected from surveys, collection of plant and fungal samples from the field, culturing and archiving of fungal pathogens from infected plant material, working on greenhouse inoculation protocols, extracting DNA from cultured fungal samples, and assisting other lab members with additional projects. The research technician should be able to 1) work independently under minimal supervision and with other team members, 2) work accurately and efficiently, and 3) maintain exceptional communication skills with the research team over the course of daily activities.

Requirements

Willingness and ability to work early mornings and outdoors daily in the summer is required
Familiarity with general research procedures
The capacity to communicate and work well with others as a team is also essential
Employees must be able to secure transportation to an off-campus field site (Duke Forest) on a daily basis, in addition to working at the on-campus lab when necessary

Nice To Haves

Some course work in a relevant field, including ecology, biology, and environmental science
Experience conducting ecological research, especially in the field
Demonstrated experience working in outdoor conditions for extended periods of time is a plus