Alachua County – Seasonal Mosquito Field Interns

Clarke•Gainesville, FL

23h•Onsite

About The Position

Alachua County is seeking to hire Seasonal Mosquito Field Interns to work part-time from May to November, approximately 15 hours per week, performing important mosquito surveillance work in and around Alachua County. The technician will be responsible for visiting mosquito traps and water sites, checking to make sure traps are in good working order, collecting adult and larval samples, rough sorting out the non-mosquitoes, and identifying adult mosquito samples to species. This role also supports Clarke's sentinel chicken program, which requires weekly visits to collect blood samples from chickens following all procedures and safety precautions, and sending samples to the lab. This position requires the use of a personal vehicle with mileage reimbursement and may require occasional travel to Clarke's office in Kissimmee. The intern will likely work out of a storage facility property in Alachua County. This position is ideal for individuals passionate about biology, entomology, public health, sustainability, and who enjoy working outdoors.

Requirements

High school degree or equivalent
High school level math skills
Effective communication skills in English, both written and verbal
Valid Driver's License with an excellent driving record
Ability to sit and drive a vehicle for extended periods
Ability to bend, lift, and carry up to 50 pounds unassisted
Must be able to work through the end of the season (November/December)
Must be available to work daytime hours Monday-Friday, 2-3 days a week (days and hours will vary based on business needs)
Comfortable with chicken husbandry, working with chickens, and humanely taking blood samples
Capable of using handheld technical devices including smartphones, GPS, and system applications
Comfortable performing assigned duties outdoors while walking through various and challenging terrain including water, heavy vegetation, and uneven land in residential, urban, and forested areas, affected by weather conditions

Nice To Haves

Passion for biology, entomology, public health, and sustainability
Enjoyment of working outdoors
Problem-solving skills
Desire to be involved in public health
Attentiveness to detail

Responsibilities

Visiting mosquito traps and water sites
Checking mosquito traps to ensure they are in good working order
Collecting adult and larval mosquito samples
Roughly sorting out non-mosquito specimens
Identifying adult mosquito samples to species
Participating in Clarke's sentinel chicken program by visiting host chicken coops weekly
Obtaining blood samples from chickens following all procedures and safety precautions
Sending collected samples to the lab
Driving to trap, inspection, and/or chicken sites
Performing inspections and maintenance on equipment
Attending training sessions
Assisting in other aspects of the field operations