Field & Lab Stream Ecology Research Assistant

The Pennsylvania State University; Ferguson Township (PA); On-site; USD 21,000 - 32,000; Full time

Job summary

The Pennsylvania State University’s Department of Ecosystem Science and Management is seeking lab and field research assistants to support the Allen Stream Ecology Lab at Penn State. These roles involve hands-on fieldwork and laboratory tasks essential to stream ecology research.

Field duties include traveling to sites, carrying gear, installing and maintaining sensors, sampling water, and collecting aquatic organisms while recording observations.

Qualifications

• Must complete background checks as per university policies.
• Must have a valid driver's license and ability to pass motor vehicle records check.

Responsibilities

• Assist lab members in traveling to field sites and carry equipment to streams.
• Install and maintain sensors and data loggers; measure habitat variables.
• Sample water and collect aquatic organisms; take detailed field notes.
• Assist in processing aquatic samples in the lab; use microscopes.
• Conduct molecular analyses and clean lab equipment; maintain notes.

Skills

Fieldwork support

Equipment handling

Sensor installation

Water sampling

Aquatic biology

Microscopy

Molecular analyses

Lab record-keeping

Job description

The Pennsylvania State University’s Department of Ecosystem Science and Management is seeking lab and field research assistants to support the Allen Stream Ecology Lab at Penn State. These roles involve hands-on fieldwork and laboratory tasks essential to stream ecology research.

Field duties include traveling to sites, carrying gear, installing and maintaining sensors, sampling water, and collecting aquatic organisms while recording observations.