Part-Time Lab and Field 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

JOB DESCRIPTION AND POSITION REQUIREMENTS

The Department of Ecosystem Science and Management is seeking lab and field research assistants to work in the Allen Stream Ecology Lab at Penn State.

Field duties

• Assisting other lab members in traveling to field sites
• Carrying equipment to stream research sites that may be off-trail and rugged conditions with or without accommodation
• Installing and maintaining sensors and data loggers
• Measuring stream habitat variables
• Sampling water
• Collecting aquatic organisms
• Taking field notes

Lab duties

• Assisting other lab members in processing aquatic organism samples in the lab
• Using microscopes
• Conducting molecular analyses
• Cleaning lab equipment
• Taking lab notes

Employment with the University will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies. This position requires that you operate a motor vehicle as a part of your job duties. A valid driver’s license and successful completion of a motor vehicle records check will be required in addition to standard background checks.

Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act and the Pennsylvania Act of 1988, Penn State publishes a combined Annual Security and Annual Fire Safety Report (ASR). The ASR includes crime statistics and institutional policies concerning campus security, such as those concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. The ASR is available for review here.

EEO IS THE LAW

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