Part-Time Research Assistant – Lieurance Invasion Ecology Lab

The Pennsylvania State University; Ferguson Township (PA); On-site; USD 21,000 - 34,000; Part time

Job summary

The Pennsylvania State University in Pennsylvania is seeking paid part-time research assistants to support sponsored invasion-status assessments of non-native plants in the United States. The successful candidates will gain training with USDA sponsors and help complete status assessments under supervision.

Responsibilities include literature reviews, reviewing completed assessments, attending regular meetings, and other tasks related to invasion assessments.

Responsibilities

• training with US Dept. of Agriculture sponsors
• completing status assessments of non-native plants
• conducting literature reviews
• assisting in reviewing completed assessments
• attending regular meetings
• and other tasks related to invasion assessments.

Job description

JOB DESCRIPTION AND POSITION REQUIREMENTS

Dr. Lieurance in the Department of Ecosystem Science and Management currently has an opening for paid part-time research assistant(s). The successful candidate will assist with sponsored research conducting invasion status assessments on non-native species present in the US.

• training with US Dept. of Agriculture sponsors
• completing status assessments of non-native plants
• conducting literature reviews
• assisting in reviewing completed assessments
• attending regular meetings
• and other tasks related to invasion assessments.

Please submit an application with a resume/CV and short statement detailing your interest. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position(s) have been filled.

Context: This agreement will support the use of the USDA-APHIS-PPQ Weed Status Assessment (WSA), a process that helps determine how invasive certain high-risk non-native plants are in the United States. The results will guide which weeds should be prioritized for classical biological control - using natural enemies, such as insects or pathogens, to manage them. In the past, these targets were often chosen based on expert opinion or requests from local land managers. While valuable, that approach can be subjective. The WSA uses a more evidence-based method, combining scientific data, modeling, and input from stakeholders to make decisions that are more effective, efficient, and transparent. It looks at where a plant is currently found, how quickly it could spread, the damage it causes, and how difficult it is to control. This information helps ensure that biocontrol programs focus on the species where they can have the greatest impact.

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