Snail lab tech position

 

Waterworlds, ENVS/ANTH 320

 Waterworlds, ENVS/ANTH 320

- Survey of water issues from a holistic social, political, economic, and environmental perspective. Explores water as key to social life and as a resource under threat. Uses case studies to examine water scarcity, pollution, and unjust distribution, and solutions.

- General Education course in the Nature and Technology domain

- Fulfills the Human Diversity requirement. 

Nachusa is hiring summer techs

 Restoration Technician at Nachusa Grasslands

The Nature Conservancy

OFFICE LOCATION

Franklin Grove, Illinois, USA

Nachusa Grasslands Office, Franklin Grove, IL

Dixon, IL

The Illinois Nachusa Restoration Technicians will work together to manage and restore tallgrass prairie at

Nachusa Grasslands. The work includes invasive weed management using backpack herbicide sprayers

and hand spades, hand-harvesting native seeds, and assisting with native plantings. The Technicians will

also assist with outreach events for visitors and volunteers, maintain public preserve areas, and repair

and maintain tools and equipment.

This is a full-time (average 37.5 hours per week), short-term position starting early May and ending early

August, with possible extension through fall. The position is located at Nachusa Grasslands Preserve

near Franklin Grove and Dixon, IL and includes nice, clean on-site housing (one technician per room,

high speed internet available at Headquarters, no pets). We have multiple positions available.

Responsibilities & Scope:

• May interact with visitors.

• Works with and interacts with volunteer stewards.

• Works under close or infrequent supervision.

• May work in variable weather conditions, at remote locations for long periods of time in isolated

settings, on difficult and hazardous terrain and under physically demanding circumstances.

• Requires considerable physical exertion and/or muscular strain.

WE'RE LOOKING FOR YOU

The Nature Conservancy in Illinois is seeking Restoration Technicians to help manage and restore

tallgrass prairie at the Nachusa Grasslands Preserve. This 4,000-acre preserve, near Dixon, IL, is home

to more than 700 native plant species, 180 species of birds, and a herd of bison! The Technicians work

together on a crew to restore agricultural lands back to high diversity prairie, wetlands, and savanna. The

position affords the opportunity to engage in interesting, educational, and challenging outside work at a

dynamic restoration project. This is an exceptional entry level position to learn what it really takes to do

natural areas management and ecological restoration. If you enjoy being outside and interacting with

people and nature, come join us today and help make a difference with the world’s leading conservation

organization!

WHAT YOU'LL BRING

• High school diploma or GED and 6 months of related experience

• Experience operating various types of equipment in a safe and efficient manner (e.g. lawn

mower, chainsaw, UTV, ATV or OHV, two-way radio, or similar equipment).

• Must be able to obtain related licenses or certifications as required. (e.g. Moderate pack walk test

of 24 pounds for two miles under 30 minutes, First Aid, CPR, herbicide application).

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Course work in ecology or experience with natural areas restoration.

• Multi-lingual skills and multi-cultural or cross-cultural experience appreciated.

• Ability to follow instructions from colleagues/coworkers/team members.

• Ability to work in a team environment.

AUTO SAFETY POLICY

This position requires a valid driver's license and compliance with TNC’s Auto Safety Program.

Employees may not drive Conservancy-owned/leased vehicles, rental cars, or personal vehicles on

behalf of the Conservancy if considered "high risk drivers." To learn more about the Auto Safety Program,

visit https://www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/careers/recruitment/ under the FAQ section.

Employment in this position will be contingent upon completion of a Vehicle Use Agreement, which may

include a review of the prospective employee's motor vehicle record.

SALARY INFORMATION

The starting pay for a candidate selected for this position is $16.00 per hour (subject to required tax

withholding). This range only applies to candidates whose country of employment is the USA. Where a

successful candidate’s actual pay will fall within this range will be based on a variety of factors, including,

for example, the candidate's location, qualifications, specific skills, and experience. Please note countries

outside the USA would have a different pay range in the local currency based on the local labor market,

and not tied to USA pay or ranges. Your geographic location will be confirmed during the recruitment.

APPLY NOW

To apply for job ID 56153, submit your materials online by using the Apply Now button

at https://careers.nature.org/. Need help applying? Visit our recruitment page or

contact applyhelp@tnc.org.

The Nature Conservancy is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our commitment to diversity includes the

recognition that our conservation mission is best advanced by the leadership and contributions of people

of diverse backgrounds, beliefs and culture. Recruiting and mentoring staff to create an inclusive

organization that reflects our global character is a priority and we encourage applicants from all cultures,

races, colors, religions, sexes, national or regional origins, ages, disability status, sexual orientation,

gender identity, military, protected veteran status or other status protected by law.

The successful applicant must meet the requirements of The Nature Conservancy's background

screening process.

Do you have military experience? Visit our U.S. Military Skills Translator to match your military experience

with our current job openings!

TNC is committed to offering accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled

veterans in our job application process. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability,

please send a note to applyhelp@tnc.org with Request for Accommodation in the subject line.

An attractive salary and benefits package is part of TNC’s value proposition to our employees. TNC

strives to provide competitive pay and bases salaries on the geographic location of the role committing to

being equitable across groups and providing hiring salary ranges when possible.

Since we support flexible and remote work for our employees, many positions have a flexible

location within countries where we’re registered as a Non-government Organization and established

as an employer. This may mean we’re unable to provide a hiring salary range in the posting for some of

our positions. However, candidates invited to be part of our interview process will be provided their

location specific range upon request.

Ecological Monitoring Tech Job with LCFPD

 Position: Seasonal Ecological Monitoring Technicians

Employer: The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum of the Chicago Academy of Sciences (CAS)

Location: Lake County, Illinois

Job Description: Two ecological monitoring technician positions are available to assist the Lake County Forest Preserve District with its Ecological Monitoring Program from late April through October 2025 (approximate dates). As part of a partnership between the Chicago Academy of Sciences (CAS) and Lake County Forest Preserve District (LCFPD), each organization will hire two ecological monitoring technicians, who will cross-train and work as a team of four. (Please note that there will be a separate posting for the two LCFPD technician positions.) Lake County is located north of Chicago, IL and boasts 65 preserves managed for biodiversity and natural resources, set within a suburban landscape. Technicians will conduct a variety of wildlife and vegetation surveys including: coverboard and live-trap surveys for fish, amphibians, and reptiles, observational invertebrate surveys, herbaceous plant monitoring, tree and shrub monitoring, plant-pollinator network monitoring, and may have an opportunity for involvement in telemetry/nest monitoring for endangered Blanding’s turtles, or smooth greensnake nest monitoring/egg incubation. One of the technician positions will be more involved with wildlife monitoring and the other with vegetation monitoring. Both technicians will be trained in wildlife and vegetation monitoring and equipment will be provided for all essential job duties. Technicians will work with CAS Biologists and LCFPD Ecologists, and will be expected to work independently depending on scheduling and survey type. *This position is ideal for recent graduates looking to develop proficiency in a wide variety of wildlife and vegetation survey techniques*.

The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum of the Chicago Academy of Sciences is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to equity, diversity and inclusion in all areas of the organization. We strongly encourage applications from people of color and members of underrepresented groups.

Qualifications: Ideal candidates will be comfortable independently working long hours in the outdoors with little shade and with abundant biting insects, ticks, and poison ivy. Familiarity with field sampling techniques across taxa. The most important qualification is an enthusiasm for fieldwork and wildlife biology. Additional requirements include:

● B.S./B.A. in wildlife, ecology, botany/plant ecology, environmental biology, natural resources, biology or related field with relevant coursework

● Valid driver’s license and insurance

● Familiarity with or *ability to learn* regional vertebrate, invertebrate, and plant species and ability to safely handle large and potentially aggressive animals (e.g. snapping turtles)

● Ability to read maps and navigate to survey points with GPS

● Adherence to safety and animal handling protocols

● Ability to work independently and as part of a team

● Ability to think critically and troubleshoot problems

● Ability to communicate effectively with forest preserve agency personnel and the public regarding project details

● Flexibility regarding work schedule and conditions

● Ability to work outdoors in a variety of weather conditions and habitats

● Physical strength, stamina, and endurance sufficient for full days of strenuous field work (several miles of hiking in waders while carrying heavy (35 lbs) equipment in hot weather)

● Commitment to a safe, equitable, and inclusive work environment

● Sense of humor. Everyone floods their waders, but it doesn’t have to ruin your day.

Essential Job functions:

● Capturing, handling, and identifying, fish, amphibians, reptiles, mammals, and invertebrates

● Safely marking and measuring reptiles and small mammals

● Setting, baiting, checking, and cleaning aquatic and mammal traps

● Deploying and maintaining camera traps

● Conducting vegetation surveys for herbaceous plants, trees, and shrubs

● Following disinfection procedures and biosecurity

● Traveling among field sampling sites and wildlife facilities

● Maintaining accurate notes/reliable data entry, data entry into database

● Basic data summarization for end-of-year reports

● Working without direct supervision

Salary: Range: $17.75-$19.75/hr (depending on qualifications), 37.5 hr per week; bunkhouse style lodging available first come first serve~$217/month; work vehicle provided for trap deployment/removal, but personal vehicles may be required for daily sampling activities (with mileage reimbursement).

How to Apply: Those interested should submit their application to hr-biofieldtech@naturemuseum.org as a single document (PDF) containing a brief cover letter, resume/CV, and contact information for 3 references. Please indicate within the cover letter which position you are more interested in (wildlife or vegetation focused), but all applications will be considered for both. The email subject should read:

" LastName_EMPTech_Application_2025" and the document filename should be: "LastName_EMPTech_Application_2025". Applications received by January 24th, 2025 are guaranteed consideration. However, applications will be reviewed as they are received.

About Us

For 166 years, The Chicago Academy of Sciences/Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum (‘Nature Museum’) has been connecting Chicagoans to nature and science. As a leader in the field of scientific research, education and community programming, Nature Museum’s mission is to create a positive relationship between people and nature through collaboration, education, research and collections, exhibitions and public forums to grow the region’s urban connection to the world of nature and science. The Nature Museum believes that nature and science should and can be accessible to everyone and seeks to be a spark that ignites and fosters a sense of wonder for nature, an understanding of science and protection of the natural world.

Founded in 1857, the Chicago Academy of Sciences is Chicago’s oldest museum and one of America’s oldest scientific institutions. Created by members seeking to understand the natural world through methodical exploration and study, the Chicago Academy of Sciences became the first private scientific museum founded in the city of Chicago. When the Academy opened its doors to the public in 1869, the institution’s focus expanded to that of a community museum with the goal of welcoming and engaging Chicago residents and visitors. The scientific collections that have been curated and preserved through the Chicago Academy of Sciences have been used to help define human understanding of nature, ecology and the diversity of life in the United States. They are key resources in allowing the scientific community to interpret our present place in history as well as anticipate future conditions.

Application Deadline: 21 February 2025

Paid summer research positions at Nachusa Grasslands

Stream and Wildlife Research Technicians (2); DeKalb, IL

 

We are looking to hire two technicians to work on a Master’s student research project which involves studying the potential impacts of beaver dam building patterns on hydrology at a tallgrass prairie preserve in Illinois. This position involves wading through streams, collecting water samples, installing and maintaining wildlife camera traps, and point-counting stumps. Other possible responsibilities include entering data into Microsoft Excel, analyzing spatial data in ArcGIS, processing field samples in a lab, and organizing pictures. Additionally, applicants should have a good knowledge of standard ecological survey protocols. This is a great opportunity for early career scientists to gain fieldwork experience while working in restored and remnant tallgrass prairie ecosystems.

Successful applicants will be employed through Northern Illinois University (NIU). NIU is an AA/EEO institution and is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply. Moreover, safety of technicians is a primary goal of this research project. Successful applicants and project leaders will establish a working document on field safety procedures (including compliance with relevant Covid-19 regulations) and avenues for reporting workplace misconduct.

Position dates: May 30^th  – July 29^th (slightly flexible if necessary)

Salary: $12/hour 30 hours per week (total of 9 weeks)

Survey site: Nachusa Grasslands (near Lost Nation, IL)

Work schedule: 4 days per week, Monday-Thursday. Work will begin at 0700 and last on site until 1300 (not including travel). The overall plan is to collect field data in the morning, then process collections in DeKalb in the afternoon.

Housing: Housing is not provided through this position. Hired technicians are encouraged to find summer housing in DeKalb, IL to allow for car-pooling to field sites (at no additional cost). Technicians are responsible for securing transportation to field sites if housing is secured in a location outside of DeKalb, IL. Primitive camping is available at the field site during the work week. Local candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

Required qualifications:

• familiarity with wildlife camera traps;
• knowledge of standard ecological survey procedures;
• ability to record and enter ecological data;
• working towards a Bachelor’s degree in wildlife ecology, natural resources management, or a related field;
• proficiency in Microsoft Excel;
• ability to hike through rough terrain while carrying up to 35 pounds of equipment;
• ability to effectively communicate and work with fellow technicians and project leaders;
• ability to work in adverse field conditions (early morning hours; hot, humid conditions; biting flies; wild bison; etc.);
• ability to work and navigate in remote field settings;
• ability to describe project details to the public;
• compliance with appropriate safety protocols

Preferred qualifications:

• a Bachelor’s degree in wildlife ecology, natural resources management, or a related field;
• experience conducting similar fieldwork/surveys;
• experience using GPS devices;
• possession of a valid driver’s license;
• experience operating 4WD trucks and/or UTVs;
• experience analyzing spatial data in ArcGIS

How to apply: Interested candidates should send a cover letter, resume/CV, and contact information for two references to Jesse Sikora at jsikora1@niu.edu. Full consideration will be given to applications received on or before March 20^th 2021. 

Aspen Summer Fellowship

The Aspen Tech Policy Hub, a West Coast policy incubator training a new generation of tech policy entrepreneurs, jointly with the Aspen Institute’s Energy and Environment Program are accepting applications for the Summer 2022 Aspen Climate Cohort Fellowship. 

The climate cohort of the Hub Fellowship is a 10-week, full-time, paid program that trains engineers, scientists, technologists, and business experts who already understand climate how better to apply their ideas to policy. One of the priority areas for this cohort is Carbon Dioxide Removal; the program is specially prioritizing applicants interested in innovative approaches to the process of removing CO₂ from the atmosphere. The first climate cohort is tentatively scheduled for June 2 to August 12, 2022. Admitted applicants receive an $18,000 stipend to enable their participation. 

 

Applications are due February 28, 2022.

 

To tackle the critical energy, environmental, and climate change issues we face, we need a combination of smart policy and innovative technology. This fellowship aims to arm climate technologists with the tools they need to make the most of their ideas through policy. 

Please share your ideas and spread the word with your networks. Apply nowthrough February 28, or help spread the word! Any questions or comments can be directed to aspentechpolicyhub@aspeninstitute.org.