Summer Research Assistant Job: Conservation Biological Control and Sustainable Agriculture

Title: Biological Science Aide (GS2 or GS3)

Location: USDA-ARS Northern Plains Agricultural Research Lab, Sidney, Montana

Job Description/Duties: The USDA, Agriculture Research Service, Northern Plains Agriculture Research Laboratory in Sidney, MT is seeking an enthusiastic and hardworking individual to serve as a biological science aide on projects examining the influence of landscape structure and crop diversity on pest insects and their natural enemies (e.g. ladybeetles, parasitoid wasps). The research is focused on developing ecologically-based, sustainable and environmentally friendly approaches to pest management in agricultural systems. This position will involve a mixture of field work (~50%), and lab work to sort samples and identify insect pests and their natural enemies (~50%). The successful candidate will gain hands on experience with insect field sampling methods, set up and maintenance of field experiments and insect rearing and identification techniques, as well as the chance to work with the diverse insect fauna associated with cropping systems in a team oriented research environment.

Salary: $11.68 (GS-2) or $12.74 (GS-3) per hour depending on experience and education. The candidate will receive overtime pay when working above the base work schedule of 40 hours a week. Housing is not covered, but dorm-style shared housing is available on location for ~$148 per month, including utilities.

Dates: May-September 2018 (this is ~a 16-week appointment with the possibility of extension). Please specify your available start and end dates in your application.

Qualifications: The candidate must be a US citizen, with a valid driver’s license. Additionally, the candidate should be physically fit, and comfortable spending time outside in uncomfortable field conditions (hot, biting insects etc.). Willingness to work long days, and weekends when necessary is also a must. Undergraduate course work in ecology or entomology, and previous field and lab work experience is preferred but not required.

Application process: Please send cover letter, resume and names and contact information of two references (electronically) in a single file to Dr. Tatyana Rand (tatyana.rand@ars.usda.gov).

Open Period: Evaluation of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. For more information on our research program visit our website at http://bit.ly/2Hst9xV or contact us directly.

USDA is an equal opportunity employer.

Reasonable Accommodation: If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, or have questions regarding reasonable accommodation and/or accessibility for any part of the application and hiring process, please contact the Disability Program Manager on 202-720-6161 or through the DC Relay Service on 202-855-1234 (TDD).