Location: Chesterton,IN, USA
Biological Science Technician (Student Services Contractor)
U.S. Geological Survey, Lake Michigan Ecological Research Station
Chesterton, Indiana
Closing Date: Jan 31, 2025
Description
Employment Opportunity Position: Multiple Biological Technicians under a Student Services Contract, full time, approximately $20.37 -$22.79 per hour depending upon education/experience level, must be a US citizen and enrolled as a student, or have been a student within one year (365 days) of the start of the contract. Term: 3-6 months, April - September 2025, with options for extension, subject to performance, available funding, and project needs. Location: U.S. Geological Survey, Lake Michigan Ecological Research Station (LMERS), 1574 N 300 E, Chesterton, Indiana 46304 Application: Interested candidates must submit their application via email to Kasia Przybyla-Kelly: [email protected]. The application package should include (i) cover letter, (ii) recent resume, and (iii) a copy of college transcript(s) (unofficial is acceptable at this stage). Description of duties and responsibilities: Research projects in aquatic sciences at LMERS are primarily in the Great Lakes basin, spanning across multiple disciplines, including ecology of nuisance algae, population assessment of native and invasive fish species, and restoration of degraded aquatic habitats and their biological assemblages, as well as understanding the microbial role in ecosystem processes. Some of these projects may involve collaboration with federal partners such as National Park Service. 1. Duties: Persons hired are expected to work independently and in group-directed research with minimum supervision. Field work will consist of sample collection (e.g., water, soil/sediment, sand, algae, and invertebrates) in a variety of freshwater environments in the Great Lakes basin. Candidates should be comfortable working in and around water. Sampling along multiple Great Lakes will include traveling up to a week with a team in government provided vehicle to collect environmental samples (e.g., algae, water, macroinvertebrates) from a research vessel. Laboratory work will involve sample processing, recording specimen characteristics, species identifications and measurements, and microscopy, as well as preparing samples for a range of chemical, microbiological, and DNA-based endpoints. Candidates should be familiar with laboratory procedures, such as aseptic techniques, handling of biological samples, and (laboratory) safety protocols; additional training, as needed, will be provided after hiring. Personnel will also conduct work in office setting, including data entry, data quality assurance, and some data analysis (preparation of charts, writing field reports, statistical analyses, and assistance with preparation of peer-reviewed manuscripts). 2. Physical demands: Field work is generally performed outdoors in aquatic environments and involves moderate to extreme exposure to the discomforts of rain, cold/hot weather, and waves on occasions; field work may include work onboard boats, involving slippery surfaces and rocking motions on research vessels and long hours of travel in a government provided vehicle to study sites. Special safety precautions are required, and the employee will be required to wear a life jacket and waders for some activities. Applicant should have a valid driver's license. Laboratory and office work generally involve extended periods of sitting or standing. In the laboratory, the technicians work in close contact with freshwater shellfish. This position occasionally requires weekend work. 3. Qualifications: General field survey experience (6 months), OR college work related to field of employment, including one semester of post-high school education from an accredited college, junior college, or technical institute, which included at least 6 semester/14 quarter hours of coursework in biological, chemical, or physical sciences, engineering, or any branch of mathematics. Working Conditions: The contractor will receive full safety training and information necessary to work in the field and laboratory. Safety gear will be provided. This appointment also requires a background check (no cost to candidate). For work performed in the laboratory or office, no special safety gear is required, although the contractor is required to work in clothes suitable for laboratory conditions (no open toed shoes). Lab coats, safety glasses, and gloves will be available. The student will be required to read, understand, and abide by laboratory safety guidelines and job hazard analyses. The office and laboratory are open weekdays; contractors may be asked to telework periodically. The office is closed on federal holidays and weekends. Compensation: Student contractors are not considered Federal Employees. The candidate will be hired as an independent contractor and as such will be responsible for payment of all federal, state or local taxes (no deductions will be made by the employer). Once selected, student contractors will be required to register in SAM (we will provide information about how to do this). The hired student will be issued a 1099 form. Full time schedule (typically 40 hours per week) spans April - September, at an hourly rate of approximately $20.37 -$22.79 depending on education level and experience. Work is unavailable during federal holidays. The student does not receive premium pay for work beyond 8 hours per day or 40 hours per week. Time worked on weekends will be compensated at the same hourly rate. Applications are accepted until January 31, 2025, or until positions are filled. Anticipated start dates are around April-May but are negotiable, earlier or later, depending on need and availability.
Contact
Kasia Przybyla-Kelly
U.S. Geological Survey, Lake Michigan Ecological Research Station
Phone: 219-###-#### ext. 423
[email protected]