Job description
The Human-Wildlife Interactions Lab at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is recruiting Field Technicians to aid in an 11-week study of bats in the northern plains of Missouri. The Missouri Bat Project is an 8-year study and collaboration between the Center for Bat Research, Outreach, and Conservation, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and the Missouri Department of Conservation. The main goal of the project is to understand how federally endangered Indiana bats (Myotis sodalis) are affected by timber management on state-owned conservation lands in northeast Missouri. Technicians will graduate students in gathering data on bat distributions, health, and population density on six conservation areas. The University of Illinois will provide housing and field vehicles to conduct the research. We expect long days in the field and can say with certainty that you will encounter at least one of the following daily: ticks, spiders, chiggers, venomous snakes, poison ivy, mud, hot weather, and rain. You will live and work in a team environment.
The Telemetry Technicians will work together to track bats to day roosts. The telemetry technicians will also conduct exit counts at bat roosts and manage data. The position involves navigating in rugged and forested areas using a GPS, compass, and map, and the telemetry technicians will help with managing data for a long-term project.
The Mist Netting Technicians will organize gear for mist netting, work on a netting team to safely capture and handle bats and follow decontamination protocols during and after netting each night. The mist netting technician will also manage data, conduct exit counts at bat roosts, and conduct radio telemetry to find day roosts when needed.
The Acoustic Technicians will deploy acoustic detectors and navigate rugged and forested areas using a GPS, compass, and map. The acoustic technicians will also manage data and conduct exit counts at bat roosts and help locate bats with telemetry when needed.
Location : Northeastern Missouri. The nearest city is Kirksville, MO.
Salary
Temporary, full-time positions.
$15/hour for 11 weeks beginning 26 May 2023.
Bunk housing and field vehicles will be provided. The University of Illinois will not pay for relocation costs (moving expenses).
Qualifications
Must have a positive attitude, strong work ethic, and be in good physical condition. It is also critical that you are detail-oriented and interested in collecting data for research studies.
Telemetry Technicians: Must have experience using radio telemetry to track wildlife. Must have experience navigating using GPS and topographic maps. Must possess a valid driver's license and pass driving record check.
Mist Netting Technicians: Must possess a valid driver's license and pass driving record check. Desired: Completed the pre-exposure series of rabies vaccinations and have experience handling and mist netting for bats. Experience navigating using GPS and topographic maps. Proficiency with radio telemetry in difficult terrain.
Acoustic Technicians: Must possess a valid driver's license and pass driving record check. Desired: Experience navigating using GPS and topographic maps.
Application process: To apply for this position, send resume and names of three references as one pdf file to both Clarissa Starbuck (cstarbuc@illinois.edu) and Katie Fitzgerald (kvf2@illinois.edu)
The University of Illinois does not discriminate based on sex, race, age, national origin, sexual orientation, including gender identity or expression, religion, disability, or veteran status. In line with its commitment to equal opportunity, the University will recruit, hire, promote, education, and provide services to people based upon their individual qualifications meeting established criteria.