Researcher 1 in Minneapolis, MN for University of Minnesota Twin Cities (2024)

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Researcher 1

University of Minnesota Twin Cities

Position Summary:
This technician will conduct research in forest and microbial ecology. They will take a lead role in conducting new research and leverage existing data in the Itasca ForestGEO plot as well as participate in ongoing work assessing links between microbial interactions and ecosystem functioning (e.g. soil C and N cycling) at long-term ecological research platforms at the Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve. The research will emphasize working collaboratively in multiple observational and experimental settings, both in the field (at Itasca State Park, Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve, and other locations in MN and nationally) as well as the lab (assisting with microcosm experiments tracking microbial community dynamics as well as ecosystem function). The technician will be based in the Kennedy Lab in the Plant and Microbial Biology Department at the University of Minnesota. Funding for this position is available for 12 months.

Functions: 100%
● Participate in field-based research at the Itasca ForestGEO plot and at Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve.
● Assist with the characterization of soil and plant-associated microbial community samples using different soil measures and high-throughput sequencing.
● Communicate with fellow researchers in the Kennedy Lab and collaborating labs about research protocols, including protocol trialing and optimization, and project progress.
● Assist with data curation (e.g. responsible for quality checking of results and for maintaining appropriate backups of project data) and depositing data to public repositories.
● Conduct literature searches and other independent learning as needed in order to accomplish tasks associated with projects and keep abreast of new scientific advances.
● Prepare and submit scientific articles for publication in peer-reviewed journals, as well as other scientific analyses as required by research partnerships.
● Participate in the drafting and revising of scientific manuscripts from members of the Kennedy lab on an as needed basis.
● Participate in outreach and data sharing efforts to expand the impact of the work as possible.
● Other duties as assigned.

Success Factors:
Self-motivated, with the initiative and resourcefulness to implement, evaluate, and report on research projects. Desire to conduct interdisciplinary research with other scientists and communicate with geographically dispersed teams. Ability to communicate results to a broad audience. Ability to embrace and align with the labâ™s core values to be inclusive and respectful of diverse perspectives, take ownership, work together, always maintain a learning mentality, and seek to make both important scientific and societal contributions.

Physical Demands and Work Environment:
The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
● Physical Demands: bicycling multiple miles to remote off-trail field sites; walking over highly heterogenous terrain, including up and down steep stopes and through seasonally flooded ponds; lifting and carrying different kinds of field supplies (up to 50 lbs.); high tolerance for biting insects (e.g. mosquitoes, ticks, and leeches). In the field, insect protection (both spray and netting) required. In laboratory, some use of chemicals will be necessary and therefore ability to wear Personal Protective Equipment required. Independent travel will be required to field sites, including regularly to Itasca State Park and Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve.
● Work Environment: Work is performed indoors and outdoors, in a variety of weather conditions. Field weather conditions are highly variable, with a wide range of temperatures and precipitation levels to be expected during fieldwork. This position is designated as an in-person position, but some work can be performed off premise during regular hours of work when necessary.
● Equipment: Broad familiarity with both field and laboratory equipment, including specialized equipment relating to forest ecology (e.g. equipment needed for tree measurement and mapping), soil ecology (e.g. soil coring, sample preparation for fractionation, regular use of microbalances, and microbial ecology (sterile technique, pipetting, dissecting and compound microscopy), and use of motor vehicles for sample collection.
● Schedule: Work may require occasional evening and weekend hours.

Percentage appointment:
Research (100%)

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https://careers.entsoc.org/jobs/20233615/researcher-1