Summer Field Assistant 2022

An ideal position for either an undergraduate or a graduate interested in gaining field experience.

Miyauna (field assistant 2021) beheads non-native Echinacea pallida

The Echinacea Project is looking for interested and enthusiastic summer field assistants for the 2022 summer field season and into the fall. Our project investigates how small population size and reduced genetic diversity influence individual fitness, population demographics, plant-insect interactions, and evolution in the purple coneflower, Echinacea angustifolia. Summer field assistants will help maintain experimental plots, observe pollinators, remove invasive species, harvest seed, collect data for several long-term research projects, and establish new experiments. This is a great opportunity for aspiring ecologists, conservation biologists, and evolutionary biologists to gain research experience and learn about the ecology and evolution of plants in fragmented prairies! Read about what it’s like working and living in Minnesota.

Qualifications: We are looking for undergraduates or recent graduates who are willing to work outdoors in adverse conditions, pay attention to detail, exhibit patience, possess good hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills, work well independently and as part of a team, and have an interest in scientific research. Members of groups underrepresented in science are particularly encouraged to apply. No experience is necessary, but you must be enthusiastic and hard-working.

Details: The field season runs from May to October. We anticipate hiring assistants to start in May or June and end in August or September, with the possibility of extension later into the fall. There is a $600/week stipend, and housing is supplied.

How to apply

  1. Please fill out the online application form.
  2. Send a cover letter, your resume, and a transcript (unofficial OK) in one email to echinaceaProject@gmail.com. Use the subject line: “Summer Field Assistant 2022” and format your cover letter, resume, and transcript as pdf files. Begin each file name with your surname.
    • In your cover letter, please include:
      • why you are interested in this position
      • what are your future plans
      • what you hope to gain from the experience
      • who will serve as your reference
      • when you can start and end
      • your email and phone number
  3. Please ask one of your references to send a letter of recommendation to echinaceaProject@gmail.com.

Maris (field assistant 2021) measures an Echinacea plant

Send your application via email to echinaceaProject@gmail.com by 3 March 2022 at 12 pm (noon) CST.

Students who are now and will be undergraduates in Fall 2022 should also consider an REU internship.

You are welcome to apply to multiple positions with the same application. Please indicate which positions you are interested in on the form you submit with your application.

Review of applications will begin on 3 March 2022. We’ll accept applications until positions are filled. Be sure to include an email address and phone number where you can be reached during March.

Members of groups underrepresented in science are particularly encouraged to apply.

More information

First, read about our field season! If you have any questions, contact a team member via e-mail. Read about our lab and field activities on the flog and more about the project’s background. To learn more about fire and prairie plants, check out this video that we made.