The Ecosystems Center of the Marine Biological Laboratory seeks a full- time summer field assistant to work on a project designed to test various approaches to restoration of endangered coastal sandplain grasslands on Martha's Vineyard. This position requires availability from June 1 through August 20, 2008. The successful applicant will participate in field sampling of soils, sampling vegetation species composition and biomass. The applicant will have responsibility for coordinating treatment of field plots, including tilling, addition of soil amendments and seeding. He or she will also be required to carry out laboratory analyses of soil chemical properties in MBL chemistry laboratories.
The applicant will have responsibilities for the following: --collecting soil and vegetation samples; --identification and quantification of sandplain plant species; --analysis of soil chemical properties including pH, total carbon and extractable nitrogen; --organizing, inputting and synthesizing of data Basic Qualifications: Applicant will work jointly with MBL scientists and TNC land managers. He or she should be a recent college graduate or advanced undergraduate with a major in biology, chemistry, environmental science or related field and should be interested in biogeochemistry, vegetation development, and ecological research. Applicants should have experience working under field conditions and strong analytical and laboratory skills. Experience with environmental or nutrient laboratory analyses, plant identification and vegetation monitoring, and soil sampling desired. Applicants should be attentive to details, well organized, able to work independently in the field and laboratory, and capable of work under field conditions in which mosquitoes, ticks and poison ivy are encountered. Successful applicants will be required to live full-time at TNC field station on Martha's Vineyard where cooperation and consideration of others is essential. Applicant will be expected to pay approximately $300/month in rent. Transportation on Martha's Vineyard will be provided. Applicants must possess a valid US driver's license and acceptable driving record. Preferred Qualifications: Experience identifying plants of the northeastern U.S. a plus. Physical Requirements Applicants must be capable of working long hours under some difficult field conditions including sampling in hot sun and during inclement weather. Required Applicant Documents: Resume/CV Cover Letter Special Instructions to Applicants: Unofficial transcripts are required documents, but may be either uploaded with your Resume and Cover Letter or faxed to the Human Resources Office, 508-289-7931. If faxing, please reference this posting. APPLICATIONS CAN BE SUBMITTED AT mbl.simplehire.com
