We are hiring for a multiple technician positions in plant-pollinator ecology.
Project Overview:
The Ponisio lab (U Oregon) is recruiting undergraduates for two ecological studies in Oregon. Across these projects, we will be sampling plant-pollinator communities in burned forests and meadows. On field days we either drive or hike to sampling sites and collect pollinators. Additional expectations or tasks will depend on each individual study (see below). Multiple positions are available for each project.
Overall Responsibilities:
· Field monitoring and collection of pollinators
· Processing insect specimens in the lab including pinning bees and labeling samples
· Data entry into spreadsheets
· Periodic monitoring/setting up pollination experiments
Preferred Qualifications:
· Previous field experience
Additional information, expectations, or tasks:
Long-term monitoring of meadow plant-pollinator communities: June 1-August 31, potential to continue lab work into the fall. This project is divided into two parts that run simultaneously. First is to continue with a long-term monitoring of plant-pollinator interactions in the meadows within the HJ Andrews (HJA) Long term Ecological Research (LTER) as well as conduct a pollination experiment in specific focal species in the meadows. The meadows are high elevation (~6,000 ft) and are located about an hour drive from the station. The crew must be comfortable with driving on gravel forest service roads, hiking to field sites and working in steep terrain. The team works 10 hrs per day for 4 days and 3 days off. This is usually on weekdays but it is subject to change (i.e. weather). All sampling equipment and training will be provided.
Main tasks for this project include: pollinator insect sampling and processing, plant identification, seed collecting and processing, and data entry. Other tasks include: organizing, maintaining, and cleaning field equipment and vehicles.
Our team will be based in the field station at HJA headquarters (Blue River, OR). Housing at the station is included, but the crew members are responsible for basic living equipment (pillows, sheets/blankets, towels, personal care products, groceries). The station apartments have a fully equipped kitchen, living room, 4 rooms with 2 twin beds, and 2 bathrooms. All spaces are shared with a max capacity of 8 people/apartment (https://andrewsforest.oregonstate.edu/about/facility). There is wifi at the station but no cellular service. All crew members are required to participate in the HJA safety training day (date TBD).
Restoring pollinators in timber plantations: Starts May 8-August 31, with potential to continue lab work into the fall. The goal of this study is to incorporate more pollinator habitats within productive timber forests that were burned by the Holiday Farm Fire of 2020. We will be surveying pollinator population response and health to previously planted pollinator habitats across three different landowners located between Leaburg and Vida, OR. Our team will be split into two, one based out of HJ Andrews (HJA) experimental forest and the other in Eugene. The HJA team will be housed in the apartments located in the experimental forest (see HJA description above) and commute from there to visit the eastern sites. The Eugene crew commutes from the UO campus together to the field sites (~45 minutes). The HJA crew commutes together from the field station to field sites (~30 minutes). Experience with electronic data recording on tablets is a plus, but not necessary. The crews tend to work 8-hour days, 5 days a week. Field days start early (~6:00-7:00) to avoid unfavorable weather.
How to Apply
To apply submit the following to ponisiolab@gmail.com with "Field tech application - YourLastName"
1) Cover letter explaining why you would like this position
2) C.V.
3) The names and contact information for 2-3 references
The Ponisio lab (U Oregon) is recruiting undergraduates for two ecological studies in Oregon. Across these projects, we will be sampling plant-pollinator communities in burned forests and meadows. On field days we either drive or hike to sampling sites and collect pollinators. Additional expectations or tasks will depend on each individual study (see below). Multiple positions are available for each project.
Overall Responsibilities:
· Field monitoring and collection of pollinators
· Processing insect specimens in the lab including pinning bees and labeling samples
· Data entry into spreadsheets
· Periodic monitoring/setting up pollination experiments
Preferred Qualifications:
· Previous field experience
Additional information, expectations, or tasks:
Long-term monitoring of meadow plant-pollinator communities: June 1-August 31, potential to continue lab work into the fall. This project is divided into two parts that run simultaneously. First is to continue with a long-term monitoring of plant-pollinator interactions in the meadows within the HJ Andrews (HJA) Long term Ecological Research (LTER) as well as conduct a pollination experiment in specific focal species in the meadows. The meadows are high elevation (~6,000 ft) and are located about an hour drive from the station. The crew must be comfortable with driving on gravel forest service roads, hiking to field sites and working in steep terrain. The team works 10 hrs per day for 4 days and 3 days off. This is usually on weekdays but it is subject to change (i.e. weather). All sampling equipment and training will be provided.
Main tasks for this project include: pollinator insect sampling and processing, plant identification, seed collecting and processing, and data entry. Other tasks include: organizing, maintaining, and cleaning field equipment and vehicles.
Our team will be based in the field station at HJA headquarters (Blue River, OR). Housing at the station is included, but the crew members are responsible for basic living equipment (pillows, sheets/blankets, towels, personal care products, groceries). The station apartments have a fully equipped kitchen, living room, 4 rooms with 2 twin beds, and 2 bathrooms. All spaces are shared with a max capacity of 8 people/apartment (https://andrewsforest.oregonstate.edu/about/facility). There is wifi at the station but no cellular service. All crew members are required to participate in the HJA safety training day (date TBD).
Restoring pollinators in timber plantations: Starts May 8-August 31, with potential to continue lab work into the fall. The goal of this study is to incorporate more pollinator habitats within productive timber forests that were burned by the Holiday Farm Fire of 2020. We will be surveying pollinator population response and health to previously planted pollinator habitats across three different landowners located between Leaburg and Vida, OR. Our team will be split into two, one based out of HJ Andrews (HJA) experimental forest and the other in Eugene. The HJA team will be housed in the apartments located in the experimental forest (see HJA description above) and commute from there to visit the eastern sites. The Eugene crew commutes from the UO campus together to the field sites (~45 minutes). The HJA crew commutes together from the field station to field sites (~30 minutes). Experience with electronic data recording on tablets is a plus, but not necessary. The crews tend to work 8-hour days, 5 days a week. Field days start early (~6:00-7:00) to avoid unfavorable weather.
How to Apply
To apply submit the following to ponisiolab@gmail.com with "Field tech application - YourLastName"
1) Cover letter explaining why you would like this position
2) C.V.
3) The names and contact information for 2-3 references
Prospective graduate students
- Prospective phd students: we are not accepting PhD students in 2025 (we have 4 graduate students already). For the future, we admit PhD students to the University of Oregon who wish to start their graduate programs through the Institute of Ecology and Evolution.
- Prospective masters students: we are accepting masters students from the ENVS masters program in 2025.
- We do not require prospectives to have a strongly quantitative background, only enthusiasm and willingness to learn.
- If you are interested in joining the lab as a graduate student please email PI Ponisio:
- 1) Your cv, including you past research projects (REU, field technician, honors thesis, etc. ) and your role in them, any awards, grants, publication and presentations
2) A summary of your research interests and how they fit with the Ponisio lab
- We evaluate applicants based on research interest fit, academic preparation, scholarly potential, contributions to diversity/equity/inclusion.
- Very competitive candidates for the institute and lab will rant "high" in the below rubric (except with "alignment with program" fitting our lab mission/training specifically).
- Check out Sarah Cooley's excellent page on tips for applying to graduate school for additional advice