Project assistant in biology, emphasis riparian system - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

Description

The Faculty of Health, Science and Technology has an opening at the Department of Environmental and Life Sciences for a field assistant in biology, emphasis ecology. The project involves research on riparian systems with a special focus on spider communities and riparian food webs. The research environment River Ecology and Management Research Group (NRRV) in biology at the Department of Environmental and Life Sciences, Karlstad University, pursues basic as well as applied research of rivers, lakes and surrounding landscapes (www.kau.se/biologi; www.nrrv.se ). The group’s research deals with streams and rivers as natural resources, with a view to finding solutions to environmental problems that benefit both society and nature. Research includes river connectivity and the effects of hydropower, aquatic-terrestrial habitats and linkages, winter ecology under global climate change, endangered species, conservation biology, and social-ecological research relating to river regulation and fisheries. Many research topics are conducted in collaboration with stakeholders from industry, administrative agencies, interest organizations and landowners as well as with the group’s extensive international research network.

Duties

Duties are carried out around small and medium sized streams in production forests located in Värmland and Örebro counties. Duties include, but are not limited to a) collecting and recording stream hydrological data (depth, width, flow, etc.), b) collecting and recording abotic site data (slope, sediments, etc.), c) collecting and preserving stream and terrestrial insects and spiders using a variety of methods, d) checking, emptying, cleaning, and resetting insect and litter traps, e) vegetation and tree sampling, inventory, and coverage estimation, f) assisting with electrofishing, g) sorting and taxonomic categorization of malaise trap samples to family level or lower and g) preparing field samples for stable isotope analysis

Qualifications

Eligibility requires a basic knowledge of biological sampling and/or laboratory work. Applicant should be able to work in and around rough terrain in remote production forests with few amenities. Applicant should be comfortable handling live and dead invertebrate samples collected from field traps. Applicant may be asked to assist with capture and euthanization of spiders, insects, and fish. Applicant must be able to follow field protocols and may be asked to work independently or with minimal supervision. Drivers license is required and good knowledge in Swedish and English.

We are seeking a motivated person with a general interest in stream ecology, ecosystem processes, food webs, or spider ecology. Specialized knowledge in ecologically focused sampling methods, forested streams, and/or riparian systems is advantageous but not required. A knowledge of Northern European entomology/arachnology or Swedish flora is also an asset but not required. We highly value interpersonal skills  such as excellent skills in cooperation, facilitating rapid integration into the research team.

Terms of employment

The position is a fixed-term employment 80% for 10 weeks, with possible extension. The starting date is 13 July 2020 or by agreement.

Application

Is submitted via the University´s recruitment tool Varbi and should include an application letter, CV, copies of degree diplomas and certificates, and documented description of qualifications in relation to the duties and requirements of the position.

Last day of application: July 10, 2020

We look forward to your application!

Contact persons

Eva Bergman, professor, project leader, eva.bergman.1868@kau.se. +46 54 700 1868

Jeff Marker, PhD student, field sampling lead, jeffery.marker@kau.se +46 70 799 5515