sue_bertram
Number of Positions: 3
Location: Morgan-Monroe and Yellowwood State Forests (Martinsville and Bloomington, Indiana)
Job Description: Indiana State University is seeking 3 field technicians to assist with research to understand the foraging ecology of the federally endangered Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis) and the northern long-eared bat (Myotis septentrionalis). This research will occur at the Hardwood Ecosystem Experiment (HEE), and is part of a long-term monitoring effort in conjunction with Ball State University, Purdue University, and the Indiana Division of Forestry. Bat surveys are in conjunction with bird, amphibian, plant, small mammal, and insect projects. The primary duty will be using radio telemetry to pinpoint foraging locations of bats at night and, thus, this work will occur mainly between 8 pm and 8 am. Other duties will include mist- netting, homing telemetry, emergence counts of bats exiting roosts, and some day time duties include assisting with acoustic surveys and insect trapping. Additional duties will include data entry and management, carrying heavy equipment, driving, gear maintenance/decontamination, and other various tasks. Technicians are needed from May 18 through August 14 and can expect to work long shifts including late nights (up till 4am) up to 10 nights in a row.
This is a great opportunity for an undergraduate or recent graduate to gain experience with a variety of field techniques. The employee will gain extensive experience with radio telemetry and mapping, and may also learn other techniques for the study of bats (e.g., use of passive acoustic equipment, such as the Songmeter 2 Bat Detector). Work will be performed collaboratively with several graduate students and professors from Indiana State University and Ball State University.
Required Qualifications:
· Demonstrated ability to work well individually and with others as part of a team
· Ability to work long hours including alternating day and night schedule
· Commitment to entire field season (May 18 – August 14)
· Ability to withstand outdoor conditions including hiking in steep terrain, summer heat, mosquitos, poison ivy, and nettle
· Valid U.S. driver’s license required
· Willing to use own vehicle for field work (on paved or improved gravel roads only and mileage will be reimbursed at $0.40/mi)
Preferred Qualifications:
· Radio-telemetry experience
· Mist-netting experience
· Previous bat handling and identification experience
· Pre-exposure rabies vaccination (Must have pre-exposure rabies shots in order to handle bats (no exceptions!). Shots are given in a series over 21 or 28 days and may be provided by ISU, if funds are available)
· Proficiency with identification of eastern trees
· Data entry experience, including Microsoft Excel, Access, and GoogleDocs
Stipend: $2900 for May 18 to August 14, plus mileage ($0.40/mile) if personal vehicles used
Application Process:
· Apply by March 15, 2015.
· Please e-mail a single PDF file containing:
o 1 page cover letter explaining your qualifications and what you hope to gain from this experience
o Resume or CV
o Contact information for 3 references
· E-mail preferred; please include ‘BAT TECHNICIAN’ in the subject line
· Mail applications to: HEEbats@gmail.com