The Damschen Lab is looking for a motivated, organized, and enthusiastic undergraduate science major with an interest in botany, ecology, or conservation biology to fill a lead research technician opening. The Damschen Lab focuses on global change impacts and plant communities from grassland and savanna ecosystems, including Wisconsin and the southeastern U.S. In particular, our lab seeks to understand the impacts of habitat loss and fragmentation, land use history, and climate change on plant communities and the effectiveness of conservation and restoration activities. Our lead lab technician will work closely with all research in the lab and will bridge communication between post-doctoral researchers, graduate students, and undergraduate students. This position begins training as a research technician, with the intention to grow into the lead lab technician after a probationary period. 

We are looking for an undergraduate who can work ~10 hours/week during the Spring 2024 semester, full-time during Summer 2024, and continue part-time through the 2024-2025 school year.  The position starts at $13.00/hr with potential for increase. Lab duties include taking measurements of seed and leaf tissue characteristics, performing data quality control, coordinating off-site and in-lab field activities, training and scheduling other students and technicians, creating output datasets for other lab members, and conducting other lab management tasks. This job requires the ability to use spreadsheets, databases, and other specialized software, but training will be provided. Applicants should be highly organized, effective communicators, and have the capacity to be a strong leader. Students early in their undergraduate career with some experience or ecology coursework are preferred. There is also potential to participate in future independent research opportunities in the Damschen Lab.

The Damschen Lab aims to make science and ecology more inclusive of people of all identities, and we strongly encourage people of all races, genders, sexual orientations, and cultural backgrounds to consider working with us. Please see our full mission and values statement. Applicants should send their CV, contact information for three references, and a ½ page description of why this position interests them to Stephanie McFarlane at mcfarlane@wisc.edu. Application review will begin on February 7 and continue until the position is filled.