Conservation Associate - Aquatic Zoologist
As part of MSU Extension (MSUE), the Community, Food and Environment Institute (CFEI) and the Michigan Natural Features Inventory (MNFI), this position will collect, analyze, and communicate information about Michigan's rare, declining, and invasive aquatic animal species, help maintain Michigan’s Natural Heritage Database, assist with the development of a statewide mussel database, and work cooperatively with other MNFI personnel, public and private agencies, organizations, and individuals to inform and guide decisions that impact biodiversity conservation.
In this position, you will assist with an array of projects requiring expertise in identification of aquatic fauna, survey design, habitat evaluation, and threat assessment. Target taxa include unionid mussels, gastropods, fish, and insects and other macroinvertebrates. Field surveys will occur within inland lakes and streams and nearshore parts of the Great Lakes. Applying for external funding and serving as principal investigator on MNFI projects will be a regular part of this position. The proportion of time devoted to primary tasks will vary annually according to project requirements and individual interests but will generally consist of substantial data collection during the field season (30-50% of year), data management and analysis (15-25% of year), scientific writing (25-35% of year), and outreach/education activities (5-15% of year).
Although negotiable, this position will have statewide responsibilities and will be housed at the MNFI Office in Lansing, Michigan.
This position may be eligible to utilize a flexible work environment, however, there is an expectation to work from the MNFI office in Lansing. The needs, responsibilities, and opportunities of an individual’s position and office location drive the ability and amount of work- location flexibility.
View full description and apply through the MSU careers page. Search for posting 1000504 using the Job Search field.
Application deadline is December 2, 2024.