Scientific Specialist, River Ecology - INHS​/PRI

Scientific Specialist, Large River Ecology - INHS/PRI

The Prairie Research Institute (PRI), a research and service institute of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, centrally located between Chicago, St. Louis, and Indianapolis, houses five State Scientific Surveys covering a wide range of expertise, including biology, water resources,climate, geology, sustainable technology, and archaeology. PRI’s missionis to provide objective, integrated scientific research and services that allow citizens and decision-makers to make choices that ensure sustainable economic development, enduring environmental quality, and cultural resource preservation for the people, businesses, and across Illinois, the nation, and the world.

The Illinois Natural History Survey (INHS), one of the five Scientific Surveys housed by the Prairie Research Institute, is seeking a Scientific Specialist in the area of Large River Ecology, to conduct basic and applied research for the aquatic macroinvertebrate component of the Long-Term Resource Monitoring Program (LTRM), an element of the Upper Mississippi River Restoration Program (UMRR).

Thisis an in-person opportunity with the ability to be on site on a regular basis.

This position is located at the Illinois River Biological Station in Havana,Illinois.

Duties & Responsibilities Include

• Assist with lab coordination for the Macroinvertebrate component of the LTRM.
• Work with others to collect and report on macroinvertebrate data utilizing the LTRM sampling protocols and focused research.
• Assist with the coordination of benthic and colonizer macroinvertebrate sample processing across the other LTRM field stations.
• Assist with training technicians responsible for sorting and identifying macroinvertebrate samples.
• Explore, mine, and synthesize historic macroinvertebrate data from the LTRM program.
• Collaborate on other related projects (fisheries, limnological, and hydrological).
• Provide necessary information to public constituents, research associates, and collaborating research agencies.
• Maintain databases for various projects.
• Analyze data files to ensure quality control and assurance.
• Under direction, archive, organize, and manage data files, ensuring historical data is protected for future use in natural history and management research.
• Contribute to the development of project reports to granting agencies.
• Distribute final project reports to the granting agency, the Survey, and PRI.
• Provide recommendations to funding agencies, collaborators, and other interested parties.
• Assemble data to be utilized in technical reports to granting agencies and peer-reviewed publications.
• Assist with the preparation of manuscripts for peer-reviewed publications as well as presentations for professional meetings.
• Supervise, train, and lead hourly lab and field crew workers to achieve success and foster a culture of innovation and high-level performance at both individual and organizational levels.
• Ensure marine safety protocols are followed and enforced.
• Prioritize, organize, and plan to ensure projects move forward in a timely manner.
• Work with lay community to engender positive feedback regarding scientific research
• Coordinate and cooperate with the Survey, PRI, University of Illinois, and other groups.
• Attend local, regional, national, and international conferences
• Represent the Survey, PRI, the University, and other state and federal agencies on professional and interagency committees associated with river ecology and fisheries
• Represent the Survey, PRI, and the University on search committees and outreach activities
• Trailer, operate, and navigate watercraft to sampling sites on commercially navigable waters.
• Perform other duties as needed to further the mission and goals of the Survey, PRI, and the University of Illinois.
• Complete administrative requirements, such as documentation, compliance-related forms, certifications, and mandatory training programs accurately and within established deadlines.
• Keep abreast of developments in this discipline.

Physical Demands Will require working in adverse field conditions (heat, humidity, biting insects, cold, etc.) and lifting and carrying equipment weighing up to 50 lbs.

The work of this position also takes place in an office setting.

Work Schedule, Travel, or Other Job Expectations Will require travel (Including driving to and from research sites) throughout the state of Illinois and neighboring states bordering the Upper Mississippi River. Overnight travel may be necessary to fulfill the…