Title: Plants of Concern Research Assistant – Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie
Exemption Status: Non-exempt
Department: Plant Science and Conservation
Reports to: Manager, Plants of Concern

POSITION OVERVIEW:

As part of a cooperative program with Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie, Plants of Concern is recruiting for a seasonal research assistant.
This approximately 6-month, 35-hour/week position involves a suite of studies on rare plants at Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie, including those restricted to the unique dolomite prairie habitat. The Midewin program is part of a broader Plants of Concern regional rare plant monitoring program. The research assistant will travel to Midewin, near Joliet, Illinois, and nearby sites for approximately 30 days of field work. The remaining time will be spent working at the Chicago Botanic Garden and remotely.
Field duties involve recruiting, training, coordinating, and working with volunteers to monitor selected species through demographic study, censusing, sampling, and photo points. Office duties include data entry and statistical analysis, report writing, and GIS applications. The research assistant will have the opportunity to present accomplished work at Plants of Concern volunteer and stakeholder events. Three to four days of weekend work possible.

IN THIS ROLE YOU WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FOLLOWING:

Through September.

• Develop or modify field datasheets.
• Become oriented to Midewin monitoring sites and familiar with data to be collected.
• Develop schedule for fieldwork.
• Recruit, engage, train, organize, and support community science volunteers.
• Conduct rare plant monitoring field work with volunteers and assist with other Midewin data collection, as necessary.
• Organize and enter data.

We hold ourselves and others accountable by centering decision making that honors all people.

• Communicate information in a timely manner.
• Provide clarity in complex situations with the goal of common understanding.
• Discuss both positive and negative outcomes openly.
• Evaluate the impacts of our actions