Graduate Assistantship/Field Technician in Kruger National Park

A field technician is needed to help conduct research on water-use by tree seedlings and grasses in Kruger National Park, South Africa. The long-term goals are two–fold: (1) to develop a spatially, temporally-explicit map of vegetation water-use, and (2) to develop an understanding of how predicted climate change will influence grass and shrub composition and abundance. Our position is intended to provide field experience for individuals considering plant physiology or ecology as a career.

Work over the next year entails conducting an experiment on water-use that involves pulse-labeling soils at different depths and times of years, sampling trees and grasses for label, and extracting water samples from the vegetation. This is work is currently being conducted in one area, but will be expanded to other areas of the park. The work will also entail maintaining a large-scale field experiment designed to manipulative precipitation and measuring vegetation responses.

The successful applicant will be shown the required field and laboratory techniques, but will be required to plan and execute these techniques throughout the growing season without hands-on guidance.

Qualifications:
1) Interest in plant physiology, plant ecology, and botany
2) Plant identification and ecological research skills (or enthusiastic willingness to learn)
3) Attention to detail
4) Basic computer skills
5) Drivers license
6) Ability to work long hours in hot, dry or cold, wet conditions

Housing in a large permanent tent in the park will be provided. You will also be provided with field and lab technicians on site to help you conduct the research. Research this year would require the applicant to be available to work from 20 October 2008–20 April 2009.

Our hope is that the field technician who would work on this project this year, would also become a graduate student, MS or PhD, at Utah State University or the University of Cape Town.
As a technician, the pay will be around $1500/month. As a graduate student, the position would include tuition and a stipend (to be determined). Preference will be given to South African citizens, although anyone who is interested and qualified is encouraged to apply. I will begin reviewing applications July 10.

For more info, contact:

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me (Andrew Kulmatiski at andrew.kulmatiski@usu.edu). If you are interested in applying, please forward a brief letter describing your interest in the position, your resume, and contact information for three references to the above email address.