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Temporary Plant Evolutionary Ecology Field Technician

Employer
NC State University
Location
Raleigh, NC and Chapel Hill, NC
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Employment Type
Full Time
Institution Type
Four-Year Institution
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Job Details

Posting Number:

PG196251TM

Position Number:

11ASO3763

Position Type:

Temporary

Essential Job Duties:

The Sheth plant evolutionary ecology lab in the Department of Plant and Microbial Biology at North Carolina State University (Raleigh, NC) is currently seeking field technician to participate in an NSF-funded study (https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2220928&HistoricalAwards=false) under the direction of Dr. Seema Sheth and in collaboration with Drs. Susana Wadgymar (Davidson College), Jill Anderson (University of Georgia), Megan DeMarche (University of Georgia), and Emily Josephs (Michigan State University).
The project combines approaches from evolutionary biology, field ecology, and population genomics in a broadly distributed native plant species (Chamaecrista fasciculata, Fabaceae) to forecast population dynamics range-wide under climate change. The technician will be part of a dynamic, dedicated, and engaged research group as well as a member of a multidisciplinary and multi-institution collaborative group that includes Botanic Garden and conservation professionals. The successful candidate will contribute to a collaborative study of eco-evolutionary responses to climate in the partridge pea, Chamaecrista fasciculata, an annual legume that grows in disturbed habitats in central and eastern North America. The technician’s primary responsibilities involve collaborating with the PIs and other researchers to establish and maintain a large common garden experiment and to collect data from ~6,000 transplanted seeds at Mason Farm Biological Reserve in Chapel Hill, NC. This work includes preparing seeds for planting, planting seeds, setting up the garden infrastructure, building open-top chambers, collecting data on traits and fitness, entering data, maintenance tasks in the garden (e.g., weeding), processing samples in the lab, and communicating with Dr. Sheth and other team members. The technician will also have opportunities to train and mentor undergraduate students and work with graduate students. Start/End Dates:
Exact start and end dates are flexible; this is a time-limited appointment for a maximum of 11 months.

Work Schedule:
Working hours are typically between 6-7 AM and 5-6 PM Monday through Friday, but there may be occasional need for hours before or after these times, and on weekends.

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Due to the large volume of applicants, we will not be able to respond to individual emails about this position or meet with applicants prior to submission of application materials.

Is Time Limited:

Yes

If Yes, Appointment Length:

Up to 11 months

Wolfpack Perks and Benefits:

As a Pack member, you belong here, and can enjoy exclusive perks designed to enhance your personal and professional well-being. As you consider this opportunity, we encourage you to review our Employee Value Proposition and learn more about what makes NC State the best place to learn and work for everyone.
What we offer:

Attain Work-life balance with our Childcare discounts, Wellness & Recreation Membership, and Wellness Programs that aim to build a thriving wolfpack community.

Disclaimer: Perks and Benefit eligibility is based on Part-Time or Full-Time Employment status. Eligibility and Employer Sponsored Plans can be found within each of the links offered.

Job City & State:

Raleigh, NC and Chapel Hill, NC

Department:

Plant and Microbial Biology

Classification Title:

Temporary-Technical/Paraprofessional

Working Title:

Temporary Plant Evolutionary Ecology Field Technician

Work Schedule:

40/hrs per week

Other Work/Responsibilities:

  • n/a

Minimum Experience/Education:

  • Combination of training and experience required to perform the duties

Department Required Skills:

  • Previous experience with field research in ecology, evolution, and/or botany
  • Knowledge of concepts surrounding ecology, evolution, and/or botany
  • Ability to work outdoors for extended periods in varying weather conditions
  • Attention to detail; precise, neat work; ability to perform repetitive tasks
  • Excellent problem-solving and communication skills

Preferred Years Experience, Skills, Training, Education:

  • Bachelor’s degree
  • Coursework in ecology, plant biology, genetics, or related fields
  • Ability to occasionally lift up to 50 lbs
  • Comfortable with manual labor, including but not limited to using common tools, light carpentry, and gardening/landscaping techniques
  • Experience with troubleshooting in the field

Required License or Certification:

  • Valid driver’s license

Valid NC Driver's License required?:

No

Commercial Driver's License Required?:

No

Anticipated Hiring Range:

$20/hr

Job Open Date:

10/07/2026

Quick Link:

https://jobs.ncsu.edu/postings/235892

EEO:

NC State University is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive equal opportunities for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, and veteran status. The University encourages all qualified applicants, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities, to apply. Individuals with disabilities requiring disability-related accommodations in the application and interview process are welcome to contact 919-513-0574 to speak with a representative of the Office of Equal Opportunity.

If you have general questions about the application process, you may contact Human Resources at (919) 515-2135 or workatncstate@ncsu.edu.

Final candidates are subject to criminal & sex offender background checks. Some vacancies also require credit or motor vehicle checks. Degree(s) must be obtained prior to start date in order to meet qualifications and receive credit.

NC State University participates in E-Verify. Federal law requires all employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States.

Organization

NC State: Think and Do

NC State was founded with a purpose: to create economic, societal and intellectual prosperity for the people of North Carolina and the country. We began as a land-grant institution teaching the agricultural and mechanical arts. Today, we're a pre-eminent research enterprise with 12 colleges excelling in all major academic fields.

NC State studentsOur 34,000 high-performing students take what they learn in the classroom and apply it in the real world by conducting research, working in internships and co-ops, and performing acts of world-changing service. That experiential education ensures that they leave here ready to lead the workforce. NC State's 13:1 student-faculty ratio is one of the reasons why we're the best college for your money in North Carolina (Money) and the No. 5 best value among public universities nationally (U.S. News & World Report).

Overcoming Challenges, Improving Lives

NC State is one of only two universities in the nation leading two National Science Foundation Engineering Research Centers — one developing wearable, self-powered health monitors, and the other researching smart-grid technology. We’re also leading interdisciplinary efforts to curb nuclear proliferation, help farmers confront climate change and build a new American manufacturing sector.

Our research doesn't just get published in a journal or sit on a shelf; it makes an impact. NC State is No. 6 nationwide in commercialization agreements based on university research, and we're No. 2 among universities without a medical school. Our Cooperative Extension Service provides research-based information to citizens in all 100 North Carolina counties. In addition, our industrial extension unit — Industry Expansion Solutions — has created an economic benefit for the state's manufacturers averaging $149 million per year since 2005.

Bright Minds Creating a Bold Future

NC State’s 9,000 faculty and staff are world leaders in their fields, bridging the divides between academic disciplines and training high-caliber students to meet tomorrow’s challenges. NC State students won two Goldwater scholarships, five Fulbright scholarships, one Churchill scholarship and a record-breaking 25 National Science Foundation graduate research fellowships in the 2016-2017 academic year. In addition, 25 faculty are members of the National Academies.

NC State bldg in darkOur Centennial Campus, an award-winning public-private research campus, is home to more than 70 partner organizations working alongside more than 70 NC State research and academic units. Centennial is also the location of the innovative Hunt Library, which Time magazine has dubbed “the library of the future.”

In Raleigh and Around the World

It all happens in one of the best cities in America. A top spot for job-seekers and tech professionals, Raleigh is nationally recognized as a leading urban center:

NC State building oldWith Durham and Chapel Hill, Raleigh anchors the Research Triangle, a national hotspot for high-tech enterprise. The top companies in the region — including IBM, Cisco Systems, SAS Institute, Biogen Idec and GlaxoSmithKline — are among the country’s best employers. They also lead the way in hiring new NC State graduates.

More than 130 years after its creation, NC State continues to make its founding purpose a reality. Every day, our career-ready graduates and world-leading faculty make the fruits of learning and discovery available to people across the state, throughout the nation and around the world.

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