Our Mission: Since the 1893 World Columbian Exposition, our organization has aimed to connect people to the natural environment and human history.

The Pollinator Conservation position investigates intersectional issues that relate to urban pollinators for the Keller Science Action Center and fosters meaningful connections between the academic world and the on-the-ground application with community members and partner organizations. This part-time seasonal position produces meaningful data about urban green space and its role in building strong communities and functional pollinator habitats to support the team’s mission of translating museum science and expertise into results for conservation and quality of life. The Pollinator Conservation position reports to the Lead Conservation Ecologist and also works closely with the other members of the Monarch and Pollinator Initiative. This position is 29 hours per week for 16 weeks, including project preparation, field data collection, and data analysis. Much of the work time will be in the field, but some meetings in the Museum will be required.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• In collaboration with Field Museum staff, learn to collect and process eDNA field samples
• Transport samples between field sites and Field Museum
• Prepare eDNA samples, with the possibility of conducting lab analysis
• Collection of observational data for pollinators at natural areas in Chicago
• Conduct data analysis and quality control
• Conduct literature review of urban eDNA literature on pollinators

Qualifications:

• Current enrollment in or recent graduate (within 6 months) of master’s or doctoral program in biological science or related field
• Experience with independent field research and familiarity with biological research methods
• Knowledge of, or interest in, conservation science
• Strong communication skills and attention to detail and lab protocols
• Must have access to a car and willingness to travel between Chicago and Urbana-Champaign several times over the course of the internship. Travel expenses will be covered

Preferred:

• Knowledge of Chicago Region natural areas
• Emerging interdisciplinary scientist or someone with interests in both ecological and social sciences
• Experience working with volunteers
• Great Lakes Region botanical or insect identification skills

Equity Commitment

The Keller Science Action Center is committed to a workforce that is diverse and inclusive, and the Museum is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The Field Museum strives to create a working environment that is free of harassment, discrimination, and retaliation and that promotes human dignity among all staff. Realizing that good relations between co-workers are an integral part of job satisfaction, the Field Museum strives to create a climate of mutual respect among all employees.

Important Note: In order to protect the health and safety of our employees, guests and their families, the Field Museum is requiring all employees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Requests for exemptions from the vaccine will not be considered as given the nature of this position, we are unable to provide an accommodation for anyone who has not been vaccinated.

The Field Museum is an equal opportunity workplace and employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity, Veteran status, or any other protected class. We strive to create a working environment that is free of all forms of discrimination and one that promotes human dignity and mutual respect among all staff. We believe every member of our organization enriches our diversity by exposing us to a broad range of ways to understand and engage with the world, to identify challenges, and to discover, design, and deliver solutions.

The Field Museum strives to ensure that our career website and recruiting process are accessible to all. If you are unable or limited in your ability to use or access our online application, or if you require reasonable accommodation in completing this application, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please direct your inquiries to accessibility@fieldmuseum.org.