Bat Technician (4 positions)

Indiana Bat Telemetry and Mist Netting Technicians

This post will be used to fill 3 positions (2 telemetry technicians and 1 mist netting technician) for a summer bat research project in northeast Missouri.
Job description
The Center for Bat Research, Outreach, and Conservation at Indiana State University is recruiting Field Technicians to aid in a 12-week study of bats in the northern plains of Missouri. The Missouri Bat Project is an 8-year study and collaboration between the Center for Bat Research, Outreach, and Conservation, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and the Missouri Department of Conservation. The main goal of the project is to understand how federally endangered Indiana bats (Myotis sodalis) are affected by timber management on state-owned conservation lands in northeast Missouri. Technicians will aid Drs. Clarissa Starbuck and Joy O’Keefe, two PhD students, and an MS student in gathering data on bat distributions, health, and population density on six conservation areas. The Bat Center will provide housing and field vehicles to conduct the research. We anticipate long days in the field and can say with certainty that you will encounter at least one of the following on a daily basis: ticks, spiders, chiggers, venomous snakes, poison ivy, mud, hot weather, and rain. You will live and work in a team environment.

The Telemetry Technicians will work together to track bats to day roosts. The telemetry technicians will also conduct exit counts at bat roosts and manage data. The position involves navigating in rugged and forested areas using a GPS, compass, and map and the telemetry technicians will help with managing data for a long-term project.

The Mist Netting Technician will be in charge of organizing gear for mist netting, will work on a netting team to safely capture and handle bats, and will follow decontamination protocols during and after netting each night. The mist netting technician will also manage data, conduct exit counts at bat roosts, and conduct radio telemetry to find day roosts when needed.

The Acoustic Technicians will deploy acoustic detectors and navigate in rugged and forested areas using a GPS, compass, and map. The acoustic technicians will also manage data and conduct exit counts at bat roosts when needed.

Location
Northeastern Missouri. Nearest city is Kirksville, MO.

Salary
Temporary, full-time positions.
$480/week for 13 weeks beginning 15 May 2021.
Bunk housing and field vehicle will be provided. Indiana State University will not pay for relocation costs (moving expenses).

Qualifications
Must have a positive attitude, strong work ethic, and be in good physical condition. It is also critical that you are detail oriented and interested in collecting data for research studies.

Qualifications (Acoustic Technician)
Must have a positive attitude, strong work ethic, and be in good physical condition. It is also critical that you are detail oriented and interested in collecting data for research studies. Must possess a valid driver’s license and pass driving record check. Desired: Experience navigating using GPS and topographic maps.

Telemetry Technicians: Must have experience using radio telemetry to track wildlife. Must have experience navigating using GPS and topographic maps. Must possess a valid driver’s license and pass driving record check.
Mist Netting Technician: Must have completed the pre-exposure series of rabies vaccinations and have experience handling and mist netting for bats. Must possess a valid driver’s license and pass driving record check. Desired: Experience navigating using GPS and topographic maps. Proficiency with radio telemetry in difficult terrain.
Application process: To apply for this position, send resume and names of three references as one pdf file to Clarissa Starbuck at cstarbuc@illinois.edu. Applications received by 15 March 2021 will be given highest consideration. In the subject line of your email, please include “Missouri Bat Mist Net Technician”, “Missouri Bat Acoustic Technician.” or “Missouri Bat Telemetry Technician” to indicate for which position you are applying.