Application deadline: March 29, 2024
The Couvillon Lab in the Department of Entomology at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, VA, is seeking a laboratory technician to support the laboratory of Dr. Couvillon. This position is available for 15 months, with continued appointment contingent on future funding. The laboratory technician will primarily assist the Principal Investigator (PI) and her laboratory members in performing behavioral experiments on bees. In particular, the technician will collect data for research projects investigating honey bee foraging dynamics and participate in general lab and field operations as needed. This will involve hands-on work with honey bees and also video analysis on a computer. Additionally, the technician may, depending on background and interest, contribute to other research projects investigating how bees find food in the landscape. There are opportunities for attending professional meetings, writing manuscripts, and publication of research findings.
The successful candidate should be a clear and effective communicator, detail oriented, keep careful records of experimental results, and be highly interested to learn about and perform honey bee research. Especially during field season, the candidate should also be flexible and motivated to help contribute to successful completion of projects.
Required:
Willingness and comfortability with handling honey bees; Excellent verbal and written communication skills; Proficiency with standard computer software including Excel, PowerPoint, and Word; Exceptional organizational skills and effective time management; Ability to work independently but also cooperatively with colleagues; Demonstrated ability to interact respectfully and comfortably with all individuals from a diverse, multicultural environment.
Preferred:
Bachelor’s degree in Biological Science, Entomology or related discipline; or, equivalent years of training and experience; Basic beekeeping and familiarity with handling and managing honey bee hives; Previous experience working in a research setting; Interest in learning proper techniques for analyzing and visualizing data; Appreciation for entomology, biology, and behavioral ecology research.
Additional Information:
A review of applicants will begin after the review date of 03/31/2024, and will continue until a successful candidate is selected. The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check. If you are an individual with a disability and desire an accommodation, please contact Dr. Margaret Couvillon at mjc@vt.edu during regular business hours at least 10 business days prior to the event.