Opportunities to join the team
There are opportunities to work on the Echinacea project as a volunteer, summer field research assistant, postdoc, graduate student, undergraduate lab investigator, short-term undergraduate intern, research collaborator, or visiting teacher/researcher. We'll post information as new opportunities become available, but feel free to contact us.Postdoctoral researcher
A postdoctoral position with the Echinacea project is now available to collaborate with Stuart Wagenius and Ruth Shaw on quantitative genetic and demographic studies studies of Echinacea. The postdoc will have the opportunity to participate in developing evolutionary models that incorporate our accumulating understanding of genetic and demographic processes within the study system. There is considerable potential for the postdoc to develop additional research projects pertinent to the overall goals. Read more about the postdoctoral research position available starting in 2008.
Summer field researcher
Every summer we offer 3 or 4 positions for current or recently-graduated college students. If you are enthusiastic and want to gain field research experience or do an independent research project, please read about summer field research assistant positions available for summer 2008. This is a great internship or summer co-op for those interested in one or more of these topics: insects, plants, ecology, evolution, conservation biology, habitat fragmentation, pollination, tallgrass prairie, geographic information systems (GIS), computer modeling, and spatial mathematics. All summer research assistant positions FILLED for summer 2008.Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) intern
If you are a United States citizen or permanent resident who will be an undergraduate student during the summer of 2008, you have an opportunity to pursue an independent project with an REU. You will spend two weeks at the Chicago Botanic Garden in the beginning of the summer and then join us in the field in Minnesota. Your project will culminate in a poster that you will present at the Chicago Botanic Garden when you return for one week at the end of summer. We have two REU opportunities: "Pollinating bee movements in prairie remnants" will investigate pollinator behavior in prairie remnants while "Kites, bees and prairies: investigating how fragmentation affects plant- pollinator interactions" will examine the interaction between plant spatial population structure and pollinator visitation. For more information, and to apply for one of these REU opportunities, visit REU info page. Note: the initial application review for this REU opportunity will not be by the Echinacea Team. Therefore make sure to apply for a summer researcher position in addition to this REU opportunity. All REU positions FILLED for 2008.Volunteer at the Chicago Botanic Garden
Many volunteers help with all aspects of research at the Chicago Botanic Garden, September through May. We always need help 1. cleaning seedheads, 2. scanning, counting, and weighing seeds, and 3. extracting DNA & running PCR. We also usually have a few other projects going on involving microscope work, curating our insect collection, working in the molecular lab, taking photographs, database maintenance, web development, or something else. Also, we can always use help with data entry! Let us know your interests, skills & expertise and we'll see how you can help the Echinacea project!
Graduate student
There are several ways for graduate students to get involved in the Echinacea project. Ruth and Stuart advise students in several programs. Current students are working on a variety of thesis projects. Please contact Ruth about programs at the University of Minnesota. Please contact Stuart about programs at Northwestern University and at the University of Illinois--Chicago. Please contact Stuart about working at the research site.
Undergraduate student
If you are a Chicago-area or Minnesota undergraduate student interested in an independent study or a short-term internship (e.g. J-term), please contact Stuart at the Chicago Botanic Garden or Ruth at the University of Minnesota.We are seeking highly motivated Chicago-area undergraduates interested in gaining experience and training in molecular genetics and population biology research. We are studying how pollen moves in prairie plant populations using Echinacea as a model species. We collected seeds from tagged plants and are using DNA fingerprinting techniques to determine which nearby plant is the pollen donor for each seed. There are a number of aspects of this research that students could turn into an independent research project for academic credit. Past students have presented their work at conferences and written up their project as part of their senior thesis.
Find out more in this brochure. For more information or to apply, please email Jennifer at UIC or Stuart at the Chicago Botanic Garden.
K-12 science educators
K-12 science educators interested in paid professional development can gain summer field research experience by collaborating with Echinacea project research scientists. During a summer at the research site in western Minnesota, teachers will participate in the design and implementation of new experiments, modeling or analysis of experimental data, or other activities that will contribute to the Echinacea project. Teachers will develop a plan to bring their new experiences and knowledge at the emerging frontiers of science into their classrooms. Teachers may also help develop a summer research program for their students. We are looking for educators interested in integrating research and education about one or more of these topics: insects, plants, pollination, ecology, evolution, habitat fragmentation, conservation biology, modeling, geographic information systems (GIS), computer modeling, spatial mathematics.If you are interested, please contact Stuart with a brief email explaining your interests and qualifications. We are particularly interested in working with teachers at urban or rural schools and those at less well-endowed school districts. We urge Teach for America teachers to apply. Also, we encourage the participation of science educators who are members of underrepresented groups. Contact Stuart by 22 January 2008 to be considered for a position during summer 2008! RET positions FILLED for 2008.
A brochure for this opportunity for science teachers.