Conservation Technician

DEPARTMENT: Biodiversity Research and Conservation
STATUS: Full Time
REPORTS TO: Conservation Geneticist

Position Overview:
Under the supervision of the Conservation Geneticist at California Botanic Garden (CalBG) and in coordination with the conservation team, the Conservation Technician will assist in the management of the Garden’s Molecular and Anatomy Labs and participate in conservation field projects. CalBG’s conservation team undertakes diverse activities with the goal of securing California’s native plant legacy. Projects include rare plant research, field surveys, monitoring, seed conservation, invasive plant species management, propagation and out-planting for restoration. The conservation genetics component of the program uses the resources of CalBG’s laboratories and personnel (scientists, graduate students) to address questions that require genetic data. Specific duties include supporting the Conservation Geneticist in laboratory management and projects including maintaining an organized, clean, safe, and efficiently operating laboratory, data collection for conservation genomic contracts and agreements, data entry, and participation in field work. This position is estimated to be 70% office work (e.g. laboratory related projects) and 30% participation in field work.
Duties and Responsibilities
Under participating agreements, grants and contracts between CalBG and a diversity of partners including the Bureau of Land Management, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, National Forest Foundation, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and others, assists in the execution of the annual program of work to support our mission of plant conservation at CalBG.
Maintains organized, clean, safe, and efficiently operating laboratories (e.g. equipment maintenance, ordering supplies, assisting with hazardous waste removal).
Maintains databases of reagents/chemicals, equipment, supplies, and contract DNA.
Trains and supervises staff, students, interns, and visiting researchers on laboratory protocols and safety.
Working independently and in association with garden staff, and personnel from other institutions, coordinates and participates in conservation projects between CalBG and other agencies or organizations, including conservation genomic projects, botanical surveys, seed collecting activities, and rare plant inventory and monitoring projects.
Coordinates and participates in data management and data entry associated with conservation projects.
Assists in preparation of written reports and other documents for submission to conservation partners.
Participates in institutional, professional, societal, national, and international meetings, symposia, and workshops directly related to work as needed.

Qualifications:
Master’s degree in botany, biology, or equivalent environmental science is required, or Bachelor of Science in botany, biology, or equivalent environmental science with four years or more of relevant experience.
Experience working in molecular labs and with modern genetic lab methods (e.g., fragment data generation and analysis, next generation sequencing methods and analytical pipelines).
Strong interpersonal skills.
Strong writing and verbal skills are required.
Ability to work as part of a team and independently.
Willingness to conduct overnight field work in remote locations is preferred.
A working knowledge of basic taxonomic principles and characteristics of major plant families and California flora is preferred.
Valid driver’s license and a clean driving record.

Physical demands
Ability to conduct fieldwork under a variety of environmental conditions (heat, cold, rain, wind, etc.) is required.
Sitting for up to 2 hours at a time and using a computer for lengthy periods

Salary Range
$19.00 - $23.00 per hour, depending on experience
Qualified candidates please send cover letter and resume to:
California Botanic Garden
Attention: Carrie Kiel
ckiel@calbg.org
1500 N College Avenue, Claremont, CA 91711

TORCH 2022 Summer Student Internship EXTENDED DEADLINE

 The NSF-supported Texas and Oklahoma Regional Consortium of Herbaria (TORCH) makes the information contained in natural history collections readily available to researchers, educators, land managers, and the general public. The TORCH project is digitizing and serving online the data from ca. 2 million herbarium specimens from the South-Central United States, unlocking the information from these collections with an array of scientific and societal benefits.

The project seeks a total of 20 interns for the summer of 2022 (June 6–August 12). The interns will participate in all aspects of specimen digitization, learn about herbarium collections management and the type of research that is conducted in herbaria, and carry out their own research project using herbarium specimens.

These internships will take place at five of the institutions that are collaborating on the project:

•     the Botanical Research Institute of Texas in Fort Worth;

•     the University of Oklahoma in Norman;

•     Oklahoma State University in Stillwater;

•     Texas A&M University in College Station; and

•     the University of Texas at Austin,

with four interns residing at each institution.

Working closely with a faculty/staff mentor at one of the five institutions, each intern will develop a scientific project utilizing digitized data, with 70% of their time devoted directly to digitization activities, including imaging specimens, transcribing specimen label data, and/or georeferencing. The remaining time will be spent on enrichment activities, including lectures and workshops about the technology and best practices of specimen digitization and curation, data collection and analysis, and poster preparation. Activities may also include field collection of plant specimens. The internship will culminate with the interns and their mentors attending the TORCH scientific meeting, in conjunction with the Texas Plant Conservation Conference, August 8–10 in Fort Worth, where the students will present the results of their projects in a poster session.

We particularly encourage applications from students whose participation will add to the diversity of researchers in botanical science, including students from underrepresented groups and first-generation college students.

For more information and for instructions on how to apply, please visit: https://www.torcherbaria.org/internship

The application deadline is February 14th, 2022.