STOICH Undergraduate Research Position
The STOICH project is looking for 2-3 undergraduate students to help contribute to the creation of an open-source database. A typical work week consists of 5-15 hours and is 100% remote. This position will be filled for the spring semester with priority given to those looking to extend their work into the summer. Pay begins at $13.00/hr with an increase to $14.00/hr after one semester’s worth of work.
What Is STOICH?
The Stoichiometric Traits of Organisms in Their Aquatic Habitat (STOICH) Project focuses on collaborative, cutting-edge research in the field of ecological stoichiometry. Ecological stoichiometry is “the study of the balance of energy and multiple chemical elements in ecological interactions” (Sterner and Elser, 2002). In other words, we study the chemistry of ecosystems! The main objective of this project is to create an open source database containing the stoichiometry of freshwater, aquatic organisms.
For more information on the STOICH Project and Database, please view our website: https://stoichproject.wordpress.com/stoich/the-stoich-project/
Position Description
If hired, you will work closely with research assistants and students from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the University of Wyoming, and the University of Central Arkansas. Almost all your work will be remote and on your own schedule, except for Zoom meetings. Your main responsibility will be to accurately transfer data from published papers and data repositories into a uniform spreadsheet template. You will need to scan through scientific literature and perform unit conversions during this work. Paid training will be provided during your first 2 weeks.
Preferred Qualifications
● Attention to detail
● Willingness to work individually and in a remote setting
● Basic understanding of concepts related to biology, chemistry, ecology, or environmental science
● Ability to scan through scientific literature
● Experience with Google Sheets and/or Excel
● Able to work with quantitative data and perform unit conversions
● Some experience with data repositories or large datasets is a plus, but not required
● Enthusiasm for learning about aquatic ecosystems or ecosystem stoichiometry!
To Apply
Email your resume or CV to Elise Ehlers, elise.ehlers@huskers.unl.edu, with the subject “STOICH Research Position”. Additionally, include a document with 2-3 paragraphs describing why you are interested in this position and what skills and/or qualifications you have. Please have emails sent to Elise by Friday, February 17.