Bargaining unit consideration begins on January 9, 2025 and ends on January 16, 2025. 

The University of Minnesota Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology is seeking to fill a position working on a research project that uses autonomous recording devices (ARUs) to determine the statewide distribution of red-headed woodpeckers. In Minnesota the Red-headed Woodpecker has been designated a Species of Greatest Conservation Need by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources due to severe declines over the last several decades. Data from this research will be used to determine woodpecker occupancy, habitat distribution, and develop a protocol to monitor population trends and responses of this species to habitat management.

Primary Duties
The primary duties of the research assistant position include assisting with processing and analyzing data from acoustic recorders as part of Dr. Elena Westâ™s Bioacoustics for Broadscale Species Monitoring and Conservation research. Specifically, research assistants will assist with validating red-headed woodpecker detections produced from a machine learning algorithm being tested as part of the research project. The employee will expect to perform other duties as assigned which could include data entry, data quality control, periodic support of Dr. West delivering experiential course content and data management.

Shifts could be scheduled variable days between Mondays through Sunday, 8 hours per shift to add up to 40 hours per week. This position is eligible for overtime (non-exempt). Consecutive Sundays is not a term of employment for this job code. 

This position will be temporary in nature, and hired through 12/31/2025. 

Required Qualifications

• High school graduation or the equivalent with some science courses and laboratory experience should provide the necessary background for work of this class. Equivalent combination of relevant academic and work experience may be substituted.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with acoustic data analyses and interpretation
• Experience with data collection methods using autonomous recording units or other acoustic data
• Excellent organizational, management, and office skills
• Experience with database management

About University of Minnesota Twin Cities

The University of Minnesota, founded in the belief that all people are enriched by understanding, is dedicated to the advancement of learning and the search for truth; to the sharing of this knowledge through education for a diverse community; and to the application of this knowledge to benefit the people of the state, the nation, and the world.

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