2026 Spring Field Technician

Position Overview:

The Cedar Creek LTER (Long Term Ecological Research) has several opportunities for students and recent graduates to work as spring field techs. These positions could start as early as the end of March or beginning of April. As a spring field tech, you will be contributing to the start-up and maintenance of ongoing and new field experiments.  Pay is $15.50 per hour. On-site dormitory housing is available to rent.

Site and Research Overview

CCESR is an eight square mile tract of land 35 miles north of the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul (MN). Cedar Creek is endowed with a mosaic of prairie, savanna, sedge meadows, bogs, open water, forests, and even abandoned agricultural fields. Cedar Creek LTER research examines ecological processes occurring from the individual physiological level to the ecosystem level in response to (1) a variety of climate change scenarios including elevated CO2, increased temperature, increased nitrogen deposition, biodiversity loss, and altered precipitation patterns; (2) land management practices including prescribed burning and agricultural production; and (3) varied land use histories. Some of these projects include the Big Biodiversity experiment, BioCON (Biodiversity, Carbon dioxide, and Nitrogen), and FAB (Forests And Biodiversity). Research is headed by a number of faculty from research institutions across the United States. These LTER projects are funded by the National Science Foundation and other sources. For more information about LTER please visit https://lternet.edu/.

Duties 

• Assist with various field research tasks, including experimental maintenance, mowing, etc.
• Prescribed burning of experimental areas, including mop up and monitoring. This may include some weekend and evening work.

Qualifications 

• Ability to work outdoors.
• Driver’s license is preferred but not required.
• Must be willing to have a flexible schedule.