The Hines lab (PSU, hineslab.org) is seeking an undergraduate summer field technician to work on a project examining the role of various landscape factors on bee health parameters (pathogens, bee size, community diversity) across North Carolina. Data collected will be used to understand the factors most impacting bee health to guide management of landscapes for supporting pollinators and to allow better understanding of distributional patterns in bumble bees, including patterns of bee decline.

The student will accompany and assist graduate student researcher Elena Gratton in collecting and identifying bumble bees across sites of various quality and habitats throughout North Carolina from the high Appalachians to the coastal plains. This position will run from mid-June until the end of July (30-40 hrs./week). It will involve primarily outdoor work and travel (lodging primarily in hotels and campsites; 3-4 weeks) and may involve some organizational tasks in Pennsylvania at the beginning and/or end of the project (2 weeks).

The position is open to undergraduates pursuing a degree in the biological sciences, preferably with an interest in ecology, conservation, and the natural sciences. The student must be willing and, preferably enjoy, spending long days in the field and a month traveling.

Interested applicants should submit a CV/Resume and cover letter stating interests and suitability through the psujobs portal. Applications will start being reviewed April 15 and until the position is filled. Please send inquiries to Heather Hines (hmh19@psu.edu).