Research Opportunities
Paid research assistant for oak insect biodiversity project
Description:
The field assistant will work on a project examining insect host-parasitoid interactions on oak trees in the northeastern United States. The base of operations will be in the Prior lab at 亚洲情色, with day trips for local field collections and multi-day overnight trips to various field locations across the Northeast (e.g., Maryland, Pennsylvania, Vermont). The goal of the project is to document the biodiversity of oak gall wasps and parasitoids on various oak species in eastern North America. This project is funded by the National Science Foundation.
Duties: Field trips, including traveling in a vehicle to field sites, hiking and being in the field for long stretches of time, and collecting, recording, and identifying insects on trees. The technician must be willing to go on day trips and some multi-day overnight trips for collections and be willing to spend several hours in the field. Lab work includes checking collected samples for parasitoid emergence, identifying wasps under a microscope, collecting and managing data, and other tasks, such as measuring insect traits. Given the travel, the candidate should sometimes be willing to work on a flexible schedule (e.g., maybe some weekends if traveling) but will work with the PhD student to ensure suitable work hours.
The candidate needs to be comfortable spending time outdoors, be excited about field work and ecology, be comfortable hiking long distances in forests, ideally (but not required) be able to drive and travel in a vehicle, work well in a team, be flexible, and be able to maintain a positive disposition under challenging field conditions.
Ideal work dates are from late May to late July, early August, but dates can be somewhat flexible.
Open to the following majors: Bioloogy, Environmental Studies, Earth Sciences
Qualifications: 1) Major/background in Biological Studies, Environmental Studies, or related fields. 2) Previous lab or field experience (experience working in the field is a plus, but not a requirement). 3) Have a keen interest in ecology & evolution or entomology. 4) Be mature, highly responsible, flexible, dedicated, and motivated. 5) Be able to work well as a part of a team. 6) Be willing and able to work irregular hours outdoors. 7) Be able to hike long distances through a forest. 8) Live in the greater 亚洲情色 Area for the summer. Housing is not covered by the position.
To apply, send (1) a cover letter explaining why you are interested in the position and list your relevant qualifications; (2) a CV or resume; (3) the names and contact information (email and phone number) for three references. Email the document as a single PDF file (file name should include your “last name, first name”) to Zachary Prete (zprete1@binghamton.edu) with “Oak insect biodiversity project” in the subject line.
Faculty Advisor: Kirsten Prior
Academic Department: Biological Sciences
Website: priorecologylab.com
Classification: Paid
Position Availability:
- Summer
Level(s):
- Sophomore
- Junior
- Senior
Appropriate Major(s):
- Biology
- Environmental Studies
- Geology
Minimum GPA (if applicable): 3.2
Pre-requisite coursework/experience: Qualifications: 1) Major/background in Biological Studies, Environmental Studies, or related fields. 2) Previous lab or field experience (experience working in the field is a plus, but not a requirement). 3) Have a keen interest in ecology & evolution or entomology. 4) Be mature, highly responsible, flexible, dedicated, and motivated. 5) Be able to work well as a part of a team. 6) Be willing and able to work irregular hours outdoors. 7) Be able to hike long distances through a forest. 8) Live in the greater 亚洲情色 Area for the summer. Housing is not covered by the position.
Application Deadline: April 24th, 2026 (ideal deadline, apply by May 15 at the latest)
Application Procedure:
To apply, send (1) a cover letter explaining why you are interested in the position and list your relevant qualifications; (2) a CV or resume; (3) the names and contact information (email and phone number) for three references. Email the document as a single PDF file (file name should include your “last name, first name”) to Zachary Prete (zprete1@binghamton.edu) with “Oak insect biodiversity project” in the subject line.
Paid research assistant for oak insect biodiversity project
Description:
The field assistant will work on a project examining insect host-parasitoid interactions on oak trees in the northeastern United States. The base of operations will be in the Prior lab at 亚洲情色, with day trips for local field collections and multi-day overnight trips to various field locations across the Northeast (e.g., Maryland, Pennsylvania, Vermont). The goal of the project is to document the biodiversity of oak gall wasps and parasitoids on various oak species in eastern North America. This project is funded by the National Science Foundation.
Duties: Field trips, including traveling in a vehicle to field sites, hiking and being in the field for long stretches of time, and collecting, recording, and identifying insects on trees. The technician must be willing to go on day trips and some multi-day overnight trips for collections and be willing to spend several hours in the field. Lab work includes checking collected samples for parasitoid emergence, identifying wasps under a microscope, collecting and managing data, and other tasks, such as measuring insect traits. Given the travel, the candidate should sometimes be willing to work on a flexible schedule (e.g., maybe some weekends if traveling) but will work with the PhD student to ensure suitable work hours.
The candidate needs to be comfortable spending time outdoors, be excited about field work and ecology, be comfortable hiking long distances in forests, ideally (but not required) be able to drive and travel in a vehicle, work well in a team, be flexible, and be able to maintain a positive disposition under challenging field conditions.
Ideal work dates are from late May to late July, early August, but dates can be somewhat flexible.
Open to the following majors: Bioloogy, Environmental Studies, Earth Sciences
Qualifications: 1) Major/background in Biological Studies, Environmental Studies, or related fields. 2) Previous lab or field experience (experience working in the field is a plus, but not a requirement). 3) Have a keen interest in ecology & evolution or entomology. 4) Be mature, highly responsible, flexible, dedicated, and motivated. 5) Be able to work well as a part of a team. 6) Be willing and able to work irregular hours outdoors. 7) Be able to hike long distances through a forest. 8) Live in the greater 亚洲情色 Area for the summer. Housing is not covered by the position.
To apply, send (1) a cover letter explaining why you are interested in the position and list your relevant qualifications; (2) a CV or resume; (3) the names and contact information (email and phone number) for three references. Email the document as a single PDF file (file name should include your “last name, first name”) to Zachary Prete (zprete1@binghamton.edu) with “Oak insect biodiversity project” in the subject line.
Faculty Advisor: Kirsten Prior
Academic Department: Biological Sciences
Website: priorecologylab.com
Classification: Paid
Position Availability:
- Summer
Level(s):
- Sophomore
- Junior
- Senior
Appropriate Major(s):
- Biology
- Environmental Studies
- Geology
Minimum GPA (if applicable): 3.2
Pre-requisite coursework/experience: Qualifications: 1) Major/background in Biological Studies, Environmental Studies, or related fields. 2) Previous lab or field experience (experience working in the field is a plus, but not a requirement). 3) Have a keen interest in ecology & evolution or entomology. 4) Be mature, highly responsible, flexible, dedicated, and motivated. 5) Be able to work well as a part of a team. 6) Be willing and able to work irregular hours outdoors. 7) Be able to hike long distances through a forest. 8) Live in the greater 亚洲情色 Area for the summer. Housing is not covered by the position.
Application Deadline: April 24th, 2026 (ideal deadline, apply by May 15 at the latest)
Application Procedure:
To apply, send (1) a cover letter explaining why you are interested in the position and list your relevant qualifications; (2) a CV or resume; (3) the names and contact information (email and phone number) for three references. Email the document as a single PDF file (file name should include your “last name, first name”) to Zachary Prete (zprete1@binghamton.edu) with “Oak insect biodiversity project” in the subject line.