The Lee Lab of Neural Systems and Behavior at St. Olaf College seeks a full-time Post-Baccalaureate Research Technician. We use cutting-edge research tools, such as quantitative behavioral tracking, laser vibrometry, and electrophysiology, to investigate auditory perception in the acoustic parasitoid fly Ormia ochracea, which relies on their sense of hearing to locate field cricket hosts by eavesdropping on cricket calling songs.
This position offers a unique opportunity to collaborate with a PI distinctly committed to your technical and conceptual training, and career development. It is an excellent opportunity for candidates seeking additional training in behavioral neuroscience prior to applying for graduate school programs.
This is a two-year, grant-funded, benefits eligible position.
What You’ll Do:
- Elucidate cricket song features that Ormia ochracea evaluate for host species recognition
- Characterize the neural circuits involved in song temporal pattern recognition
- Investigate how neural circuits integrate sensory information for song recognition with information for sound localization to result in locating appropriate host crickets
- Conduct fieldwork at several field sites in the southern United States and in Hawaii
- Data collection, analyses, and contributing to the communication of results
- Complete lab maintenance tasks required to maintain laboratory colonies of Ormia ochracea
The qualified candidate will have…
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Bachelor’s degree in Biology, Neuroscience, or a relevant quantitative field prior to the start date
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Ability to commit to this position for a two-year period
It will be helpful if you have…
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Comfort with handling insects (crickets and flies)
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Ability to drive and travel to field sites
Who We Are:
At St. Olaf College we are dedicated to creating an inclusive and globally engaged community. We believe in fostering different identities, beliefs, and traditions because our differences make us stronger. St. Olaf strives to promote cultural diversity and multicultural understanding and create a campus where individuals of all backgrounds feel accepted and supported. We encourage applications from candidates committed to the enrichment of our diverse community.
One of the nation's leading liberal arts colleges, St. Olaf serves 3,000 students, ranks #1 among U.S. colleges for the number of students studying abroad, and celebrates carbon-free electrical power. Its mission is to challenge students to excel in the liberal arts, examine faith and values, and explore meaningful vocation in an inclusive, globally engaged community nourished by Lutheran tradition. The college is located on a picturesque 300-acre campus in Northfield, Minnesota, a vibrant, restored, historic river town of 20,000 located 45 minutes south of the Twin Cities.
St. Olaf College offers a comprehensive benefits package including a 9% company retirement match, company monthly contributions to a retirement healthcare account, company contributions to eligible employee’s health savings account, significant tuition discount (up to 80% off) at ACM and ELCA colleges and universities for employee’s children, and generous paid time off. For a full review of benefit offerings, see the summary of the benefits program here: https://wp.stolaf.edu/hr/benefits/
A summary of the flexible work policy: https://wp.stolaf.edu/hr/flexible-work-policy/
A virtual campus tour: https://www.stolaf.edu/multimedia/play/?p=483
An overview of Northfield: https://wp.stolaf.edu/admissions/visit/northfield/
An overview of the Twin Cities: https://wp.stolaf.edu/admissions/visit/twincities/
St. Olaf College requires all employees to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 (medical and religious exemptions may apply). To be fully vaccinated for COVID-19, you need to have received the COVID-19 vaccination dose(s), plus a COVID-19 booster before your start date, or within two weeks of eligibility for a booster.
1520 St. Olaf Avenue Northfield, MN 55057