Jobs, Internships, Volunteering

Location: Lake County, Illinois

Job Description: One wildlife technician position is available to assist with the Lake County Forest Preserve District Blanding’s Turtle Recovery Program from May through August 2025 (approximate dates). Field activities include aquatic trapping targeting Blanding's Turtles and tracking movements via radio-telemetry. The technician will also occasionally assist with the documentation of nesting activities at night and assisting with captive husbandry. Training and equipment will be provided for all job activities. The technician will work with CAS scientists, forest preserve biologists, wildlife veterinarians, and USDA personnel. This is a unique opportunity to contribute to the conservation of the largest population of Blanding’s Turtles in Illinois.

The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum of the Chicago Academy of Sciences is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to equity, diversity and inclusion in all areas of the organization. We strongly encourage applications from people of color and members of underrepresented groups.

Qualifications: Ideal candidates will have familiarity with field techniques and be comfortable working long hours outdoors in difficult terrain, often wading in marshes with little shade and with biting insects, ticks, and poison ivy. The most important qualification is an enthusiasm for fieldwork and wildlife conservation biology.

Additional Requirements Include:

• B.S./B.A. in biology, wildlife, ecology, natural resources, environmental biology or related field OR degree in progress with relevant coursework

• Valid driver’s license and insurance

• Following standardized monitoring protocol for aquatic trapping methods, nest monitoring, and radio-telemetry once trained

• Familiarity with or *ability to learn* regional aquatic species (reptiles, amphibians, fish, crayfish)

• Ability to safely handle large and potentially aggressive animals (e.g. snapping turtles)

• Demonstrated experience of physical strength, stamina, and endurance sufficient for full days of strenuous field work (e.g. several miles of hiking in waders while carrying heavy (35 lbs) equipment in hot weather)

• Adherence to and respect for safety, biosecurity, and animal handling protocols

• Reliable data collection and attention to detail during data entry

• Ability to think critically and troubleshoot problems as they arise

• Flexible work schedule including the ability to work occasionally at night during nesting season (June)

• Ability to work independently as well as part of a team

• Ability to communicate effectively with CAS scientists, forest preserve agency personnel, and the public regarding project details

• Commitment to a safe, equitable, and inclusive work environment

• Enthusiasm for turtle conservation, passion for wildlife conservation in general, positive attitude, and a sense of humor. Everyone floods their waders, but it doesn’t have to ruin your day.

Essential Job Functions:

• Tracking turtles using radio-telemetry equipment

• Trapping, handling, identifying, and collecting data on aquatic species (primarily turtles)

• Checking, maintaining, and cleaning aquatic hoop net traps

• Following disinfection procedures and biosecurity

• Maintaining accurate data sheets and data entry

• Traveling among field sampling sites and wildlife facilities

• Communicating with a diverse group of teammates and supervisors

Salary: Range: $17.75-$19.75/hr (depending on qualifications), 37.5 hr per week; work vehicle provided for trap transportation, but personal vehicles will be required for daily sampling activities such as trap checks and telemetry (with mileage reimbursement).

How to Apply: Those interested should submit their application as a single document (PDF) that includes a cover letter addressing qualifications listed above, resume/CV, available start and end dates, and contact information of 3 references to hr-biofieldtech@naturemuseum.org with the subject line “2025 Blanding’s Turtle Technician Application”. Applications received by February 21st 2025 are guaranteed consideration. However, applications will be reviewed as they are received.

Last Date to Apply: February 21st, 2025

The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum of the Chicago Academy of Sciences is hiring independent contractors to install and dismantle temporary exhibitions in the Special Exhibitions Gallery and for other events during the year on a temporary basis- generally winter, late spring, and early fall.

Duties & Responsibilities:

Requirements vary for each exhibition. Most contractors will be required, under direction of the Exhibit Production Supervisor and/or the Lead Exhibit Fabricator to:

• Assist in preparing the gallery (including new construction, and repainting).
• Assist the forklift operator loading and unloading trucks at the dock.
• Handle crates to and from the dock, the freight elevator and the 2^nd floor gallery.
• Pack and unpack exhibit components and move empty crates to and from storage.
• Distribute and assemble or disassemble components per provided instructions and drawings.
• Assist in hanging, moving, and focusing lighting instruments in the gallery.
• Clear and clean the gallery and the exhibition in preparation for opening.
• Ability to lift and hold up to 60 lbs.
• Familiarity with the safe use of hand and power tools, dock equipment and personal protective gear, and general carpentry/assembly experience are preferred.
• A positive attitude toward the work and the exhibition team, pleasant and professional conduct toward all museum staff and visitors, and self-motivation to complete assigned tasks are required.

Compensation: Compensation starts at $15 per hour working 6-10 hours per day.

Some evenings and/or weekends are required.

How to Apply:

Please send resume to CAScontractor@naturemuseum.org

No phone calls please. Only qualified candidates will be contacted.

The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum of the Chicago Academy of Sciences is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to equity, diversity and inclusion in all areas of the organization. We strongly encourage applications from people of color and members of underrepresented groups.

Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the US. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of employment Visa at this time.

Part-time, Seasonal

Location: Off-site in either Lake County, DuPage County, Cook County, IL

Position Description:

Three paid part-time seasonal snake field conservation technician positions are available for a conservation research project examining heavy metal bioaccumulation in the eggs of smooth greensnakes, and prevalence of snake fungal disease in the species, along with grassland snake response to habitat restoration. There will be one technician position based in southern Cook County, one in DuPage County, and one in Lake County, Illinois.

Following initial training provided by the project Principal Investigator, technicians must be comfortable working independently in regional forest preserves, parks, and natural areas with minimal supervision. The technicians will conduct artificial cover object surveys for snakes, contribute to demographic surveys with mark-recapture techniques, and collect morphometric data for grassland snakes. Applicants must be capable of safely handling non-venomous snakes in the field with nitrile gloves on, following biosecurity protocols for collection of dermal swabs from snakes, and carrying out disinfection of field gear between sites. Applicants must be able to maintain detailed notes on active nests of smooth greensnakes. Technicians in DuPage and Lake County will assist with off-site incubation of smooth greensnake eggs for our ongoing recovery program. The Cook County technician may assist with incubation work in other counties as time permits. ​ The technicians will be responsible for maintaining detailed daily field notes on weather conditions, sampling activities, recording data, and entering data into Google Sheets spreadsheets. The technician may have the opportunity to assist with other museum herpetological field work as time and opportunities permit. The technicians will gain valuable skills with snake field sampling techniques, mark-recapture studies, disease surveillance, and applied conservation projects. Independent field work will be necessary following training as other field projects begin, so the technician must be comfortable working independently, off-trail in field sites.

Field work for the position will generally occur 4-5 days per week (M-F) for approximately 19 weeks, for a total of 395 hours, spanning from late April through mid-August 2025. Weekly hours will vary depending on snake activity and weather, with longer hours during nesting season (mid-late June-late July). Some weekend work is expected during hatching season (~July 20-August 13th, depending on which county the technician is covering). Please note that the exact start date is weather dependent.

Essential Job Functions:

• Safely handling, catching, identifying, and measuring native snakes via coverboards, and visual encounter surveys

• Following biosecurity protocol while collecting dermal swabs from snakes for disease surveillance

• Monitoring snake nests in the field with accurate notes and assisting with some egg incubation

• Traveling between field sampling sites in personal vehicle and disinfecting sampling gear between sites

• Maintaining accurate data sheets and field notes and recording environmental conditions

• Data entry into Google Sheets

Education Requirements

B.S./B.A. in wildlife biology, biology, ecology, environmental science or a natural resource related field (with relevant course work-ideally herpetology/aquatic ecology). Candidates must have completed their program of study by April 2025 in order to be considered for the positions.

Preferred Experience

Previous experience working with wildlife and/or conducting scientific research; field-based wildlife handling experience; past experience with wildlife ecological studies, including, amphibian sampling or reptile sampling; possess knowledge of Illinois fauna, particularly reptiles.

Additional Requirements

• Valid driver’s license and insurance

• Familiarity with regional reptile and amphibian species

• Ability to read maps and navigate to survey points with GPS

• Adherence to safety and animal handling protocols

• Ability to work independently and as part of a team

• Ability to think critically and troubleshoot problems

• Ability to communicate effectively with forest preserve agency personnel and the public regarding project details

• Flexibility regarding work schedule and conditions

• Ability to work outdoors in a variety of weather conditions and habitats

• Physical strength sufficient for full days of strenuous field work

• Commitment to a safe, equitable, and inclusive work environment

• Sense of humor and a tolerance for snake musk on your clothing

Pay Rate: $16.20 per hour

Position Length: 395 hours, beginning in late April 2025 and ending in mid-August, with possibility of extension into September if there are remaining hours. Review of applications will begin in mid-February.

How to Apply: Those interested should submit their application to hr-biofieldtech@naturemuseum.org as a single document (PDF) containing a brief cover letter, resume/CV, and contact information for three references. Please indicate within the cover letter which work location (Cook, DuPage, or Lake County) you are most interested in as your assigned county. The email subject line should read:" LastName_SnakeTech_Application_2025" and the document filename should be: "LastName_SnakeTech_Application_2025". 

Applications received by March 4, 2025 are guaranteed consideration. However, applications will be reviewed as they are received.