The Biogeochemistry and Global Change Ecology labs at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC) are seeking a technician to support research on coastal ecosystem responses to global change. We seek motivated individuals to collaborate on research in a multidisciplinary environment. Tasks include maintaining experiments; collecting and analyzing environmental samples of water, soil, gas, and plants; operating lab equipment; and curating data. The technician will support multiple longterm experiments at SERC’s Global Change Research Wetland and the COMPASS project. Applicants must be detail-oriented and able to work on several projects at once. In addition, applicants must be able to work outside in a wide range of environmental conditions.

Qualifications

All applicants will be considered regardless of their background. We expect the most attractive candidates will have one or more of the following:

• Experience in field or laboratory settings working on environmental or ecological projects
• Experience operating analytical instruments to measure water, gas, or soil chemistry
• Experience using a coding language (e.g. R or SAS)
• Knowledge of data curation and data management, including documenting with metadata

Other experiences that will be useful in the position include:

• Experience working in wetland ecosystems
• Experience with benchtop chemistry, such as preparing solutions and standards
• Experience troubleshooting analytical instruments or modifying analytical procedures
• Use of Dionex ion chromatograph; Shimadzu TOC; SEAL discrete analyzer; gas chromatography
• Knowledge of anaerobic biogeochemistry

About SERC

SERC is a research center of the Smithsonian Institution, located in Edgewater, MD, about 10 miles south of Annapolis, 40 miles west of Washington DC, and 40 miles south of Baltimore. The 2,650-acre campus has labs, offices, an education center, docks, and boats. Technicians will be hired as Trust employees (not federal employees), entitling them to health, vision, dental, and other benefits. Starting salaries depend on previous experience.

The Smithsonian Institution is an equal opportunity employer, committed to a policy of nondiscrimination on the basis of race/ethnicity, national origin, sex, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, age, religion, marital, parental, or caregiver status, and disability. The SERC community recognizes the value of diversity in promoting innovative science and creative solutions, and we strongly encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply. We recognize that each applicant for this role will bring unique skills, knowledge, experiences, and background to this position. Competitive candidates will have many, but not necessarily all, of the listed qualifications and experiences.