Summer Lab & Field Technician - Tick & Tick-borne Disease Ecology & Ecoepidemiology

Ecology of Emerging Disease:

Investigating the Invasion of the Lyme Disease Tick & Tick borne Pathogens 

Michigan State University

Research technician positions are available for Summer 2024 starting May 13th. 

Full time, $15.45/hour

To apply, send CV/resume and cover letter to Michelle Volk (volkmic1@msu.edu)

For full consideration, apply by April 1, 2024

Michigan State University is a member of the Centers for Disease Control-funded Midwest Center of Excellence for Vector-borne Disease (http://mcevbd.wisc.edu),  and one of the goals of this center is to build capacity in surveillance and research of vector and vector-borne pathogen biology, ecology, management and control. Toward that end, Michigan State University, seeks to hire 6 enthusiastic, energetic, and intrepid technicians who have a passion for disease ecology, medical entomology, public health surveillance, and/or emerging infectious diseases to help monitor the invasion of the blacklegged tick, the vector of Lyme disease, across the state of Michigan.  These positions will comprise a combination of field work and lab work including but not limited to collecting ticks from sites across Michigan, laboratory work, and assisting with local field experiments. Technicians’ work may be primarily field work, primarily lab work, or a combination of research activities.

Purpose: Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases are on the rise in North America due to many ecological changes driving the spread of the blacklegged tick.  Michigan is a classic example, where the blacklegged tick has been emerging across the landscape, but where many citizens as well as medical professionals are unaware of the rapidly changing geographic risk of disease. We have the rare opportunity to conduct active surveillance to monitor the spread of the Lyme disease tick and to identify new areas into which the tick is establishing. Technicians will conduct field surveillance throughout Michigan; data will be used directly to update the Michigan Lyme Disease risk map (https://www.michigan.gov/-/media/Project/Websites/emergingdiseases/Folder2/Lyme_risk_map2020.pdf?rev=a2a09b5f8266481b9140ae7c58285b55) and to use in models for predicting the spread of disease risk. In addition to tracking the invasion of blacklegged ticks across Michigan, we also monitor the prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi, the Lyme disease bacteria, in tick populations. Technicians will perform DNA extractions to aid in the analysis of B. burgdorferi prevalence in field-collected ticks. Technicians may additionally assist with a tick behavior experiment at Corey Marsh Ecological Research Center that will be run once in June, July, and August for a period of ten days each round. 

Technician Duties and Responsibilities:

Field work: surveillance

• To conduct field surveillance at multiple public lands (state and national parks and forests) for questing ticks (by drag cloth method). 
• Multi-night/week-long overnight trips will be required to conduct field surveillance across the northern Lower and Upper Peninsulas. Technicians should be prepared to camp unless weather or other circumstances forbid.
• University owned vehicles and/or personal vehicles may be used for transportation.  If a personal vehicle is used, mileage will be reimbursed. 
• Identify collected vectors and maintain shared databases of field collections.

Field work: tick behavior field experiments

• Assist with additional field experiments studying tick behavior at Corey Marsh Ecological Research Center
• Includes 3x daily observations (9am, 3pm, 10pm) for ten days at a time. 
• Experiments will be run once in June, July, and August.

Lab work

• Assist with laboratory analysis, which will require Environmental Health and Safety training.
• Operate laboratory equipment including micropipettes, centrifuges, chemical hoods, etc.
• Perform DNA extractions following standard operating procedures.
• Maintain accurate and quality field samples, results, and molecular samples.
• Follow required biosafety protocols, maintain clean and efficient work areas, and replenish supplies as necessary.
• Maintain databases and experimental records.
• Other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Qualifications/Requirements:

Education: Minimum of 48 college-level credits completed is preferred. 

Experience: No experience necessary, but an interest in disease ecology, medical entomology and/or public health is preferred.

Important knowledge, skills, and abilities:

• Ability to work in harsh weather conditions in remote locations which may include uneven terrain, lack of phone connectivity, exposure to hot/humid temperatures, mosquitoes/ticks, and potentially poisonous plants. 
• Ability to be flexible with type of research activities and scheduling if necessary.
• Ability to communicate and work effectively with others.
• Ability to maintain a positive, professional attitude. 
• Ability to work independently.
• Ability to work weekends as needed.
• Ability to pay attention to detail and have excellent eyesight.
• Ability to drive a vehicle in the state of Michigan.
• Ability to read and use a map. 
• Ability to use Microsoft Office. 

Technicians should expect: 

• To participate in a variety of research including tick surveillance, tick behavior experiments, and laboratory work.
• To obtain instruction on the ecology, epidemiology, and public health measures of Lyme and several other tick-borne diseases in the north-central and northeastern U.S.
• To obtain guidance and instruction on field vector surveillance activities and how these data are used by public health and researchers to prevent disease.
• To obtain travel support for field efforts (meals are not included).
• To use their own personal computer. 
• To work, travel, and lodge with one other person.
• To work long hours due to the nature of field work.
• To obtain guidance and instruction on standard molecular laboratory protocols and how these data are used by public health and researchers to prevent disease.