Tierberg-LTER Research Assistant at NRF National Research Foundation

About the position

Postion Summary:
This position is based in Prince Albert, Western Cape.
The Research Assistant has a work station at the SAEON satellite office in Prince Albert.
The Research Assistant will be provided with the necessary office and field equipment.
Accommodation is not provided and is the Research Assistant’s own responsibility.

Key Responsibilities:

• 1
• Assist SAEON ALN research projects at Tierberg-LTER and Wolwekraal Nature Reserve2
• Science engagement3
• Ensure existing collaboration with RenuKaroo maintained mutually benefitting both organisations4
• Provide support for node operation and administration

Minimum Qualification:

• Honours Degree / Post Graduate Qualification / Professional Qualification / NQF 8

Minimum Experience:

• 0-1 years

• •Study experience in ecological or environmental science field•Experience working in the field under extreme weather conditions•Good computer literacy such as Microsoft Office products•Good safety record

Experience:

• •Accustomed to travelling on gravel roads, as well as of camping, and extensive experience of fieldwork conditions•Diligently perform a wide array of tasks including but not limited to physical field work, assistance with instrumentation deployment and maintenance, biological monitoring, data capture and associated basic data processes
• •Herbarium specimen collection and processing experience is advantageous •Must have a willingness to work long hours when conducting field work, occasionally working on weekends and spend extended periods away from home (up to 1-2 weeks at a time)•Must be willing and able to write reports

Knowledge:

• -BSc Hons degree in Botany or an ecological field
• -A valid driver’s license (code EB), 4x4 experience

The NRF website provides more details on the initiatives and activities
Applicants should submit a comprehensive CV by registering and apply online through the NRF Recruitment and Selection Portal.
Applications should be accompanied by a letter of motivation indicating the applicant·s suitability for the position.
The names and contact details of at least three referees should be provided.

Desired Skills:

• Skilled in applied field of position
• Knowledge to be relevant
• Responsible in performing duties

About The Employer:

SAEON is funded by the Department of Science and Innovation, and managed by the National Research Foundation. SAEON is mandated to create knowledge of environmental change through six geographically distributed nodes.
Tierberg Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) site, or Tierberg LTER, is a one square kilometre (100 ha) exclosure in the Western Cape Province.

The National Research Foundation owns the property. A host of well-established research experiments are run on the property.

Some of the experiments lend themselves to repeat surveying and data sets that capture environmental change over time.