Bees of the Border

Bees of the Border – Student Help Wanted for U.S. Geological Survey Study

The U.S. Geological Survey Southwest Biological Science Center is looking for a student to help organize, curate, and identify bees of Buenos Aires Wildlife Refuge. The focus of the project will be to continue identification of bees collected in a survey conducted in 2019 and early 2020 and for which a description of the project and preliminary reporting is available at https://pubs.usgs.gov/publication/ofr20241032. The student contractor may help with some additional collections and with development of a journal article on the BANWR survey. 

The student contractor will work with USGS Research Ecologist Dr. Kathryn Thomas in her lab on the University of Arizona campus. Applicants should express their interest in bees of Southwest Arizona, their qualifications for this work including experience and or classwork with curation, bee identification, and data management. Experience with field collections, field safety training, and knowledge of Southwest flora are also desirable, but not necessary skills.

To be a student contractor the applicant will go through Federal security clearance as well as register in SAM.gov. Student will need to take all required USGS/DOI trainings.

The expectation is that the work will begin in late June. Hours are generally flexible but will need to be during Federal working hours (8-5) or when Dr. Thomas is present at other times. 

Salary will range from 26.52/hr. to $39.25/hr depending  on academic level. The student will be responsible for their own taxes, paid quarterly. The estimated number of hours of performance will range from approximately 630 to 925 hours and the period of performance is from mid June 2026 to May 2027 or sooner. 

To apply send resume, statement of interest, and (unofficial) recent transcripts to document your relevant academic experience to Kathryn_a_thomas@usgs.gov.