Research Assistant (Gothic, Colorado)

Title: Research Assistant (Gothic, Colorado)

Exemption Status: Non-Exempt

Department: Plant Science

Reports to: Conservation Scientist and Postdoc 

Seasonal, Full-time, anticipated to start in May 2026 for 15 weeks, working approximately 40 hours per week

Seasonal Full-time employees scheduled to work at least 30 hours per week are eligible for the following Benefits:

• Wellness initiative benefit, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Retirement plan
• Holidays, Holiday Thank you pay
• Garden membership - free to employees at Household Plus level
• Discounts to Garden Shop, Cafe, Garden-sponsored educational classes
• Employee events such as Orchid show, Night of 1,000 Jack-o'-Lanterns, Lightscape employee & friends preview night

Compensation Philosophy:

At the Chicago Botanic Garden, our compensation philosophy is rooted in our core values: Growth, Understanding, Resilience, and Trust through Transparency. We are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels respected, valued, and appreciated.

Our objective is to create compensation and growth opportunities for our employees that are highly competitive, internally equitable and transparent. The foundation of our efforts is a straightforward approach that can be easily communicated by managers with defined pay ranges for all positions. When posting job openings, we share the minimum salary up to the budgeted amount.

The starting salary for new staff members is determined by considering the salary range assigned to the position and by reviewing the candidate’s qualifications for the job as compared with job responsibilities. Prior work experience should be considered in determining the salary offer, provided that it is relevant to the job. Additional factors such as secondary language proficiency or advanced degrees that enhance performance may also be considered. A candidate’s salary may exceed the minimum amount based on factors such as experience, additional skills (e.g., secondary language proficiency), or pertinent degrees that enhance the individual’s contribution to the role but are not required. Opportunities for increased compensation are provided through referral bonuses, shift differentials, Thank You Pay, promotions, and periodic pay increases based on the Garden's overall performance and financial budgets.

Our total compensation and benefits package is people centric. We prioritize employee wellness across three pillars: physical, mental, and financial. Our goal is to offer innovative total rewards that support continuous professional growth, personal development, and provide the flexibility needed to balance personal and professional commitments.

Position Overview:

The ILER LAB seeks a research assistant to be part of a National Science Foundation (NSF)-funded experimental plant demography project at the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory (RMBL) for the 2026 field season. The project addresses how phenological shifts in plants, induced by earlier snowmelt, affect plant demographic vital rates and population growth. 

One position is available. The start date is somewhat flexible, beginning in early- to mid-May and running for up to 15 weeks depending on specific start date. The exact start date will be determined in April and depends on how quickly the snow is melting at the RMBL. The position includes housing and station fees associated with staying at the RMBL (https://www.rmbl.org/field-station-info/housing/). Those interested in climate change, population dynamics, phenology, and/or conservation ecology are especially encouraged to apply. The RMBL provides an exciting and supportive environment for ecological field research, including weekly seminars with outside speakers. The research assistant will also have the opportunity to attend a variety of training opportunities at the RMBL (for example, workshops on data analysis in R, visual design, and science communication). There will also be an opportunity to stay later into the fall (up to five to seven weeks longer) as a part-time employee to check the status of fall-germinating plants. 

Undergraduate students, students with bachelor’s or master’s degrees, and students in between undergraduate and graduate programs are all encouraged to apply. Preference will be given to applicants who have previous field experience with plant demography and plant phenology. 

The Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory (RMBL), founded in 1928 is an independent, high-altitude biological field station near Crested Butte, Colorado. Its primary mission is to advance the deep scientific understanding of nature that promotes informed stewardship of the earth. RMBL provides scientists access to diverse habitats, research and education infrastructure, a collaborative and internationally recognized scientific community, and a broad base of knowledge founded in long-term research about the ecology of mountain environments.

Responsibilities

In this role you will be responsible for the following: 

• Measuring demographic vital rates on individual plants (size, reproductive status, etc.).
• Measuring plant phenological events: germination, leaf-out, and flowering
• Collecting and counting fruits and seeds
• Recording data
• Data entry
• Other general ecological field tasks associated with the project

Qualifications

Our ideal candidate will have the following:

• At least one month of field work experience working with plants, ideally in plant demography and/or plant phenology
• Effective communication: communicate in a manner that gains the trust and support of others
• Ability to work effectively with others despite differences of opinion and style 
• Tolerance for opposing points of view 
• Ability to work cooperatively, as a positive contributor to a field team
• A positive attitude even in tough work environments and when performing tedious tasks
• As this is an NSF-funded project, only American citizens or permanent residents are eligible to apply

Physical Demands:

The position requires a small amount of walking on steep slopes (~15 min walk to get to the study site from RMBL) and a good amount of sitting or squatting on the ground to measure plants. 

Please include with your application:

• CV 
• half-page cover letter summarizing why you are qualified for the role and how it advances your career goals. 
• Please include contact information for two references at the end of your CV.

Why Apply? 
 Come work in a setting that is like no other as you support our mission: We cultivate the power of plants to sustain and enrich life. Take the first step toward being one of the employees who make the Garden one of the treasures of the Forest Preserves of Cook County. Apply today. Please note that applicants who do not meet the required qualifications will not be considered.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran, or basis of disability, or any other federal, state, or local protected class.

Disclaimer: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and qualifications required of personnel so classified.

In accordance with Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972, the Chicago Botanic Garden does not discriminate on the basis of sex in its programs or activities, including in employment or admissions. Please call (847) 835-8264 to contact our Title IX Coordinator should you have questions or concerns. Please do not call this number to inquire about job postings or the status of your application, or with solicitations from companies or third-party recruiters.