The Auburn University Bee Lab is seeking a highly motivated individual to join the AU-Bees Honey Bee group to provide professional research and extension assistance in the area of apiculture (honey bee biology, health, and management)!

The successful candidate will join a team (currently a lead technician, one post-doc, and multiple graduate and undergraduate students) that contributes to multi-year projects that are working in collaboration with several partner pollinator health research groups, such as the USDA ARS Stoneville Pollinator Unit, the USDA ARS Baton Rouge Bee Unit, and The Ohio State University. This is a two-year limited term position with the possibility of annual extensions depending on performance and funding.

The University: Classified as a Carnegie R1 university, Auburn University is a public flagship land-grant institution with a student enrollment of more than 30,000. The University provides instruction in approximately 70 academic departments and performs graduate research and public service across a variety of program areas. The University is located in the city of Auburn in east-central Alabama, near the metropolitan areas of Birmingham, AL, and Atlanta, GA, as well as scenic escapes like the southern Appalachians and the Gulf of Mexico.

The Department: The Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology is administered by the University's historic College of Agriculture. It houses over 20 faculty, 5 support staff, and more than 50 graduate students, all of whom work towards executing the University's research, instruction, and extension missions. Additional information can be found at http://enpp.auburn.edu.

The Laboratory: The University's Bee Lab, known as AU-BEES, currently consists of five graduate students supported by two faculty members, one post-doc, one laboratory manager, five full-time technicians, and multiple undergraduate students and local stakeholders. Alongside our collaborators from across the globe, the AU-BEES team works toward promoting the health of bees through various research, instruction, and extension activities. Additional information can be found at http://aub.ie/bees.

Essential functions:
* Integrating into a beekeeping team that is directed by a lead honey bee lab technician
* Managing approximately 200 honey bee colonies for research and extension
* Conducting and assisting with laboratory and field experiments, including surveys that might require some travel away from Auburn
* Organizing Bee Lab activities and outreach events
* Operating large equipment, like trucks, motorized hive moving machines, honey extraction devices
* Working under challenging conditions (e.g., ability to lift >70 lbs and operate in hot/humid conditions with stinging insects)

Level II: High school diploma or equivalent plus 1 year of experience in research and/or lab equipment operations.

Level III: High school diploma or equivalent plus 4 years of experience in research and/or lab equipment operations

Level IV: High school diploma or equivalent plus 6 years of experience in research and/or lab equipment operations

Degrees may be used to substitute years of experience.

A valid driver's license or the ability to obtain one prior to employment.

* Knowledge and experience concerning honey bee biology and management, assisting with scientific experiments, and communicating to a diverse group of stakeholders, including students, scientists, beekeepers, and other agricultural producers.
* At least 3-5 years of beekeeping experience; participation in a master beekeeping or equivalent program (preferred).
* Co-mentoring new beekeepers who have little to no experience, and supervising undergraduate students and technical workers.
* Experience with woodworking tools and machinery.

Auburn University is committed to an inclusive and diverse campus environment. Women, underrepresented groups, individuals with disabilities and veterans are encouraged to apply.



AUBURN UNIVERSITY IS AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER. It is our policy to provide equal employment opportunities for all individuals without regard to race, sex, religion, color, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other classification protected by applicable law.

Review of applications will begin on May 28, 2024, but the position will remain open until a suitable candidate is identified. Tentative start date is July 23, 2024, but negotiable.