Student Research Assistant in Forestry (Silviculture)

Hiring Organization: Department of Forestry Michigan State University
Employment type: Part-Time
Job Location: East Lansing, MI
Application Due Date: December 15, 2025

Position description: We’re looking for a motivated person to help with data acquisition and processing for the Northern Hardwoods Resilience Project. This multi-year project, funded by the U.S. Forest Service, evaluates the current state of northern hardwood forests across the U.S. and Canada and examines how management practices and environmental factors influence their resilience.

Primary Duties:

Communicate with state and provincial agencies in the U.S. and Canada to obtain deer and moose management data (email and phone)
Compile and summarize regional hunting policies from agency materials and online sources
Clean, organize, and process datasets for analysis

Requirements:

Must be enrolled MSU student who is eligible for student employment

Preferred skills (we will provide training):

Interest in wildlife management and policy
Clear written and spoken English communication
Experience with data management
Experience with R, ArcGIS, or comparable software

Compensation: Wage is commensurate with experience, minimum of $15.00/hour, for up to 29 hours per week.

Time Frame: Work will be available for approximately 2-3 months during winter 2025-26, with potential for extension.

Working Conditions: The position involves work on computers and telephone in a typical office environment.

Location: Work station available in MSU's Natural Resources Building.

To Apply:

Apply via Handshake by searching for Job #10413357 or email to Claudia Bartlick at bartlick@msu.edu with “NH Resilience Position” in the subject line.
Include a CV/resume, a brief cover letter outlining your interest in the position and relevant experience as well as your dates of availability, and at least one professional reference with contact information (including email and phone number).

Deadline: Applications will be considered until the position has been filled. Applicants are encouraged to apply as early as possible.

The College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (CANR) at Michigan State University (MSU) is committed to achieving excellence by creating and sustaining an accessible and inclusive culture that values cultural and academic diversity. MSU is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. The CANR is particularly interested in candidates of all backgrounds who are committed to the principle that academic excellence is achieved through open access and proactive inclusion.