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Student positions
Summer Undergraduate Research Assistant
We are seeking a UVM Rubenstein School undergraduate student to assist with field and laboratory work on Vermont Lakes this summer. Primary work will be on Shelburne Pond, but will occasionally include Lake Champlain and remote lakes in the Northeast Kingdom. Duties include field preparation (labeling, instrument calibration, acid washing supplies), field sampling support with graduate students (water sample collection, sensor measurements, cleaning and basic maintenance of data buoys), data entry, and laboratory sample processing (basic water chemistry prep and microscopy). Most weeks the position will be approximately 60% field work and 40% lab work. The Research Assistant will be encouraged and mentored in developing an independent summer research project releated to ongoing research in the VLL.
Applicants should be a Rubenstein School student interested and enthusiastic about aquatic ecosystems and ecology. Candidates should have completed or be currently registered for general chemistry and general biology requirements. No previous research or laboratory experience is required as training will be provided in field and laboratory methodology and standard operating procedures. Candidates should be comfortable in adverse field conditions (summer heat, rain, mosquitos, etc.), and work well in a collaborative team environment.
Full position description and application can be found on UVM JobX here, position #12005.
For additional undergraduate research opportunities at the Rubenstein Laboratory, please contact Experiential & Community Based Learning Coordinator, SarahMell (sarah.mell@uvm.edu).
Staff Positions
No staff positions at this time
Vermont Limnology Laboratory Operating procedures & Code of conduct
Co-written by Ismar Biberovic, Lindsey Carlson, Mindy Morales-Williams, Lindsay VanFossen, and Kate Warner in 2021. This is a dynamic document that will be updated periodically to reflect contributions of new lab members.
Our Collective Values
We are all students and peers, learning together as a team, and are all valued equally as contributors to our shared goals. All viewpoints are welcome, and we do not judge each other for asking questions or for things we do not know. We recognize that open-endedness is an important part of our group dialogue, and that there may not always be closure. In our interactions, we focus on listening to understand and learning, not to persuade others of our individual views. We celebrate each others’ differences, and value all life experiences that we bring to the table, recognizing that our opportunities and access to opportunities differ. By actively practicing these values within our lab group, we support a diverse, welcoming, and productive community of learners. Above all, we strive for equitable treatment and elimination of discrimination in all forms, across organizational and structural levels.
Lab Code of Conduct
Communication, in person or online, should be appropriate for a professional audience, including people of many different backgrounds.
Be kind and respectful to others; allow space for others to participate while practicing active listening (listening to understand, not to respond).
Behave professionally, and without judgment of others.
Harassment of any kind will not be tolerated, nor will jokes about sexual harassment, racism, exclusionary jokes, or aggressions .
Everyone’s feelings and perspectives are valid. If a colleague tells you they have been harmed by your statements or actions, do not be defensive. Instead actively make an effort to understand their perspective, apologize with sincerity, and avoid repeating these actions.
Practice work flexibility: e.g., “While I may be sending this email outside my normal office hours, I have no expectation to receive a reply outside yours.”
Be cognizant that not everyone adheres to the same work schedule, and respect personal lives and private time.
Work is a part of our lives, but it is not our entire lives. It’s essential to make time for personal wellbeing.
Have regular check-ins with lab members and practice open communication. Respect that other lab members may be experiencing challenging life events that they are not comfortable sharing.
We do not perform, we include. Don’t say it, do it.
How to report a problem or seek help
If you are being harassed, have witnessed someone being harassed or have any other concerns about bias incidents, discrimination or harassment, please reach out to Mindy at ana.morales@uvm.edu or, or if you prefer not to report to Mindy, you can fill out this form: Bias, Discrimination and Harassment Incident Reporting Form. You can find more information on UVM’s policy regarding discrimination, harassment and sexual misconduct here :https://www.uvm.edu/sites/default/files/UVM-Policies/policies/sexharass.pdf
For sexual violence and sexual misconduct, it is important to note that Mindy and all University Staff are “responsible employees,” meaning that they must report details about the alleged assault to the Title IX Office. Alternatively, you can seek confidential advocacy and support through the Center for Health and Wellbeing campus advocacy service here: https://www.uvm.edu/health/sexual-violence-support-and-advocacy
Graduate school can be taxing and depression and anxiety are common among graduate students, particularly during the pandemic. UVM has counseling services through the Center of Health and Wellbeing. Find more information here: https://www.uvm.edu/health/CAPS
If you are concerned for the wellbeing of an individual at UVM, you can fill out a CARE form.
