Employment and Volunteering

MNFI currently has the following positions available:

Conservation Associate - Botanist

Position Overview

This position will collect, analyze, and communicate information about Michigan's rare plant species and natural communities, help maintain Michigan’s Natural Heritage Database, and work cooperatively with other Michigan Natural Features Inventory (MNFI) personnel, Tribal organizations, public and private agencies, organizations, and individuals to inform and guide decisions that impact biodiversity conservation.

MNFI maintains the statewide Natural Heritage Database documenting the occurrences and status of exemplary natural communities and rare species. The database is required by partner agencies who perform legally mandated regulatory functions, allowing them to complete tasks, perform regulatory reviews, produce products, and meet deadlines. This ongoing research is used by federal, state, and local agencies and private organizations to guide land management, development, and conservation decisions.

You will assist with an array of projects requiring expertise in plant and natural community identification, ecosystem valuation, and interpretation of ecological relationships in plant communities. Applying for external funding and serving as principal investigator on MNFI projects will be a regular part of this position. The proportion of time devoted to primary tasks will generally consist of substantial field data collection during the growing season (40-60% of year), data management and analysis (15-25% of year), scientific writing (15-25% of year), and outreach/education activities (5-15% of year).

Although negotiable, this position will have statewide responsibilities and will be housed at the MNFI Office in Lansing, Michigan, or an alternate location in the State to be determined.

This position may be eligible to utilize a flexible work environment, however, there is an expectation to work from the MNFI office in Lansing. The needs, responsibilities, and opportunities of an individual’s position and office location drive the ability and amount of work- location flexibility.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications (see full description for complete list of requirements)

  • Master's degree in a field of study related to plant biology, ecology, forestry, or closely related field must be earned by date of hire.

Application Process

View full description and apply through the MSU Careers page. Search for posting 1008768 using the Search field.

Application deadline is January 8, 2025.

Botany Field Technician

Position Overview

As part of MSU Extension (MSUE), the Community, Food and Environment Institute (CFEI), and the Michigan Natural Features Inventory (MNFI), the botany technician will work as part of MNFI’s Science Team to implement field research, monitoring, and inventory projects in cooperation with project principal investigators (PIs). The mission of MNFI is to guide the conservation of Michigan’s biodiversity by providing the highest quality scientific expertise and information. This position has statewide responsibilities.

MNFI maintains the statewide Natural Heritage database documenting the occurrences and status of rare species and exemplary natural communities. This core function is an essential component of many MNFI projects. The database is required by partner agencies who perform legally mandated regulatory functions, allowing them to complete tasks, perform regulatory reviews, produce products, and meet deadlines. This ongoing research is used by federal, state, and local agencies and private organizations to guide land management, development, and conservation decisions. The database forms the foundation for providing information to decision makers. MNFI utilizes the Biotics 5 platform, which is an integrated, web-enabled system for tabular and spatial data management for the Heritage Network.

In this position, you will conduct field sampling for both rare and invasive plant species and compile plant species lists, and record observations using GPS and digital and physical field forms. In collaboration with scientists, you may assist with data management, analysis, and report writing.

Preference will be given to applicants with intermediate to expert botanical skills in the identification of Michigan plants species and demonstrated field work experience. Applicants must have a strong work ethic, the ability to work independently in remote areas, and be able navigate in the field via map, compass and GPS. They must have a vehicle for travel and a valid driver’s license and ability to stay in hotels or campgrounds for up to a week at a time. We are seeking applicants that are available during mid-May through the end of September and may be able to accommodate those who are only available for a shorter time frame, or may be able to support work into October.

This position will be housed at the MNFI office in Lansing, Michigan, within a secure State of Michigan building.

Application Process

View full description and apply through the MSU Careers page. Search for posting 521194 using the Job Search field.

Application deadline is January 12, 2025.