University of Wisconsin–Madison
Damschen Lab paid shoveling opportunity
University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, us, 53774
Overview
Department Overview: The Damschen lab conducts winter field work to better understand how projected winter climate change (namely a reduction in snowfall) interacts with management decisions (such as fire timing) to drive changes in restored prairie plant communities. To do this, we manually remove snow from 64 two square meter plots and place it onto corresponding plots after each major snowfall event. Anticipated Start Date
11/15/2025 Anticipated End Date
04/01/2026 Remote Work Eligibility
Not Remote Anticipated Hours Per Week
Minimum: 0 Maximum: 20 Schedule
This position does not have a set schedule but instead depends on the weather. We typically see snowfall events exceeding 10 cm two to four times per winter, and it can take one or two days of work to remove the accumulated snow depending on how many people are available to help. Salary/Wage Range/Lump Sum
$15.00 Number of Positions
8 Qualifications
Successful applicants will show enthusiasm for working outdoors in the winter and some interest in plant community ecology. Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
Successful applicants should feel comfortable working independently and asking clarifying questions as needed. Removing snow without disturbing the underlying plant community requires patience and attention to detail, as well. Position Summary/Job Duties
Successful applicants will be expected to hike out to field sites with the crew lead and shovel snow off of some 2 square meter subplots and onto other subplots. Our field sites are about a 30-minute snowshoe from the parking areas at Mounds View Grassland. We will provide transportation from Madison, snowshoes, hand and foot warmers, and shovels. Including drive time and hiking to and from field sites, a day of shoveling can take up to 8 hours but goes faster with larger crews! We are specifically seeking applicants who will be available as needed between December 27 and January 21, though opportunities to shovel may occur from now until as late as March. Physical Demands
Successful applicants should feel comfortable hiking ~1 mile (one way) in snowshoes and carrying supplies necessary to work in a remote location for approximately 5 hours at a time. For example, crew members will need to carry lunch, water, and layers of clothing in a backpack out to the field site. Institutional Statements
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
UW-Madison is an Equal Employment, Equal Access Employer committed to increasing the diversity of our workforce. Institutional Statement on Diversity
Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals. The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background-people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world. For more information on diversity and inclusion on campus, please visit: diversity.wisc.edu Accommodation Statement
If you need to request an accommodation because of a disability, you can find information about how to make a request at the following website: https://employeedisabilities.wisc.edu/disability-accommodation-information-for-applicants/
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Department Overview: The Damschen lab conducts winter field work to better understand how projected winter climate change (namely a reduction in snowfall) interacts with management decisions (such as fire timing) to drive changes in restored prairie plant communities. To do this, we manually remove snow from 64 two square meter plots and place it onto corresponding plots after each major snowfall event. Anticipated Start Date
11/15/2025 Anticipated End Date
04/01/2026 Remote Work Eligibility
Not Remote Anticipated Hours Per Week
Minimum: 0 Maximum: 20 Schedule
This position does not have a set schedule but instead depends on the weather. We typically see snowfall events exceeding 10 cm two to four times per winter, and it can take one or two days of work to remove the accumulated snow depending on how many people are available to help. Salary/Wage Range/Lump Sum
$15.00 Number of Positions
8 Qualifications
Successful applicants will show enthusiasm for working outdoors in the winter and some interest in plant community ecology. Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
Successful applicants should feel comfortable working independently and asking clarifying questions as needed. Removing snow without disturbing the underlying plant community requires patience and attention to detail, as well. Position Summary/Job Duties
Successful applicants will be expected to hike out to field sites with the crew lead and shovel snow off of some 2 square meter subplots and onto other subplots. Our field sites are about a 30-minute snowshoe from the parking areas at Mounds View Grassland. We will provide transportation from Madison, snowshoes, hand and foot warmers, and shovels. Including drive time and hiking to and from field sites, a day of shoveling can take up to 8 hours but goes faster with larger crews! We are specifically seeking applicants who will be available as needed between December 27 and January 21, though opportunities to shovel may occur from now until as late as March. Physical Demands
Successful applicants should feel comfortable hiking ~1 mile (one way) in snowshoes and carrying supplies necessary to work in a remote location for approximately 5 hours at a time. For example, crew members will need to carry lunch, water, and layers of clothing in a backpack out to the field site. Institutional Statements
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
UW-Madison is an Equal Employment, Equal Access Employer committed to increasing the diversity of our workforce. Institutional Statement on Diversity
Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals. The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background-people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world. For more information on diversity and inclusion on campus, please visit: diversity.wisc.edu Accommodation Statement
If you need to request an accommodation because of a disability, you can find information about how to make a request at the following website: https://employeedisabilities.wisc.edu/disability-accommodation-information-for-applicants/
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