Employment Opportunities

Job description:
The Crystal skipper (Atrytonopsis quinteri) is a small butterfly only found on a 50 km stretch of barrier islands on the North Carolina Crystal Coast. With the threat of sea level rise from climate change and increased urban development on the barrier islands, we need to 1) determine what limits Crystal skipper populations and 2) develop a rigorous monitoring program capable of detecting Crystal skipper population responses to environmental change or conservation action. Potential future conservation actions cannot be accurately implemented without this information. The students in these positions will help overcome this knowledge gap by aiding in fieldwork. Specific activities include:

• surveying Crystal skippers using a variety of techniques including transect-based surveys and mark-recapture
• observing and handling Crystal skippers for demographic experiments and surveys
• measuring habitat and environmental variables
• estimating floral nectar production
• rearing Crystal skippers from egg to adulthood
• data entry
• contributing to outreach and communication activities related to the Crystal skipper

This position is supervised by Dr. Elsa Youngsteadt and Laura Taylor: http://youngsteadtlab.org

Work location: Emerald Isle, NC (lodging will be provided); field sites range from Hammocks Beach State Park to Cape Lookout National Seashore
Minimum requirements/ education: Student status at NC State

Required skills and qualifications:

• Interest in entomology, biodiversity, climate change, or related fields
• Punctuality
• Ability to work independently or as part of a team
• Ability to follow established protocols
• Ability to work outdoors in high heat and humidity
• Attention to detail
• Ability to handle small, live insects
• Valid driver’s license

Desirable skills and experience:

• Coursework in entomology, ecology or related fields
• Proven track record of accurate data entry
• Experience identifying butterflies and/or caterpillars

Hours: Full time (40 h/week)

Salary: Anticipated hiring range: $13-14/hour
Lodging will be provided from June 15 – August 14, 2026 (can move in June 13th/14th and out August 15th)

To apply:
Send a resume, contact information for two references, and a paragraph explaining your interest in and qualifications for the position as a single PDF file named Lastname_Firstname.pdf. Submit applications to Laura Taylor at latayl25@ncsu.edu with subject line “Crystal skipper field technician.” Applications will be reviewed beginning December 22nd, 2025 and the position will remain open until filled.