Wildlife/Habitat Technician
(Temp Bio Science Research Worker)
Northern Great Basin Experimental Range, Riley, OR This temporary (3 month) position is with Oregon State University and is located at the Northern Great Basin Experimental Range (NGBER)
approximately 35 miles west of Burns, OR in Riley, OR. The successful
candidates will assist the principal investigator with treatment application, vegetation sampling, plant species identification, songbird point count and nest surveys, sample processing, and data entry and summarization on several wildlife habitat research projects in the northern Great Basin. 3 technicians will be hired to work on wildlife and wildlife habitat projects. On-site housing is provided on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Desired Qualifications
1. Experience/training in songbird point counts, nest transects,
handling and measuring avian species or experience using nest bowl or other wildlife camera technology
2. Courses/experience in natural resources, wildlife, botany, plant
science, or related field.
3. Experience/training in field identification of plant species,
preferably Great Basin
4. Experience/training in vegetation sampling techniques, such as line-
point intercept, biomass sampling, visual obscurity estimation with Robel pole, and transect and ground photo monitoring.
5. Experience living or working in rural/remote locations
6. General knowledge of computers and skills for use of word
processing and data entry.
7. Demonstrated commitment to promoting and enhancing diversity.
8. Ability to carry out tasks independently and part of a team.
9. Experience with driving 4WD vehicles and GPS units.
10. Must possess a current, valid driver’s license. Driver’s license
required to commute to remote research/demonstration project locations.
Finalists for this position will be required to obtain their driving history for the past 3 years from the issuing state’s Dept. of Motor Vehicles. Offers of employment are contingent upon a satisfactory driving history and possession of a valid driver’s license.
11. Must be able to pass a criminal history check.
Position Duties
May include any of the following:
70% – Data/sample collection and processing:
Collect songbird density and nest success data by conducting point count and nest transect surveys, monitoring success of located nests, and installing and maintaining automated audio recorders.
Collect vegetation foliar cover and density by functional group and ground cover measurements for rangeland research projects.
Locate individually marked bunchgrasses using a handheld GPS unit and apply various utilization regimes to marked plants.
Collect visual obscurity and vertical vegetation density measurements.
Collect transect and ground photos using repeat photo-monitoring protocols.
Collect vegetation biomass samples within small plot frames (1.0 m2) for grazing monitoring and research. Dry and weigh biomass samples to determine cattle utilization in various pastures.
Participate in creation of utilization curves for various native bunchgrass species.
Monitor cattle utilization in experimentally manipulated pastures.
Possibility of handling and measuring nestling songbirds, and installing nest bowl cameras or iButtons.
15% – Research/monitoring study design implementation and plot layout:
Establish and maintain designed research/monitoring projects including:
1. Assigning and applying vegetation treatments as prescribed in a
study’s protocols.
2. Maintain treatment application and sampling schedules described
within research and monitoring project protocols.
3. Readying datasheets, sampling equipment, other field equipment and
vehicles for fieldwork associated with research/monitoring projects.
4. Maintaining exclosure fencing to protect study integrity from
grazing where needed.
15% – Data entry and summarization:
Use portable tablets to collect data directly into Excel and import datasheets into an established Access database and/or enter collected vegetation cover, ground cover, visual obscurity, and vegetation biomass data into Excel spreadsheets. Organize data into a structure that facilitates data graphing, summarization, and analysis.
Summarize collected data in preparation for statistical analysis and for displaying the information in research reports and scientific manuscripts.
Organize spreadsheet, photo, mapping, and other project files into a project-specific structure that facilitates efficient location and access of needed files.
Please submit a cover letter and resume to Vanessa.schroeder@oregonstate.edu with Wildlife/Habitat Technician in the subject line by January 20, 2018 for full consideration. Applications accepted through February 20, 2018. Start dates will vary by technician:
technician one will start the week of April 9-11, technician two April 23rd, and technician three the week of May 1st – 4th, 2018.