Title: Deer Habitat Research Technician

Organization: Purdue University, Department of Forestry and Natural Resources

Location: West Lafayette, Indiana

Job Category: Full-Time Temporary

Salary: $11/hour

Duration: May 6 – Aug 16 (with possible extension until Oct 4)

Last Date to Apply: 3/30/19

Description: The Department of Forestry and Natural Resources is seeking a technician to assist with fieldwork on the Integrated Deer Management Project, a multiyear, statewide research effort seeking to combine information on deer populations, current deer habitat, and people’s attitudes and expectations about deer populations for improved understanding and management of deer in Indiana. The successful applicant will work with Purdue faculty, staff, and graduate students to study the impacts of deer on habitat condition in Indiana. Technician duties include, but are not limited to, performing browse surveys, tallying sapling and seedling densities along transects, cutting understory trees to create stump sprouts, and measuring growth of oak seedlings and stump sprouts. Housing is not provided. Start and end dates are flexible. We will consider applicants who are only available for the summer season (May – mid-August). Please indicate availability in your cover letter.

Required Qualifications:

–              Progress towards or completion of Bachelor’s degree with coursework in Wildlife Biology,

        Forestry, or a related field

–              Prior experience in identification of woody plant species in the Midwestern U.S.

–              Knowledge and ability to use basic wildlife research tools and equipment including compass

        and hand-held GPS

–              Ability to accurately record scientific data

–              Ability to work effectively as part of a team

–              Ability to work in extreme and variable conditions (long days, inclement weather including

        extreme heat and rain, the presence of biting insects, and rugged terrain)

–              Ability to work a flexible schedule, with potential weekend work

–              Comfortable speaking to law enforcement, landowners and other stakeholders

–              Valid U.S. driver’s license and the ability to drive University vehicles

Preferred Qualifications:

–              Chain-saw experience and safety certification

–              Experience with browse surveys

–              First Aid/CPR certification

To Apply: Send a brief cover letter (≤ 1 page), resume, unofficial transcripts, and contact information for at least two references in one document to Patrick McGovern at pmcgove@purdue.edu.

Contact Person: Patrick McGovern

Contact Phone: (765) 496-6277

Contact Email: pmcgove@purdue.edu

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