USGS Biological Science Tech (Botany) Corvallis, OR

VACANCY NO:  SRFS-18-001

DATE OPENED:  12/12/2017
DATE CLOSED:  12/26/2017

POSITION: Biological Science Technician, GG-404-5
SALARY: $16.68 per hour
TYPE OF APPOINTMENT: Temporary position not to exceed 180 work days in a year.
NUMBER OF POSITIONS:  Up to 5

WORK DATES:  4/02/2018 to 8/31/2018; Starting and ending dates will be dependent on field conditions and accessibility to the field location(s).  An extension is possible.

TOUR OF DUTY:  Full Time, with extended periods of part-time and intermittent work.

AREA OF CONSIDERATION: All U.S. citizens

LOCATION: Corvallis, OR with travel throughout Pacific Northwest & Intermountain West

DUTY STATION:  Corvallis, Oregon

THESE ARE TEMPORARILY EXCEPTED SERVICE POSITIONS for which all qualified applicants, with or without Federal status may apply and be considered.
Appointment to these positions, however, will not convey permanent status in the Federal service. Appointment will only be for the duration of the position, normally 6-9 months.  The Social Security Retirement
System covers temporary employees.   Working for the U. S. Geological
Survey offers a benefits package including paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays. Annual and sick leave will be accrued only for
appointments lasting more than 90 days (except in intermittent status).
In addition, temporary appointees expected to work at least 130 hours per month for at least 90 days will be eligible to enroll in a Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB) plan.  Individuals eligible under this rule receive the full government contribution to their premiums regardless of work schedule and will also be eligible to participate in the Flexible Spending Accounts and Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program. Temporary appointees are NOT covered by the Federal Employee Retirement System and are ineligible for Federal life, dental, or vision insurance.

DUTIES (specific): Technicians will work on a project to investigate the ecological impacts of fuel reduction treatments in the intermountain sagebrush steppe and western juniper woodlands.  To find out more about the project go to (www.sagestep.org). Technicians will also work on a project quantifying the above ground and below ground carbon levels within the Great Basin.  As well as a project looking at the effectiveness of the weed suppressive bacteria Pseudomonas fluorescens, strain D7 (P.f. D7) in controlling cheatgrass.  Technician may also work on several other USGS-BRD projects identifying strategies to control the dominance of cheatgrass and other weeds on Great Basin rangelands, restoring native species, and increasing biodiversity.

Major Duties Include:
.       Identifying plants to species (up to 250 different species)
.       Monitoring native grasses, forbs, and shrub germination and
density
.       Performing various vegetation cover and fuel load sampling
techniques
.       Collection of GPS and photo points
.       Driving on poor and sometime muddy roads
.       Collection of soil cores and plant samples
.       Accurately recording data
.       Processing plant samples and soil cores in the laboratory
.       Data entry

Field work will take place throughout eastern Oregon including Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge, eastern Washington, northern California, southwestern Idaho, northern Nevada, and lab/computer work will be conducted in Corvallis, Oregon.  Technicians will be part a five to six person team working in the field together.  Field work will involve exposure to extreme temperatures and weather conditions, and extended stays (up to 9 days) in remote locations (backcountry camping or staying at Fish and Wildlife Service Fire bunkhouses).  Candidates will be chosen based on their combination of experience and education.
Preferred candidates will have experience in plant identification, especially within the Great Basin.  Travel expenses will be covered by the projects using either standard federal per diem or a camp rate per diem.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:  The work involves long hours spent standing, bending, walking, and a great amount of physical exertion.  The incumbent may be required to lift containers weighing up to 35 pounds in the performance of the assignment.  Work could possibly be done in 10
-12 hours per day; hours can include all times of day and night, and will vary during the employment term with weather and field conditions.
Core hours will typically be 8am – 5pm. Must have a valid driver’s license. A background investigation will be required for this position.

QUALIFICATIONS: To qualify for a GG-5 you need 9 months of field experience OR 3 years of subprofessional work experience OR 3 years of college with courses related to the work of the position to be filled (equivalent to 90 semester/135 quarter hrs) plus 3 months of lab or field work experience.  Subprofessional experience consists of working as a technician or aid in the field or in a laboratory or similar environment. Must have at least 3 months of experience identifying plants in the field.
EQUIVALENT COMBINATIONS OF SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE ARE QUALIFYING.  Must have at least 3 months of experience identifying plants in the field.

Taking and passing a pre-employment medical examination at Federal expense is a required due to the physical demands of this job.

BASIS OF EVALUATION: All applicants will be evaluated on the basis of education and experience (including unpaid or volunteer experience).
Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

First preference in referral will be given to eligible applicants entitled to 10 point veterans preference who have a compensable service- connected disability of 10 percent or more.  All other qualified applicants entitled to veterans preference will be given preference over qualified applicants not entitled to veterans preference.

ALL APPLICANTS MUST BE UNITED STATES CITIZENS: Under regulations contained in the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, employment in this position is limited to those persons who are authorized to work in the United States.  Verification of employment eligibility will be required at the time of appointment.

As a condition of appointment, all new employees reporting for duty with the Department of the Interior will be paid through direct deposit to a financial institution of their choice.

Applicants selected for Federal employment will be required to complete a Declaration for Federal Employment, OF-306, prior to being appointed to determine their suitability for Federal employment and to authorize a background investigation.  Failure to answer all questions truthfully and completely or providing false statements on the application may be grounds for not hiring the applicant, or for firing the applicant after he/she begins work.  Also he/she may be punished by fine or imprisonment (U.S. Code, Title 18, section 1001).

Prior to or at the time of appointment, male applicants born after December 31, 1959, will have to certify that they have registered with the Selective Service System in order to be appointed to a position with the United States Geological Survey, unless legally qualified for an exception.

Employees of the U.S. Geological Survey are subject to the provisions of Title 43, U.S. Code, Section 31 (a) and may not according to this legislation and related regulation: (a) have any personal or private interest, direct or indirect, in lands or mineral wealth of such lands or a region under survey and whose title is in the U.S.; (b) execute surveys or examination for private parties or corporations; or (c)have personal or private interest, direct or indirect, in any private mining or mineral enterprise doing business in the U.S. except where specifically authorized by the Director of the U.S. Geological Survey.

HOW TO APPLY: Carefully read all information and instructions. It is the responsibility of the applicant to insure the application is complete.
The personnel office will not be responsible for soliciting additional information from applicants or from official personnel records, but will consider individuals based on their applications as submitted.
Applications must be received in the FRESC Headquarters Office by the closing date on the announcement in order to be considered.  To obtain an OF 612, contact the U.S. Geological Survey, Biological Resources Discipline, FRESC Center HQ office at (541) 750-1040, or any Federal Personnel Office.

Submit one of the following forms of application: (a) résumé OR (b) OF- 612, Optional Application for Federal Employment, OR (c) other written format.  If submitting a resume be sure to include the following:
JOB INFORMATION:
– Vacancy number, title, and grade(s) of the job for which you are applying

PERSONAL INFORMATION:
-Full name, mailing address (with zip code) and day and evening phone numbers (with area code) -Country of Citizenship -Veteran’s preference

EDUCATION:
-High school (name, address, including zip code if known) -Colleges and universities (address including zip code if known)
-Majors
-type and year of any degrees received (if no degree, show total credits earned and indicate whether semester or quarter hours) -Send a copy of your college transcripts or list of college courses
completed.   Specify title of course, semester or quarter hours earned
for each course, date completed, grade earned.

WORK EXPERIENCE:
-Give the following information on your paid and nonpaid work experience related to the job for which you are applying (do not send job
descriptions)
-Job Title (include series and grade if Federal job)
-Duties and accomplishments
-Employer’s name and address
-Supervisor’s name and phone number
-Starting and ending dates (month, day and year)
– Hours per week
-Percent (%) of time spent doing field survey work
-Salary
-Indicate if we may contact your current supervisor

OTHER QUALIFICATIONS:
-Job-related training courses title, length, date taken) -Job-related skills (e.g. other languages, computer software/hardware, tools, machinery, typing speed) -Job-related certificates and licenses (current only) -Job-related honors, awards, and special accomplishments (e.g.
publications, memberships in professional or honor societies, leadership activities public speaking, and performance awards).  Give details but do not send documents unless requested.

To claim 5 point Veteran’s Preference, a D D-214 showing character of discharge is required. If claiming 10 point Veteran’s Preference, a SF-
15 with proof of claim is required.

SUBMIT APPLICATIONS TO:
FRESC Jobs
USGS-BRD-Forest & Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center
777 NW 9th St, Suite 400
Corvallis, Oregon 97330
e-mail  GS_NW_FRESC_Jobs@usgs.gov
Fax: 541-750-1066

It is against the law to submit applications for employment using
government franked envelopes or mail services (18 U.S.C. 1719). All such
applications will not be considered.
APPLICATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED BY THE CLOSING DATE OF THE ANNOUNCEMENT TO
BE CONSIDERED
INCOMPLETE APPLICATION FORMS MAY RESULT IN YOUR MISSING CONSIDERATION
FOR THIS VACANCY

The U.S. Geological Survey is an Equal Opportunity Employer

This agency provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with
disability.

EEO Policy Statement:
https://help.usajobs.gov/index.php/EEO_Policy_Statement
Reasonable Accommodation Policy Statement:
https://help.usajobs.gov/index.php/Reasonable_Accommodation_Policy_State
ment
Veterans Information
https://help.usajobs.gov/index.php/Veterans_Information
Legal and Regulatory Guidance:
https://help.usajobs.gov/index.php/Legal_and_Regulatory_Guidance

DEADLINE EXTENSION: Due to uncertainties regarding the tax legislation currently before congress, the Graduate Program in Ecology and Evolution at Stony Brook University has decided to consider applications for the PhD program submitted before January 15.
Review of applications has already begun and there are limited spots available, so it is advisable to submit as soon as possible. Please see additional program information below.

***********************************************************************************

GRADUATE OPPORTUNITIES IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY

The Graduate Program in Ecology and Evolution in the Department of Ecology and Evolution at Stony Brook University is recruiting doctoral and master’s level graduate students for Fall 2018. The program trains students in Ecology, Evolution and Biometry.
The deadlines for applications are Dec. 1, 2017 for the PhD program and April 15, 2018 for the MA program (see below).

The following faculty are considering graduate students.  It is highly recommended that you contact possible advisors before submitting your application.

DEPARTMENTAL FACULTY

Resit Akcakaya – Population and Conservation Ecology http://life.bio.sunysb.edu/ee/akcakayalab/

Stephen B. Baines – Ecosystem Ecology and Biogeochemistry http://life.bio.sunysb.edu/ee/baineslab/

Liliana M. Dávalos – Vertebrate, Phylogenetics, Biogeography and Conservationhttp://lmdavalos.net/lab/The_Lab.html

Jessica Gurevitch – Plant Population and Invasion Ecology http://gurevitchlab.weebly.com/

Brenna Henn – Human Evolutionary Genomics https://ecoevo.stonybrook.edu/hennlab/

Jesse D. Hollister – Plant Evolutionary Genomics and Epigenetics https://genomeevolution.wordpress.com/

Heather Lynch – Quantitative Ecology and Conservation Biology https://lynchlab.com/

Dianna K. Padilla – Invertebrate Aquatic Ecology and Conservation Biologyhttp://life.bio.sunysb.edu/ee/padillalab/

Joshua Rest – Evolutionary Genomics
http://life.bio.sunysb.edu/ee/restlab/Home.html

Robert Thacker- Systematics, Phylogenetics, and Ecologyhttp://www.stonybrook.edu/commcms/ecoevo/people/faculty_pages/thacker.html

John True – Evolutionary Developmental Biology http://life.bio.sunysb.edu/ee/truelab/True_Lab.html

Kishna M. Veeramah – Primate Comparative Genomics http://life.bio.sunysb.edu/ee/veeramahlab/

PROGRAM FACULTY IN OTHER DEPARTMENTS

Nolwenn Dheilly – Evolution of Host-Parasite Interactions http://you.stonybrook.edu/dheilly/

Andreas Koenig
http://www.stonybrook.edu/commcms/anthropology/faculty/akoenig.html

David Matus – Evolution of Cell Invasionhttp://www.stonybrook.edu/commcms/biochem/research/faculty/matus.html#

Janet Nye – Quantitative Fisheries Ecology https://you.stonybrook.edu/jnye/

Alistair Rogers – Plant Physiology and Climate Change www.bnl.gov/TEST

Shawn Serbin – Plant Physiology and Remote Sensing www.bnl.gov/TEST

Jeroen B. Smaers – Brain Evolution, Phylogenetic Comparative Methodology, Macroevolutionary Morphologyhttps://smaerslab.com/

Leslie Thorne – Ecology and Behavior of Marine Birds and Mammals http://you.stonybrook.edu/thornelab/

Nils Volkenborn – Benthic Ecology and Sediment Biogeochemistry https://you.stonybrook.edu/voll/

Patricia Wright – Tropical Conservation and Primatology http://www.patwrightlab.net/pat-wright.html

For more information regarding the Graduate Program in Ecology and Evolution, please seehttp://www.stonybrook.edu/ecoevo/index.html for general information.  For specific information on the PhD and MA programs, please see http://www.stonybrook.edu/commcms/ecoevo/program/index.html andhttp://www.stonybrook.edu/commcms/ecoevo/program/maprogram.html

The deadline for receipt of all application materials for the PhD program is Dec. 1, 2017 although earlier submission is encouraged to ensure full consideration for available fellowships. After that date, applications may be considered on a rolling basis until Jan.
15th, with consideration for admission and fellowships dependent on prior admission decisions.  The deadline for receipt of all application materials for the master’s program is April 15, 2018. The Graduate School’s Center for Inclusive Education is offering application fee waivers if a student has met with SBU representatives at a recruitment event and provided SBU with their contact information. For assistance, with this waiver or other aspects of the application process, please e-mail our Graduate Program Coordinator, Melissa Cohen melissa.j.cohen@stonybrook.edu.

Two M.S. graduate student positions are available for highly motivated students in the Houseman lab at Wichita State University.

1. Soil Heterogeneity and Plant Diversity.  This NSF funded project examines the role of soil heterogeneity and aggregated seed arrival on plant community assembly in tallgrass prairies.  This field experiment tests underlying explanations for species coexistence and diversity and has direct implications for the restoration of plant communities.  The field station for WSU includes several grassland sites as well as a 4700-acre site in the Flint Hills of Kansas, which is the largest remaining, intact tallgrass prairie in North America.

2. Field-based Bioeconomic Model for Invasive Species Control.  This USDA funded project is designed to integrate the demographic details of sericea lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata) into an optimization model designed to forecast invader spread under different soil and cattle management scenarios.  Most of the field work will occur on cattle ranches located in
the scenic Flint Hills of Kansas.   When managed well, these sites are
remarkable locations of grassland plant and animal diversity.  The Houseman lab will focus on the quantification of ecological interactions while the Buyuktahtakin Lab (New Jersey Institute of Technology) with take the lead on
the optimization modeling.

Application Details: Interested students should contact Greg Houseman to
determine suitability before applying to the graduate program in Biology.

Gregory R. Houseman
Associate Professor
Biological Sciences
Wichita State University
greg.houseman@wichita.edu
website: www.wichita.edu/biology/ghouseman
ResearchGate: www.researchgate.net/profile/Gregory_Houseman2

• $15.00/hour
• $15/night Camping per diem

• Bachelor’s Degree in Life Sciences, such as: Botany, Wildlife Biology, Range Ecology, Natural Resources Management, Environmental Resources or related subject;
• Coursework or equivalent experience in plant taxonomy and/or systematics;
• Experience identifying plants in the field and using a dichotomous key;
• Familiarity with native and invasive plants of the sampling area and associated natural resource issues preferred;
• Experience in describing and identifying soil horizons preferred;
• Experience conducting plant surveys using various monitoring protocols, including standard rangeland monitoring protocols, photo plots, and site observations;
• Experience with data entry and management;
• Ability to read, interpret and navigate using topographic maps;
• Experience safely operating 4WD trucks on paved and unpaved roads, often in remote areas on unimproved roads;
• Experience navigating and collecting coordinates with hand-held GPS units;
• Experience creating maps and performing basic functions with GIS software (ArcMap), preferred; and
• Experience with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Access).

• Willingness and ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic setting, and to consistently enact high performance standards and a strong work and team ethic in support of the goals and objectives of the AIM program and the mission of GBI;
• Valid, state-issued driver’s license and clean driving record;
• Ability to complete a Department of Interior (DOI) Background Investigation (BI) and submit paperwork to BLM human resources prior to beginning position indicating that an active and fully adjudicated BI has been started or completed;
• Ability to work productively as part of a team to accomplish mutual goals;
• Ability to work independently;
• Ability to communicate effectively with team members, agency staff, and a diverse public;
• Excellent organizational skills;
• Familiarity with best practices for field safety and Leave No Trace principles;
• Experience in and willingness to spend multiple days camping in the field;
• Flexibility with position location within field district offices
• Willingness to work irregular hours (e.g., early mornings, late nights); and
• Ability to work in harsh and rapidly changing environments, work in all types of weather conditions, traverse uneven terrain, carry upwards of 40 pounds in a backpack, and otherwise maintain good physical condition.

GRADUATE ASSISTANTSHIP (Ph.D. in Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior) – at Boise State University. A position is available for a Ph.D. student to model plant population dynamics at landscape scales. This multidisciplinary project will forecast impacts of environmental change (including climate, human disturbance, and biotic interactions) on the distribution of plants in shrubland ecosystems, including sagebrush steppe in the American west. The Ph.D. student will join our collaborative team of universities who work closely with agencies in the US including the Bureau of Land Management, the US Geological Survey, and the US Forest Service.

The student will participate in: 1) field work that involves remote sensing of landscapes and monitoring plant populations across the Great Basin region and 2) modeling plant population dynamics using a combination of statistical and mathematical approaches, including hierarchical Bayesian methods, spatially-explicit models, and agent-based modeling.
Training in these methods will be provided by team members who offer a diverse range of expertise in ecology, remote sensing, quantitative ecology, and restoration ecology.

Qualifications
Competitive students will have: 1) strong writing and quantitative skills;
2) previous experience in a programming language, such as R or Python; 3) a background in quantitative approaches in ecology; 4) interest in landscapes of the American West. Please address your qualification for each of these points in your cover letter. The position starts Fall
(August) 2018.

Stipend and tuition and fees
This position includes support in the form of a graduate assistantships (renewable, 12-month at $25,000), tuition and fee waiver, and health insurance.

About the program and Boise
The Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior PhD is a new and modern graduate program at Boise State University. This program brings together faculty from across multiple academic departments including biological sciences, geosciences, anthropology, and the human-environment systems group to offer relevant courses and provide unique mentorship and training opportunities.  This particular project will draw on molecular, chemical and bioinformatic resources and expertise available through the Biomolecular Research Center (https://brc.boisestate.edu/) and affiliated NIH supported INBRE and COBRE programs and remote sensing expertise through the Boise Center Aerospace Laboratory (https://bcal.boisestate.edu/). Further, we have created a network of valuable connections in academia, local relationships with federal and state agencies, nonprofits and NGOs, as well as partnerships with international organizations all dedicated to providing students with transformative research and educational experiences for diverse career opportunities. These centers and established networks help students gain diverse skills sets and collaborators to prepare them for broad career opportunities. To learn more about the EEB program, please visit:
http://eeb.boisestate.edu/.

Students in this program enjoy living in the beautiful city of Boise, which strikes a perfect balance with close-by outdoor recreational activities as well as a vibrant downtown life. Nestled in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains and the capital of the State of Idaho, Boise is frequently featured as a top-ranked metropolis. The city has ample opportunities for world-class outdoor activities year round and a thriving arts and entertainment culture. In 2017, US News and World report ranked Boise the 12th best city to live in the United States. To learn more, please view “Visit Boise” link at: https://www.cityofboise.org/

To Apply
Please send via email in a single file attachment (include your last name in the file name): 1) a cover letter that states qualifications and career goals; 2) a CV with the names and contacts for 3 references (they do not need to provide a letter of recommendation at this time); 3) copies of transcripts (unofficial are okay); and 4) GRE scores and percentiles (not
combined) to Dr. Trevor Caughlin (email: trevorcaughlin AT boisestate.edu). Please put “PhD application” in the subject line.

Applications will be reviewed as they are received until 10th of January 2018. If you do not have GRE scores by this deadline your application cannot be considered.  Top candidates will be interviewed in early December and asked to formally apply to Boise State’s EEB program by 20th of January 2018.  All admission decisions must be approved by the Graduate Dean.

Boise State University embraces and welcomes diversity in its faculty, student body, and staff. Accordingly, applicants who would add to the diversity and excellence of our academic community are encouraged to apply.

We are offering an exciting summer program for undergraduate students to collaborate with scientists conducting ecological research.

Explore Harvard’s 3,700-acre outdoor laboratory & classroom in Petersham, Massachusetts.

A summer of mentored research in:

-Forest Ecosystems & Disturbances
-Wildlife Dynamics & Invasive Species
-Computer Science Solutions for Big Data -Agricultural Grazing and Plant Communities -Atmospheric Chemistry of Forest Canopies -Community Dynamics & Global Climate Change

11 weeks residential program

$5775 stipend and travel

Full room & board and meal plan

Program dates for 2018 are May 21 – August 3, 2018.

Applications are currently being accepted on-line and complete details are listed on our
website: http://harvardforest.fas.harvard.edu/other-tags/reu

The strict deadline for this program is Friday February 2nd, 2018 @ 9:00am.

Questions? Contact Manisha Patel, Summer Program Coordinator:
manishapatel@fas.harvard.edu, 978-756-6148