Position Title: Biology Resource Assistant

Position Code: RD.PNW.BIO

Join Us. Do work that matters:

Apply here: https://mobilizegreen.bamboohr.com/jobs/view.php?id=142

MobilizeGreen is a national nonprofit committed to jumpstarting green careers for diverse youth and recent graduates, while advancing environmental equity in communities across the country.

In partnership with the USDA Forest Service, MobilizeGreen offers internship opportunities for college students (graduating before April 12, 2021), graduate students, and recent graduates. The Resource Assistants Program (RAP) provides flexible internship placements based in National Forests across the US for those interested in Forest Service careers. Resource Assistants work under the mentorship and coaching of Forest Service staff to complete mission-critical work while developing leadership, critical thinking, and strategic communication skills. The RAP was designed for emerging professionals to launch their natural and cultural resources careers.

Each MobilizeGreen Resource Assistant starts their journey with a weeklong orientation, where they will meet other RAs and Forest Service staff from across the country and engage in skill building and career development activities. Once an RA arrives at their host site, they are supervised and mentored by a variety of Forest Service staff, engaging with experts from business, conservation, and science backgrounds, and learning more about careers as they work on vital projects within the Forest Service. Upon completion of the program, RAs receive a 2-year direct hiring certificate with the Forest Service, keeping the door open for exciting career opportunities with their host site, or with any of the 154 national forests across the country. MobilizeGreen will enhance your career opportunities, introduce you to key leaders in the natural resource field, and engage you on your career journey to a job with the Forest Service.

Position Abstract: The RA will work closely with Research Scientists to plan, organize, and implement research including collection, analysis and archiving a wide variety of data and other information pertinent to scientific studies or investigations. The RA will assemble and prepare material for field research, conduct field work, deploy complex remote data-collection systems, develop and maintain databases, analyze, tabulate and summarize scientific and programmatic data. Strong organizational skills are important to develop work plans that include time and cost estimates, materials, supplies, and equipment to accomplish a study, schedule and conduct projects, and prepare reports and presentations on progress of studies.

Work Environment:  Field work would be approximately 50% of time, year round, and up to 100% of time in specific periods. Field work involves working outside including in inclement weather throughout the year. Work days are 8-10 hrs and can require walking in rocky streams or hiking up to 4 miles in steep and rugged terrain carrying up to 40 lbs.

Location: The RA will be based at the headquarters of the HJ Andrews Experimental Forest. It’s a research station within the Willamette National Forest. It is run by the research branch of USFS, the Pacific Northwest Research Station. The nearest large town is Springfield/Eugene, Oregon. The site is remote and beautiful. Other researchers from USFS and universities will be onsite. In normal times, the RA will have a private bedroom in an apartment shared with 2 of our long term research technicians, who the RA will be working with. But with COVID, the RA will have a private apartment. If the RA chooses to live off site, and commute to work with us, that is fine. Because of recent fires, there aren’t many housing options nearby, so it would likely mean driving 40 miles to Springfield.

Here are some more facts about the Andrews and Headquarters:   https://andrewsforest.oregonstate.edu/about/facility/reservation

Host Unit: USFS Pacific Northwest Research Station

Duty Station: 91991 Blue River Reservoir Road, Blue River, OR 97413

Term:

  • 26 weeks
  • Full Time/40 hours per week

Benefits:

  • $830 per week living allowance (stipend)
  • On-site housing provided
  • Hands on learning and job training experience
  • Site travel stipend
  • 2-year direct hiring certificate with the Forest Service (with successful completion and 960 hours completion)
  • Health insurance eligible
  • Mentorship for career and professional development

Duties and Responsibilities:

FIELD:

  • Plan, organize, and implement field data collection for forest and stream research involving hydrology, climatology, aquatic and forest ecology, geomorphology. Attention to detail is essential.
  • Program and deploy sensors and data loggers for unattended data-collection
  • Collect data digital data on tablets using variety of software including Avenza, Collector, and Survey123 applications
  • Drive 4 wheel drive trucks in snow and mud on steep gravel roads, and learn to drive a snowcat.

OFFICE AND COMPUTER:

  • Use established graphical and statistical methods to quality control and archive field and sensor data.
  • Develop and maintain databases, analyze, tabulate and summarize scientific and programmatic data.
  • Develop work plans and schedules that include time and cost estimates, materials, supplies, and essential equipment to accomplish a study
  • Geospatial data entry and occasional analyses using ArcGIS and R
  • Annual preparation of internal reports and presentations on progress of studies.

ADDITIONAL PROJECTS INCLUDE:

  • Weekly check of stream gage stations, which can include collecting water samples, checking and recalibrating sensors, clearing debris, downloading data, programming data loggers
  • Maintenance of field sites including sensor repair and replacement, updating of their protective housings, and re-establishing access to field sites using chain saw and other tools.
  • Assist with data collection on a variety of projects, possibly including stream restoration, fisheries, wildlife, entomology, forestry, and rare and invasive plants. Work would include identifying species, recording size, location, habitat, substrates, discharge and flow velocity, dominant and associated vegetation communities.
  • Assist in project monitoring and evaluating the effects of management decisions and projects on Forest land and surrounding communities through analysis of long-term and project data as needed.
  • Help conduct stream surveys, including surveying longitudinal and cross sectional profiles, collection of water samples and GPS coordinates of sites
  • Additional collaboration on studies involving carbon accounting, plant identification, vegetation sap flow, remeasurements of down wood and vegetation management

Experience and Qualifications:

  • Masters’ degree in biological sciences preferred (Bachelor’s required).
  • Valid driver’s license required (driving record will be reviewed prior to placement).
  • Prior experience working in the field required.
  • Interest in environment sciences, especially aquatic ecosystems
  • Strong organizational skills
  • Strong analytical skills
  • High attention to detail to maintain accurate records and recognize slight variation in established procedures.
  • Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively with small teams
  • Judgment is required in selecting methods appropriate for a particular situation to gain the desired results. Incumbent draws tentative conclusions and makes recommendations to improve methods.
  • Proficient technical skills for programming sensors and instruments
  • Willingness to work long term at a remote field station in the beautiful Cascade Mountains.

Application Process (It’s important that you read this carefully):

In addition to the position listed above, MobilizeGreen is recruiting for 30+ other Resource Assistant Positions. You only need to submit one application to be considered for these positions. If you have already submitted another application, you do not need to answer the application questions again. Simply indicate you have an active application in the system and they will be transferred.

Competitive selection process, positions filled on a rolling basis.  We encourage you to apply ASAP.

For more information on MobilizeGreen go to: www.Mobilizegreen.org

MobilizeGreen is an equal opportunity employer. We are an organization committed to diversity. Women, people of color, indigenous people, people of all sexual orientations and gender identities, military veterans, and members of other historically disenfranchised groups are encouraged to apply.