1 FIELD/LAB ASSISTANT ($11.34/hr, no benefits)

One energetic, competent field/lab technician is needed to assist Jornada Experimental Range scientists with research and monitoring projects. These projects relate to ecologically-based monitoring systems for arid and semi-arid lands and resistance and resilience of soil and vegetation to disturbance. Duties will include collecting vegetation and soil field-based measurements on military lands. Other work may include rainfall simulation experiments as well as assisting with other field experiments. Study sites are located in southern New Mexico, west Texas, Nevada and surrounding states. Study sites include locations on public, private and military lands. Positions will include extensive travel throughout the region and long hours in the field. Trips may last up to a month and may involve camping. Some sites may be accessible only on foot over rugged terrain. Field conditions will range from hot (100's) to cold (30's) and windy. Position will also include laboratory work (primarily for soil physical properties and some simple soil chemistry), data entry and data manipulation.

Responsibilities: Positions involve up to 50% of the time in the field sampling vegetation and soils and running rainfall simulation on small plots. Positions also involve up to 50% of the time indoors in the lab processing soil samples and entering soil and vegetation data.

Qualifications:
* Knowledge of Chihuahuan Desert flora. Demonstrated botanical expertise (including grasses) in another ecosystem and willingness to learn local flora may be substituted.
* Previous monitoring and/or field research experience.
* GIS and/or soil microbiology experience are desirable, but not required.
* Chemistry lab experience, or equivalent, required.
* Experience processing large numbers of lab (soil) samples highly desirable, but not required.
* Experience with Excel and/or Sigma Scan Pro are highly desirable, but not required.
* Valid U.S. driver's license.
* B.S. or B.A. in environmental sciences or equivalent degree.

Duration: 4 - 6 months.

Start Date: approximately August 1, 2005.

Application Deadline: July 29th, 2005 or until position is filled.

How to Apply: Please send cover letter, resume and contact information (name, position, phone, e-mail and mailing address) for 3 references
to:
Laura Burkett
USDA-ARS Jornada Experimental Range
MSC 3JER, NMSU, Box 30003
Las Cruces, NM 88003-8003
e-mail: lburkett@jornada.nmsu.edu
Tel: 505-646-8033
FAX: 505-646-5889
Jornada Web Page http://usda-ars.nmsu.edu