FIELD RESEARCH TECHNICIANS (15)

needed for multidisciplinary research
program linking the responses of animal and plant populations to habitat
restoration projects in the shrub-steppe of northeastern Utah. ShrubMAP is
a great opportunity to work on a collaborative research program studying
landscape-scale impacts across multiple taxa
(http://www.cnr.usu.edu/shrubmap). Five sub-projects are currently
connected with this research effort: passerine birds, pygmy rabbits, sage
grouse, small mammals, and vegetation/remote sensing. Each sub-project will
have its own crew and protocols, but there may be opportunities to
participate in multiple sub-projects.

Work may include the following:
1) nest finding/monitoring, line transect surveys, territory (spot) mapping
of passerine birds,
2) pygmy rabbit burrow transect surveys and occupancy studies,
3) distance sampling, presence/absence surveys, and possibly
radio-telemetry monitoring of greater sage grouse,
4) population estimation (e.g., mark-recapture and distance sampling) of
small mammal populations, evaluation of their impact on other aspects of the
shrub-steppe ecosystem,
5) vegetation sampling and habitat analysis,
6) accurate, daily record-keeping of data,
7) data entry into Excel, Access and/or ArcGIS,
8) working cooperatively with the local ranching community and government
agencies.

This position requires long days in the field and flexible schedules
(sometimes six days/week including Sundays, and night time work will be
involved.), so a sense of humor, positive attitude, patience, and
self-motivation are essential. Successful applicants will have demonstrable
academic and/or field experience, have familiarity with GPS and related
computer applications, work well independently and with others, demonstrate
the willingness and ability to live in shared housing, communicate well in a
variety of situations, and express comfort with living and working in a
traditional, rural area of northern Utah. Applicants must be physically fit
enough to move quickly across an austere landscape in variable weather
conditions. A willingness to learn from and work under the direction of
graduate students and a project manager will be necessary, since this is a
large, multi-disciplinary project. Everyone will be responsible for regular
entry of their own data.

Preference will be given to applicants with one or more of the following:
1) practical experience navigating with GPS units,
2) strong skills in field identification of birds (preferably western) by
sight and song,
3) experience identifying and handling pygmy rabbits, small mammals and/or
sage grouse,
4) working knowledge of a variety of survey methods,
5) coursework in wildlife biology or a closely related field.

Crews will be based out of Randolph, UT, with our field sites at upwards of
6,300' throughout the eastern portion of northern Utah. Bear Lake, the High
Uinta Wilderness Area, Wyoming Wind River Range and scenic Logan Canyon are
all a short distance away. Technician positions will be filled between
$1411/mo and $1942/mo depending upon experience (plus shared housing and
work truck). Hiring begins March 1st and will continue until all positions
have been filled. Please email resume and letter of interest to
SHRUBMAP@GOMAIL.USU.EDU . Be sure to include previous experience with field
research; specific dates of availability; sub-project preference; and names,
current phone numbers, and email addresses of three references.