Oferta compartida por Cristina
Large Carnivore Field Technician in Utah
Agencies: Utah State University, Utah Department of Wildlife Resources
Location: Nebo Unit, Utah (near Price, Utah)
Compensation: $12-16/hour, field vehicle and housing provided
Work Schedule: Variable hours averaging 40 hours/week
Start date: 17 June – 1 July
End date: mid-October
Description
The Young lab at Utah State University is seeking one technician to assist with fieldwork on a research project focused on comparing the effectiveness of different monitoring techniques for surveying black bears, bobcats, and cougars in the Central Mountains of Utah. This is a multi-year collaborative study between Utah State University and the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (UDWR), aimed at identifying best practices for monitoring carnivore populations and health to meet management objectives. The collaboration also includes Brigham Young University (BYU) researchers studying ungulate populations at the same site. The technician will be supervised by a Ph.D. student and work with another technician.
Work will predominantly involve techniques for the noninvasive sampling of carnivores, such as deploying, maintaining, and retrieving camera traps and baited hair snares. Applicants should expect to spend long days hiking alone in mountainous terrain (6,000-10,000ft elevation) carrying a heavy pack and field equipment. Technicians MUST be comfortable performing solo fieldwork in adverse conditions (such as heat or cold, challenging terrain, and remote locations), driving 4x4 trucks and ATVs, and problem-solving independently to ensure that fieldwork is completed safely and efficiently. Technicians must be aware of their surroundings and be confident hiking alone where carnivores and other wildlife species are present. Additional fieldwork related to the study may include helping the graduate student and UDWR personnel capture, process, and collar bobcats and black bears, working with a scat detection dog team, using VHF telemetry to locate collared bobcats and download GPS data, and investigating mortality events for collared black bears, bobcats, and cougars. Applicants must therefore be comfortable handling live and dead animals, meat, and pungent lures.
Camping will be frequently required to ensure the efficiency of data collection. However, field housing will be provided in the form of a trailer that will be shared with the other technician, a graduate student, and temporary volunteers. Applicants are encouraged to bring a sleeping pad, bag, and tent, along with other camping equipment, although some gear may be available if there are financial barriers to acquiring gear. Work vehicle(s) and ATV(s) will be provided for fieldwork and essential travel and will be shared between technicians, volunteers, and the graduate student. Crew members will be expected to use a personal vehicle for recreation and personal errands/travel during their time off. Exact start and end dates are flexible, but we would like someone who can start as soon as possible as fieldwork is already under way.
Minimum Qualifications
Must be independent, hardworking, and in good physical condition (able to hike 10+ miles a day with a weighted pack of 30+ pounds).
Must be willing to work alone in inclement weather without cell service, communicating via radios and satellite communication devices.
Must be able to navigate on and off-trail using topographic maps and a hand-held GPS.
Must have good communication skills and the ability to interact professionally with hunters, UDWR biologists, BYU researchers, landowners, recreators, other technicians and volunteers, the PI, and the supervising graduate student.
Must be detail-oriented, organized, and have data management skills, as well as a demonstrated ability to follow directions including strict field protocols.
Must possess a valid driver’s license and have a clean driving record.
Patience, adaptability, stamina (mental and physical), respect for others, professional behavior, and a positive team-player attitude are by far the most important skills.
Preferred Qualifications
Experience working and/or living with people or groups from differing backgrounds.
Experience safely operating 4WD trucks and ATVs on dirt and gravel roads and hiking on and off-trail through rugged terrain in remote locations.
Prior experience using camera traps and managing camera data.
Experience camping or backpacking alone in remote locations.
Certifications in wilderness medical care (Wilderness First Aid or Wilderness First Responder).
Prior experience with radio telemetry.
Utah State University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and, in its programs and activities, including employment, does not discriminate or tolerate discrimination, including harassment, based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other status protected by University policy, Title IX, or any other federal, state, or local law.
To apply: Please send a cover letter, resume/CV, and contact information for three references as a single PDF to Dr. Julie Young at julie.young@usu.edu with “Last Name - Large Carnivore Field Technician 2023” in the subject line. Please label your file as “LastNameFirstName_LargeCarnivoreFieldTechnician_2023.pdf”. Qualified applicants should thoroughly address their pertinent experience, enthusiasm, and ability to work and hike independently in mountainous terrain. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
