Temporary Biological Sciences Research Technician

Position Details

Department Institute Natrl Res Dir (RNR)

Classification Title Temp Bio Sci Research Tech 1

Job Title Temporary Biological Sciences Research Technician 1

Appointment Type Temporary Staff

Job Location California

Benefits Eligible Not benefits eligible

Remote or Hybrid option?

Employment Category Temporary

This recruitment will be used to fill four full-time Temporary Biological Science Research Technician 1 positions for the Institute for Natural Resources at Oregon State University ( OSU ). This position will be located in the Sierra Nevada in California.

The incumbent will support conducting broad-scale monitoring for three federally-listed amphibian species across ten national forests in the Sierra Nevada. These listed species were historically abundant but are now greatly reduced in both distribution and abundance. The Yosemite toad and Sierra Nevada yellow-legged frog are endemic to the Sierra Nevada, and the southern mountain yellow-legged frog occurs only in the southern Sierra Nevada and in southern California.

Understanding range-wide population status and trend are critical for effective conservation and management of these species. These broad-scale monitoring data are relied upon for developing management and conservation measures and for project planning and consultation. Oregon State University ( OSU ) will work closely with the U.S. Forest Service ( USFS ) to implement this monitoring.

The incumbent will be part of a crew of eight that will conduct field work in pairs. The incumbent will receive instruction, guidance and training from crew leaders and a field coordinator. The incumbent will focus primarily on conducting visual encounter surveys for the focal species in meadow, lake, and stream habitats, and collecting specific habitat data. The incumbent is expected to conduct accurate data collection according to the field protocol.

The incumbent will learn to identify all life stages of amphibian species in the Sierra Nevada. The incumbent will backpack long distances in high elevations in mountain terrain for up to 8 consecutive days.

These physically demanding duties, primarily in remote locations, will provide the incumbent with rewarding exposure to California’s backcountry. This position requires backpacking for up to 8-day trips per work tour at high altitudes, over distances up to 25 miles, in steep and rugged terrain, as well as off-trail hiking on a daily basis. Also required is extensive driving long distances throughout the Sierra Nevada, on highways and forest roads, on both paved and unpaved roads, and in rugged terrain using 4-wheel drive.

This position requires a high level of physical fitness(capable of hiking 5-15 miles off-trail/day at high altitudes) and ability to cope with strenuous field conditions that include hot and cold temperatures, steep terrain, high altitudes, dense vegetation, poison oak, inclement weather, and insects. Many technicians describe this as the most difficult field work they have conducted.

Overnight camping will be required for 8 consecutive nights (with 6-day breaks) for most of the field season. No survey locations are near the crew office and housing. Thus, technicians will be camping for most of the field season, primarily in the backcountry, but also occasionally in developed campgrounds and dispersed camping sites. Field technicians will work throughout the season in pairs but may on occasion work independently.

The project will provide field gear (e.g., wading shoes, waders), group gear (e.g., stoves, water filters, pots) and some camping gear (e.g., backpacks, sleeping pads, tents, bear containers for food), but sleeping bag, field clothes, rain gear, hiking boots must be provided by field technicians. The field crew will receive field per diem for overnight travel days to buy food.

When not camping for work and on days off, housing will be provided near Sonora, California.

Working for Oregon State University is so much more than a job!

Oregon State University is a dynamic community of dreamers, doers, problem-solvers and change-makers. We don’t wait for challenges to present themselves — we seek…