Field/Lab Technician in Boise, ID
The Strand (University of Idaho) and Newingham
Labs (Agricultural Research Service) have an
opening for a part-time research assistant for
the Fall 2015 and Spring 2015 starting September
2015. The goal of the project is to understand
how fire, grazing, and post-fire rehabilitation
interact with the environment to alter plant
community trajectory, species richness, invasion
by Bromus tectorum (cheatgrass), and the systems fire regime.
Our research team uses fieldwork, remote sensing,
and spatial analysis to look for patterns in
plant community assembly and use the natural
gradients in precipitation, soil, and elevation
to evaluate their effect on native vegetation,
invasion risk, and fire. This is a great
opportunity to learn about issues in sagebrush
land management and interact with staff from the
Agricultural Research Service, US Geological
Survey, and Bureau of Land Management. Research
assistants will earn $9 - $12/hr depending on experience.
Applications will be taken through the UI Human
Resources job posting site
<http://uidaho.peopleadmin.com/hr/postings/10838>http://uidaho.peopleadmin.com/hr/postings/10838.
When applying you will need to upload a resume,
unofficial transcript, and a letter of interest
detailing your skills and experience. For an
exact job posting URL or more information please
contact Chris Bowman-Prideaux
(bowm9...@vandals.uidaho.edu) or Eva Strand (e...@uidaho.edu).
Location: Lab space will be in Boise near BSU
with some fieldwork conducted south of Mountain
Home. There is no relocation assistance available.
Start Date: ASAP, October preferred.
Review Starts: September 25
Work Schedule Summary: This position could be
either a 20 hour per week or a 40 hour per week
position. The schedule is flexible working
around class schedules or other jobs. The
position is expected to last through at least April or May of 2016.
Position Responsibilities: The main function of
this position is to assist and support the Strand
Lab conducting fieldwork in the Fall and Spring
of 2015. Tasks may include soil sample
collection; data entry in Excel; preparing
spatial files for analysis using ArcGIS; sorting
and weighing plant biomass. Brief fieldwork in
the fall will be in remote locations in southern
Idaho with a lab and offices in Boise. Other
tasks may include spatial analysis using ArcGIS
and remote sensing. This position is open to
part- or full-times applicants. Duration of
position will vary from 6- 8 based on full- or part-time status.
Position Summary: The candidate will assist with
fieldwork including analyzing soil horizons,
collecting soil samples, and collecting plant
cover data for correlation with remote
sensing. They will assist in processing biomass,
using ArcGIS to create point files of species in
photographs, and processing remote sensing imagery in the lab.
Job Duty Function
Job Duties & Responsibilities:
Fieldwork:
- pack and prepare equipment for fieldwork
- driving to-from field sites southeast of Bruneau, ID
- hiking to field sites
- collect soil samples
- camping in remote field locations
Lab/Office :
- data entry in Excel
- sorting and weighing biomass
- identifying plants in photo using ArcGIS
- downloading and preprocessing spatial data
- downloading and preparing remote sensing imagery
Position Quallifications
Minimum Qualifications
- Ability to work in remote locations camping at field sites
- Diligent, organized, and able to follow verbal and written directions
- Hike up to 0.5 miles at a time
- Valid drivers license
- Carry 20 pounds
Desirable Qualifications
- Experience with fieldwork
- Experience identifying soil types and characteristics
- Experience using GPS in the field and spatial data to computers
- Experience with ArcGIS or remote sensing software
- Experience with off-road driving using 4x4 vehicles
Physical Requirements
- Must be able to dig soil pits
- Must be able to carry 20 pounds ½ mile
- Must be able to hike on uneven ground up to ½ mile
Closing Date: Open until filled
Special Instructions: Please attach a resume,
cover letter and an up-to-date unofficial
transcript to your application. Please indicate
whether you are interested in this position as a
part-time or full-time position in your cover letter.
**Employment may be contingent upon satisfactory
completion of a criminal background and/or driving investigation.**
The University of Idaho does not discriminate
against an individual with a disability in regard
to job application procedures, the hiring or
discharge of employees, employee compensation,
advancement, job training, and other terms,
conditions, and privileges of employment. Based
on this commitment, various job duties on the job
description have been analyzed to be essential to
this position. Employers can continue to require
all applicants and employees, including those
with disabilities, to be able to perform the
essential, non-marginal functions of the
position. Reasonable accommodations may be
provided to employees with disabilities to enable
them to perform the essential elements of this
position. Marginal job functions are ones that
an employer may transfer to other individuals or
not require to be performed by an individual with
a disability. It is the responsibility of any
applicant or employee with a disability to inform
the Human Resource employment program coordinator
that an accommodation is needed either to
complete application procedures or to perform the duties of the position.
