Title: Plant ecology/Wildlife habitat field research assistants Type: Seasonal/temporary, April to August with various starting & ending dates Number of openings: 4-5, on several different projects Location: Based in Boise , ID ; working in Idaho , Oregon , and/or Nevada , Wyoming Salary: $15.14/hr or $13.58/hr, DOQ Closing date: February 24 th , 2006
***If you enjoy camping, seeing the West, & working outdoors, this could be the job for you.*** We are hiring responsible and trustworthy field assistants for a variety of plant-related field research projects during the 2006 season. The projects include evaluating the effects of vegetation manipulations on habitat for Greater Sage-Grouse and on dominance of cheatgrass, establishment of seeded species for restoration of cheatgrass and medusahead stands, and recovery of native vegetation after wildfire. Various starting & ending dates are possible, from April through mid June, with work available through at least mid August, 2006. These projects are based at the U.S. Geological Survey's Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center (FRESC), which provides research and technical assistance for sound management and conservation of biological systems in the western U.S. Incumbents will be based at FRESC?s Snake River Field Station in Boise , ID and will work in Idaho , Oregon , and/or Nevada , Wyoming. Due to the travel distances involved, crews that work in Nevada (Ely) will be based there for two to three weeks, with rest days off during that time, and those that work in Wyoming (west slope of the Bighorn Mts.) will be there for three to four weeks, with rest days off during that time. In addition to field work, jobs will also include occasional lab/office work in Boise. Preferred candidates will have knowledge of plant ecology, or wildlife/habitat relationships in the Great Basin , and experience conducting field research, including, but not limited to such skills as evaluating research plots, reading vegetation transects, and using dichotomous keys to identify plants. Equally important are the abilities to work independently with a minimum of supervision, make sensible decisions, play well with others, appreciate the beauty of the Sagebrush Sea , treat the field vehicles and equipment gently, and work and travel safely. Jobs will involve traveling and remote car camping from 0 to 20 days/month; working long hours in cold, hot, wet, windy, and dry weather; driving on faint, rough, poorly marked, rocky, dusty, and muddy roads; navigating with GPS units and poor maps; staying safe in remote areas by using caution and good judgment; accurately collecting and recording large amounts of data; identifying plants in all stages of growth from seedlings to senescent stalks; weeding research plots; installing and emptying insect traps; and taking many digital photos. These jobs will also involve working in remote and beautiful areas, camping under the stars, seeing the sunset and the moon rise, experiencing dawn over the arid West each day, hearing coyotes sing at dusk, and seeing pronghorn antelope race and Harrier hawks dance over the Sagebrush Sea. Positions will be filled at either the GS-6 level, paying $15.14/hr, or the GS-5 level, paying $13.58/hr, depending on qualifications. In addition, employees receive $15/day per diem while traveling overnight. To qualify for the GG-6 level you need 1 year and 9 months of field survey party experience OR 4 years of subprofessional work experience OR 4 years of college with courses in biology (equivalent to 120 semester/180 quarter hrs) plus 3 months of lab or field work experience. Subprofessional experience consists of working as a technician or aid in the field or in a laboratory or similar environment. EQUIVALENT COMBINATIONS OF SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE ARE QUALIFYING. To qualify for the GS-5 level you need 9 months of field survey party experience OR three years of subprofessional work experience OR three years of college with courses related to the work of the position to be filled. One year of college is equivalent to 30 semester hours or 45 quarter hours. Subprofessional experience consists of working as a technician or aid in the field or in a laboratory or similar environment. EQUIVALENT COMBINATIONS OF SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE ARE QUALIFYING. Work hours will vary during employment. The incumbent may work long hours, beginning early in the morning and ending late at night. S/he may also be periodically becalmed due to inclement weather, plant phenology, vehicle maintenance, or programmatic reasons. The work will involve long hours spent standing, bending, walking, and a great amount of physical exertion. The incumbent may be required to lift containers weighing up to 35 pounds. The USGS is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Selection for this position will be based solely on merit, fitness, and qualifications without regard to race, sex, color, religion, age, marital status, national origin, non-disqualifying handicap conditions, sexual orientation, or any other non-merit factors. This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities. You must apply through the Idaho Commerce and Labor web site (http://cl.idaho.gov/portal/). GS-6 Job Number: ID1191902. GS-5 Job Number: ID1191905. These jobs will be open until Feb. 24, 2006. You will need to register on the web site, then submit letter of interest, CV/resume (including starting and ending dates of each previous job and number of hours worked per week for each job -- this is VERY important: your application CANNOT BE EVALUATED WITHOUT THIS INFORMATION), plus names and contact information of people familiar with your talents and abilities by email, fax, or snail mail. College transcript must also be included with applications; unofficial transcripts are acceptable. For more information, contact either Cindy Salo or Rhonda Dart: Cindy Salo USGS Snake River Field Station 970 Lusk St. Boise , ID 83706 Phone 208-426-2893 [EMAIL PROTECTED] Rhonda Dart USGS Snake River Field Station 970 Lusk St. Boise , ID 83706 Phone 208-426-5207 [EMAIL PROTECTED] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Quidquid latine dictum sit altum videtur (Anything said in Latin sounds profound) Cindy Salo, Research Ecologist Phone: 208-426-2893 USGS Snake River Field Station Fax: 208-426-5210 970 Lusk St. Boise ID 83706 Cell: 208-850-3313 Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Web Page: http://fresc.usgs.gov/staff/profile.asp?Emp_ID=462 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
