FIELD RESEARCH TECHNICIANS (5) needed for shrub-steppe bird and pygmy rabbit work ASAP through mid-late August. ShrubMAP is a multidisciplinary research program focused on linking the responses of animal and plant populations to habitat restoration projects in the shrub-steppe of northeastern Utah. This is a great opportunity to work on a collaborative research program studying landscape-scale impacts across multiple taxa. 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.
Currently, we are hiring 3 pygmy rabbit technicians and 2 passerine bird technicians. The pygmy rabbit project will involve county-wide burrow transect surveys and occupancy studies for this rare species (the smallest rabbit in North America), as well as trapping and telemetry work. The passerine bird technicians will be responsible for line transect surveys and vegetation sampling county-wide, and nest searching/monitoring of shrub-steppe associated birds. Additionally, work for these positions will require: 1) vegetation sampling and habitat analysis, 2) accurate, daily record-keeping, 3) effective navigation with GPS and maps, 4) data entry into Excel, Access and/or ArcGIS, 5) working cooperatively with the local ranching community and government agencies. These positions require 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. 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 $1250/mo and $1942/mo depending upon experience (plus shared housing and work truck). Hiring is ongoing and will continue until all positions have been filled. Please email resume and letter of interest to [EMAIL PROTECTED] . 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.
