*2025 Winter-Spring positions (UNLV)* *https://abellaappliedecologylab.wordpress.com/about-us/opportunities/ <https://abellaappliedecologylab.wordpress.com/about-us/opportunities/>*
Dr. Scott Abella's Conservation Ecology Laboratory at the University of Nevada Las Vegas is hiring for the Mojave/Sonoran (southern Nevada, southeastern California) winter-spring field season. Working with Dr. Nicole Pietrasiak, we are hiring Botany field assistants for a 2-month season (Late-January-March 2025) in the Chihuahuan Desert, New Mexico, and Field and Laboratory technicians to assist with soil and seed ecology activities during late spring and into summer. All positions are *Letter of Appointment* (temporary) salaried contracts, with a salary range of $3,900 - $4,800 depending on experience and position skill sets needed (see below). LOA positions include benefits ( https://www.unlv.edu/hr/benefits/loa). Before applying, review climate conditions for the region of the position of interest. We cannot guarantee a schedule that accommodates individuals desiring to be stationed outside of Las Vegas for UNLV-based positions. Personnel work in teams of 2 - 4 people, are required to visit the UNLV laboratory to pick up and drop off field vehicles and electronics, and to back up field data. We strongly encourage reviewing rental availability or investigating temporary living situations for the Las Vegas area before applying to positions stationed in Las Vegas. Please review requirements and details of the position of interest below. If you are uncertain if you meet minimum requirements, please feel free to inquire. Submit inquiries and applications to Lindsay Chiquoine ( lindsay.chiquo...@unlv.edu). Please include the *position title *in the subject line of the email and *(location) *if applying to a single specific position location, or your email may be missed! Applications should include a letter of interest (introductory letter describing your experience and skill sets within the context of the position) and a curriculum vitae or resume. Please include in your letter preferred position(s), including interest in extended positions (see descriptions below) and your current availability. After review, qualified candidate applications will be provided to PIs for review and references will be requested. *Minimum qualifications for all field-based positions* All candidates must be willing to be on the University of Nevada Las Vegas Maryland Campus (Las Vegas, NV) the week before the contract start date to present personal identification following the I-9 form ( https://www.uscis.gov/i-9; please verify you have the correct identification materials available) and complete on boarding. Successful candidates must be able to work full days outside in the sun, wind, and low humidity, be interested and able to stay overnight in the field, and assist with managing field/laboratory data and specimens. · Be a United States citizen, have a current and valid US state driver’s license, and have no personal at-fault accidents in the last five years (Nevada State vehicles are provided for field work) · A college degree in the biological sciences, ecology, environmental science, natural resources, or related degree (please feel free to inquire if you have an unrelated degree but related experience) · Outdoor experience (2+ years; on- and off-trail hiking, camping in remote locations, backpacking) · Backcountry travel and navigation: off-road (unpaved, unmaintained roads) 4WD and navigation; hiking off trail across uneven terrain in variable and potentially unpredictable weather conditions (GPS, compass) · Field work experience (2+ years; data collection, data management in a backcountry setting) · Experience following plant community survey or monitoring protocols (e.g., inventory and monitoring; assessment, inventory, and monitoring methods; other standard survey protocols that include aerial cover estimation, count data, species identification) · Experience conducting field sampling and documenting field samples · For *botanist positions*: expertise using dichotomous keys and citable identification resources (2+ years); assistance with field project management and data management *New Mexico * *Position title: 2025 Spring Field Technician/Botanist (New Mexico)* *1 full-time plant/biocrust technician (100% field), February – March, or March only* Primary work station: *New Mexico* *27 January 2025 – 31 March 2025*, 4-days on/3-days off work schedule starting the first week in February. Stationed in New Mexico, field technicians will work with Dr. Nicole Pietrasiak (PI) and Research Staff to conduct field surveys following *AIM-based monitoring protocols* and conduct soil sampling. The crew will be stationed in New Mexico for 2 months, and hotel night stays will be provided, with some camping at more remote locations. The anticipated work schedule is 4-days on/3-days off starting the first week of February and continuing through the end of March 2025. A Nevada State vehicle will be provided for field work. All candidates must be willing to be on the University of Nevada Las Vegas Maryland Campus (Las Vegas, NV) between January 27-31, 2025 to present personal identification following the I-9 form ( https://www.uscis.gov/i-9; please verify you have the correct identification materials available) and complete onboarding. The candidate must be self-motivated, detail oriented, have a commitment to safe and inclusive work practices, and must have excellent time management skills. Strong communication skills are essential. The successful candidate must be able to work full days outside in the sun, wind, and low humidity, be interested and able to stay overnight in field station lodging or willing to do occasional back country camping. *Preferred qualifications (in addition to minimum)* · Botanical expertise in the Chihuahuan Desert of New Mexico, 1+ years, plant identification experience using regional dichotomous keys and other resources · Familiarity with AIM protocols · Familiarity with biocrust and monitoring methods *California/Nevada* Based out of the University of Nevada Las Vegas (Las Vegas, NV), *botanists* and *field technicians* will assist Dr. Scott Abella (PI) and UNLV Research Staff and graduate students with plant community and restoration research in southern Nevada and southeastern California. The crew is anticipated to begin training at the end of February. We will begin field data collection in early March in southeastern CA (near Desert Center, CA), working northward toward Las Vegas, NV. An anticipated field schedule is an 8-days on/6-days off (Wednesday to Wednesday) rotation throughout March (starting the 5th) and April. Most sites are remote and will require 4WD access and camping close to field sites. Activities will include conducting plant community surveys at 8 field sites throughout southeastern California (Mojave and Sonoran deserts), assisting with restoration experiment maintenance and surveys at 3 sites in southeastern California, and conducting plant community assessment at 15-25 field sites for 2-3 projects in southern Nevada (Clark County). *Position title: 2025 Spring Botanist (NV, CA) UNLV, Las Vegas * 1-2 full-time botanists (90%/10% split, field/lab), 2.5 months Primary work station: Las Vegas, Nevada Start: February 15-25, 2025 End: April 30, 2025, with the opportunity for extension depending on summer position availability and funding DOE salary range: $3,900 - $4,800 Activities and duties include relocating established monitoring plots, conducting plant surveys using a standard protocol (e.g., on a species basis: square meter cover, or cover using cover classes; adult shrub and seedling counts; dieback and mortality assessments; plant estimated mean height; exotic plant density counts); repeating photographs for time series; maintaining field data (hard copy and digital); maintaining an unknown plant database for later identification, and maintaining pressed specimens, when needed; navigating to and from field sites (driving and hiking); maintaining crew safety; maintaining field truck cleanliness and general operation and communicating with staff when trucks require maintenance; maintaining electronics, backing up data, and communicating with research staff to ensure data is backed up in the UNLV laboratory after field sessions; working with supervisors to plan field schedules and locations; and communicating regularly with supervisors to address questions on protocols and provide regular updates on meeting field activity goals. Specifically, for botanists and those with more field and project management experience, individuals will assist with general field project and data management. *Preferred qualifications (in addition to minimum)* · Botanical expertise in the Mojave and/or Sonoran Desert (California/Nevada); 1+ years, plant identification experience using regional dichotomous keys and other resources *Position title: 2025 Spring Field Technician (NV, CA) UNLV, Las Vegas* 2-3 full-time field technician (85%/15% split, field/lab), 2-3 months Primary work station: Las Vegas, Nevada Start: February 15-25, 2025 End: April 30, 2025; opportunity for 1-2 position(s) extending through May 31, 2025 or into summer 2025 (see descriptions below) DOE salary range: $3,900 - $4,400 For all positions, opportunity for extension, depending on summer position availability and funding Activities and duties include relocating established monitoring plots, conducting plant surveys using a standard protocol (e.g., on a species basis: square meter cover, or cover using cover classes; adult shrub and seedling counts; dieback and mortality assessments; plant estimated mean height; exotic plant density counts); working with professional botanists to correctly identify plants; repeating photographs for time series; maintaining field data (hard copy and digital); helping to navigate to and from field sites (driving and hiking); maintaining crew safety; helping to maintain field truck cleanliness and general operation and communicating with staff when trucks require maintenance; maintaining electronics, backing up data, and communicating with research staff to ensure data is backed up in the UNLV laboratory after field sessions; and communicating regularly with supervisors to address questions on protocols. We encourage early career candidates (recent undergraduate college graduates) to apply to further expand their existing field and plant identification skill sets. Early career field technicians will be introduced to regional plant identification, dichotomous keys, regional plant communities and species assemblages, field project management and planning, and working with professional academic research staff and botanists. For May 2025, 1-2 Field Technician(s) will assist Research Staff with additional duties: soil sample collection and soil sample preparation for soil microbial analysis in southeastern CA; phenology tracking at local NV field sites, seed collection, and seed/seedling tests at UNLV. Depending on interest and availability, these positions can shift to a summer laboratory position (June-July) further assisting Research Staff with soil microbial community-related laboratory activities, and/or seed germination, seed viability, and seedling integrity tests. 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