Description: We are seeking a field technician to assist in a project analyzing the effects of wetland management regimes on mosquito control, moist-soil seed production, and wetland bird diets at Bird Haven Ranch in Butte City, CA during summer 2025. The technician would work with a highly interdisciplinary team of UC Davis ecologists and entomologists (John Veon [Graduate Student]; John Eadie, Daniel Karp, and Sharon Lawler [Professors]) as well as wetland managers and practitioners. Field responsibilities will include collecting and helping to analyze samples of aquatic macroinvertebrates, water quality measurements, moist-soil seed abundance and biomass, fecal matter from waterfowl for eDNA diet assessments, deploying and processing data from camera traps, as well as conducting wetland vegetation assessments. After a training period, the technician will learn to identify macroinvertebrates accurately to family (genus and species when possible) and sort them appropriately; identify moist-soil seeds to family (genus and species when possible), sort them appropriately, and help to derive biomass estimates; enter data into spreadsheets and develop protocol write-ups as needed. Fieldwork will begin approximately in mid- to late May. However, the arrival date for the successful applicant is somewhat flexible (early to late May), but early May is preferred. The technician will work within a consistent daily schedule as deemed by the project team, although some days may be longer or shorter, but averaging a 40-hour work week. The technician will be provided with accommodation at no charge at Bird Haven Ranch in Butte City, CA (no rent or associated bills to pay). The housing facility has cell reception with most providers, cable TV, and Wi-Fi internet access. The technician will share the lodge with other university researchers. No pets. All work will be completed on the ranch and ATVs will be provided. Qualifications: Applicants must have a positive attitude and be able to work with farmers, ranchers, hunters (the ranch is a hunting property), members of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and members of the Mosquito Vector and Control Association of California. Applicants, at times, must be capable of working alone with little supervision. A valid driver’s license is necessary and experience driving a 4x4 vehicle is a plus. Preference will be given to those who can participate in all aspects of field collections, those that have prior field experience, experience identifying macroinvertebrates, and those that have an ability to work in heat (as deemed safe by university standards). Project Dates: The successful applicant will report in early to late May 2025 and will work through late September 2025. There may be some down time before the project gets started. However, we will involve the technician in project preparation. Salary: Approximately $19-$26 per hour (based on experience), housing is provided but field crews purchase and prepare their own food.
Application Materials: Please e-mail a single PDF of a cover letter, CV/resume, and contact information for three references to John Veon at jtv...@ucdavis.edu. The subject header of the e-mail should read “Integrated Wetland Management Technician Application”. The initial review date is April 11th, 2025. However, we will begin the interview process as applications are received and the application period will remain open until the position is filled. ____________________________________________ John T. Veon, MSc PhD Candidate | Graduate Group in Ecology Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology 1055 Academic Surge University of California-Davis Davis, CA, 95616 To unsubscribe from this list please go to https://community.esa.org/confirm/?u=RhPWqPxFwODKvbkiT32nkIqRrsiSgulp
