The Canyonlands Research Station in Moab, Utah is recruiting for a post- doc in ecology and eolian processes (GS-0408 or GS-1301). This is a full time term position (planned for two years) with the US Geological Survey, Southwest Biological Science Center. Moab, Utah is a small town offering a variety of outdoor adventures (see www.discovermoab.com for more information on Moab).
Description of Duties: The incumbent will be responsible for carrying out a large field study on the sources of fugitive dust on the Colorado Plateau. The goal of this research project is to quantify the relative contribution of major factors that currently or potentially contribute to regional dust, including roads, off-road vehicles, domestic grazing, and climate change. The incumbent will work closelywith USGS scientists (Drs. Mike Duniway and Jayne Belnap) in experimental design, method development, and reporting results. The project will use a combination of experimental manipulations using a portable wind tunnel, monitoring of dust emissions off a variety of soil and land use types (e.g. roads, grazing, undisturbed, etc.), and modeling. Major duties consist of 1) project planning and management; 2) leading field crews of 1-3 people; 3) collecting vegetation, ground cover, soil, and dust data; 4) using GIS to assemble layers, create random samples, and prepare maps; 5) performing statistical analyses; 6) conduct wind erosion modeling; and 7) preparation graphs, tables, and reports or scientific papers. The work is approximately 60% office and 40% field work. Field work involves withstanding both extreme heat and cold; walking over rough, rocky, or uneven terrain; lifting and carrying equipment and supplies (up to 50 lbs.); long hours; and driving a 4WD truck and all-terrain vehicles on unimproved roads. Qualifications: See http://www.usgs.gov/ohr/oars/quals/0408.html for the USGS Ecologist Series or http://www.usgs.gov/ohr/oars/quals/1301.html for the USGS Physical Scientist Series qualifications description. A background in ecology or soil science is preferred. Prior experience with dust erosion research, vegetation and soil measurements, and wind modeling is highly desirable. Additionally, familiarity with statistical analyses, GIS, and preparation of manuscripts for peer reviewed publications is preferred. The incumbent must be in sufficient physical condition to withstand the rigors of the field work. Incumbent also must pass a background check. A valid US drivers license is required. Salary and start date: Salary is $ 47,448/year with full health and retirement benefits. A start date of June 2012 is preferred. Application: Applicants MUST be U.S. citizens. If you have questions send an email to [email protected]. This job will be announced on www.usajobs.gov in April or May 2012. http://sbsc.wr.usgs.gov/crs/
