We are seeking a field assistant for research investigating the effects of wild horses on plant community composition and diversity at sites in Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, North Dakota, Utah and Nevada. The work consists of driving/hiking to sites, setting up transects, conducting species composition sampling, clipping plant biomass and taking allometric measurements, plus some data entry and processing of plant samples.
The position start date is approximately May 10, with an end date of approximately August 23, 2015. Travel to field sites will occur from mid May through mid June and throughout July and August. The remainder of the time will be spent in the lab at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, CO. Pay is a stipend of $500/week. Transportation and lodging costs (but not food) will be covered by the project. The applicant must be: - willing to spend most of the summer traveling - trustworthy and competent in the wilderness (backcountry experience in the desert is especially good) - willing and able to spend long days working outdoors, sometimes with moderately strenuous and exposed hiking - comfortable working in an environment that includes hazards such as extreme weather (heat, wind, rain and lightning), wild animals (horses, bison, mountain lions, bears, rattlesnakes), and biting insects - comfortable camping in the desert (we will be returning to a vehicle every night, but will sometimes be on 4WD roads up to 30 miles from maintained roads) Additional desired qualifications: - ability to identify plant species of the Great Plains, Great Basin Desert and Rocky Mountains - experience with botanical field sampling techniques - experience driving off-road / on poorly maintained roads If interested, please send your resume, cover letter and references to [email protected]. Review of applications will start Feb 16th and continue until position is filled. To see photos from last year’s fieldwork, check out: https://www.flickr.com/photos/mustangthesistravels/ Our lab website: https://wp.natsci.colostate.edu/smithlab/
