The Western Forest Initiative is hiring five field staff for the Summer of 2019.
Forest Demography and Fire Effects: These positions will involve examining forest research plots for mortality and recruitment, mapping down woody debris, and undertaking ancillary tasks such as seedling surveys, soil and leaf collection, and dendrometer measurements. One staffer will spend three weeks assisting a PhD student taking increment cores of very old trees in a high-elevation Utah forest. Work will begin in the Yosemite Forest Dynamics Plot (Yosemite National Park) and continue to the Wind River Forest Dynamics Plot (Gifford Pinchot National Forest), and end in the Utah Forest Dynamics Plot (Cedar Breaks National Monument). At Yosemite, the crew will work with and train students. We seek five field crew members to join our field lead and team of scientists. Duration: Mid-May through mid-August. The work schedule is four, ten-hour days per week. Because we do not work under inclement conditions, the crew will need to be flexible. Pay: $12.50 per hour. Campground and field station accommodations are provided (camping at Yosemite and Cedar Breaks, field station at Wind River). Actual gas expenses (with receipts and mileage log, submitted according to schedule) for travel between the crew’s residences and each of the field sites will be reimbursed. Qualifications: Candidates must demonstrate previous experience taking vegetation data for research purposes, working safely in challenging environments, and following complex protocols. Candidates should demonstrate the ability to solve problems, and to work both independently and in teams of two or three. Work will involve moving through sometimes rough terrain carrying delicate and expensive equipment, as well as carrying up to 10 kg of additional gear. Knowledge of western flora, tree pathogens, and forest insects is helpful, as is solid experience with outdoor living. Applicants must have a valid driver’s license, good driving history (no recent DUI or reckless driving), and a Wilderness First Aid certification valid for the season (Wilderness First Responder preferred; urban first aid/CPR not enough). Apply: Please assemble the following into a single PDF file and email it to james.l...@usu.edu<mailto:james.l...@usu.edu> – 1) a one-page cover letter describing your reasons for applying, specific dates of availability (including any planned mid-summer absences, or a statement that you plan none), and confirmation of your first aid certification, 2) a resume, no longer than two pages, 3) unofficial transcripts, and 4) names, phone numbers and email addresses of three references. The application deadline is January 31, 2019, but applications will be reviewed beginning immediately. We try to make staffing decisions by early February. Exceptional candidates will be selected earlier. Additional information and background at: http://westernforestinitiative.org, http://yfdp.org, http://wfdp.org, and http://ufdp.org. Each of the research plots also has a Facebook page with general photos of the work sites and activities.
