Field Technician

Desert Research Institute in Reno, Nevada, is recruiting a highly motivated Field Technician. The Field Technician will be conducting fieldwork in the beautiful Warner Mountains in Modoc National Forest, California, for a project assessing whitebark pine forest health. Fieldwork will include performing maintenance on established forest plots, establishing new plots, and monitoring whitebark stand dynamics and ecological characteristics in all plots, by following established whitebark pine monitoring protocol. The purpose of this project is to capture long-term trends of whitebark pine vulnerability to white pine blister rust and mountain pine beetle activity in an understudied region that can inform future management and restoration activities.

Required Qualifications:

• High school diploma;
• Background in forestry, ecology, botany, or related field;
• Experience and ability to go on multi-day field efforts in remote locations that require camping, hiking, and navigating with GPS in the backcountry;
• Strong problem-solving skills; able to make practical on-the-ground decisions when implementing field tasks;
• Strong work ethic, positive attitude, and ability to work collaboratively as a member of a field team;
• Knowledge and experience safely operating 4WD vehicles on remote and rugged roads.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Previous experience conducting vegetation surveys in forested landscapes;
• Familiarity with forest flora and experience identifying tree species;
• Familiarity with identifying evidence of white pine blister rust and/or mountain pine beetle activity on trees;
• Proficient in MS Excel;
• Able to conduct data entry tasks and assist with data management, synthesis, and analysis.

Compensation Grade:

$17/hr, No Benefits (Overtime pay provided when hours exceed 40 in a week)

Schedule:

This position is expected to begin June 10, 2024 and last for 10 weeks. The schedule will include 2-week intervals of fieldwork (up to 48 hours per week) separated by 1 week of office work at the DRI campus (10 hours per week). Each 2-week interval of fieldwork will be organized into two 5-day field visits (M-F), returning to Reno for weekends. During fieldwork, days will start early and may last up to 10 hours. During weeks spent at the DRI campus, work hours will fall within normal business hours.

Physical Requirements:

• Able to work outdoors and hike 5+ miles cross country per day on steep terrain;
• Able to perform outdoor work, such as lifting and carrying equipment up to 40 lbs, bending over sampling quadrats, pounding in rebar, and sustained standing and walking in variable weather conditions typical of the region;
• Able to carry a backpack with camping and food gear to remote areas for multi-day stays;
• Able to sleep and prepare food in rugged environments, such as dispersed camping sites.

Conditions of Employment:

• Current driver’s license;
• This position requires travel to/from Reno and Modoc National Forest in a DRI vehicle;
• This position includes working for extended periods outdoors in variable climate conditions typical of the Warner Mountains;
• The position requires overnight camping in Modoc National Forest for 5 days at a time, from mid-June to mid-August 2024;
• Work conditions may be remote and rugged and include multiple overnight stays in the backcountry;
• Field methods, field equipment, and safety training will be provided; some camping gear will be provided;
• Campsites may vary from car camping in public campgrounds to more remote dispersed sites on USFS land in order to access study plots.