Title: Biological Science Technician
Agency: US Forest Service-Rocky Mountain Research Station
Location: Cloudcroft, New Mexico
Job Description: WILDLIFE RESEARCH POSITIONS OUTREACH NOTICE
ROCKY MOUNTAIN RESEARCH STATION-US FOREST SERVICE
CLOUDCROFT, NEW MEXICO
BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE TECHNICIANS
GS-0404 4/5 (Wildlife) ~ $13.18/hr to ~ $14.74/hr) Full Time-Temporary Appointment 1039 hours/NTE 6 months ~ 6 needed from approximately 12 April24 September 2010 (end date dependent on funding) to assist in a study of forest thinning effects on Mexican Spotted Owls in the Sacramento Mountains, south-central New Mexico (Lincoln National Forest). Major duties will involve surveying for, capturing, banding, and re-sighting Mexican spotted owls, sampling forest vegetation, and live-trapping small mammals. Other duties will include data entry, vehicle and equipment maintenance, and other duties as assigned.
The work will be physically demanding and will involve extensive daily hiking in steep terrain at high altitudes (8,000 to 9,700 ft) on a daily basis, commonly during extreme or inclement weather, i.e. monsoon rains from July-Sept. At least 50% of the spotted owl research will be conducted at night off trail in the forest. Work schedules are generally 10 days on and 4 days off, and the position will require work sessions of truck-camping at remote locations on National Forest land. Vehicles will be provided. First-aid, CPR, defensive driving and field safety training will also be provided. These positions are physically and mentally demanding however, they provide a wide array of experience with wildlife and associated research techniques.
Applicants must have a valid state driver's license in good standing, be able to hear owl calls, have normal color vision to allow for reading color-bands, be in excellent to good physical condition (carry a 40-50 lb pack up steep terrain at high elevation), be self-motivated, and have a desire to work independently or in small groups in remote locations. U.S. citizenship required. Duty station will be in Cloudcroft, New Mexico. Housing will not be provided. There are occasionally some rental options available in Cloudcroft and Alamogordo (25 minutes drive from Cloudcroft), but camping is a cheaper option, and one that most past crew members have used. We will set up a base camp with limited amenities. Interested parties should send an email with attached resume, including 3 references to Darrell Apprill (dapprill@fs.fed.us) Todd Rawlinson (trawlinson@fs.fed.us) and Ryan Jonnes (rsjonnes@fs.fed.us). Please send .rtf or .doc files with your name embedded, i.e. (Smith_resume.doc).
THIS IS AN OUTREACH ANNOUNCEMENT ONLY.
Formal application procedures will be necessary at a later date through the US Forest Service AVUE program. (http://www.avuedigitalservices.com). All personnel responding to this outreach notice will be sent the formal hiring announcement and information on specific application procedures. Questions about job duties can be addressed by e-mail to Darrell Apprill, Todd Rawlinson, or Ryan Jonnes at the email addresses above.
Qualifications: Applicants must have a valid state driver's license in good standing, be able to hear owl calls, have normal color vision to allow for reading color-bands, be in excellent to good physical condition (carry a 40-50 lb pack up steep terrain at high elevation), be self-motivated, and have a desire to work independently or in small groups in remote locations. U.S. citizenship required.
For GS-4: Successful completion of 2 years of study that included at least 12 semester hours in any combination of scientific or technical courses such as biology, chemistry, statistics, entomology, animal husbandry, botany, physics, agriculture, or mathematics.
For GS-5: Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree with major study or at least 24 semester hours in any combination of courses such as those shown above for GS-4. At least 6 semester hours of courses must have been directly related to the position to be filled. The successful completion of a full course of study of at least 12 months in a school for clinical laboratory technicians may be substituted for the 1 year of specialized experience required at the GS-5 level for positions involving microbiology and biochemistry technician work.
Salary: ~ $13.18/hr to ~ $14.74/hr
Last Date to apply: January 15, 2010
Website: http://www.rmrs.nau.edu/
Contact: Todd A. Rawlinson or Darrell L. Apprill
E-mail: trawlinson@fs.fed.us and dapprill@fs.fed.us(Preferred)