Field Botanist
CLOSING DATE: March 1st, 2017
DEPARTMENT: Northern Arizona University
JOB TYPE: Full Time/Temporary
SALARY: $17 – $20 / Per Hour (depending on experience)
POSITION OVERVIEW:
Field Botanist needed for a project studying the habitat of the endangered New Mexico meadow jumping mouse in riparian areas within the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest, Santa Fe, and Lincoln National Forests in the mountains of Arizona and New Mexico. The successful applicant will work as part of a team to determine habitat and environmental requirements for the New Mexico meadow jumping mouse. Duties include collection of detailed vegetation data at known and randomly-selected New Mexico meadow jumping mouse riparian sites. The research takes place in remote areas and involves camping while out in the field for approximately 4-5 days at a time. While camping and in the field (most of the time), the botanist will be provided $25 per diem to cover food expenses and are reimbursed for use of a personal 4WD vehicle while working. Office duties may include data entry, maintenance of sampling gear, and travel preparations. The field season is expected to run from mid-June to late August.
This position requires camping at high elevations (>8000 feet), navigating across difficult trail-less terrain, working and camping in remote areas, and spending several hours in waders walking through fast-moving streams. Applicants should be prepared physically and have the appropriate clothing and gear to work and camp in these environments.
The Field Botanist position is expected to know or quickly learn the flora of southwestern riparian areas to maximize data collection quality and efficiency. Methods will include collecting species composition, richness, cover, and presence and absence data at the species level. Additional data collection may include estimating functional group percent cover on vegetation quadrats, and also using other tools such as Robel poles or estimating height of vegetation, and densiometers for estimating tree canopy cover. The botanist may be asked to lead vegetation field crews and ensure the efficient and safe collection of high-quality data with limited direct daily supervision.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Prior experience in plant community measurements and plant identification, preferably in the western United States and in riparian vegetation. Experience in keying plants or a taxonomy course. Experience leading field research crews. GPS and field navigational skills. Safe driving 4WD vehicles. CPR and wilderness first aid/WFR training is desirable.
Interested applicants should send a cover letter, resume, and 3 references (formatted as a single PDF document) to the contact below.
Carol Chambers
E-mail: [email protected]