Skip to content

Field Technician – University of California, Irvine

by Marissa M. Donohue on October 1, 2016

Title:  Field Technician

Location:  University of California, Irvine; Center for Environmental Biology

Salary:  Commensurate with experience

Duration:  1 year, possible extension

Brief Description of Duties:

The Center for Environmental Biology (CEB) at the University of California, Irvine is seeking outstanding applicants for the position of Field Technician to work with CEB staff to supervise student interns in the collection of field data for ecological research projects. The successful candidate will be able to identify the majority of plant species found in Orange County and will work as part of a team of researchers and land managers to conduct vegetation and environmental monitoring and to set up field experiments to create best management practices for future restoration and conservation efforts. The person hired will work closely with CEB director Dr. Travis Huxman, assistant director Dr. Sarah Kimball, and coordinate with other CEB team members. The position is funded in cooperation with the Nature Reserve of Orange County which manages the environmental resources within the Orange County Central-Coastal Natural Community Conservation Plan.

The successful candidate will be expected to:

  • Generate data sheets and supervise the accurate collection of ecological data;
  • Use GPS units to locate field transects;
  • Train and supervise undergraduate student interns in the collection of ecological data;
  • Accurately identify native plants at all stages of development;
  • Work with partner organizations to collaboratively design experiments;
  • Submit requests to access land;
  • Supervise data entry and storage;
  • Maintain CEB websites, including the OC ecological data portal and eScholarship sites

 About the CEB:

The mission of the Center for Environmental Biology is to link academic research with ecosystem management and stewardship of natural resources, and to educate the next generation of environmental biologists and stewards. We provide (1) a forum for information exchange within the campus community, (2) a recognized core of expertise visible through conferences, workshops, websites, and publications, (3) coordinated research facilities and infrastructure that serves a community of researchers, educators, and decision makers, and (4) linkages between UCI and external agencies and organizations that have an immediate need for research and students trained in environmental biology. It is increasingly challenging to manage essential resources in response to multiple stresses and environmental disturbances such as climate change, pollution, land use change, and exotic species invasions. New advances in biological research are providing methods to better understand how organisms and ecosystems influence the environment and how they respond to environmental change. Working in partnership with ecosystem and resource managers, UC Irvine faculty are collaborating to conduct solutions-oriented research in environmental biology, and train the next generation of stewards of biological resources.

Minimum qualifications:

  • B.S. in botany, ecology, environmental science, or a related field;
  • Strong plant identification skills;
  • Extensive field experience;
  • Extensive data collection, data entry, and data storage experience;
  • Experience with generating data sheets and entering data in Excel;
  • Experience using GPS units to locate study sites;
  • Ability to work effectively on multiple concurrent projects;
  • Excellent communication skills.

 Preferred Qualifications:

  • Teaching experience;
  • Experience supervising crews in the field;
  • Experience in GIS and geospatial analysis;
  • Experience in developing and completing scholarly research projects;
  • Experience working with collaborators from diverse backgrounds and capacity to engage with interdisciplinary teams.
  • Experience using WordPress

Anticipated Start Date:  October 25, 2016

Application Deadline:  Although we will accept applications until the position is filled, interested candidates should submit their materials by Oct. 10, 2016 to ensure optimal consideration.  To apply, please submit your cover letter to Sarah Kimball (skimball@uci.edu) and upload a cover letter, CV, and contact information for three references at https://recruit.ap.uci.edu/apply/JPF03544.

From → Uncategorized

Comments are closed.