Assistant Research Technician – Apply by December 9

Assistant Research Technician (Lab Assistant 1)

Full time – Seasonal

$18.91 per hour, plus benefits

Application deadline: December 9, 2022

Start date: January 9, 2023

End date: March 24, 2023

To Apply: Send a cover letter, CV or resume, and three references (including name, organization, phone, email, and relationship to you) to Shane Dewees at sdewees@ucsb.edu. Please combine all application materials into one document for submission. Thank you for your interest!

Job Description:

The technician’s primary function will be conducting ecological research and restoration in the Los Padres National Forest as part of a team of two crew members and a crew leader. The crew member will be responsible for conducting field site preparation, restoration planting, and post-planting monitoring related to a vegetation restoration project. Field work will be planting across a 6-acre field site and then periodic survival and growth measurements. If there is no rain in a given month, field work will also include watering. Time-permitting the crew member will also help measure plant traits on seedlings in the UCSB Biological greenhouse. The crew member will assist the crew leader in ensuring that equipment and data are managed properly. Data entry and summarization will be required. The duty station will be in Goleta, CA. Field methods, equipment, and safety training will be provided. Housing will not be provided. A university vehicle can be provided, but crew members are responsible for their own transportation to and from the duty station (Goleta, CA).

Duties:

 Field Restoration work: Prepare the field site for outplanting (weed, stake down weed cloth, and label planting locations), plant the restoration species across a 6-acre field site, monitor the planted seedlings for survival and growth, and water planted seedlings if there is a month with no rain (80%)

 Data and equipment oversight: Upload and/or file collected data and photos on a daily or weekly basis; carefully check for missing data or data collection errors before leaving field sites; inventory field equipment on a regular basis and conduct maintenance as necessary; ensure all provided field equipment is accounted for; conduct data entry at an office location, likely using Microsoft Excel or Access. Basic data summarization. (10%)

 Measure plant traits: Measure an assortment of plant traits on seedlings in the UCSB Biological Greenhouse (5%).

 Logistics and Travel: Assist the crew leader as necessary in coordinating logistics of field travel (5%).

Minimum qualifications:

 Bachelor’s Degree including upper division college level coursework or equivalent experience in ecology, forestry, range science, or related natural science field

 Experience with plant restoration

 Experience collecting and properly handling quality data

 Experience with ecological data sets

 Willingness to complete repetitive research tasks

 Motivated to work in strenuous field conditions

 Proficiency using MS Word and Excel

 Proficiency using Google Sheets and Drive applications

 Valid driver’s license

 Ability to work long days in the field 7-8 hours

Preferred qualifications:

 Strong familiarity with California native and non-native flora

 Experience manipulating, entering, and organizing complex ecological datasets

 Experience maintaining plants in a greenhouse or equivalent horticultural practices

 CPR and Wilderness First Aid certified

 Experience operating a vehicle on rough roads

Physical Demands:

 Applicant must be in good physical condition being able to:

 Hike through rugged terrain

 Carry heavy field equipment

 Work in extremely hot/dry as well as cold/wet conditions

 Kneel, bend over, sit, and stand for several hours

Pandemic Statement

The University of California is vigilantly monitoring and acting in accordance with all applicable public health directives related to COVID-19. As a condition of employment, you will be required to comply with the University of California SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) Vaccination Program Policy. All Covered Individuals* under the policy must provide proof of Full Vaccination or submit a request for Exception (based on Medical Exemption, Disability, and/or Religious Objection) or Deferral (based on pregnancy) no later than the applicable deadline. For new University of California employees, the applicable deadline is eight weeks after their first date of employment.

For more information, please visit:

● UC Santa Barbara COVID-19 Information: https://www.ucsb.edu/COVID-19-information

● UC SARS-CoV-2 (COVID -19) Vaccination Program

Policy: https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/5000695/SARS-CoV-2_Covid-19