Cave Scientist (NPS, Klamath Basin Inventory & Monitoring Program)

The Klamath Network Inventory and Monitoring Program (KLMN) collects and provides relevant scientific information on the status and trends of Vital Signs, or indicators of park ecosystem health, in order to support park managers in protecting the parks’ natural resources. The Great Basin Institute, in cooperation with the National Park Service Klamath Network Inventory & Monitoring (KLMN I&M) program, is recruiting a Cave Scientist to assist with managing, analyzing, and reporting on long-term monitoring data from Lava Beds National Monument (LABE) and Oregon Caves National Monument and Preserve (ORCA) and developing new methods for quantifying changes in cave ice.  

Klamath Network conducts long-term monitoring of cave environment and entrance communities, collecting data on biotic and abiotic features of caves (e.g., temperature, subterranean pools and cave ice, bats, entrance vegetation) and human impacts (e.g., visitation, organic matter input). The incumbent will review these data and their associated collection methods, streamline procedures for storing and accessing these data, update the data collection protocol and associated Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), perform basic summaries, prepare the first baseline reports on data to date, and explore new methods for monitoring cave ice. Incumbent will also work with network and park staff to explore interesting aspects of the data, analyze data as appropriate, and prepare science communication products. Occasional travel will be required, including overnight stays of 2-4 nights at field locations to familiarize with data collection methods. The incumbent will also work on additional projects with other Inventory and Monitoring Networks. While the specific Vital Signs and project objectives may vary, the duties and required skillset are the same. 

KLMN comprises six national park units located within the Klamath region of Northern California and Southern Oregon: Crater Lake National Park, Oregon Caves National Monument and Preserve, Lassen Volcanic National Park, Lava Beds National Monument, Redwood National and State Parks, and Whiskeytown National Recreation Area. Across these park units, KLMN I&M monitors the health and quality of lakes, ponds, vegetation, whitebark pine, land bird, and rocky intertidal communities among other vital signs.

Contract Timeline:
• Approx. 9 month appointment starting as soon as possible after completion of a Department of Interior Background Investigation
• Full time, 40 hours per week

Location:
Ashland, Oregon

Compensation and Benefits:
• Rate of Pay: $26.00-29.00 per hour, depending on experience
• Benefits: Paid health insurance (medical, dental and vision)
• Paid leave and holidays

Job Qualifications:

Education: Undergraduate degree in Biology, Ecology, Environmental Sciences, Data Science, Statistics, or similar fields.

Required Skills and Experience (be sure to document experience in your application):

• Collecting ecological field data;
• Conducting fieldwork in a cave environment and backcountry settings;
• Performing routine statistical analyses of continuous and discrete data using analytical software or programming languages;
• Entering and managing continuous environmental data (e.g., temperature and humidity) and assessing quality of large datasets;
• Using Access databases and Survey123;
• Researching and synthesizing scientific literature;
• Scientific writing for documenting methods and preparing reports and/or peer-reviewed publications;
• Self-directed, motivated, and able to work independently to accomplish goals;
• Ability to communicate effectively, both written and orally, with team members;
• Strong organizational, multi-tasking, and problem-solving skills.

Desirable Education, Skills, and Experience:

• Graduate degree in Biology, Ecology, Environmental Sciences, Data Science, Statistics, or similar fields;
• Ability to use cave gear and equipment in a variety of cave settings, such as restrictive passages;
• R programming for basic data summarizations, QA/QC checks, and statistical analyses;
• Writing R scripts to automate repetitive tasks;
• Familiarity with LiDAR data collection and processing;
• Using tools for spatial analysis (e.g., ArcGIS, etc);
• Willingness and ability to consistently enact high performance standards and a strong work and team ethic in support of the mission of GBI and the goals of the KLMN I&M Program.