Field Technician

The Ponisio lab (U Oregon) is seeking 1 field technician for their California pollinator resampling effort. In the 1960s/1970s Andy Moldenke surveyed flower visitors along two transects in N and S CA. We are resurveying his sites in collaboration with Ruben Alarcon (CSU Channel Islands). For more information please see: http://www.ponisiolab.com/california-resurvey.html

We will be sampling the Northern transect plant-pollinator communities near Yosemite National Park (Saddlebag Lake area). On field days we will drive to sampling sites (a mosaic of high-elevation habitats, including forest, marsh and meadow systems, alpine talus, and alpine scrub communities), collect pollinators from around 10:00-14:00, and then label and curate the specimens back at the field station (time permitting). We will reside in the Mono Basin Field Station in Lee Vining.

We will work in a team of two to three and rotate around the sampling sites together. One position is available for two and a half to three months, starting on June 8, 2026, with some flexibility (i.e. graduation). We will meet either in Eugene, OR, or at the field station. Field station fees will be covered by the
project, and a field car will be provided.

Responsibilities

• Field monitoring and collection of pollinators
• Processing insect specimens in the lab including pinning bees and labeling samples
• Data entry into spreadsheets

Required Qualifications

• Interest in botany, entomology, conservation biology and field ecology
• Previous field or lab experience or coursework related to botany and/or entomology
• Previous experience with pollinators, especially native bees and/or monitoring other insect populations and/or experience with plant surveys
• Attention to detail (will be collecting and working with original data)
• Highly motivated and able to work independently
• Basic computer skills (Word, Excel)
• Ability to work in field for long hours
• Valid Driver’s License (and comfort with driving for multiple hours)