Vegetation Field Ecology Crew Member

Overview

This posting will be used to hire numerous Vegetation Field Ecology Crew Members for sampling in the 2025 field season. These positions sit within The Institute for Natural Resources under the larger Division of Research and Innovation unit at Oregon State University. OSU welcomes students, faculty and staff from every background and perspective.

These positions are seasonal (~4.5 month) positions to collect Terrestrial Assessment, Inventory, and Monitoring (AIM) data on land managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) across eastern Oregon, eastern Washington, northern Nevada, and northern California. INR will have numerous crews working across these areas, but the majority of plots will be in SE Oregon (about 70%), with the remaining 10% in Washington and 20% in northern California and Nevada. Generally, individuals will be on a crew that is focused in one BLM district for the season, so that they can become familiar with the plants and geography of that area. Sometimes, particularly later in the season, crews may move around depending on project needs.

Data collected using the AIM strategy is used for land health monitoring to document the condition and changes of plant communities in the context of BLM management actions including grazing, burned area rehabilitation, and greater sage-grouse and other wildlife management. These data can be used by land managers to inform future management actions, monitor treatment effectiveness, and observe trends in the condition of public lands. The data also become publicly available for download. To learn more about the BLM’s AIM strategy, visit https://www.blm.gov/aim

This work involves following standardized protocols for vegetation sampling, plant identification, and digging and describing soil pits. Crew members will complete all the same sampling tasks and day-to-day work as the crew lead and team lead (see associated BSRT 2 and 3 positions) but may have less experience with the vegetation and are paired with a more experienced partner.

The position is entirely field based, with crews working a Wednesday-Wednesday hitch schedule (hitch 1 will be April 30 – May 7) following a week-long mandatory training at the beginning of the season (April 17-18 online and April 21-25 in-person in Prineville, OR). We are also planning additional training the week of April 7th which is strongly recommended, but not strictly mandatory. On the first and last days of the hitch, crew members drive from their homes to the field sites in OSU vehicles. This allows crew members some flexibility in where they can live, but crews must be based within a reasonable driving distance of the sampling areas. In past seasons, crews have been based in western Oregon (such as Corvallis, Portland, and Eugene), central Oregon (such as Redmond or Bend), or central Washington (for crews based in Washington). Housing is not provided for this position, but a generous per diem is provided for food and camping while on hitch.

Key Responsibilities

• 65% – Collect BLM Terrestrial Assessment, Inventory and Monitoring (AIM) program soils and vegetation data using AIM protocols in the field.
• 15% – Work with INR Data Management Staff to ensure the AIM data gets needed QA-QC and is incorporated into needed databases and provided to the BLM.
• 10% – Drive throughout field area and navigate with maps and GPS to unique or typical habitats or preselected points.
• 10% – Hike to off-road sites, identify plants and plant communities.

Minimum Requirements

• Two years of college-level courses in biology, ecology, botany, soil sciences, or rangeland sciences; OR an equivalent combination of training and experience.
• This position requires driving a university vehicle or a personal vehicle on behalf of the university; therefore, the incumbent must successfully complete a motor vehicle history check, possess, and maintain a current, valid driver’s license in their state of residence, be determined to be position qualified and self-report convictions as per University Policy 05-030

Preferred Qualifications

• BA/BS degree in biology, ecology, botany, environmental sciences, soil sciences, natural resources, or a related field.
• Coursework in botany, ecology, range science, field methods, soil science or plant identification classes or enrollment in a degree program in the biological sciences.
• Familiarity with computers, tablets, and software. Specifically, knowledge of ArcGIS Field Maps, Collector, Survey123, or other database management software is desired, with the ability to learn essential.
• Knowledge of survey and monitoring methods, such as line point intercept (LPI), species inventories, etc.
• Knowledge of and interest in plant identification.
• Interest in sagebrush steppe, grassland, and juniper woodland ecosystems.
• Interest in and knowledge of classifying and describing soils.
• Experience with or interest in dry camping or backpacking, especially in areas without access to water or facilities.
• Knowledge about navigating backcountry terrain using a map, compass, and GPS for driving and hiking.
• Experience with or knowledge about driving 4WD vehicles on dirt and gravel roads and hiking on and off-trail through rugged terrain in remote locations to set up and monitor sampling locations.
• Experience working in remote areas without cell service, working independently and as a team.
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills.
• Excellent organizational skills and ability to complete tasks on time.
• Knowledge of Leave No Trace and Tread Lightly principles.
• Experience working and/or living with people or groups from differing backgrounds.

Working Conditions and Schedule

• Must work 10-hour days for 8 days at a time Wednesday to Wednesday followed by 6 days off in between.
• Typical workday starts at 7:00 am but may be adjusted earlier or later on a day-to-day basis for reasons including, but not limited to, avoiding afternoon thunderstorms, and working in cooler temperatures.
• Ability to work in a variety of harsh and quickly changing weather and environmental conditions including, but not limited to: sun exposure with limited shade, thunderstorms, smoky conditions (not to exceed OSU’s maximum particulate exposure), rainy, windy, wintery mix, cold, and hot weather conditions
• Will be working and camping outside in remote field study areas.
• Involves spending a lot of time in a vehicle and must have a valid driver’s license.
• Routinely hike off trail across uneven/rugged terrain while carrying a backpack with research equipment and personal gear for up to 6 miles in a day (research plots are typically no more than 2 miles from a road, and almost always less than 3 miles).
• Regularly requires squatting, kneeling, and standing for extended periods of time.
• Requires lifting and moving around research equipment and gear (coolers, 7-gallon water jugs, etc.) in and out of work vehicles.
• Routinely dig 70 cm (2.3 ft) deep soil pits by hand with a sharpshooter shovel.