Research Technician - Toolik Field Station Environmental Data Center

The Role and Responsibilities

The Toolik Field Station Environmental Data Center is hiring a dependable technician to support Arctic research projects. Working closely with the SEDC manager, you will collect, enter, and quality‑control ecological, hydrological, and meteorological data. Your day‑to‑day tasks will include using field guides to identify Arctic flora and fauna and operating specialized equipment to measure greenness, discharge rates, and water chemistry. You will also troubleshoot and repair field and laboratory equipment while executing basic statistical analyses in Excel or R.

Because communication is key, you will regularly interact with a diverse scientific community ranging from undergraduate students to senior researchers and agency personnel. Additionally, you will help advise seasonal technicians and interns to keep summer research projects running smoothly.

This position requires a high level of physical resilience to handle demanding fieldwork in variable Arctic weather conditions. You must be physically capable of traveling up to 10 miles round‑trip daily across uneven tussock tundra or snow while carrying up to 50 pounds of gear. To access remote research sites, you will operate a wide variety of transportation, including driving 4‑wheel‑drive trucks on the Dalton Highway.

Depending on the season and terrain, you will also navigate using snowmobiles, skis, snowshoes, motorboats, canoes, or simply on foot. Field operations continue through all types of weather, meaning you will work in everything from heat and wind to freezing snow. Strong attention to detail and safety are essential when managing these rigorous transit and field responsibilities.

Living and working at a remote facility like Toolik Field Station requires adaptability, a team‑first mindset, and a strong work ethic. You will reside on‑site for significant periods in a communal setting where personal privacy is naturally limited. The schedule matches the demands of the Arctic field season, routinely requiring 6‑day workweeks and averaging 54 hours per week. While you must stay on task with minimal supervision, knowing when to ask questions and learn from your supervisor is critical.

Finally, because we operate with a small staff in an isolated area, everyone is expected to pitch in with communal station upkeep. This means occasionally helping out with basic housekeeping, snow removal, food service, and general labor to support the camp.

• Bachelor's degree or higher in a relevant field of science (Biology, Ecology, Geography, Chemistry, Environmental Science, or a comparable field)
• Two years of post‑bachelor's work experience or graduate school experience. Experience with plant and bird identification and ecological fieldwork. Interest and familiarity with Arctic flora and fauna.
• Attention to detail and willingness to learn new skills. Prior experience with ecological data collection, entry, and summary. Experience with herbaria.
• Wilderness First Aid or Wilderness First Responder, or willingness to be certified.

• Two years of coursework towards a Bachelor's degree in a field of science (Biology, Ecology, Geography, Chemistry, Environmental Science, or a comparable field).
• Two years of experience relevant to this position or a combination of training and experience.
• Valid AK driver’s license or able to obtain one within three months of being hired and a clean driving record in compliance with UA Safe Driving Criteria.

This position is located on the University of Alaska Fairbanks campus in Fairbanks, and is flexible on‑site. This is a full‑time, non‑exempt staff position complete with both a competitive salary and full employee benefits package. UA provides a generous compensation package that includes retirement options, annual leave, 12 paid holidays per year, tuition waivers for employees and family members, and affordable medical, dental and vision care coverage.

New hires will be placed on UA Staff Salary Schedule, Grade 77, based on education and experience.

To view the full list of job responsibilities, please .

• To be eligible for this position, applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States without restriction. Applicants who now or may in the future require visa sponsorship to work in the United States are not eligible.
• This is a term‑funded position reviewed annually for contract renewal at the University's discretion.
• This position is part of a bargaining unit represented by the Coalition of Alaska University Staff for Equity (CAUSE)-UAW.

The University of Alaska (UA) is an Equal Opportunity/Equal Access Employer and Educational Institution.

The University is committed to a policy of non‑discrimination against individuals on the basis of any legally protected status.