NEON Field Ecologist - Instrumentation - KS

Position: NEON Field Ecologist I - Instrumentation - KS
Battelle delivers when others can't. We conduct research and development, manage national laboratories, design and manufacture products and deliver critical services for our clients-whether they are a multi-national corporation, a small start-up or a government agency.

We recognize and appreciate the value and contributions of individuals from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences and welcome all qualified individuals to apply.

Company Overview

Battelle manages and operates the National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) program, which is solely funded by the National Science Foundation. A 30+ year project dedicated to understanding how changes in climate, land use and invasive species impact ecology, the observatory's scientists and engineers are collecting a comprehensive range of ecological data on a continental scale across 20 eco-climatic domains representing US ecosystems.

Our teams use cutting-edge technology, including an airborne observation platform that captures images of regional landscapes and vegetation; mobile, relocatable, and fixed data collection sites with automated ground sensors to monitor soil and atmosphere; and trained field crews who observe and sample populations of diverse organisms and collect soil and water data. Once structures are completed, a leading-edge cyberinfrastructure will calibrate, store and publish this information.

The Observatory includes more than 500+ personnel and is the first of its kind designed to detect and enable forecasting of ecological change at continental scales.

Job Summary

We are currently seeking Field Ecologist I - Instrumentation. This position is an onsite role located in Manhattan, KS.

In the middle of North America, the eastern forests give way to the tallgrass prairie. This is the Prairie Peninsula (Domain 06), in the heartland of the U.S. Sometimes called "America's Breadbasket," this region provides ample opportunity to study the impact of agriculture and land management practices on tallgrass prairie ecosystems. It also provides a unique view of a transitional zone between the prairies and the eastern deciduous forest.

NEON sites in the Prairie Peninsula Domain are managed from our Manhattan, KS office.

Physical Demand and Work Environment

The work involves walking, hiking, prolonged standing, bending, and kneeling. Heavy items, equipment and packs up to 40 pounds, must be lifted and carried on a routine basis. Field work includes exposure to extreme temperatures, inclement weather, rough and variable terrain, toxic plants (e.g., poison ivy, poison oak), stinging and biting insects (especially ticks), working in active agricultural fields, and wildlife and livestock hazards.

Instrument maintenance involves performing work on instrument towers ranging in height from 24 feet to 130 feet, which includes ascending and descending multiple flights of stairs. Driving off-road in 4WD vehicles is required for most field sites.

Work Schedule and Travel

Work schedules are typically 8-10 hours per day but can occasionally be 12+ hours per day, including split shifts (off in the middle of the day), starting before dawn and/or ending after dusk, and weekends depending on the work assignment. The ratio of field to lab work is about 75% field and 25% office and lab duties. [BD1.1]

Occasional travel (e.g., 1-2 times per year) may be required to other Domain locations.

Responsibilities

• Operate and maintain in-situ meteorological sensors, soil sensors, water quality sensors, data loggers, IRGAs and other gas analyzers used to measure CO2, water, and energy flux at NEON field sites.
• Monitor sensor health and status through various computer interface tools (i.e., specific sensor software, SAS, or other visual analytic tools).
• Maintain and use proper PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) and safety equipment for working at heights in remote locations (5-point harnesses, ascenders, and self-retracting lifelines, etc.).
• Provide training, instruction, and technical guidance to seasonal field personnel.
• Perform additional field and lab procedures as assigned. This may include plant phenology, diversity, productivity, and biogeochemistry; stream channel…