Faculty Research Assistant: Eastern Oregon Agricultural Research Center, Union Experiment Station

Eastern Oregon Agricultural Research Center, Union Experiment Station

Starting salary will be commensurate with skills, education, and experience.

For additional information please contact:

Bryan Endress

Bryan.endress

The Eastern Oregon Agricultural Research Center, Union Experiment Station invites applications for two full-time (1.00 FTE), 12-month, fixed-term Faculty Research Assistant positions.

Reappointment is at the discretion of the Department Head.

These positions are located in Union, Oregon.

We are seeking two botanist/plant ecologists to support ongoing research on forest and rangeland ecology and management. These positions will support multiple projects including:
1) research with Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife focused on mule deer forage availability and habitat quality, and
2) the ecology, management and restoration of First Foods, particularly Roots and Berries in partnership with Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, Nez Perce Tribe, land management agencies (e.g. Forest Service) and non-governmental organizations and
3) evaluating and assessing responses of riparian, grassland and forest ecosystems to various restoration and management treatments in partnership with the Pacific Norwest Research Station and others. These positions play key roles in projects, including collecting a range of environmental, natural resource, and ecological attributes in the field, implementing field and lab experiments (e.g. seed germination studies), collaborating with ecologists, land managers and stewards, as well as assisting with data analysis and contributing to and authoring publications, reports, presentations and outreach materials.

These positions work closely with project partners in all aspects of the work.

The Eastern Oregon Agricultural Research Center (EOARC) is composed of two separate and fully functional research stations – Burns and Union Stations. The Union Station is Oregon State University’s first branch research station (established in 1901). Research and outreach activities are focused on rangeland ecology and management, wildlife management, ecological restoration, alternative livestock systems and sustainable resource management in the diverse landscapes of eastern Oregon.

EOARC faculty and staff collaborate on research and outreach efforts with a wide range of partners including agencies, tribes and non-governmental organizations.

• Scientific data collection
• Maintain research records
• Effectively communicate with research team
• Collaborate with external research partners
• Measure a variety of ecological and natural resource variables

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in ecology, botany, plant ecology, natural resources, rangeland ecology, wildlife or related discipline.
• Experience measuring and collecting natural resource and/or ecological data (e.g. soil, slope, aspect, richness, diversity, composition, density, etc.)in field settings (forest, grassland, shrubland, wetlands, etc.).
• Experience using GPS units to navigate to locations and record spatial data in the field.
• Experience and/or training in use of dichotomous keys, plant identification and plant/vegetation measurements.
• Experience and commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration.
• Strong written and oral communication and interpersonal skills.
• Working knowledge of MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), Google Docs.
• Ability to lift, carry, push, and pull objects weighing up to 50 pounds.
• Ability to kneel/squat for extended periods of time for data and sample collection.
• Ability and willingness to work in difficult terrain in adverse weather conditions (heat, snow, rain, etc.).

This position is designated as a critical or…