NEON Field Ecologist - General - WA

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.

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.

We are currently seeking Field Ecologist I – General. This position is an onsite role located in Vancouver, WA.

If you can't choose between the mountains and the ocean, the Pacific Northwest (Domain 16) may be the place for you. This coastal Domain features spectacular mountain ranges, vast conifer forests, and a rugged, rocky coastline. The NEON field sites, nestled into the Cascade Mountains of Washington and Oregon, offer an opportunity to see how different land management strategies impact this unique temperate ecosystem.

NEON sites in the Pacific Northwest Domain are managed from our Vancouver, WA office.

Physical Demands 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, stinging and biting insects, and wildlife hazards. Instrument maintenance involves performing work on instrument towers ranging in height from 65 feet to 240 feet, which includes ascending and descending multiple flights of stairs or ladders.

Driving off-highway in 4WD vehicles is required for most field sites.

Work Schedule and Travel

Work schedules are typically 10 hours per day Monday-Thursday 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.

Frequent overnight travel is required. From approximately November through March, travel frequency is up to three times per month, typically one to two nights per trip. Travel from March through November is less frequent but may include more nights per trip.

• Duties for this position vary seasonally. From approximately March through November, the focus will be on terrestrial observational sampling at the ABBY and WREF field sites. From approximately November through March, the position will support high-frequency sampling of surface water chemistry and discharge, and maintenance of in-stream sensors at the MART and MCRA sites.
• Plan, schedule, provide technical oversight for, and perform field sampling following established, standardized field, lab, and shipping procedures. This may include abundance, diversity, and phenology of organisms including small mammals, ticks, mosquitoes, ground beetles, and soil microbes data collection; plant phenology, diversity, productivity, and…