Student Technician II

CLOSING DATE: Applications accepted until position is filled. PAY RANGE: Commensurate with experience starting at $10.50/hr.
HOUSING: Provided
LENGTH OF POSITION: Employment period is for 12 to 16 weeks between May 2005 and August 2005
LOCATION: Black Hills National Forest, Custer and Hill City, South Dakota


TO APPLY: Please send a resume, cover letter, and 3 reference contacts to the e-mail (e-mail preferred) or address below.


Project description:
This project aims to develop techniques to maintain fuels treatments using prescribed fire to regulate ponderosa pine regeneration in the Black Hills.


Job Description:
Summer fieldwork will be aimed at sampling the forest characteristics in areas that were prescribed burn in the Fall of 2004 in the Black Hills National Forest, South Dakota. Field staff will hike to field sites established in Summer of 2004 and measure survivorship of ponderosa pine seedlings/saplings, surface fuel consumption, and other fire damage variables.
Establishment of new field sites to be prescribed burn in Fall of 2005 will also take place. Field staff will hike into predetermined sites and measure forest structure, seedling regeneration, fuels, and other stand characteristics.
Laboratory work may include field data entry, core sample preparation, and other duties as assigned.
Working hours vary from 8-10 hours/day, although the crew leader may schedule longer or shorter days or workweeks to facilitate scheduling. For example, a 40 hours workweek may consist of 5, eight hour days or 4, ten hour days. In the event of inclement weather, a 6th day may be required to complete the work week. Overtime compensation will not be provided.
This position will require organizational, navigational, and time management skills. Enthusiastic, highly motivated individuals with previous experience working in forests or burned areas are preferable.


QUALIFICATIONS:
Work experience or coursework including field exercises covering the
following:
1) Skill in the use of instruments for measuring tree and forest stand characteristics, including diameter tapes, compass, prisms, clinometers, and increment borers.
2) Coursework or experience in forestry, natural resources management, forest ecology, or related field is desired.
3) Ability to use or learn to use handheld data recorders, radios, GPS, other field equipment.
4) This position is 90% + field work. Field technician may be exposed to hot dry weather, rough terrain, unpredictable weather, insects, and other environmental conditions; must be capable of sustained physical work under these conditions.


Contact:


Mike Battaglia
Graduate Research Assistant
Colorado State University
Dept of Forest, Rangeland, Watershed Stewardship
Fort Collins, CO 80523
491-0491 (office)
mbattagl@cnr.colostate.edu