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

OSU Rec Sports - Sport. Leadership. Wellness. • Union, NJ

6d • Onsite

About The Position

The Eastern Oregon Agricultural Research Center, Union Experiment Station, is hiring two full-time, 12-month, fixed-term Faculty Research Assistants. The positions are based in Union, Oregon, and support research in forest and rangeland ecology and management. Reappointment is at the discretion of the Department Head.

The assistants will contribute to projects on mule deer forage availability and habitat quality; the ecology, management, and restoration of First Foods, particularly Roots and Berries, in partnership with tribes, agencies, and nonprofit organizations; and the responses of riparian, grassland, and forest ecosystems to restoration and management treatments. Work includes collecting environmental, natural-resource, and ecological data in the field; implementing field and laboratory experiments such as seed germination studies; collaborating with ecologists, land managers, stewards, and project partners; assisting with data analysis; and contributing to or authoring publications, reports, presentations, and outreach materials.

The Union Station is one of two research stations within EOARC. Its research and outreach address rangeland ecology and management, wildlife management, ecological restoration, alternative livestock systems, and sustainable resource management in eastern Oregon. The position requires a criminal history check and a motor vehicle history check, along with a valid driver's license, because it is designated critical or security-sensitive and includes university-related driving.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in ecology, botany, plant ecology, natural resources, rangeland ecology, wildlife, or a related discipline.
• Experience measuring and collecting natural-resource and/or ecological data in field settings, such as soil, slope, aspect, richness, diversity, composition, or density.
• Experience using GPS units to navigate to locations and record spatial data in the field.
• Experience and/or training in the use of dichotomous keys, plant identification, and plant or 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) and Google Docs.
• Ability to lift, carry, push, and pull objects weighing up to 50 pounds.
• Ability to kneel or squat for extended periods while collecting data and samples.
• Ability and willingness to work in difficult terrain and adverse weather conditions, including heat, snow, and rain.
• Must successfully complete a criminal history check and be determined position qualified.
• Must successfully complete a motor vehicle history check, maintain a current valid driver's license in the state of residence, and be determined position qualified.

Nice To Haves

• Demonstrable commitment to inclusive excellence.
• Master’s degree in ecology, botany, plant ecology, natural resources, rangeland ecology, wildlife, or a related discipline.
• Experience or knowledge of seed germination and plant propagation techniques.
• Working knowledge of plant communities and plant species of the interior Pacific Northwest.
• Proficiency with GPS, GIS, and statistical applications such as ArcGIS, R, Google Earth, Survey123, and Avenza.
• Experience collecting field data using tablets, smartphones, and/or rugged computers.
• Experience and knowledge of Traditional Ecological Knowledge/Indigenous Knowledge, decolonizing methodologies and approaches, ethics related to knowledge co-production, and collaboration with Indigenous partners.
• Experience driving 4WD vehicles on dirt or gravel roads.
• Experience in data management and analysis.

Responsibilities

• Collect scientific data and measure ecological and natural-resource variables in field settings.
• Maintain research records.
• Communicate effectively with the research team.
• Collaborate with external research partners.
• Support research projects involving mule deer forage and habitat quality, First Foods, and ecosystem responses to restoration and management treatments.
• Implement field and laboratory experiments, including seed germination studies.
• Assist with data analysis and contribute to or author publications, reports, presentations, and outreach materials.
• Work with ecologists, land managers, stewards, tribes, agencies, and other project partners.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level