NEON Field Ecologist - Instrumentation - CA

Battelle•Fresno, CA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

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. This position is an onsite role located in Fresno, CA. The rugged Sierra Nevada mountain range is home to 20 wilderness areas; two national monuments; and Yosemite, Sequoia, and Kings Canyon National Parks. They also host all five of the NEON field sites in Domain 17, the Pacific Southwest. The sites are located across the largest elevation gradient in the Observatory, providing a unique opportunity to collect data from the foothills to the higher elevations. NEON sites in the Pacific Southwest Domain are managed from our Fresno, CA office.

Requirements

Associates degree in ecology, forestry, environmental sciences, or related scientific discipline AND One (1) year of related experience OR Two (2) or more years of related experience

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science, Biology, or a related field OR An equivalent combination of education and experience or four (4) years, which provides proficiency in the areas of responsibility listed above, may be substituted for the above education and experience requirements.
Previous NEON experience

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., PuTTY, 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 morphology, aquatic organism abundance and diversity, biogeochemistry, seasonal climatic and hydrologic changes, and riparian phenology; abundance, diversity, and phenology of organisms including small mammals, ticks, mosquitoes, ground beetles, and soil microbes.
Ensure work hazards are identified and mitigated and support a culture of safety.
Follow all permitting requirements and assist with permit reporting and renewals.