26-103: Lead Field Technician

Colorado State University•Fort Collins, CO

1d•Remote

About The Position

The Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere (CIRA) at Colorado State University (CSU) is a multi-million dollar research organization located on CSU's Foothills Campus in Fort Collins, Colorado. CIRA is a cooperative institute (CI) that is also a research department within CSU's College of Engineering, in partnership with the Department of Atmospheric Science. Its vision is to conduct interdisciplinary research in the atmospheric sciences by entraining skills beyond the meteorological disciplines, exploiting advances in engineering and computer science, facilitating transitional activity between pure and applied research, leveraging both national and international resources and partnerships, and assisting the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), CSU, the State of Colorado, and the Nation through the application of our research to areas of societal benefit. Expanding on this Vision, our Mission is to serve as a nexus for multi-disciplinary cooperation among CI and NOAA research scientists, University faculty, staff and students in the context of NOAA-specified research theme areas in satellite applications for weather/climate forecasting. Important bridging elements of the CI include the communication of research findings to the international scientific community, transition of applications and capabilities to NOAA operational users, education and training programs for operational user proficiency, outreach programs to K-12 education and the general public for environmental literacy, and understanding and quantifying the societal impacts of NOAA research. This position is located in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem in Teton County, WY. The individual in this position will be an employee of CIRA at Colorado State University, report to CIRA’s Great Gray Owl Research Team Leader, and conduct fieldwork, data collection, and data management related to Great Gray Owl ecology. This project will provide wildlife and habitat managers with data related to key habitat, demography, and responses to environmental change. This position is fully remote.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree plus 3-4 years of experience conducting fieldwork in the Rocky Mountain West
At least 1 year of experience conducting forest owl fieldwork, specifically
Experience working with Great Gray Owls
Experience collecting and managing field data
Experience working in remote, backcountry field sites safely, including navigating and hiking off trail, carrying heavy packs with field gear
Ability to work independently and with field team members, including project volunteers
Must have a valid driver’s license or the ability to obtain a driver’s license or access to a licensed driver by the start of the position
Must be able to hike 5-8 miles per day across rolling terrain while carrying a 30 pound pack

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s Degree in biology, ecology, life sciences, or engineering

Responsibilities

Search for and monitor nests to determine territory occupancy, nest initiation, nest success, and productivity.
Deploy and maintain nest cameras, nest temperature loggers, and automated recording units to monitor nesting behavior and environmental conditions.
Survey nest habitat to quantify nest structure and stand characteristics.
Band and relocate owls to monitor site fidelity, survival, and behavioral responses to environmental change.
Collect atmospheric and snow data at meteorological stations.
Maintain detailed records of all field activities and observations.
Collect, record, and enter and/or upload all field data into databases following project protocols.
Conduct quality control of data entry to ensure data accuracy, completeness, and consistency.
Process audio recordings and camera images.
Maintain field equipment and supplies.
Assist with project report preparation and presentation of results.