Assistant Professor, Forest Ecology
Wildland Resources Department
Utah State University
5230 Old Main Hill
Logan, UT 84322-5230
Office: (435) 797-0478

2)    Fire Effects in the Pacific Northwest

These three summer positions, hired out of the University of Idaho, involve measuring fire effects throughout the Pacific Northwest (roughly within the basin of the Columbia River) to support research into fire refugia and whether climate variability and trends affect unburned islands within fire perimeters. Tasks include navigating to pre-determined points within fire perimeters, and assessing what the effect of fire was on the vegetation and surface fuels.

Qualifications: Previous experience taking vegetation research data, working safely in challenging environments, and following complex data collection protocols is required. Experience with fire-related data collection strongly preferred. Candidates should demonstrate the ability to solve problems and to work both in teams of two or three. Work will involve moving through sometimes steep, rocky terrain with delicate and expensive equipment while carrying a full field pack. Staff must have a driver’s license and a Wilderness First Aid/CPR certification (or higher) valid until September 30, 2014 (if you are not certified, please include your plans for certification in your cover letter).

Other: Practical experience in the operation and maintenance of computer, electronic, and mechanical equipment; familiarity with a variety of software and instrumentation; and experience with periods of outdoor living are all positives.

Duration: Early June  – end-August 2014; some flexibility is possible to cater for  the various university schedules.

Salary: $10 to $13 per hour, depending on experience. The work schedule is four, ten hour days per week most of the time, but some work periods will require 8-days on/6-days off.

Apply: Please assemble all of the following into a single PDF file and email it to james.lutz@usu.edu – 1) A one-page cover letter describing your interests, reasons for applying, and specific dates of availability (including any planned mid-summer absences), 2) A resume or CV, no longer than two pages, 3) Unofficial transcripts, and 4) Phone numbers and email addresses of references (please do not send letters of reference).

Contact Jim Lutz at james.lutz@usu.edu with questions.

Application deadline: February 28, 2014.  Decisions: March 31, 2014. Exceptional candidates will be selected earlier.

James A Lutz
Assistant Professor, Forest Ecology
Wildland Resources Department
Utah State University
5230 Old Main Hill
Logan, UT 84322-5230
Office: (435) 797-0478

3)    Yosemite National Park

These four summer positions involve a complete remeasurement of the 25.6 ha Yosemite Forest Dynamics Plot, located near Crane Flat in old-growth sugar pine/white fir forest.  The plot burned at generally low to moderate severity in the 2013 Rim Fire.  Tasks include revisiting each tree and snag; recording mortalities, ingrowth, and newly fallen wood; measuring scorch and snag heights; and mapping shrub patches, down CWD and areas of the forest floor that did not burn. Other tasks include measuring fuel consumption along fixed transects, installing and measuring dendrometers, and collecting data from associated instrumentation. Mortality checks require hatchet use. Staff will supervise students and volunteers.

Qualifications: Previous experience taking vegetation research data, working safely in challenging environments, and following complex data collection protocols is required. Candidates should demonstrate the ability to solve problems and to work both independently and in teams of two or three. Work will involve moving through sometimes steep, rocky terrain with delicate and expensive equipment, as well as the ability to carry up to 15 kg of additional gear. Work experience in post-fire forests strongly desired, as is some knowledge of western flora, tree pathogens, and forest insects. Staff must have a driver’s license and a Wilderness First Aid/CPR certification (or higher) valid until August 31, 2014 (if you are not certified, please include your plans for certification in your cover letter).

Other: Practical experience in the operation and maintenance of computer, electronic, and mechanical equipment; familiarity with a variety of software and instrumentation; and experience with periods of outdoor living are all positives.

Duration: Late-May – mid-August 2014; there is some schedule flexibility for people graduating from ‘quarter system’ universities.  Two employees will be able to continue work on my other projects (Fire Effects in the Pacific Northwest and the Utah Forest Dynamics Plot) after this one is finished.

Salary: $10 to $13 per hour, depending on experience. Camping accommodations provided. The work schedule is four, ten hour days per week.

Apply: Please assemble all of the following into a single PDF file and email it to james.lutz@usu.edu – 1) A one-page cover letter describing your interests, reasons for applying, and specific dates of availability (including any planned mid-summer absences), 2) A resume or CV, no longer than two pages, 3) Unofficial transcripts, and 4) Phone numbers and email addresses of references (please do not send letters of reference).

Additional information and background at: http://www.yfdp.org, the Facebook Group “Yosemite Forest Dynamics Plot”, and the gigapan.com group ‘WesternForestInitiative’. Contact Jim Lutz at james.lutz@usu.edu with questions not answered on those pages.

Application deadline: January 31, 2014.  Decisions: February 28, 2014. Exceptional candidates will be selected earlier.

James A Lutz
Assistant Professor, Forest Ecology
Wildland Resources Department
Utah State University
5230 Old Main Hill
Logan, UT 84322-5230
Office: (435) 797-0478