1 0 , 0 0 0 Y E A R S I N S T I T U T E
watershed ecological services www.10000yearsinstitute.org
360.385.0715 • PO Box 1081 • Forks, WA 98331
Position: Research Technician
Pay: $13-$15/hour depending on qualifications
Duration: Seasonal, June 15-September 15, 2019
Hours: 10 hours/week
Housing: Overnight housing available
College Internship Opportunity!
This position serves as a seasonal team member at 10KYI to support research and restoration efforts on invasive plants in western Olympic Peninsula watersheds. Under supervision, this position will drive, hike, and/or boat to project sites, and work in teams to implement research efforts on non-native plants that cause harm to native forested watershed ecosystems.
The focus of this position will be assisting with research efforts for three main projects here at 10KYI:
1)How Scotch broom affects riparian plant communities, soil structure, moisture, and nutrient composition
2)Establishing a long-term monitoring program investigating how reed canarygrass affects water speed, temperature, dissolved oxygen, and sediment accumulation
3)Managing invasive plant populations by pulling, cutting, or treating invasive plants
Perfect opportunity for a student who wants to keep a lucrative summer job while getting valuable field research experience in a dynamic environment.
Minimum Requirements:
●High School diploma
●Interest in forest ecology
●Must be able to hike on uneven terrain and carry gear while hiking
●Must be able to read, write, and record data
●Consistent access to working, all-wheel drive vehicle
Job Duties Include, but are not limited to:
●Use GPS units to navigate forested and river floodplain areas of the western Olympic Peninsula
●Use data collection apps on a smartphone or tablet to collect spatial data about plants
●Assist in data collection for various research efforts, mainly pertaining to Scotch broom and reed canarygrass
●Document growth of native riparian species and soil structure where Scotch broom is and is not present
●Support Scotch broom research using soil moisture data loggers, collecting soil cores and samples, and evaluating Scotch-broom associated moss masses
●Set-up of long-term monitoring sites (rebar installation and site characterization) for reed canarygrass research
●Contribute to data collection effort for reed canarygrass research including using a DO meter, flow meter, HOBO tidbit software
●Assist in establishing and testing standard operating procedures for new equipment
●Cutting, pulling, and treating invasive plant populations
Desired Requirements
●At least 1 year college experience in natural resources, forestry, fisheries, aquatic ecology, or a related field
●Experience navigating using maps, aerial photos, and/or GPS, especially in the western Olympic Peninsula
●Familiar with water and/or soil quality monitoring equipment
To Apply:
Qualified and interested applicants should forward a cover letter, résumé, and a list of three professional references to 10,000 Years Institute at P.O. Box 1081, Forks, WA 98331, or by email to jobs@10000yearsinstitute.org. Please reference Research Technician in the subject line.