Bioacoustic Technician

Job Description

Up to ten field technicians are needed to undertake field work for bioacoustics research projects throughout National Forests in the Sierra Nevada region in California. This monitoring program uses autonomous recording units (ARUs) to survey for avifauna and provide information for several research and management programs studying forest owls and songbirds.

This multi-year research project focuses largely on the distribution of California spotted owls and the invasive barred owl, in order to provide information vital to the successful management of both species at broad spatial scales in the Sierra Nevada. Additional research is being conducted on the distributions of forest owls and songbirds across the range.

Start and end dates for this position are dependent on snowpack, but the season will likely run mid-April to late-July. Target start date of April 17, with the end date in mid-late July.  Pay is $20-$22/hour depending on experience.

A typical workweek is 40 hours, generally 4 days/week. Field housing will be provided, but frequent camping of several nights/week is required. Schedules will be irregular, dependent on weather conditions, and will include a combination of field and office work. Field work consists of deploying and retrieving autonomous recording units throughout National Forest Service land. Most sites will be reached by vehicle via forest roads, but some areas may involve short-distance hikes to deployment locations. Office work can include, but is not limited to, data entry, downloading and managing acoustic data, and prepping and troubleshooting equipment. Other duties may include clearing roads of debris, and vehicle maintenance. Much of the work will be solitary, but group work and cooperative living will also be required. Technicians must be respectful of others as well as work and live together cooperatively.

Qualifications

Qualified applicants will have a Bachelor's degree in Wildlife or related field or relevant field experience. Ideal applicants will have experience working in remote conditions; working solo in the field for days at a time; and driving 4wd vehicles on unmaintained, back country roads.  Chainsaw certification is a plus.

Qualifications also include:

-Ability to safely operate 4-wheel-drive vehicles on backcountry roads

-Applicants must be physically fit (i.e., able to walk up to 1 mile in sometimes steep terrain)

-Demonstrated ability to take detailed field notes and translate these into electronic databases

-Ability to work alone far from human settlements

-Ability and confidence navigating unfamiliar terrain with maps, compass and GPS

-Ability to follow established field protocols

-Ability to adapt a work plan to changing field conditions

-Must work and live cooperatively

-A valid U.S. driver’s license and a clean driving record is required. Must meet requirements to be authorized to drive university fleet vehicles

Applicants must apply through the UW, Madison job site:

https://jobs.hr.wisc.edu/en-us/job/516256/res-technician-peery

The application deadline is 19 Feb, 2023, however we will review applicants and conduct interviews on a rolling basis.  Please follow link above to include a cover letter stating why you are interested in a position, and a resume with at least three references and their contact information, all in a single file. For questions or additional information about the position please contact Sheila Whitmore (whitmore2@wisc.edu).

UW-Madison College of Agricultural and Life Sciences is committed to maintaining and growing a culture that embraces diversity, inclusion, and equity, believing that these values are foundational elements of our excellence and fundamental components of a positive and enriching learning and working environment for all students, faculty, and staff.