Hudsonian Godwit Field Technician

About UMass Amherst

UMass Amherst, the Commonwealth's flagship campus, is a nationally ranked public research university offering a full range of undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. The University sits on nearly 1,450-acres in the scenic Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts, and offers a rich cultural environment in a bucolic setting close to major urban centers. In addition, the University is part of the Five Colleges (including Amherst College, Hampshire College, Mount Holyoke College, and Smith College), which adds to the intellectual energy of the region.

Job Summary

The Senner Lab in the Department of Environmental Conservation at the University of Massachusetts Amherst is seeking to hire one seasonal field technician to assist with research on the ecology of Hudsonian Godwits (Limosa haemastica) in Beluga, Alaska. The field technician will assist with all aspects of fieldwork, with opportunities for learning research skills throughout the season. The position will run from 1 May – 10 July 2024. Airfare, shared field housing, food, all necessary equipment, and a stipend of $15.00/hour will be provided. 

Essential Functions

• Searching and monitoring Hudsonian Godwit nests.
• Capture, banding, tagging, and resighting of Hudsonian Godwit adults and chicks.
• Maintenance of an array of 100+ trail cameras.
• Invertebrate monitoring, including sample collection, identification, and measurement.
• Habitat characterization.

Other Functions

• Work collaboratively and effectively to promote teamwork, diversity, equality and inclusiveness. 
• Work in partnership with colleagues within the CNS community and across the campus to support the Dean’s strategic priorities.
• Perform other duties as assigned in support of the mission and goals of the College of Natural Sciences.

Minimum Qualifications

• Interest in avian ecology, field biology, animal movement, species interactions, and/or related fields.
• Ability to walk long hours in physically demanding settings.
• Comfortable living and sleeping in close quarters.
• Comfortable using ATVs for transportation.
• Strong work ethic, eagerness to learn fieldwork and research methods, and ability to work well on a team and independently in challenging physical conditions and sometimes stressful scenarios. Applicant must be adaptable, communicative, cooperative, and detail-oriented.

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous experience with fieldwork and following research protocols.
• Previous experience in bird handling and camera trapping.
• Familiarity with (or desire to learn) interpretation of bird behavior, identification of birds from sight and sound, and nest searching.
• Familiarity with invertebrate identification to orders.

Physical Demands/Working Conditions

This position requires working in muskeg bogs in challenging physical conditions - including biting insects, bright sun, rain, and walking long distances. 

Work Schedule

Work hours may vary throughout the season, with efforts requiring both working early in the morning and late into the evening.

Salary Information

$15.00/hour

Special Instructions to Applicants

Applicants must apply through the UMass HR Portal here https://careers.umass.edu/en-us/job/522409

Please submit a resume, brief cover letter describing your interest and relevant experience, and contact information for two references. Candidates who identify with groups currently underrepresented in wildlife ecology and conservation are encouraged to apply. 

As part of a commitment to their own multicultural community, CNS seeks an individual with a demonstrated commitment to diversity and one who will understand and embrace university initiatives and aspirations. (https://www.cns.umass.edu/diversity-equity-inclusion)

UMass Amherst is committed to a policy of equal opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, age, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, disability, military status, or genetic information in employment, admission to and participation in academic programs, activities, and services, and the selection of vendors who provide services or products to the University. To fulfill that policy, UMass Amherst is further committed to a program of affirmative action to eliminate or mitigate artificial barriers and to increase opportunities for the recruitment and advancement of qualified minorities, women, persons with disabilities, and covered veterans. It is the policy of the UMass Amherst to comply with the applicable federal and state statutes, rules, and regulations concerning equal opportunity and affirmative action.