Research Assistant

Department: Working Lands Conservation

Employment Type: Fixed Term - Full Time

Location: Working Lands Conservation - Logan, UT

Compensation: $25.50 / hour

Description

ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION:
Working Lands Conservation is a small, research-based non-profit located in Logan, UT. Our goal is to bring science to collaborative partnerships working to improve land management, while supporting communities and livelihoods. Through our work, we facilitate the creation of a resilient future for the communities that work, recreate, and value working lands of the western U.S.

We are a team of field ecologists and communicators. We draw on our extensive experience designing ecological studies, collecting data, and analyzing information to understand how land management contributes to landscape health and stakeholder stewardship objectives. As importantly, we realize that trust, learning, and change happen when science is shared in conversation and as stories. We thus spend as much time building relationships as we do collecting data.

We are a partner-oriented organization. We strongly believe that partnerships of diverse stakeholders lead to innovative management ideas, and that producers are the foundational stewards of working landscapes. We work closely with producers, state agencies, federal agencies, non-profit organizations, and university researchers to fulfill our mission, share ideas, and inspire innovative management.

POSITION SUMMARY:
We’re excited to welcome a Research Assistant to participate in all aspects of our current research and applied projects. This includes working with WLC’s Lead Scientist, Lead Soil Scientist, and Field Work Manager on field-work, laboratory work, and office tasks. We expect the Research Assistant to bring knowledge and experience from past work roles to the job (e.g. could be a mix of: GIS, remote sensing, field-work experience, lab, social media). We also expect the person that fills this position will gain a  wide variety of professional experiences and skills.

Primary Responsibilities

Basic Scientific Roles:

• Work under supervision of WLC staff scientists to accomplish seasonal field work focused on plants, water, soils, and wildlife in rangeland uplands and riparian areas;
• Use GIS / remote sensing skills to make maps, and undertake landscape scoping for various projects;
• Write project reports and present research; 
• Travel for fieldwork.

Office Roles:

• Work under the supervision of WLC’s Scientists to complete work that contributes to office operations and research goals;
• Use QGIS mapping skills for various research projects;
• Conduct literature reviews for ongoing projects;
• Contribute to reports for partners;
• Create outreach materials stemming from WLCs research projects for partners;
• Contribute to WLCs instagram, facebook, and website;
• Maintain office supplies.

Field Research Roles:

• Work under the supervision of WLC’s Scientists to conduct field work on WLC’s portfolio of field-based research projects;
• Travel as needed for field data collection to sites in Utah, New Mexico, or other locations. This includes overnight travel. Travel schedule is expected to be 50 - 60% during field season; 
• Execute the collection of field data under supervision of the WLC Scientists. This may include collecting data on rangeland vegetation, soils, and water;
• Assist the Field Work Manager in cleaning and curating data;
• Assist the Field Work Manager in organizing field logistics including
  lodging, truck maintenance, and gear maintenance. 

Laboratory Roles:

• Work under the supervision of WLC’s Lead Soil Scientist to conduct soil analysis in the WLC Ecosystem Services Laboratory in Logan;
• Work within a laboratory safely abiding by all protocols regarding the use of personal protective equipment and the handling of hazardous materials;
• Keep detailed laboratory notes, neat and orderly laboratory data
  sheets, and up-to-date inventories;
• Run and maintain laboratory instruments after receiving instruction;
• Keep the laboratory clean and organized on a daily basis.

General Roles:

• Collaboratively work with the WLC team to further WLC’s mission;
• Dedicate time to professional development of organizational and management skills;
• Contribute to a healthy and inclusive culture at WLC.

The Ideal Candidate

You are a scientist at any point in your career who loves field-based research and has experience working as a technician on research projects. You are interested in western rangeland ecosystems and v