Student Contractors: Biological Science Technicians

Student Contractors 

Biological Science Technicians 

The Western Ecological Research Center (WERC) of the USGS has an immediate opening for eight student interns or recent graduates (within the past year) to work as part of a team collecting forest data in the Sierra Nevada. Six students will be crew members and two will be crew leaders. 

The students will be participating in a team effort to collect forest health, fire, and fuels data. Duties include measuring tree diameters and heights, recording fuels, mapping trees, and identifying insects and diseases in order to conduct tree mortality assessments. An interest in natural resources, experience hiking (backpacking experience strongly preferred), strong interpersonal and communication skills, and the ability to collect forest health, fire, and fuels data are required. Crew lead positions will require prior leadership experience and will have the additional responsibilities of crew safety, protocol training, field logistics, and compiling/processing data.  

Work will primarily be performed in the field. Locations include Sequoia National Park, Yosemite National Park, and surrounding National Forest Service land. Elevations range from approximately 5,000 – 12,000 feet. Crews will typically work four 10-hour days per week, although they may be required to work as many as eight days consecutively to accommodate trips into the wilderness. Field sites are in front country and back country locations with off trail travel and some backpacking required. Conditions will be variable, and crews will work in challenging conditions including burn areas, heat, cold, shrub fields, biting insects, and high elevation. Work will be conducted from May through September with the potential for flexibility based on students’ schedules.  

These are paid student contractor positions. The level of education required is at least 1 year of college. Compensation is commensurate with the role and level of responsibility of the position on the team ranging from, approximately $16.73 (1 year of college) for basic crew work to $26.03 (recent BA/BS or MA/MS graduates) for an independent crew lead.  

Duration of work will be for up to one year, with an estimated starting date of 5/18/2026 for crew members and 4/20/2026 for crew leads.  

The people selected will be based out of the Sequoia Kings Canyon Field station in Three Rivers, CA.  

Please send cover letter, resume, transcripts and list of relevant courses by February 15, 2026 to: 

Nicholas Ampersee 

USGS WERC 

Sequoia Kings Canyon Field Station 

47050 Generals Hwy 

Three Rivers, CA 93271 

nampersee@usgs.gov