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Biological Science Research Technician 2

Oregon State University

Biological Science Research Technician 2

Oregon State University

Department: INR-Or Biodvrsty InfoCtr (RNR)

Appointment Type: Classified Staff

Job Location: Various Locations

Recommended Full-Time Salary Range:

Job Summary:

This recruitment will be used to fill seven full-time, seasonal (March – December) Biological Science Research Technician 2 positions for the Institute for Natural Resources at Oregon State University (OSU ). These positions will be located in Oregon and Washington.

Please be sure to enter all relevant employment and volunteer experience in the itemized employment experience section as that is how you will be evaluated for minimum qualifications and salary level.

This posting will be used to hire numerous ve Forest ecology field crew members for sampling in the 2026 field season. The positions are seasonal (~7 months) positions to collect Forest Inventory and Assessment (FIA ) data on forested land across Oregon, Washington, and northern California. INR will have multiple crews working across these areas, but the majority of plots will be near Grants Pass, Eugene, and La Grande, Oregon and Olympia and Sedro-Woolley, Washington. Generally, individuals will be on a crew that is focused in one Forest Service duty station, so that they can become familiar with the forests and geography of that area. Sometimes, crews will make sampling hitches in other areas around the region depending on program needs.

Data collected as a part of the FIA program is used for forest health monitoring to document the condition and changes of forest communities on forest lands under any ownership. These data can be used by land managers to inform future management actions, monitor stand productivity, and observe trends in the condition of America’s forests. The data also become publicly available for download. To learn more about the US Forest Service FIA program, visit https://research.fs.usda.gov/programs/fia.

This work involves following standardized protocols for monitoring tree growth and condition, plant community characterization, and quantifying fuel loading. Knowledge of tree and other plant identification, common forest pathogens and insect pests, forest ecology, and field sampling methods are needed for successful FIA implementation. Ensuring that all of the data has been collected on the plot, managing datasheets and digital survey forms, and managing unknown plants are also essential.

Field techs will work with US Forest Service personnel based out of one of several potential US Forest Service duty stations on a two or more person crew while they complete the assigned plots. The majority of the work will be in the field, sampling the plots, but each plot requires some office work to complete data processing. The schedule will depend on the duty station and the particular plots that need to be sampled and could be 5 to 8-day sampling hitches with camping or hotel lodging, or daily trips out of the duty station. Due to the extensive travel involved with the work and the far-flung duty stations, we are somewhat flexible about the living situation of crew members. We hope that the crew members can live near the duty station of the forest service crew they are working with, but we also budget for a reasonable amount of travel between crew members homes and the assigned duty station at the beginning and end of each work hitch. Duty stations will likely be in Eugene, Gants Pass, and La Grande, Oregon and Olympia and Sedro-Woolley, Washington.

In past seasons, crews have been based in western Oregon (such as Corvallis, Portland, and Eugene), central Oregon (such as Redmond or Bend), or central Washington (for crews based in Washington). Housing is not provided for this position, but a generous per diem is provided for food and camping and hotel accommodation expenses will be reimbursed while on hitch.

Why OSU?

Working for Oregon State University is so much more than a job!

Oregon State University is a dynamic community of dreamers, doers, problem-solvers and change-makers. We don’t wait for challenges to present themselves — we seek them out and take them on. We welcome students, faculty and staff from every background and perspective into a community where everyone feels seen and heard. We have deep-rooted mindfulness for the natural world and all who depend on it, and together, we apply knowledge, tools and skills to build a better future for all.

FACTS :

• Top 1.4% university in the world

• More research funding than all public universities in Oregon combined

• 1 of 3 land, sea, space and sun grant universities in the U.S.

• 2 campuses, 11 colleges, 12 experiment stations, and Extension programs in all 36 counties

• 7 https://hr.oregonstate.edu/work-life/diversity-and-cultural-resources that offer education, celebration and belonging for everyone

• 100+ undergraduate degree programs, 80+ graduate degrees plus hundreds of minor options and certificates

• 35k+ students including more than 2.3k international students and 10k students of color

• 217k+ alumni worldwide

• For more interesting facts about OSU visit: https://oregonstate.edu/about

Locations:

Oregon State has a statewide presence with campuses in Corvallis and Bend, the OSU Portland Center and the Hatfield Marine Science Center on the Pacific Coast in Newport.

Oregon State’s beautiful, historic and state-of-the-art main campus is located in one of America’s best college towns. Corvallis is located close to the Pacific Ocean, the Cascade mountains and Oregon wine country. Nestled in the heart of the Willamette Valley, this beautiful city offers miles of mountain biking and hiking trails, a river perfect for boating or kayaking and an eclectic downtown featuring local cuisine, popular events and performances.

Total Rewards Package:

Oregon State University offers a https://hr.oregonstate.edu/benefits/prospective-employee with benefits eligible positions that is designed to meet the needs of employees and their families including:

• Medical, Dental, Vision and Basic Life. OSU pays 95% of premiums for you and your eligible dependents.

• Free confidential mental health and emotional support services, and counseling resources.

• Retirement savings paid by the university.

• A generous paid leave package, including holidays, vacation and sick leave.

• Tuition reduction benefits for you or your qualifying dependents at OSU or the additional six Oregon Public Universities.

• Robust Work Life programs including Dual Career assistance resources, flexible work arrangements, a Family Resource Center, Affinity Groups and an Employee Assistance Program.

• Optional lifestyle benefits such as pet, accident, and critical illness insurance, giving you peace of mind and the support you need to thrive in all aspects of your life.

Future and current OSU employees can use the https://hr.oregonstate.edu/benefits/new-employees/benefits-calculator to learn more about the full value of the benefits provided at OSU .

Key Responsibilities

60% – Collect forest monitoring data using FIA protocols in the field.

15% – Work with USFS Staff to ensure the FIA data gets needed QA-QC and is incorporated into appropriate USFS databases. 15% – Drive throughout field area and navigate with maps and GPS to unique or typical habitats or preselected points.

10% – Hike to off-road sites, identify plants and plant communities.

What You Will Need

Two years of college-level courses in biology, environmental sciences, ecology, botany, soil sciences, or rangeland sciences and one year of experience related to the area of assignment at the Biological Research Technician 1 level; OR an equivalent combination of training and experience.

This position requires driving a university vehicle or a personal vehicle on behalf of the university; therefore, the incumbent must successfully complete a motor vehicle history check, possess, and maintain a current, valid driver’s license in their state of residence, be determined to be position qualified and self-report convictions as per University Policy 05-030.

What We Would Like You to Have

• Coursework in forestry, botany, ecology, field methods, or plant identification classes or enrollment in a degree program in the biological sciences.

• Familiarity with computers, tablets, and software used in field sampling. Specific experience with the FIA data management software program MIDAS is desired, with the ability to learn essential.

• Knowledge of forest monitoring methods, such tree height and DBH measurement, tree disease identification, species inventories, etc.

• Knowledge and experience using dichotomous keys to identify plants.

• Experience working in northwest forest and woodland ecosystems.

• Experience dry camping or backpacking, especially in areas without access to water or facilities.

• Experience navigating backcountry terrain using a map, compass, and GPS for driving and hiking.

• Experience driving 4WD vehicles on dirt and gravel roads and hiking on and off-trail through rugged terrain in remote locations to set up and monitor sampling locations.

• Experience working in remote areas without cell service, working independently and as a team.

• Excellent interpersonal communication skills.

• Excellent organizational skills and ability to complete tasks on time.

• Outdoor leadership experience and/or experience supervising field research technicians.

• Wilderness first aid or higher certification.

• Knowledge of Leave No Trace and Tread Lightly principles.

• Experience working and/or living with people or groups from differing backgrounds.

• Demonstrable commitment to promoting diversity, equity and inclusion.

Working Conditions / Work Schedule

• Must be willing to work 10-hour days for up to 8 days at a time over a 14-day cycle, depending on duty station.

• Ability to work in a variety of harsh and quickly changing weather and environmental conditions including, but not limited to: sun exposure with limited shade, thunderstorms, smoky conditions (not to exceed OSU’s maximum particulate exposure), rainy, windy, wintery mix, cold, and hot weather conditions

• Will be working and camping outside in remote field study areas.

• Involves spending a lot of time in a vehicle and must have a valid driver’s license.

• Routinely hike off trail across uneven/rugged terrain while carrying a backpack with research equipment and personal gear for up to several miles in a day.

• Regularly requires squatting, kneeling, and standing for extended periods of time.

• Requires lifting and moving around research equipment and gear (coolers, 7-gallon water jugs, etc.) in and out of work vehicles.

Special Instructions to Applicants

To ensure full consideration, applications must be received by February 11, 2026. Applications will continue to be accepted after the full consideration date, until a sufficient applicant pool has been achieved or the position is filled. The closing date is subject to change without notice to applicants.

Applications will be reviewed based on the information submitted on the employment profile with education and work history along with any other requested documentation i.e. posting specific question responses, transcripts, etc. Your profile MUST clearly show how you meet the minimum/required qualifications for the position. Resumes are NOT accepted at the application stage for this position.

You will be required to answer 4 supplemental questions (one is optional) within the application. For the questions asking about prior experiences you are welcome to use and discuss experiences and examples from outside professional work experience such as volunteering, community service, transferable skills, workshops, conferences, lived experience, etc. Please keep your statements concise. If you do not have any applicable experience for a question, please answer with “N/A”

Equivalent required experience is based on full-time equivalent (40 hours per week).

PLEASE NOTE : If you have volunteer experience relevant to this position, please include in the Employment History section and note length of time, average number of hours per week and major duties.

Typically, the starting salary is at the lower end of the salary range.

For additional information please contact: Michael Russell at Michael.Russell@oregonstate.edu or 541-602-4940.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability, protected veteran, and other protected status.

OSU will conduct a review of the National Sex Offender Public website prior to hire.

OSU is a fair chance employer committed to inclusive hiring. We encourage applications from candidates who bring a wide range of lived experience including involvement with the justice system. This job has “critical or security-sensitive” responsibilities. If you are selected as a finalist, your initial job offer will be contingent upon the results of a job-related pre-employment check (such as a background check, motor vehicle history check, sexual misconduct reference check, etc.). Background check results do not automatically disqualify a candidate. Take a look at our https://hr.oregonstate.edu/careers/background-checks website including the https://hr.oregonstate.edu/careers/candidates section for more details. If you have questions or concerns about the pre-employment check, please contact OSU’s Employee and Labor Relations team at employee.relations@oregonstate.edu

Transcripts must be submitted for all required and/or related courses. All courses must be from accredited colleges, universities, or private vocational schools. The online application system will allow you to attach your transcripts if the PDF file is 9MB or less. Transcripts must be received by the closing date. If you have trouble uploading your transcripts, reach out to the contact listed.

To apply, please visit: https://apptrkr.com/6896315

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