Job Description

Job Summary
This recruitment will be used to fill four full-time, seasonal (April – September) Biological Sciences Research Technician 1 positions for the Institute for Natural Resources at Oregon State University (OSU). This position will be located in various locations in Oregon, Washington, Nevada, and California.

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 Vegetation Field Ecology Crew Members for sampling in the 2026 field season. These positions are seasonal (~4.5 month) positions to collect Terrestrial Assessment, Inventory, and Monitoring (AIM) data on land managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) across eastern Oregon, eastern Washington, northern Nevada, and northern California. INR will have 2 crews working in northern California/Nevada, and potentially up to 5 more in Oregon and Washington. Generally, individuals will be on a crew that is focused in one BLM district for the season, so that they can become familiar with the plants and geography of that area. Sometimes, particularly later in the season, crews may move around depending on project needs.

Data collected using the AIM strategy is used for land health monitoring to document the condition and changes of plant communities in the context of BLM management actions including grazing, burned area rehabilitation, and greater sage-grouse and other wildlife management. These data can be used by land managers to inform future management actions, monitor treatment effectiveness, and observe trends in the condition of public lands. The data also become publicly available for download. To learn more about the BLM’s AIM strategy, visit https://www.blm.gov/aim.

This work involves following standardized protocols for vegetation sampling, plant identification, and digging and describing soil pits. Crew members will complete all the same sampling tasks and day-to-day work as the crew lead and team lead (see associated BSRT 2 and 3 positions) but may have less experience with the vegetation and are paired with a more experienced partner.

The position is entirely field based, with crews working a Wednesday-Wednesday hitch schedule (hitch 1 will most likely be April 29 – May 6) following a week-long mandatory training at the beginning of the season (April 16-17 online and April 20-24 in-person, location TBD but travel will be provided). On the first and last days of the hitch, crew members drive from their homes to the field sites in OSU vehicles. This allows crew members some flexibility in where they can live, but crews must be based within a reasonable driving distance of the sampling areas. 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 while on hitch.

For other related Biological Science Research Technician positions you maybe interested in:
Biological Science Research Technician 2: Assessment, Inventory, and Monitoring
Biological Science Research Technician 3: Assessment, Inventory, and Monitoring
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 cultural resource centers 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 comprehensive benefits package 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 Benefits Calculator to learn more about the full value of the benefits provided at OSU.
Key Responsibilities
65% – Collect BLM Terrestrial Assessment, Inventory and Monitoring (AIM) program soils and vegetation data using AIM protocols in the field.
15% – Work with INR Data Management Staff to ensure the AIM data gets needed QA-QC and is incorporated into needed databases and provided to the BLM.
10% – 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 We Require
Two years of college-level courses in (specific field of biological science); OR an equivalent combination of training and experience.

What You Will Need
Two years of college-level courses in biology, ecology, botany, soil sciences, or rangeland sciences; 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.