Thursday, March 10, 2011

HERPETOLOGY HOURLY FIELD RESEARCHERS

Received from CNAH from USFWS 9 March 2011

St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge in association with the
Florida Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit

is seeking applicants for

HERPETOLOGY HOURLY FIELD RESEARCHERS

Position Title: Herpetology Research Technician

The University of Florida is seeking two temporary hourly field researchers to assist with field surveys of Gopher Tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) populations in at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge in the Big Bend of Florida. The position is an 8-week appointment beginning approximately 1 June 2011 and extending to 31 July 2011.

Location: St. Marks, Florida

Managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge supports an array of habitats, ranging from saltwater marshes to upland pine forests. Located in Wakulla, Jefferson, and Taylor Counties, St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge lies in the Eastern portion of the Florida panhandle, approximately 25 miles south of Tallahassee. The refuge covers approximately 70,000 acres. Pine-dominated uplands occupy about 28 percent of the total refuge area, and are represented by four natural community types: mesic flatwoods, scrubby flatwoods, wet flatwoods, and sandhill. Gopher tortoises primarily exist within approximately 5,500 acres of sandhill habitats while and an additional 7,000 acres of other upland pine types provides secondary habitat.

Duties: The successful candidates will be responsible for the following: 1. Collect Field Data (75%) - Conduct line transect distance sampling through potentially rough terrain, locating and scoping Gopher Tortoise burrows utilizing a Trimble Nomad handheld computer, ArcPad 7.1.1 software, and a burrow camera. 2. Data Entry (15%) - In ArcGIS and ArcPad. 3. Other Duties Assigned (10%) - assistance with other surveys and assessment of tortoise habitat outside of the line transect distance sampling frame. The position will require extensive walking through difficult terrain in hot and buggy conditions. Inclement weather, poisonous plants, stinging insects and poisonous snakes are inherent dangers in this work environment. A field vehicle will be provided and travel expenses related to official work will be covered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Qualifications: Qualifications include a Bachelor of Science degree from an accredited university (or current enrollment as a student in good standing in a program leading to a B.S. in wildlife, ecology, conservation, forestry, or natural resource management) with coursework in herpetology, ecology, and conservation biology. Previous experience with GPS technology is preferred. Relevant work experience and/or coursework with southeastern herpetofauna are desirable. The successful applicant must be in good physical condition and willing to work in hot, humid, and buggy conditions. Applicants must have a valid driver's license and safe driving record.

Benefits: $12.00 per hour with on-site dormitory style housing provided. No benefits package is available. Available refuge-maintained housing is located ½ mile from the Wakulla River, a spring-fed coastal river which bisects the refuge.

To apply, send a resume including contact information of at least three references, and a letter of application detailing your interest and qualifications by email to:

ngosi@ufl.edu

(Subject line) Herpetology Hourly Field Researcher, and cc to

Michael_Keys@fws.gov

Information may also be mailed to:

Dr. Raymond Carthy
Florida Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
University of Florida
P.O. Box 110485
Gainesville, Florida 32611-0485
Fax: (352) 846-0841

For specific questions related to this position please contact Dr. Carthy, Assistant Unit Leader, at

ngosi@ufl.edu

APPLICATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED BY 18 MARCH 2011: Review will begin immediately and continue until the positions are filled. The University of Florida is an equal opportunity institution.

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