------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- JOB ANNOUNCEMENT (Seasonal Positions) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Two soil scientist positions are available for the field season 2009 to inventory soils of the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness as part of the Terrestrial Ecological Unit Inventory (TEUI) of the Custer National Forest in Montana. A considerable portion of the field work will be located in the upper subalpine and alpine zones of the Beartooth Mountains immediately northeast of Yellowstone National Park. This mountain range is known for extensive high elevation plateaus with the largest continuous alpine area of the lower 48 states. Soil scientists will team up with botanists to locate sampling site with GPS, topographic maps and/or aerial photos, inventory plant community, characterize landforms and complete soil survey. Applicants must be in excellent physical condition, able to hike in rugged, mountainous terrain, carry heavy loads, dig one meter deep soil pits in rocky substrates, and be enthusiastic about working and living outdoors in variable weather. Due to the remote location of many sampling sites, jobs require living in the backcountry for 8 consecutive days with appropriate time off between trips. Field work will start middle of June and continue to the end of August 2009. QUALIFICATIONS: Course work and/or field experience in soil classification or related field, familiarity with NRCS soil survey standards. Applicants should be highly motivated and able to work long hours as team members in remote settings. COMPENSATION: $10-$13/hour depending on qualification, ~40 hrs/week with irregular hours, June - August 2009 TO APPLY: Please send a resume, unofficial copies of transcripts and list of three references to Sabine Mellmann-Brown, Montana State University, Department of Ecology, 310 Lewis Hall, Bozeman, MT 59717-3460. E-mail applications will be accepted in PDF format only to mellmann*at*montana.edu. Review of applications begins on March 30, 2009.
