Deadline: 10 Jan 2020
The Siskiyou Deer and Puma Project is looking to recruit several interns for our field intensive data collection in the X1 deer zone, Northern California. Positions are available for 2 months (February 24 - April 19, 2020).
Field responsibilities:
- This is a field-intensive position that will involve hiking in various habitats that comprise mule deer winter ranges in Northern California. Snow is expected to be present in several of the deer ranges at the time of field activities
- The primary research task will be to carry out vegetation surveys for mule deer forage species on several winter ranges. The focus will be on estimating forage species composition, cover and biomass
- Additionally, vegetation samples may be collected for nutritional quality analysis of deer foods
- Responsibilities may occasionally include servicing camera traps set for monitoring predators
Lab responsibilities:
- Interns will be expected to maintain organization of field equipment, process vegetation samples as needed, as well as record vegetation data into a dedicated database. Opportunities might arise to interpret camera trap data and record it into a database
Compensation:
- Interns will receive a stipend to cover basic living expenses
- Housing will be provided by the project
Application process:
- Please send brief (maximum half a page) cover letter, your CV and contact information for 2 references to Bogdan Cristescu: bcristes@ucsc.edu
- The application deadline is January 10, 2020
- Only applicants selected for an interview will be contacted
Requirements:
Applicants will have a B.Sc. degree in Botany/Plant science/Plant ecology/Rangeland ecology/Forestry/Natural resource management/Wildlife ecology or related field. Ideal candidates will be passionate about spending time in the outdoors and comfortable working in small groups in remote areas. Fieldwork in late winter/spring will occur in inclement weather conditions that can vary from sunny to rainy, snowy, with freezing and below freezing temperatures, and with large temperature oscillations throughout the day. Interns must be able to hike extensively and navigate on terrain with moderate ruggedness and a variety of vegetation cover types, including among others forest, shrubland and prairie. Interns must be proficient in the use of handheld GPS units, map and compass. Ability to drive a 4x4 pickup truck is also desirable.