Niwot Ridge LTER Vegetation Technician
Requisition Number:
62424
Location:
Nederland, Colorado
City
Nederland
State
Colorado
Employment Type:
Research Faculty
Schedule:
Part-Time
Posting Close Date:
23-Mar-2025
Date Posted:
10-Mar-2025
Job Summary
The Niwot Ridge Long Term Ecological Research group is looking for a summer vegetation technician to assist with vegetation surveys, plant biomass harvests and general plot maintenance in long-term experimental plots in the alpine tundra at our research site on Niwot Ridge.
The University of Colorado Boulder is committed to building a culturally diverse community of faculty, staff, and students dedicated to contributing to an inclusive campus environment. We are an Equal Opportunity employer, including veterans and individuals with disabilities.
Who We Are
As the University's oldest institute, INSTAAR has a long history of responding to pressing environmental issues including climate change. Our traditional focus has been on alpine, Arctic, and Antarctic regions, where effects of global change are especially pronounced. In recent decades, our research has broadened to include environmental challenges that span local, regional, and global scales. INSTAAR’s research activities integrate field studies, state-of-the-art laboratory experiments, sample analysis, and numerical and laboratory modeling. Our field sites are located across all seven continents and the world's oceans.
Our expertise across disciplines helps us generate influential science that can inform public and policy decisions and move us toward a more sustainable society. INSTAAR's national and international research leadership is augmented by exceptional strength in graduate education and bringing undergraduates into the research process.
The Niwot Ridge LTER is an integrated research project with the goal of understanding ecological processes in high-elevation mountain ecosystems. Mountain ecosystems – where high topographic relief means habitat can vary greatly over short distances, and seemingly small changes in temperature will transform snowfall into rain – are among those most vulnerable to changes in environmental conditions. The Niwot Ridge LTER seeks to better understand how environmental change leads to ecological change, and we need your help!
What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be
- Most of the work will be done outdoors, in the alpine tundra, and much will require accurate plant species identification in plots from a range of long-term projects established to detect and document changes in alpine vegetation in response to environmental changes. Some work will also be done in the laboratory and entering data. Driving the field work suburban on 4WD Forest Service roads, and between the University of Colorado’s East Campus and the Mountain Research Station in Nederland may also be part of the position.
What You Should Know
- The position is based at the University of Colorado Mountain Research Station, north of Nederland, CO at 818 County Road 116. Field sites range in elevation from 9,500 feet at the Mountain Research Station, to over 12,000 feet at some of our higher elevation sites. Transportation via a shared university vehicle may be available from Boulder to the Mountain Research Station.
- Work will be primarily outdoor for 36-40 hours per week from starting June 16 through August 22. After August there will also be the opportunity to continue working temporarily entering data.
What We Can Offer
The hiring rate is $20 - $23 per hour.
Benefits
Temporary positions at the University of Colorado are not benefits-eligible, however, all positions are eligible for paid sick leave.
Be Statements
Be ambitious. Be pioneering. Be Boulder.
What We Require
- Strong interest in plant identification and botany, plant ecology or similar plant fields
- Strong attention to detail
- Enjoy being and working all day in an outdoor setting
- The ability to hike 2-8 miles during the day at high elevation (10,000 to 12,000 feet) with a full backpack over rough and changing terrain.
- The desire to work as part of a team to achieve goals even in challenging conditions (rain, wind, cold temperatures).
What We Would Like You to Have
- Knowledge of local alpine plant species
- Experience with plant identification using field guides and keys
- Previous fieldwork experience
- The ability to serve as a shuttle (Suburban) driver between CU east campus and the Mountain Research station at least 2 days a week and to drive 4wd vehicles on Forest Service roads
- The ability to work on multiple projects both as part of a team, and independently to achieve goals and solve problems as they arise in the field
- Flexibility to rearrange priorities and expectations as changing weather conditions or resources require
- Demonstrated ability to self-motivate and help keep your team motivated when challenges arise
- The ability to remain organized and focused amidst a variety of tasks, and creatively solve problems in the field as they arise
- Knowledge of back country travel and safety practices, or willingness to learn, including CPR, Basic and/or Wilderness First Aid
- The ability to contribute to a diverse and inclusive workforce
- Please note that while this position details both required and desired skills and experience, applicants do not need to have the desired skills and experience to be considered. If you meet the minimum qualifications, have passion for the work and some experience in a related field, you are encouraged to apply. We provide on-the-job training for skills and knowledge relevant to the position.
Special Instructions
To apply, please submit the following materials:
- Cover Letter: Please provide answers to the following application questions in your cover letter (applications which do not include answers to these questions in their cover letter may not be considered).
- Why are you interested in this position? Why do you think you would be a good fit for this job? What will you bring to the job that other applicants may not?
- Describe any relevant experience you have through previous jobs, volunteering, course work, outdoor recreation, etc., as well as any safety certifications you have (wilderness first aid, CPR, etc.).
- Are you capable of performing a physically demanding job and working outdoors at a high elevation in an environment where there is a lot of sun exposure and often cold, windy, stormy weather?
- Are you available to work starting June 16 through August 22?
- Would you be interested in continuing to work part-time after August 22 on entering data?
- Are you able to drive the Suburban-type shuttle vehicle between Boulder and the Mountain Research Station in Nederland at least two days a week?
- Where did you hear about this job?
- Resume/CV
Please apply by March 23rd, 2025 for consideration.
Note: Application materials will not be accepted via email. For consideration, applications must be submitted through CU Boulder Jobs.
Posting Contact Information
Posting Contact Name: Boulder Campus Human Resources
Posting Contact Email: Recruiting@colorado.edu