Assistant Specialist in Desert Conservation Biology
The Center for Conservation Biology at the University of California Riverside’s Palm Desert Center invites applicants for a full-time Assistant Specialist position in Desert Conservation Biology with an emphasis on Botany and Herpetology beginning on July 1, 2022. This position will require successful candidates to develop and implement a wide variety of field monitoring protocols for protected/rare organisms and habitats throughout the Colorado and Mojave Deserts of California. Candidates will also work in a laboratory setting processing plant and insect specimens, managing and analyzing data, and writing reports and publications.
Basic Qualifications: A master’s degree (or equivalent degree) in Biology or a related field, or five years of experience demonstrating expertise in the relevant specialization at time of application is required. A Valid Driver’s License is also required at time of application.
Additional Qualifications:
- Experience with insect collecting techniques, including pitfall trapping.
- Expertise in the identification of common and rare desert plants and insects, use of dichotomous keys, and botanical database searches.
- Proficiency with laboratory tasks such as insect and plant identification.
- Experience working with and developing monitoring protocols for insects, plants, vertebrates, and birds, including protected/rare species, as well as familiarity with operating required equipment/instruments.
- Experience staging and leading multiple field crews simultaneously, coordinating communication and logistics and safely leading teams with a diversity of participant needs and skill levels.
- Able to spend hours/days in harsh desert conditions (high temperature, cold, aridity, sun exposure, high wind, stinging plants and animals) performing strenuous physical tasks such as: off-trail hiking and carrying heavy packs and equipment.
- Experience performing field work on military installations, including radio communication, navigation, range safety, and UXO safety.
- Must be able to pass a background check as a requirement military installation access.
- Ability to navigate to and from field sites using GPS devices and create geospatial files and maps using GIS software, including data collection apps such as QuickCapture
- Certified in CPR and wilderness first aid and familiar with standard field safety protocols, especially for working in hazardous desert conditions.
- Experience using R programming language and relevant packages such as ggplot2 for data management and statistical analyses.
- Experience writing reports and peer-reviewed publications.
- Experience creating science interpretation materials for a variety of audiences, such as GIS storymaps, illustrations, and customizing community science data platforms.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Office management skills including supply procurement and volunteer registration.
- Ability to use computer programs such as ArcMap, Survey123, Avenza PDF maps, Microsoft Office products.
- Experience with safe operation of 4x4 vehicles in remote areas.
- Familiarity with herbarium specimen preparation.
- Ability to train new employees and volunteers.
- Experience deploying and maintaining camera traps, and managing image files.
- Knowledge of local agencies and stakeholders in community science and conservation biology within the Coachella Valley.
To apply: go to https://aprecruit.ucr.edu/apply/JPF01561 and submit:
- Curriculum Vitae
- Statement of Past and/or Planned Future Contributions to Advancing Diversity and Inclusive Excellence
- Contact information (name and e-mail address) for 3 references
Evaluation of applications will begin on May 2, 2022 and will continue until the position is filled. For full consideration, applicants should submit their complete applications before the above date.
For more information about the position, please contact Dr. Lynn Sweet, Center for Conservation Biology: lynn.sweet@ucr.edu. For inquiries regarding the application process, please contact Troy Hall Jr., Academic Personnel, at troy.hall@ucr.edu.
Advancement through the Specialist ranks at the University of California is through a series of structured, merit-based evaluations, occurring every 2-3 years, each of which includes substantial peer input.
The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer with a strong institutional commitment to the achievement of excellence and diversity among its faculty and staff. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
UCR is a world-class research university with an exceptionally diverse undergraduate student body. Its mission is explicitly linked to providing routes to educational success for underrepresented and first-generation college students. A commitment to this mission is a preferred qualification.
As a condition of employment, you will be required to comply with the University of California SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) Vaccination Program Policy. All Covered Individuals under the policy must provide proof of Full Vaccination or, if applicable, submit a request for Exception (based on Medical Exemption, Disability, and/or Religious Objection) or Deferral (based on pregnancy) no later than the applicable deadline. New University of California employees must (a) provide proof of receiving at least one dose of a COVID-19 Vaccine no later than 14 calendar days after their first date of employment and provide proof of Full Vaccination no later than eight weeks after their first date of employment; or (b) if applicable, submit a request for Exception or Deferral no later than 14 calendar days after their first date of employment. Federal, state, or local public health directives may impose additional requirements.