Summer Forestry Field Technician

The selected candidate will be working for the University of Idaho in partnership with the USFS Rocky Mountain Research Station. This project is funded by the U.S. Forest Service’s Forest Health Protection and the Intermountain Regional Office and has two main objectives:

• To survey and monitor the health of whitebark pine trees with emphasis on the spread and severity of white pine blister rust.
• To establish long-term whitebark pine monitoring plots in under-sampled areas (e.g., wilderness and Research Natural Areas (RNAs).

The selected candidate will be working in a team of 2-3 trained professionals surveying subalpine forests across Idaho’s Rocky Mountains.

Basic duties include:

• Hiking long distances (5-10 miles per day) in remote, rugged, mountainous terrain
• Carrying a backpack of up to 30 pounds for duration of workday
• Camping for up to 8 days at a time – camping gear will be provided if needed
• Navigating to remote sites via 4WD vehicle and/or on-foot using GPS equipment 
• Performing forestry surveys using a U.S. Forest Service Standard Common Stand Exam protocol 
• Performing blister rust severity assessments for research purposes 
• Helping team with various other measurements including (but not limited to) botanical surveys, forest health assessments, hemispherical photography 
• Driving 4WD vehicles for long-distances on rough, uneven terrain 
• Other tasks may be required to aid on-going research projects at the research station.
• See Priest River Experimental Forest’s webpage for more information on the research station.

Candidate Requirements:

• Must be eligible to work in the United States at time of hire
• Must be 18 years or older at time of hire
• Interested in forest health and conservation
• experience in backcountry settings is preferred
• Ability to camp in remote areas for up to 8 consecutive days
• Hike up to 10 miles per day off-trail on rugged, uneven, mountainous terrain
• Carry pack of up to 30lbs for duration of workday
• Ability to follow protocol instructions precisely and accurately
• Must be willing to work effectively within a team
• Willingness to uphold a good attitude, especially under irritable or stressful circumstances
• Valid state driver’s license
• Ability to safely drive 4WD vehicles in rugged terrain