Faculty Research Assistant: Eastern Oregon Agricultural Research Center, Union Experiment Station

Oregon State University; Oregon; On-site; USD 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

The Eastern Oregon Agricultural Research Center, Union Experiment Station, a unit of Oregon State University, invites applications for two full-time Faculty Research Assistant positions in Union, Oregon. These fixed-term, 12-month appointments support forest and rangeland ecology research with tribal and land-management partners.

Responsibilities include field data collection, lab work, data analysis, and contributing to publications, presentations, and outreach, with involvement in restoration

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in ecology, botany, plant ecology, natural resources, rangeland ecology, wildlife or related discipline.
• Experience measuring and collecting natural resource and/or ecological data in field settings.
• Experience using GPS units to navigate and record spatial data.
• Experience with plant identification and vegetation measurements.
• Commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration and strong written/oral communication.
• Proficient with MS Office and Google Docs; ability to lift up to 50 pounds and work in rugged terrain.

Responsibilities

• Scientific data collection and maintaining research records.
• Collaborate with external research partners and project teams.
• Measure ecological and natural resource variables in field settings.
• Assist with data analysis and contribute to publications and outreach.

Skills

Field data collection

GPS data collection

Interdisciplinary collaboration

Communication

MS Office / Google Docs

Physical endurance

Education

Bachelor’s degree in ecology, botany, or related

Master’s degree preferred

Tools

GPS devices

GIS software

R / ArcGIS familiarity

Job description

• On-Campus Work
• Union
• Full time
• Posted 7 Days Ago
• JR0001521
• End Date: November 23, 2026

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Department:

Eastern Oregon Agricultural Research Center, Union Experiment Station

Job Summary:

The Eastern Oregon Agricultural Research Center, Union Experiment Station invites applications for two full-time (1.00 FTE), 12-month, fixed-term Faculty Research Assistant positions. Reappointment is at the discretion of the Department Head.

These positions are located in Union, Oregon.

We are seeking two botanist/plant ecologists to support ongoing research on forest and rangeland ecology and management. These positions will support multiple projects including: 1) research with Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife focused on mule deer forage availability and habitat quality, and 2) the ecology, management and restoration of First Foods, particularly Roots and Berries in partnership with Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, Nez Perce Tribe, land management agencies (e.g. Forest Service) and non-governmental organizations and 3) evaluating and assessing responses of riparian, grassland and forest ecosystems to various restoration and management treatments in partnership with the Pacific Norwest Research Station and others. These positions play key roles in projects, including collecting a range of environmental, natural resource, and ecological attributes in the field, implementing field and lab experiments (e.g. seed germination studies), collaborating with ecologists, land managers and stewards, as well as assisting with data analysis and contributing to and authoring publications, reports, presentations and outreach materials. These positions work closely with project partners in all aspects of the work.

The Eastern Oregon Agricultural Research Center (EOARC) is composed of two separate and fully functional research stations – Burns and Union Stations. The Union Station is Oregon State University’s first branch research station (established in 1901). Research and outreach activities are focused on rangeland ecology and management, wildlife management, ecological restoration, alternative livestock systems and sustainable resource management in the diverse landscapes of eastern Oregon. EOARC faculty and staff collaborate on research and outreach efforts with a wide range of partners including agencies, tribes and non-governmental organizations.

Key Responsibilities:

• Scientific data collection
• Maintain research records
• Effectively communicate with research team
• Collaborate with external research partners
• Measure a variety of ecological and natural resource variables

Qualifications:

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in ecology, botany, plant ecology, natural resources, rangeland ecology, wildlife or related discipline.
• Experience measuring and collecting natural resource and/or ecological data (e.g. soil, slope, aspect, richness, diversity, composition, density, etc.) in field settings (forest, grassland, shrubland, wetlands, etc.).
• Experience using GPS units to navigate to locations and record spatial data in the field.
• Experience and/or training in use of dichotomous keys, plant identification and plant/vegetation measurements.
• Experience and commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration.
• Strong written and oral communication and interpersonal skills.
• Working knowledge of MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), Google Docs.
• Ability to lift, carry, push, and pull objects weighing up to 50 pounds.
• Ability to kneel/squat for extended periods of time for data and sample collection.
• Ability and willingness to work in difficult terrain in adverse weather conditions (heat, snow, rain, etc.).

Preferred Qualifications:

• A demonstrable commitment to inclusive excellence.
• Master’s Degree in ecology, botany, plant ecology, natural resources, rangeland ecology, wildlife or related discipline.
• Experience or knowledge of seed germination and plant propagation techniques.
• Working knowledge of plant communities and plant species of the interior Pacific Northwest.
• Proficient in GPS, GIS and statistical applications (e.g. ArcGIS, R, Google Earth, Survey123, Avenza, etc.).
• Experience collecting data in the field using tablets, smart phones and/or rugged computers.
• Experience in and knowledge of Traditional Ecological Knowledge / Indigenous Knowledge, decolonizing methodologies and approaches, ethics related to knowledge co-production and collaborating with indigenous partners.
• Experience driving 4WD vehicles on dirt/gravel roads.
• Experience in data management and analysis.

Working Conditions/Schedule:

Salary Range:

Starting salary will be commensurate with skills, education, and experience.

Anticipated Start Date:

2027-01-04

Anticipated End Date:

2027-06-30

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability, protected veteran, and other protected status.

OSU will conduct a review of the National Sex Offender Public website prior to hire.

OSU is a fair chance employer committed to inclusive hiring. We encourage applications from candidates who bring a wide range of lived experience including involvement with the justice system. If this position has “critical or security-sensitive” responsibilities and/or driving duties and you are selected as a finalist, your initial job offer will be contingent upon the results of a job-related pre-employment check (such as a background check, motor vehicle history check, sexual misconduct reference check, etc.). Background check results do not automatically disqualify a candidate. Take a look at our Background Checks (https://hr.oregonstate.edu/careers/background-checks) website including the for candidates (https://hr.oregonstate.edu/careers/candidates) section for more details. If you have questions or concerns about the pre-employment check, please contact OSU’s Employee and Labor Relations team at [e-mail] .