Faculty Research Assistant: Natural Resources

Oregon State University; Union (NJ); On-site; USD 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Oregon State University’s Eastern Oregon Agricultural Research Center invites applications for a full-time Faculty Research Assistant to support forest and rangeland ecology research in Union, Oregon.

The role focuses on integrating forest monitoring data with environmental condition data to inform restoration and multiple-use management at Meadow Creek watershed and Starkey Experimental Forest and Range, with collaboration across partners.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in ecology, geography, natural resources, or related discipline.
• At least two years of experience on natural resources issues in the Blue Mountains.
• Experience measuring and collecting natural resource data in field settings.
• Experience using GPS units to collect spatial data in the field.
• Willingness to collaborate across disciplines and partners.
• Strong written and oral communication and interpersonal skills.

Responsibilities

• Scientific data collection and maintenance of research records.
• Effectively communicate with the research team and partners.
• Collaborate with external research partners to inform management recommendations.

Skills

Field data collection

GPS data recording

Interdisciplinary collaboration

MS Office

GIS

R

Education

Bachelor’s degree in ecology, geography, natural resources

Master’s Degree preferred

Tools

ArcGIS

Google Earth

Survey123

Job description

Important Notifications:Application Deadline: When applying, please keep in mind this posting will close at 11:59 pm the night before the posted \"end date\". Applications MUST be submitted prior to this deadline.Current Employees: Do not apply via the OSU Career site. Instead, please login to your regular Workday account and visit the Jobs Hub to apply.Department:College of Agricultural Sciences | Eastern Oregon Agricultural Research Center | Union Station-Special Instructions to Applicants:When applying you will be required to attach the following electronic documents:1) A resume/CV; and2) A cover letter indicating how your qualifications and experience have prepared you for this position.Starting salary will be commensurate with skills, education, and experience.For additional information please contact:Sandy [e-mail] Summary:The Eastern Oregon Agricultural Research Center - Union Station invites applications for a full-time (1.00 FTE), 12-month, fixed-term Faculty Research Assistant position. Reappointment is at the discretion of the Department Head.We are seeking a Faculty Research Assistant to support ongoing research on forest and rangeland ecology and management. This position integrates forest monitoring data and environmental condition data to understand likely impacts of fuels thinning across the Meadow Creek watershed and Starkey Experimental Forest and Range as it relates to restoration and multiple use management objectives. This position will leverage broad scale monitoring efforts currently being implemented to directly inform management recommendations for watershed-level restoration. In addition, this position will provide centralized support for integration of forest and riparian monitoring data and current environmental condition data into various Research, Monitoring and Evaluation efforts across the Meadow Creek Restoration and Research Collaborative.Key Responsibilities:Scientific data collectionMaintain research recordsEffectively communicate with research teamCollaborate with external research partnersQualifications:Required Qualifications:Bachelor’s degree in ecology, geography, natural resources, or related discipline.At least two years of experience working on natural resources-related issues in the Blue Mountains.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 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 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:Master’s Degree in ecology, geography, natural resources, or related discipline.Knowledge of Starkey Experimental Forest and Range and the Pacific Northwest Research Stationand the area around it.Familiarity with key partners in the region including USDA Forest Service, the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, and Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.Experience working in multistakeholder projects with tribal, federal, state, and private stakeholders.Working knowledge of plant communities and plant species of the interior Pacific Northwest.Proficient in GIS and statistical applications (e.g. ArcGIS, R, Google Earth, Survey123, etc.).Experience writing reports and/or publications in addition to presenting and sharing findings to diverse audiences using a variety of formats.Working Conditions/Schedule:Employee in this position may be required lift, carry, push, and pull objects weighing up to 50 pounds.During field data collection, alternative work schedules may be required (e.g. 4 10-hour days).During the field season, camping in rural/remote locations (during the work week) may be required.Fieldwork occurs in the interior Pacific Northwest; terrain is mountainous and varies flat to steep and irregular (mountainous).Temperatures may fluctuate throughout the season from cold (below freezing) to very hot in the summer.Must work during inclement weather conditions.Salary Range:Salary to commensurate with education, training and experienceAnticipated Start Date:2026-10-16Anticipated End Date:2027-06-30When applying, please keep in mind this posting will close at 11:59 pm the night before the posted \"end date\". Applications MUST be submitted prior to this deadline.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 website including the for 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] .