Forestry Technician (Hourly)

Commonwealth of VA Careers; Richmond (VA); On-site; USD 40,000 - 45,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Onsite housing

Meals provided

Summer research opportunity

Job summary

Virginia Commonwealth University seeks paid summer research technicians for the field season at the UMBS field station in Pellston, Michigan. Technicians will contribute to NSF and DOE funded studies on forest disturbance effects on growth and carbon cycling.

Onsite housing and meals are provided. Applicants should submit a cover letter, CV with GPA, and references by March 1.

Qualifications

• Completed coursework in ecology, forestry, environmental studies, or related fields.
• Experience in team-based field research in remote outdoor settings.
• The capacity to live on-site during the field season in Michigan.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to NSF and DOE funded forest disturbance research at UMBS.
• Assist with field data collection, measurements, and data entry.
• Collaborate with lab team and participants during field campaigns.

Skills

Ecology fieldwork

Team-based fieldwork

On-site living in Michigan

Willingness to relocate

Education

Ecology/Environmental Studies coursework

Tools

Forest mensuration

Job description

Unit:

College of Humanities and Sciences

Department:

School of Life Sciences and Sustainability

Duties & Responsibilities:

The Gough Forest Ecology Lab (goughlab.com) at Virginia Commonwealth University seeks paid research technicians for the summer 2026 field season. Technicians will contribute to National Science Foundation and Department of Energy supported research at the University of Michigan Biological Station (UMBS) aimed at advancing understanding of disturbance effects on forest growth and carbon cycling.

Summer residence at the Field Station in Pellston, Michigan is required (https://lsa.umich.edu/umbs). Our lab team and the UMBS community are highly collaborative, with all members expected to enthusiastically participate in group field research activities and lab gatherings. Applicants should submit a cover letter describing how this position is aligned with their interests, a curriculum vita with GPA, and list of 3 references by March 1.

Benefits:

• Onsite housing and meals will be provided.

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications

• Successful completion of coursework in ecology, forestry, environmental studies or related fields
• Team-oriented field research experience
• The capacity to live on-site in Michigan

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with basic forest mensuration
• Quantitative and science communication skills
• Prior field research experience

Salary Range:

$19 per hour

FLSA Exemption Status:

Non-Exempt

Flexible Work Arrangement:

Fully Onsite