Laboratory Aide IV

PeopleAdmin, Inc.; Las Vegas (NM); On-site; USD 17,000 - 22,000; Full time

Job summary

New Mexico Highlands University invites applications for a part-time Laboratory Aide supporting the CREST FORT project. You will assist with data collection, GIS analysis, and experimental design; training occurs on campus with potential telework before returning to field tasks.

The position targets NMHU students with at least six credits; preferred majors include Forestry or Conservation. Hourly rate: $12.00; on-site at Las Vegas, NM campus.

Qualifications

• Education: NMHU student enrolled with a minimum of six (6) credit hours and a high school diploma or GED.
• No prior work experience required.

Responsibilities

• Manage sensitive/confidential information and analyze forest management and restoration plans.
• Aggregate and manage data; assist with databases for the project lifecycle.
• Utilize GIS to support study area identification and characterization.
• Assist in planning and execution of experimental designs and sampling for FORT subprojects.
• Build collaborative networks with natural resource agencies and stakeholders.
• Assist with literature reviews relevant to FORT subprojects.
• Contribute to developing and analyzing management scenarios using FVS and related tools.
• Prepare and deliver presentations to inform the CREST PI/Co-PIs on progress.

Skills

GIS

Microsoft Office

Data analysis

Education

College student with 6+ credits

High school diploma or GED

Tools

GIS software

Microsoft Office

Job description

Please see Special Instructions for more details.

The Highlands Career Services Center, located in the Felix Martinez Building, Room 230, provides assistance with your on-campus job application, cover letter, resume, interviewing strategies, as well as offer suggestions on student jobs that are related to your academic major, career interests, and skills. The Career Center offers free services to all NMHU students and alumni via in-person, online at www.nmhu.edu/careerservices , or by calling [phone] or emailing [e-mail]. to schedule a phone session or Zoom video conferencing session.

NMHU Student Jobs

A part-time job on-campus offers a great way for you to earn money to help pay for school as well as to get a jump start on your career track. Student employment allows you to acquire work experience, transferable job skills, self-confidence, and develop a network of professional contacts for your future career. On-campus jobs include departmental, federal/state work-study, and graduate assistantships (GA) in non-academic departments. Keep in mind that each department makes their own hiring decisions, therefore students are not placed in a job or guaranteed a job.

Position Information

Position Title

Laboratory Aide

Department

Department Summary

The Department of Forestry houses the Forestry and Conservation Management programs. Areas of study focus on the management of forest and rangeland ecosystems, the natural resources and biodiversity they contain, and the ecosystem services they provide. Programs emphasize the sustainable adaptive management of forests and rangeland through the application of ecological principles and knowledge, in conjunction with an understanding of economics, human dimensions, and law and policy. The Department of Forestry offers instructional programs leading to a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Forestry, a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Conservation Management, and minors in Wildland Fire and Wildlife Management. The NMHU Forestry program is accredited by the Society of American Foresters and is the only accredited Forestry program in the State of New Mexico.

General Job Description

Students hired through this posting will support NSF - CREST FORT project objectives and deliverables. Duties assigned to this position will be capable of remote completion until such time as employees are allowed to return to work on campus. Upon hire, this employee will be expected to complete a telework agreement and will work remotely until such time as the employee is authorized to work on campus or in the field.

The Forest Restoration Triangle ( FORT ) was created in 2017 as a partnership among three institutions: The Forestry Department at New Mexico Highlands University; the New Mexico Forest and Watershed Restoration Institute ( FWRI ) at NMHU ; and New Mexico State University’s John T. Harrington Forestry Research Center ( FRC ). New CREST funding from the National Science Foundation will provide the financial foundation for this collaboration, increasing the research, educational, and outreach capacities for all partners. A major goal of the CREST program is to increase the number of students from traditionally under-represented groups entering STEM fields. FORT will ensure the training of a new generation of highly qualified investigators with the skills and experience to tackle complicated ecological questions. The students participating in this project will assist faculty developing FORT research. The three Subprojects are:

• Subproject 1: Tree/Stand Level deals with post-fire rehabilitation and establishment of planted trees;
• Subproject 2: Stand/Forest Level deals with restoration of overgrown ponderosa pine and mixed conifer forests;
• Subproject 3: Forest/Landscape level dealing with restoration-based approaches applied at larger scales using an adaptive management approach with linked education and outreach components.

Specific Duties

• Managing sensitive/confidential information: analyze forest management and restoration, and fire management plans from the NM State Land Office, US Forest Service, or other agencies in the experimental areas targeted for FORT project activities.
• Aggregating data: collecting, exploring, and analyzing data relevant to variables of interest in potential experimental areas, as well as the establishment of management of databases necessary to organize and maintain such data throughout the life of this project.
• Utilizing Geographic Information Systems ( GIS ) to support project needs, including study area identification and characterization.
• Assist in the planning and execution of experimental designs and sampling designs of the FORT subprojects.
• Assist with building collaborative networks and work capacity with the natural resource management agencies and stakeholder communities in the project areas.
• Assist with conducting a thorough examination of the scientific literature relevant to FORT subprojects.
• Assist with the development and analysis of different theoretical management scenarios in different project areas (potential with the aid of the Forest Vegetation Simulator ( FVS ) and Fire and Fuel Modeling software).
• Prepare and deliver presentations as needed in order to inform the CREST Principal Investigator (PI) and Co-PIs of the project progress and developments, as well as to mentor and educate other students and/or stakeholders.
• Explore the development of educational plans based on forest ecology and management for delivery to K-12 schoolchildren, high schools, and educators.
• Explore leadership initiatives and activities to expand STEM students’ engagement and improve student recruitment, retention, and success.
• Engage in Forestry student mentoring activities and promotion of the Forestry Program/Club.
• Attend online trainings and workshops related to project-specific research tasks.
• Assist with the identification and characterization of experimental research areas and assist with the establishment, maintenance, measurement, and monitoring of experimental sites.
• Other CREST-related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Education: College student at NMHU enrolled with a minimum of six (6) credit hours. High school diploma or GED .

Experience: None

Preferred Qualifications

Preference will be given to B.S. students majoring in Forestry or Conservation Management and to M.S. Natural Sciences students with a concentration in Environmental Science and Management.

Preference will be given to students with a GPA of 3.0 or higher and to those applicants with experience in research, field data collection, ecological monitoring, active forest management, GIS , Microsoft Office software, and data management.

Hourly Rate

Hourly Rate $12.00

Employment Term

Fall - 2021, Spring - 2022, Summer - 2021

Work Location/Campus Center

Las Vegas, NM Campus

Posting Number

S0689P

Desired Start Date

05/17/2021

Job Posted Date

04/21/2021

Special Instructions Summary

The Highlands Career Services Center, located in the Felix Martinez Building, Room 230, provides assistance with your on-campus job application, cover letter, resume, interviewing strategies, as well as offer suggestions on student jobs that are related to your academic major, career interests, and skills. The Career Center offers free services to all NMHU students and alumni via in-person, online at www.nmhu.edu/careerservices , or by calling [phone] or emailing [e-mail]. to schedule a phone session or Zoom video conferencing session.

Contact Person

Job Title: [e-mail]

Phone: [phone]

Email: [e-mail]

Supplemental Questions

• * Are you a current student of NMHU?
  • Yes
  • No
• What is the highest level of education attained?
  • GED
  • High School Diploma
  • Associates Degree
  • Bachelors Degree
  • Masters Degree
  • PHD

Documents Needed to Apply

• Required Documents
• Resume
• Cover Letter/ Letter of Interest
• Optional Documents
• Unofficial Transcripts Conferring Required Degree