Position Summary We are hiring an aquatic technician (Research Scientist 1) to work at the Teakettle Experimental Forest for the summer/fall of 2026. Teakettle is a 1300 ha old-growth, mixed-conifer forest 80 km east of Fresno, CA in the southern Sierra Nevada. This summer/fall we will be collecting post-wildfire data following the 2025 Garnet Fire. The aquatic researcher will work alongside 5 forest technicians and 1 supervisor on a joint forestry and watershed project measuring the response to the Garnet Fire. The technician will assist with water sampling surveys and maintaining aquatic sensors, as well as working with the forest technician crew re-measuring forest structure plots, including basic tree measurements and conducting fuels transect surveys.
Desired skills include previous experience working as a field crew member in a remote location. Experience taking streamflow measurements, working with aquatic sensors, tree identification, and basic knowledge of tree and fuels measurements are preferred but not required. The facilities at Teakettle are rustic due to the remote location of the station. The cabin has solar power, bathrooms, a kitchen and common space; individuals will spend the field season sleeping in tents. The nearest town for supplies is Shaver Lake, CA, approximately a 1-hour drive from the field station.
See the Position Description for additional information.
Conditions of Employment
Minimum Qualifications
Bachelor's degree; no previous experience required.
Completed degree(s) from an accredited institution that are above the minimum education requirement may be substituted for experience on a year for year basis.
Preferred Qualifications
Pay Monthly: $3802.93 - $4451.20 Benefits Eligible This is a benefits eligible position. The University of New Mexico provides a comprehensive package of benefits including medical, dental, vision, and life insurance. In addition, UNM offers educational benefits through the tuition remission and dependent education programs. See the Benefits home page for a more information. ERB Statement As a condition of employment, eligible employees working greater than .25 FTE as determined by the New Mexico Education Retirement Act must make mandatory retirement contributions. For more information, review the Benefits Eligibility at a Glance grid. Application Instructions
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Positions posted with a Staff Type of Regular or Term are eligible for the Veteran Preference Program. See the Veteran Preference Program webpage for additional details.
The University of New Mexico is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class.
The University of New Mexico requires all regular staff positions successfully pass a pre-employment background check. This may include, but is not limited to, a criminal history background check, New Mexico Department of Health fingerprint screening, New Mexico Children, Youth, and Families Department fingerprint screening, verification of education credentials, and/or verification of prior employment. For more information about background checks, visit https://policy.unm.edu/university-policies/3000/3280.html. Refer to https://policy.unm.edu/university-policies/3000/3200.html for a definition of Regular Staff.
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