2026-2027 Jr. Specialist - Environmental Science & Policy

This position will carry out a field ecology experiment at a remote location, working largely independently. Specific tasks include finding georeferenced locations, accessing them by private vehicle and foot; implementing experimental treatments (mowing, fertilization, seed addition over a period of 6 months); and collecting the resulting plant community data (this entails the ability to correctly identify >100 plant species).

Ability to make good scientific and safety decisions while alone in the field is essential. Data entry and quality control. Data analysis, including creating derived variables and running statistical analyses of the results. Data presentation, including graphs. Mc. Laughlin UC Reserve, Lower Lake, CA Participation in manuscript preparation.

Research (90%) The incumbent will have primary responsibility for carrying out a field ecology experiment at a remote location from October 2026 to June 2027, living at the field station for most or all of this time, working largely alone, and making many decisions independently. The fieldwork consists of repeatedly finding georeferenced locations, accessing them by private vehicle and foot; choosing and laying out experimental plots; implementing experimental treatments that include mowing, fertilization, and seed addition; and collecting the resulting plant community data.

The data collection step entails being able to correctly identify >100 plant species and to make careful, time-efficient assessments of plant cover by species in plots, which are advanced skills requiring prior experience. The incumbent will also have primary responsibility for data entry and data quality control in April-June 2027.

An important job duty will be self-transporting by driving a personal vehicle (subject to mileage reimbursement) to reach the field station and specific research locations, which will add up to considerably more than 10 miles/week. The field station is located in Lake County, 75 miles from Davis and 15 miles from the nearest grocery or hardware store.

The individual research locations are at distances of 0.5 miles to 5 miles from the field station. No public transportation or carpooling is available either from Davis to the field station or from the field stations to the research locations, and no university vehicle is available. No commercial driver’s license is needed.

The incumbent will have co-responsibility, working with the PI in June-August 2027, for data analysis, including creating derived variables; running statistical analyses of the results; and data presentation, including graphs. The incumbent will have co-responsibility, working with the PI, for discussing the interpretation of the results and preparing the results for a manuscript for publication.

Professional Competence (5%): The incumbent will submit an abstract for consideration as oral presentation to the Ecological Society of America in 2027. Assuming it is accepted, the incumbent will participate in the conference as a presenter with all expenses supported by the PI. University and Public Service (5%): The incumbent will participate in outreach activities led by the PI on testing spatial ecology in grassland ecosystems.

TERM OF APPOINTMENT: Up to one year part-time at 50%, Junior Specialist, Step 2