Part-Time Research Assistant/Field Technician - Department of Biology - Toews Lab

Pennsylvania State University - State College, PA

Part-time

Onsite - State College, PA

Educational Services

About the position

The Toews Lab at Pennsylvania State University is seeking to hire five seasonal field technicians to monitor various species of warblers on Fort Drum, New York. The role involves fieldwork from April 15 to July 15, 2025, focusing on tasks such as nest searching, monitoring, target-netting, and color banding of warblers. The position requires working in challenging outdoor conditions and offers shared housing, per diem for meals, and field vehicle usage.

Responsibilities

• Monitor and search for nests of Vermivora warblers.
• Conduct target-netting and color banding of adult and nestling warblers.
• Collect brachial blood samples from birds.
• Maintain accurate records of observations and data collected.

Requirements

• A valid driver's license and a clean driving record.
• A Bachelor's degree in biology, ecology, zoology, or relevant professional experience.
• U.S. citizenship to comply with federal regulations for work on a U.S. military base.
• Ability to work alone in the field and maintain a positive attitude in adverse weather conditions.
• Good hearing and full-color vision.
• Physical ability to walk several miles a day over uneven terrain.

Nice-to-haves

• Experience with nest-searching and monitoring ground-nesting passerines.
• Conducting behavioral observations of birds.
• Experience with mist-netting and banding of birds.
• Experience collecting brachial blood samples from birds.

Benefits

• Shared field housing provided.
• Per diem for meals.
• Use of field vehicles.