Biological Science Technician

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Eastern Oregon Agricultrual Research Center

Burns, Oregon

Job Type: Full-Time (Seasonal)

Salary: $18/hr for undergrads, $20/hr for applicants who have their Bachelor's degree

Start / End Dates: 04-06-26 to 09-17-26

Job Description: The research unit, led by Dr. Stella Copeland, focuses on applied management questions in grassland and shrubland ecosystems in collaboration with a broad set of managers and other research groups.

Three technician positions will be hired for 5 months from Apr 6-Sep 3 OR Apr 13-Sep 17.

Salaries are 17.75/hr for current undergraduates or 19.75 for applicants with a bachelor’s degree.

Technicians will work primarily on field-based research projects focused on restoration success and plant community dynamics in eastern Oregon sagebrush steppe.

Main duties include: field work (outdoors, ~75% of the time) will be identifying plant species, estimating plant abundance, mapping plant occurrence, and collecting bees. Fieldwork may occasionally involve multi-day camping trips in remote areas (~2 weeks total). Some tasks will be indoors such as plant propagation, root sample processing, bee specimen preparation, digitizing field maps, and data entry (~25% of the time).

Opportunities for mentored independent projects involving data analysis of existing datasets are offered to all technicians.

Shared housing is provided at no cost at the field station.

Full time, 40 hours/week, Mon-Thu, 10 hours/day.

Send application materials below to Corinne Schroeder, Corinne.Schroeder@oregonstate.edu, with the subject line: “Seasonal Technician Application” by the deadline, Friday Jan. 9th, 2026. In your application, please attach:

(1) cover letter: please include the dates you are available and your qualifications, as described above
(2) resume
(3) references
(4) college transcripts, unofficial versions are fine

Application review will begin immediately after the deadline.

Qualifications / Experience Level Required:

  • Must be able to lift objects that weigh up to 50 pounds and kneel/squat for extended periods of time during field monitoring and for sample collection.
  • Must have a valid state motor vehicle operator’s license and be able to operate motor vehicles.
  • Must be able to work in adverse weather conditions and hike over rugged and steep terrain.
  • Must be a US citizen.

Lower salary level: 2 years of post-high school education including the equivalent of at least 12 semester hours in courses such as botany, ecology, biology, chemistry, statistics, entomology, rangeland sciences, natural resource management.

Higher salary level: bachelor’s degree in a related field such as botany, ecology, biology, chemistry, statistics, entomology, rangeland sciences, natural resource management OR at least the equivalent of 24 semester hours in the subject areas above.

Desired experience: familiarity with identifying plants and/or collecting scientific data in rangeland and/or dryland settings.

Housing: Yes

Contact:

Corinne Schroeder

9082687231

corinne.schroeder@oregonstate.edu

Apply for This Position: corinne.schroeder@oregonstate.edu

Application Closes: 01-09-26

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