Start/End Date: May 11th – August 7th 2025 (start and end dates flexible)

Position Description: We are seeking a motivated technician to assist with data collection for fire and plant community research. This position is a seasonal field job for the summer of 2026 focused on stem counts and botanical surveys in North Dakota and Minnesota tall-grass prairies. This position will be aiding graduate student research on management strategies to combat woody encroachment in grassland systems.

You will have the opportunity to gain skills in plant ID, grassland sampling methods, experimental design, and data collection and organization. The technician will be trained in all survey protocols. You will be expected to work in challenging conditions. Days in the field involve walking long distance over hilly and uneven terrain, working in hot, humid, and buggy conditions, working in areas with little to no shade, and working long days up to 10 hours. Data collection sites include but are not limited to: Sheyenne National Grassland and Bluestem Prairie SNA. Daily travel to these sites is required. A vehicle will be provided for work related travel to field sites. If the applicant is not local, there is housing available at North Dakota State University. Start date is flexible, but should be no later than May 18th. The technician will be supervised and directly work with Michele Beadle, a Master’s student, but will also have the opportunity to work other NDSU students and faculty. The intern may spend up to 3 weeks in Streeter, ND aiding other natural resources graduate student research at the Central Grasslands Experimental Research Center during lulls in data collection for the woody encroachment research.

Duties include but are not limited to:

• Identifying woody trees and shrubs for stem count surveys
• Native and invasive grassland plant ID
• Plant functional group and percent cover surveys
• Entering collected data into excel or other data organization software
• Biomass surveys, clipping and weighing vegetation
• Mowing vegetation with a brush cutter
• Maintaining field equipment
• Performing work in a safe and efficient manner
• Communicate daily about work needs and accomplishments
• Driving over uneven terrain or off-road
• Follow all Leave No Trace principles while in the field

Qualifications:

• Valid driver’s license
• Ability to maintain a positive outlook in wide-ranging weather conditions
• Ability to work outdoors in less than ideal conditions with exposure to hazards such as ticks and poison ivy
• Experience in outdoor settings for an extended period of time
• Ability to walk 5+ miles over hills and uneven terrain
• Ability to stooping and kneeling for extended periods
• Ability to lift 40+ lbs

Desired qualifications:

• At least one season or summer of field work
• Data entry and organization
• Grassland plant ID
• Practice in using dichotomous keys
• Experience working both independently and as part of a team
• First aid training and/or wilderness first aid
• Driving 4x4 vehicles