Start Date: May 4, 2026, for a 6-month term

The Jones Center at Ichauway Landscape Ecology Lab invites applications for a full-time, temporary Seasonal Technician II position to contribute to research and conservation efforts in forest ecology. The Landscape Ecology Lab studies the ecology of forests in southeastern U.S with emphasis on hurricane ecology and improving forest management and conservation efforts in the region. You can read more about our research efforts on our lab’s website.

The primary work location is at Ichauway, a 28,500-acre research center comprised of 18,000 acres of longleaf pine woodlands, 1,000 acres of wetlands, and 25 miles of stream and river ecosystems in rural Newton, GA. There will be additional off-site fieldwork across Central and South Georgia this summer to support a project evaluating ecosystem benefits of the USDA-FSA Conservation Reserve Program via carbon pooling and hurricane resistance. Work vehicles will be used for travelling to off-site field locations, but we recommend having a car for ease of personal travel in rural Georgia.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Work will be a combination of office work involving data processing and outdoor fieldwork:

• Map tree locations and collect basic tree measurements (diameter, height, tree traits)
• Conduct tree and sapling mortality surveys
• Conduct destructive sampling of understory vegetation
• Assist with UAV flights and terrestrial LiDAR scanning in the field
• Register and process terrestrial LiDAR data using RiSCAN and Cloud Compare
• Build sensor arrays for abiotic measurements

Minimum Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree in Forestry, GIS, Geography, Ecology, Biology, Env. Science, or related field
• Ability to complete field work in the woods, involving some strenuous physical activity (walking, standing, bending, stooping, climbing, and lifting 50-lb equipment) under demanding field conditions (i.e., heat, humidity, insects, poison oak/ivy)
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team
• Valid state driver’s license

Preferred Qualifications

• FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate
• On-the-job training will be provided as needed, but previous experience in vegetation surveys, collecting/processing lidar data, and/or remote sensing is preferred

Compensation: $15/hour with on-site housing OR $17/hour without on-site housing. No benefits package is available. The majority of our on-site housing is newly constructed. All housing comes equipped with basic kitchen supplies and are fully furnished. Everyone with housing has a private bedroom and bathroom with shared common spaces.