| Public Land Name: | Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument | | Position Title: | Field Geologist | | Position ID Number: | 193 | | Location: | Hagerman, ID | | Position Description: | Working under the supervision of the park’s chief paleontologist, the GeoCorps participant will map exposures of volcanic ash throughout the park by recording geographic positions of the ash outcrops using GPS equipment provided by the National Park Service, and collect samples of the ash layers for dating, as directed. The final product will include a hand-drawn map of the ash layers, superimposed on a USGS topographic map of the Hagerman 15 minute quadrangle, original field notes, a collection of clearly identified volcanic ash samples with GPS locations of points of collection, and GPS data entered on a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet. Maps and computer access will be provided by the National Park Service. | | Qualifications: | The applicant should possess at least an undergraduate degree in geology. A graduate degree is preferred. The applicant should be able to identify basaltic and rhyolitic ash layers in the field and possess the ability to obtain samples of the ash layers suitable for the purposes of radiometric dating, with sample identification information and geographical location. The ability to use GPS equipment with the knowledge of the ArcGIS 9.2 geographic software application is desirable. The applicant should be prepared to work outdoors in hot, dry, and windy conditions, and to hike over rough terrain, carrying loads up to 30 pounds. The applicant must possess a valid driver’s license. | | Position Dates: | May – September; 12 weeks; start/end dates flexible | | Payment: | $2750; housing provided | | Housing Available: | The park will provide housing at no cost to the participant. The housing is a small, fully equipped, air conditioned, trailer. The trailer is located at the park’s Research Center, located two miles from the town of Hagerman. The participant will be expected to provide their own bed linen and pillows. | Physical/Natural
Environment: | Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument is located in south-central Idaho west of the City of Hagerman, Idaho, in a dry, desert environment. The park is situated on rugged, steep, 600 foot high cliffs above the Snake River and covers an area of approximately 4,400 acres. The cliffs are composed of layers of sand, silt, clay, and volcanic ash, which are part of the Pliocene Glenn’s Ferry Formation. Fossils of over 180 species of animals have been recovered from approximately 600 fossil locations in the park, the most famous being the Hagerman Horse (Equus simpliciden). The fossils represent an ancient ecosystem that existed from 4.3 million years to 2.0 million years ago. Numerous university and government research projects have been conducted in the park. The park intends to use the information from this project to assist with future research efforts. | | Work Environment: | This position is primarily field based and the participant will need to bring items such as hiking boots, hat, daypack, water bottles, and other equipment appropriate for field work in hot, dry weather. Field work will be in rugged terrain, on steep slopes, in areas inaccessible to motorized vehicles. Temperatures in the Hagerman Area during the summer can be in excess of 100 degrees Fahrenheit. To accommodate work in these high temperatures, the applicant will be expected to begin field work in the early morning and return in the early afternoon. The applicant will work out of the park’s Research Center, located two miles from the Visitor’s Center in the City of Hagerman. Hagerman (population 800) is located 35 miles to the west of Twin Falls, Idaho (population 40,000) and 95 miles east of Boise, Idaho (population 180,000). Regional airports are located in Boise and Twin Falls. Hagerman has a grocery store, two gas stations, five restaurants, a bank, and 6 churches. The area is known for its numerous excellent trout, bass and sturgeon fishing. Four state parks are located within 10 miles of Hagerman. A personal vehicle is required to access nearby cities. | | # of current Applicants: | 8 |
If you have questions about the application and selection process, please contact Anny Jones. If you have questions about any aspect of the position — description, qualifications, housing, dates — please contact the primary or secondary contact below:
| | PRIMARY CONTACT INFORMATION | | Contact Name: | Phil Gensler | | Title: | Museum Curator/Paleontologist | | Street Address: | P.O. Box 570 | | City/State/Zip: | Hagerman, ID 83332 | | Phone: | 1-208-837-4793 x5237 | | Email: | Phil_Gensler@nps.gov | | Website: | http://www.nps.gov/hafo/ |
| | SECONDARY CONTACT INFORMATION | | Contact Name: | Bob Lorkowski | | Title: | VIP Geologist | | Street Address: | P.O. Box 570 | | City/State/Zip: | Hagerman, ID 83332 | | Phone: | 1-208-837-4793 x5228 | | Email: | Robert_M_Lorkowski@NPS.gov | | Website: | http://www.nps.gov/hafo/ |
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