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Public Land Name:
BLM Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument (GSENM) Position Title:
Paleontology Technician Agency: BLM Position Type: GeoCorps Position ID Number:
2015411 Location:
Kanab, UT Accepting Applications? # of current Applicants: 0 Position Description:
The GeoCorps participant’s primary responsibility will be to assist the Grane Staircase Escalante National Monumner (GSENM) Paleontologist in the field and laboratory. In the field the primary duties will consist of the collection of vertebrate fossils using standard map and jacket techniques. The remainder of the field work will be assisting in field surveys as part of an ongoing Monument Management Plan directed toward inventory of important fossil resources both for management and research purposes. Duties will also include office and lab-based work related to report writing, collections management, specimen preparation, curation, and research. Field work will be conducted largely in the interior of the rugged and remote Kaiparowits Plateau, although other priorities may arise as the season progresses. Methods consist of hiking pre-determined target areas within the Kaiparowits Plateau while closely examining Late Cretaceous age rock outcroppings for fossil materials (with an emphasis on vertebrates such as dinosaurs). When sites are found, they will be documented using notebooks, standard format field forms, GPS, and digital photography and assessed as to significance. The participant may also assist crews from partner institutions in excavation work. In the office, duties will consist of preparation and stabilization of fossil materials from this year and previous field seasons, as well as entering data into an Access-type database. Some public educational opportunities such as leading site or lab tours may arise. This position is offered through the Geological Society of America's GeoCorps America Program in partnership with the Bureau of Land Management. Goals, outcomes, and deliverables:
Materials to be produced are inventory data sheets and accompanying documentation, GIS based files, and collected and curated/prepared fossil specimens. Up to four short interpretive presentations may also be given. Agency involvement (project oversight, mentoring, team building, etc.):
The field season's projects are all directly supervised by the Paleontology Program's lead, the Monument Paleontologist. The participant gets direct oversight from both the Monument Paleontologist and a highly trained seasonal staffer through virtually the entire 12 weeks. Professional development & learning opportunities: (trainings, certifications, networking, etc.):
The participant will learn all of the basic field techniques for finding, stabilizing, and collecting complex vertebrate fossil specimens, as well as a basic set of laboratory skills for preparing them for museum curation. Additionally, the participant will be given opportunities to develop basic interpretive skills for making paleontology and geology accesible to the public. Finally, basic field mapping and stratigraphic methods for interpreting facies and depositional environments of continental and shallow marine sequences will be learned. Leadership Development:
Presenting Project Results:
Physical/Natural Environment:
The Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument is located in the southwestern portion of the Colorado Plateau. The Monument’s bedrock geology consists of mildly deformed Late Paleozoic (Permian) through Late Mesozoic (Late Cretaceous) sedimentary units. Cretaceous units (65-100 mya), which are the focus of this project, were deposited in a foreland basin setting and are extremely thick (almost 7,000 ft.). They are also highly fossiliferous, and contain one of the most complete Late Cretaceous terrestrial vertebrate fossil successions known from anywhere in the world. Outcrops are widespread and generally excellent and many classic geological features and global tourist destinations are nearby such as the Henry Mountains, the East Kaibab Monocline, the Grand Canyon, Zion National Park, Bryce National Park, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Capitol Reef National Park, and the Kaiparowits Basin. Work Environment:
The participant will work out of the Monument Headquarters, located in Kanab, Utah. Supervision will be by the Monument Paleontologist, particularly in the lab and on excavations. Fieldwork will be done somewhat independently in a remote backcountry setting and requires strenuous exertion. Weather and terrain conditions may be extreme (e.g. heat, cold, thunderstorms, steep badlands). Lifting of loads up to 50 lbs will be common during excavations and lab work. Camping in remote backcountry settings (vehicle-based) for up to four days may also necessary. A good pair of ankle-supporting hiking boots is necessary; other gear for backcountry camping will be provided. The work week will be Monday-Friday, with weekends off. Kanab is a town of about 4,000 people. There are two grocery stores, a health food store, a county hospital and two drugstores. Several restaurants, two hardware stores, a bookstore, a movie theater, city parks, and other amenities are also available. The closest regional airport is in St. George (about 70 miles away), but for less expensive fares it is recommended that air travel be done out of Las Vegas (three hours) or Salt Lake City (4.5 hours). The town of St. George has most city amenities. Qualifications:
The applicant must have completed at least one year toward undergraduate degree in geology or a geoscience-related discipline. Applicant must be detail-oriented and possess good organizational, writing, communication, and computer skills. Must be self-motivated, flexible, and able to take direction. Familiarity with Microsoft Access or other relational databases is preferred. Knowledge of vertebrate and invertebrate fossil types and their general significance is important, but not critical; experience working with dinosaurs in particular is a plus. Familiarity with USGS 7.5 minute topographic maps, GPS, and UTM coordinate systems is preferred. Applicant must be able to hike in rugged, remote terrain, as well as camp in remote regions. Experience in excavating large fossil vertebrates is also a plus, but not required.
Applicant must have a valid driver’s license and a good driving record. Prior to starting this position a government security background clearance will be required. Vehicle / Driver's License Requirement (If applicable):
Camp rate per diem of $34/day is authorized when participant is in the field overnight. Position Dates:
May-August, flexible start/end dates Position Duration: 12 weeks Hourly Wage: $3,000 Housing Details:
Agency cannot provide housing but will assist in securing appropriate clean housing. A housing allowance will be provided. If you have questions about the application and selection process, please contact GSA's GeoCorps managers. If you have questions about any aspect of the position — description, qualifications, housing, dates — please direct them to the contact(s) listed in the project description. Remember, application materials can only be submitted online. The project contact(s) will not accept application materials sent to them via e-mail, mail, fax, etc. See the full program details at the GeoCorps homepage. PRIMARY CONTACT INFORMATION
Dr. Alan L. Titus
Paleontologist
Grand Staircase-Escalante NM669 S. Highway 89A
Kanab, UT 84741
 (435) 644-1219
 atitus@blm.gov
 Website SECONDARY CONTACT INFORMATION
Carolyn Shelton
Assistant Manager-Science and Visitor Services Div
Grand Staircase-Escalante NM669 S. Highway 89A
Kanab, UT 84741
(435) 644-1244
carolyn_shelton@blm.gov
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