GSA Online Application System

 

 
 

Public Land Name:
Chippewa and Superior National Forests

Position Title:
CLOSED Soil Lab Assistant

Agency: USFS

Position Type: GeoCorps

Position ID Number:
2022638

Location:
Minnesota, Grand Rapids

Accepting Applications? No

# of current Applicants: 0

Position Description:

GeoCorps America participants must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Learn more.

Each project can accept up to 100 applicants. GeoCorps applicants can apply for multiple projects per season. Applicants must complete a cover letter for each project for which they apply.

For current applicants: You are considered a project applicant once you have successfully added the project to your profile while you are logged into your application form. The added project would appear under “POSITIONS YOU HAVE ADDED” for the GeoCorps America Program. You are encouraged to add projects before you complete your application components. In order to be fully considered for any position, you must complete all application components before the application deadline passes. Login to your GeoCorps application profile to check the status of your application components, and make sure to complete any remaining items before the deadline passes.

Much of the work associated with the position will occur in-person within the USDA Forest Service Northern Research Station Chemistry Laboratory in Grand Rapids, MN. Telework options will not be available for this position. Laboratory analyses will include measuring soil bulk density, coarse fragment content, pH, carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus content and total cations using standardized laboratory protocols. The Grand Rapids Chemistry Laboratory conducts a vast array of analysis on water, soil and plant tissues. The student will learn analytical techniques and trouble-shooting instrumentation such as the total elemental analyzer (Inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy), total carbon and nitrogen analyzer, Auto-analyzer for nutrients, ion chromatograph. The student will have the opportunity to learn and operate said instrumentation with duties including quality control, maintenance, diagnostics, running of samples, and data handling. Sample preparation including the grinding and sieving of soil samples will be expected. Digestions and extractions of various sample materials will also be included in the position. The participant will also get field experience working on long-term environmental experiments at the Marcell Experimental Forest and the world renown SPRUCE climate change experiment (https://mnspruce.ornl.gov/). This project is offered through the Geological Society of America's GeoCorps America Program, in partnership with the Minerals and Geology Management Program of the USDA Forest Service. GSA and its partners are closely monitoring the COVID-19 pandemic and remain committed to providing an enriching geoscience work experience while maintaining the safety of project participants and mentors. Because the current COVID-19 pandemic is expected to continue into 2023, project timelines and structure will remain flexible.

Goals, outcomes, and deliverables:
The primary goal of this position is to utilize standardized laboratory procedures to assess the effects of forest management activities on dynamic soil properties that is quantitative and repeatable across a gradient of soils, vegetation, and disturbance conditions. Secondly, comparing results from reference to post-harvest conditions will help determine if changes to soil properties have negatively affected site productivity or ecology, and if so, how long it may take soils to recover to reference conditions.

Agency involvement (project oversight, mentoring, team building, etc.):
Forest Service research and forest management staff will be overseeing the project. The participant will be working largely with local mentors at the Northern Research Station in Grand Rapids, MN. They will also have opportunities to work with soil scientists, geologists, hydrologists, botanists, ecologists, and other research and management staff on the Chippewa National Forest, or possibly other national forests in the Lake States Region. Both in the lab or the field, the participant will be working mostly in a team environment.

Professional development & learning opportunities: (trainings, certifications, networking, etc.):
The participant will have ample opportunity to work with Forest Service research and management staff with a wide range of resource specializations. Local chemistry and environmental science mentors within the Northern Research Station will be assigned to the participant to provide necessary laboratory training, establish a network of professional contacts, improve interpersonal skills, and discuss opportunities for pursuing their career interests. As time allows, the participant may be offered opportunities to attend local workshops or conferences, pertinent to the duties of this position and/or their long-term career development. Safety is very important to the Forest Service, so the participant will be enrolled in and expected to complete all locally required safety training. As time allows, other safety training opportunities may be available (e.g. First Aid/CPR, laboratory safety training).

Leadership Development:
The participant will have opportunities to work both independently and in a team environment, refining their leadership, planning, organization, and time management skills. They will get exposure to the Forest Service organization and a better understanding of how government agencies function. This position will be expected to largely assist with the laboratory needs of the project; however, dependent upon the aptitude of the applicant a larger coordination role may warranted.

Presenting Project Results:
As time allows, the participant may be asked to present preliminary results from their work (either in writing or orally) to one or more Forest Service staff. At a minimum, the participant will be expected to complete their required report to GSA by the end of their assignment, before parting with the host agency. The participant is also encouraged to collaborate with their local mentors and other Forest Service staff in presenting their work or preliminary results at a GSA Annual or Section Meeting.

Physical/Natural Environment:
The Northern Research Station Center for Research on Environmental Change and associated chemistry laboratory is in Grand Rapids, MN, situated between the Chippewa and Superior National Forests, about 200 miles north of Minneapolis-St. Paul. Water is abundant in the mixed conifer-deciduous forest.

Work Environment:
Much of the duties of the position will occur in a laboratory setting. For times the participant may work in the field, driving forest roads and hiking through sometimes dense forest, remote areas, or rugged terrain may be necessary. Working outdoors in inclement weather is not uncommon.

Qualifications:
Past academic or work experience in a laboratory setting, specifically some familiarity with equipment and standardized procedures for measuring physical and chemical properties of soils is preferred. Any academic and past work experience related to soils and natural resource management in a forested setting would also be prioritized. The applicant must have basic computer, word processing, and spreadsheet skills (e.g. Microsoft Office Suite) to be considered. An applicant must have the ability to communicate, adapt, and function well in a team environment where priorities may change frequently. Although much of the work will occur in a laboratory setting, the applicant should be able to work well outdoors in a predominantly forested setting. Past academic or work experience in inclement weather, rugged terrain, or buggy conditions would be prioritized. Applicants must have a valid U.S. driver’s license and a good driving record. The applicant must be a U.S. citizen or U.S. lawful permanent legal resident (Green Card holder). Prior to starting this position, the participant will need to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and pass a background check with either the host agency, GSA’s staffing partner, or both.

Vehicle / Driver's License Requirement (If applicable):
The participant must have a valid U.S. driver’s license and a good driving record. A government vehicle will be provided to the participant for fieldwork duties, including all locally required training and certification to operate it. A personal vehicle is not required but highly recommended. It will be the responsibility of the participant for transportation to and from their duty station outside of their work hours.

Position Dates:
September 6, 2022 – May 26, 2023 (with flexibility on start/end dates and weekly hours)

Position Duration: 12 weeks minimum (with possible option to extend longer as funding allows)

Hourly Wage: $15.00/hour

Housing Details:
Partially subsidized housing may be available. Possible options may include government bunkhouse accommodations in Deer River, MN (about 20 minutes by vehicle from the duty station in Grand Rapids), or other local rental options.

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
David Morley
Forest Soil Scientist
8901 Grand Avenue Place
Duluth, MN 55808
 (218) 308-1211
 david.morley@usda.gov
Website

SECONDARY CONTACT INFORMATION
Randy Kolka
Supervisory Research Soil Scientist
1831 Hwy 169 E.
Grand Rapids, MN 55724
 (218) 301-6564
 randall.k.kolka@usda.gov
Website