BIOLOGICAL TECHNICIAN IS - 0404 7-1
MAJOR DUTIES
The incumbent will support tree monitoring and field maintenance activities at BiodiversiTREE, a large experimental forest at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center.
Monitoring duties include assisting with and sometimes leading the following activities: tracking tree survival and growth; collecting roots and analyzing morphological root traits as well as collecting samples for identifying mycorrhizal communities; using ingrowth cores to measure fine root production, soil carbon storage, and nitrogen retention; collecting soil water and tree sap for isotopic analyses; using ground-penetrating radar to measure coarse root biomass; and using LiDAR to estimate forest canopy attributes. Accurate data collection requires proficiency with ArcGIS Field Maps, GPS navigation, and strong spatial reasoning to locate designated planting sites and navigate plot treatments.
Field maintenance responsibilities include mowing, applying herbicide in accordance with established safety guidelines, and manually removing unwanted or encroaching vegetation. The incumbent will also identify woody and herbaceous plant species, ensure proper tagging and documentation, and support data management — including developing data collection formats and contributing to a quality assurance program.
KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED BY THE POSITION
Knowledge and Skills
The incumbent should have a working knowledge of forest ecology and experience identifying woody and herbaceous plant species common to the US mid-Atlantic. Familiarity with standard ecological field methods is required, including techniques for measuring tree survival and growth, root collection and trait analysis, and soil sampling. Proficiency with Office software and R statistical software is expected. Experience with ArcGIS Field Maps, GPS tools, LiDAR, ground-penetrating radar, isotopic analyses, or mycorrhizal community assessment is beneficial but not required. The incumbent should be comfortable supporting data management tasks, including, writing protocols, developing data collection formats and contributing to quality assurance. A supervisor is available for guidance on unusual or unexpected problems.
Physical Requirements
Most work is performed outdoors in the field, with occasional sedentary laboratory or office tasks. The role requires prolonged standing, walking over uneven terrain, lifting and carrying loads up to 50 lbs, and operating hand tools and motorized vehicles. The incumbent must be prepared for extended exposure to heat, cold, wet conditions, stinging and biting insects, poisonous plants, and similar environmental hazards, and should take appropriate safety precautions. Travel between field sites may be required.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
The work environment includes both typical office and laboratory settings, but the incumbent will primarily work outdoors in terrestrial field environments of the Chesapeake Bay region and similar areas. Most days will involve considerable time spent outside, often under conditions of extreme heat or cold, exposure to poisonous plants, stinging and biting insects, and various forms of inclement weather. Field sites are not within walking distance of restroom facilities; however, a restroom is available at a nearby field location and may be accessed as needed.
Salary: $57,736 plus health benefits
Appointment Type: Term appointment for 1 year, with the second and third years of funding contingent upon satisfactory progress. (This is not a Federal position)
Deadline: Open until filled. Review of applications will begin immediately. We anticipate a start date in early fall 2026.
Location: This position is based at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center in Edgewater, Maryland. The SERC campus contains nearly 2,700 acres of forest, agricultural areas, wetlands, and streams, and sits directly on the Rhode River estuary on the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay. SERC is a research center of the Smithsonian Institution and is located close to the historic seaport of Annapolis, Maryland, the US capital in Washington D.C., and Baltimore, Maryland, with numerous nearby universities and opportunities for work and play.
The position is open to all candidates eligible to work in the US. The Smithsonian Institution is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We believe that a workforce comprising a variety of educational, cultural, and experiential backgrounds support and enhance our daily work life and contributes to innovative science and creative solutions. We strongly encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply. We recognize that each applicant will bring unique skills, knowledge, experiences, and background to these positions. The Smithsonian Institution is an equal opportunity employer, committed to a policy of nondiscrimination on the basis of race/ethnicity, national origin, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, age, religion, marital/parental/caregiver status, and disability.
The Smithsonian Institution provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation should contact SERC_HR@si.edu. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. To learn more, please review the Smithsonian’s Accommodation Procedures.
To apply, please send the following as a single PDF document to John Parker (parkerj@si.edu): cover letter summarizing relevant experience, Curriculum Vitae, and the names and full contact information (email, phone, postal address) of three references.