USDA FOREST SERVICE
PACIFIC SOUTHWEST RESEARCH STATION
INSTITUTE OF PACIFIC ISLANDS FORESTRY

TITLE: Biological Science Technician
DUTY LOCATION: Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry (Hilo, Hawaii)
SERIES: 0404
GRADE: GS-06/07

The Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry will be advertising for a term biological science technician for up to four years. The position will be a single graded position at the GS 06 or 07 level with no promotional potential. The incumbent works in support of the Restoration of Ecological Processes Team. The Mission of the Restoration of Ecosystem Processes Team is to develop and deliver information needed to restore ecosystem serviews and goods on once forested Pacific island landscapes.

Team efforts focus on:
1) quantifying the structural and functional characteristics of reference remnant forests and the extent to which those characteristics have deviated or been lost from degraded landscapes;
2) quantifying to what extent can native forest structural and functional characteristics at many temporal scales be reproduced in secondary forests; and
3) understanding, and developing methods to overcome, environmental and biological constraints to re-establishment of native forest ecosystem in degraded landscapes: developing and testing silvicultural systems for management of native Hawaiian forests.

DUTIES:
The incumbent will perform technical assignments consisting mostly of, but not limited to ecological field, laboratory, and greenhouse experiments that require the use of accepted, standardized ecological practices. Work will require use of a variety of specialized tools and equipment to carry out procedures, methods, and practices. The employee will be responsible for planning and conducting discrete and straightforward portions of larger projects pertaining to the overall goals of the research program. Field duties will include locating study areas, establishing study plots, and gathering data. Data will be collected from a variety of sources such as instrument readings, measurements, tests, observations, and/or inspections. The incumbent will keep accurate records; organize observational and experimental data gathered in the field, laboratory, or greenhouse; perform data transformations and statistical manipulations using existing computer facilities; and accurately summarize the data for manuscript preparation. In addition, the employee will prepare documents, diagrams, charts, and/or graphs for presentation, organize and supervise volunteer work crews, and participate in community outreach activites.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:
Work is performed in office, laboratory and greenhouse environments, and sometimes in a forest environment where terrain is often uneven, rocky, and covered with thick vegetation, and where there is exposure to extremes of weather and temperature. The employee sometimes may be required to use protective clothing and equipment.

For any technical questions regarding the above position, please contact Susan Cordell, Research Ecologist, at the Forest Service:
scordell01@fs.fed.us
Or by telephone at (808) 933-8121 Ext. 128

This position will likely open in November 2007 and will be posted at
www.usajobs.opm.gov
If you would like to be notified when the position is advertised, please complete the attached form or send an expression of interest with your contact information to:
scordell01@fs.fed.us
or mail to:
Attn: Susan Cordell
Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry, USDA Forest Service
60 Nowelo Street
Hilo, Hawaii 96720