Life Science Technician

University of Georgia

retirement plan

United States, Georgia, Athens

Jan 03, 2025

Posting Details

Posting Number	S12976P
Working Title	Life Science Technician
Department	VPR-Savannah River Ecology Lab
About the University of Georgia	Since our founding in 1785, the University of Georgia has operated as Georgia's oldest, most comprehensive, and most diversified institution of higher education ( https://www.uga.edu/). The proof is in our more than 235 years of academic and professional achievements and our continual commitment to higher education. UGA is currently ranked among the top 20 public universities in U.S. News & World Report. The University's main campus is located in Athens, approximately 65 miles northeast of Atlanta, with extended campuses in Atlanta, Griffin, Gwinnett, and Tifton. UGA employs approximately 3,000 faculty and more than 7,700 full-time staff. The University's enrollment exceeds 40,000 students including over 30,000 undergraduates and over 10,000 graduate and professional students. Academic programs reside in 18 schools and colleges, as well as a medical partnership with Augusta University housed on the UGA Health Sciences Campus in Athens.
About the College/Unit/Department	See website.
College/Unit/Department website	srel.uga.edu
Posting Type	External
Retirement Plan	TRS
Employment Type	Employee
Benefits Eligibility	Benefits Eligible
Full/Part time	Full Time
Work Schedule
Additional Schedule Information	Monday through Friday, 8:00-5:00
Advertised Salary	$35,000 to $40,000
Posting Date	12/02/2024
Open until filled	Yes
Closing Date
Proposed Starting Date	03/01/2025
Special Instructions to Applicants	Please be advised that a satisfactory driving record is required in order to pass D.O.D. background check.
Location of Vacancy	Outside Georgia
EEO Policy Statement	The University of Georgia is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ethnicity, age, genetic information, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation or protected veteran status. Persons needing accommodations or assistance with the accessibility of materials related to this search are encouraged to contact Central HR (hrweb@uga.edu).
USG Core Values Statement	The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 26 institutions of higher education and learning, as well as the System Office. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. These values serve as the foundation for all that we do as an organization, and each USG community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards. More details on the USG Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 8.2.18.1.2 and can be found online at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section8/C224/#p8.2.18_personnel_conduct. Additionally, USG supports Freedom of Expression as stated in Board Policy 6.5 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom found online at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section6/C2653.

Position Information

Classification Title	Life Science Technician
FLSA	Non-Exempt
FTE	1.00
Minimum Qualifications	Requires technical knowledge in the field acquired through an apprenticeship, a 2-year degree, or professional certificate. Please contact your Human Resources office for an evaluation of education/experience in lieu of the required minimum qualifications.
Preferred Qualifications	B.S. and/or M.S. degree in a wildlife field or biological sciences.
Position Summary	The field technician will provide critical field support for a recently funded project focused on spotted turtles. Field activities include aquatic trapping, handling and marking of turtles, blood collection and sample processing, and radio-telemetry at two installations in Virginia. The technician will also have regular data entry and management responsibilities. The technician may also on occasionally assist other project personnel at other installations in VA/MD. The person in this position will be an important liaison with the project PIs from three performing organizations, as well as natural resource staff and other personnel at two installations in Virginia. A high degree of professionalism and excellent communication skills are essential. As the only project personnel based in the Chesapeake Bay area, candidates should be highly independent, self-motivated and well-organized.
Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and/or Competencies	Competencies: Highly organized and be efficient at problem solving in the field (e.g., mechanical issues, logistics challenges). Ability to deploy aquatic traps, monitor them, and safely handle aquatic reptiles. Ability to perform radio-telemetry, search for missing animals, and identify suitable access points for radio-tracking as animals move across the landscape. Ability to adapt schedule or routine to accommodate changing weather conditions, military training schedules, changing locations of animals, and periodic field work assistance by other project personnel. Highly organized and efficient at problem solving in the field (e.g., mechanical issues, logistics complications KSA's: Field experience with turtles, preferably aquatic turtles - including aquatic trapping (hoop nets, promar and/or fyke nets), marking, VHF radiotelemetry, and blood collection Experience with home range and movement analysis is a bonus (preferably in R but within GIS programs such as ArcGIS or QGIS also acceptable) Strong communication skills and demonstrate timely completion of deliverables. Demonstrated experience and interest in scientific communication, especially writing, is strongly preferred Ability to to pass background check for work on Department of Defense installations and employment through University of Georgia and have a safe driving record.
Physical Demands	Able to lift 40 lbs to height of 4 feet. Walk long distances sometimes between wetlands and also safely navigate shallow wetlands in hip waders, often under hot and humid conditions. Driving for several hours to reach sites in the mid-Atlantic region driving 4WD field vehicles off pavement in sandy or muddy conditions Working outdoors under diverse, sometimes extreme field conditions Work in field for long days under challenging conditions (e.g., traversing wetlands in waders under hot, humid conditions. Work independently in a remote setting, with potential exposure to varying weather conditions
Is driving a responsibility of this position?	Yes
Is this a Position of Trust?	Yes
Does this position have operation, access, or control of financial resources?	No
Does this position require a P-Card?	No
Is having a P-Card an essential function of this position?	No
Does this position have direct interaction or care of children under the age of 18 or direct patient care?	No
Does this position have Security Access (e.g., public safety, IT security, personnel records, patient records, or access to chemicals and medications)	Yes
Credit and P-Card policy	Be advised a credit check will be required for all positions with financial responsibilities. For additional information about the credit check criteria, visit the UGA Credit Background Check website.
Background Investigation Policy	Offers of employment are contingent upon completion of a background investigation including, a criminal background check demonstrating your eligibility for employment with the University of Georgia; confirmation of the credentials and employment history reflected in your application materials (including reference checks) as they relate to the job-based requirements of the position applied for; and, if applicable, a satisfactory credit check. You may also be subject to a pre-employment drug test for positions with high-risk responsibilities, if applicable. Please visit the UGA Background Check website.

Duties/Responsibilities

Duties/Responsibilities	Radio-telemetry- Radio-track aquatic turtles at two sites located approximately 1 hour apart, and up to 30 animals at each site. Tracking is weekly in the active season (Feb - Oct), bi-weekly during winter dormancy (Nov-Jan).
Percentage of time	45

Duties/Responsibilities

Mark-recapture and sample collection.
Deploy and monitor aquatic traps at several wetlands at the same two sites where conducting radio-telemetry. (Each trapping session occurs over 5 days, with primary trapping effort occurring during March - May).
Process turtles of target species, including marking via shell notching, measuring and collecting blood samples, which will be processed in the field.
Periodically collect environmental samples (soil, water) for contaminant analysis.

Percentage of time

Duties/Responsibilities

Data entry and management-

Primary responsibility in entering radio-tracking data s/he collects into Excel, managing GPS waypoints, and archiving data and datasheets.
Data entry in a timely manner to allow comparison with data collected by other project personnel at other project locations and to meet grant deliverables.
Planning for maximizing efficiency in the field. (Familiarity with is Google Earth helpful in planning for maximizing efficiency in the field).

Percentage of time

Duties/Responsibilities

Project coordination with project and installation personnel, communication and reporting.
Coordinate field activities and access requirements with natural resource personnel at study sites.
Provide regular (e.g., at least weekly) communication with supervisor and as needed to respond to unexpected events or conditions (e.g., site access, equipment failure, etc). Provide data summaries and draft text for reports, publications and/or presentations.

Percentage of time