Integrated Upland Vegetation and Spring Vegetation Field Work for Mojave Desert Netweork

This agreement between Great Basin Institute and the Mojave Desert Network Inventory & Monitoring program provides an internship opportunity to collect Integrated Upland Vegetation Protocol (JU) data. These agencies will worth together to support and stimulate work, education, and training opportunities for young adults through natural resource monitoring in the Mojave Desert Network of National Parks. The primary purpose of this project is not the acquisition of property or services for the direct benefit or use by the Federal Government, but rather to accomplish a public purpose of support or stimulation authorized by the Legislative Authorities listed under Article II. In this project, Great Basin Institute and the Mojave Desert Network Inventory & Monitoring program will collaborate to provide an opportunity for young adults to conduct quality analysis/quality control for ecological data in the field and in the office as a vegetation technician. This position provides early career individual training and experiential learning in the fields of natural resources and conservation. The selected candidate will be provided with a full⿐time technician position monitoring the flora, fauna, and hydrology of springs and upland plant communities in the Mojave Desert. The primary duty of the participant will be to assist NPS scientists in field work at springs in Parashant National Monument and other parks in the region. Field work will include plant size measurements, plant identification, and potential collection of vegetation. We anticipate that the selected candidate will be traveling and camping in the backcountry for at least 50% of the weekdays for the duration of the position. Occasionally weekend work may also occur. In addition to field work, the participant will assist with logistics, data entry, QA/QC, and reporting tasks in the office and assist NPS staff as needed with a variety of projects. The technician will gain experience in botanical and ecological field methods, and will have a chance to participate in all phases of the monitoring process, from planning to reporting. They will work closely with NPS scientists, and learn what it is like to work as a scientist for a federal agency.