Caitlin O'Brady
Degrees
BA, Environmental Science, Colorado College
About
I am currently seeking a research assistant to help with summer research. See below for job description or email me for a pdf version:
Posted May 9, 2009
Project Description:Climate change legislation (e.g. carbon cap-and-trade or carbon tax) will only be effective if founded on a strong scientific understanding of carbon cycles. Although we know that plants and soils function as carbon storage tanks, we do not yet know how to maximize their storage capacity in various ecosystems. Understanding dryland ecosystems, which cover 54% of the earth’s terrestrial surface and store 94% of carbon in their soils, is particularly important to a successful climate change mitigation strategy.
In the semi-arid ecosystems of eastern Oregon, ranchers and land managers regularly remove native Western Juniper (Juniperus occidentalis) trees to favor shrub and grassland system function, increase biodiversity and reduce precipitation runoff and soil erosion. However, the carbon impact of juniper removal has yet to be determined. This study will quantify the carbon impacts of western juniper expansion into shrub and grasslands and the subsequent management of the trees in the Great Basin of the United States.
Specific Objectives:
1. To estimate the carbon budget of an eastern Oregon rangeland system, comparing a juniper woodland
landscape with a grass and shrub dominated landscape.
2. To explore drivers of soil carbon change including the impacts of different vegetation (juniper trees versus
grasses and shrubs) and land uses (grazed versus ungrazed).
Job Description:
Field assistant will work closely with the project director and another assistant to conduct field research. Duties will include operating a two-person mechanized soil auger, mapping research sites, surveying vegetation cover, and carefully recording measurements and labeling samples. There will also be minimal lab work including sieving and drying soils.
During the work week, the research team will often camp near the field site. The field site is located approximately 1 hour south/southeast of Burns, OR.
Applicant must:
- Have personal camping gear (tent, sleeping bag or blanket, etc.)
- Be able to lift 60 lbs repeatedly
- Have own means of transportation to Burns, OR
- Work well in a team and be self motivated
- Be able to work long hours in hot weather
- Be flexible and have a sense of humor
- Be detail-oriented
An Ideal applicant will:
- Have research or field experience
- Be enrolled in or graduated from an undergraduate institution
- Have proven interest in Ecology, Biology, Forestry, Environmental Science, Range Management or a similar field
- Have camping experience
- Have first aid experience
Schedule and Compensation:
- six weeks, 5 days per week, beginning June 10. Compensation is $360 per week.
Submitting an Application
- If interested please send a resume and cover letter to Caitlin O’Brady, Project Director, at caitlin.obrady@yale.edu
- Applications accepted until position is filled
