Research Technician I

Job Title
Research Technician I

Agency
Texas A&M University - Kingsville

Department
Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute

Proposed Minimum Salary
Commensurate

Job Location
Kingsville, Texas

Job Type
Staff

Job Description

The Research Technician I will assist in a research project being conducted in South Texas focused on the effects of guinea grass on the space use and habitat selection of northern bobwhite. Fieldwork will occur on private rangeland around Kingsville. The position will last for 4.5 months (Spring 2026). The successful candidate will work as part of a crew consisting of a lead graduate research assistant as well as several undergraduate technicians from Texas A&M-Kingsville. The primary purpose of this position is to assist with northern bobwhite trapping and tracking. Fieldwork will include (but is not limited to): clearing and prepping bobwhite trap sites, distributing bait before bobwhite trapping, trapping and tagging live northern bobwhites, VHF tracking of tagged bobwhites using both handheld yagis and vehicle mounted omni antennas, and performing vegetation measurements.

The candidate must be comfortable with the safe handling of wildlife. Fieldwork will primarily be performed by a crew at the beginning of the field season, but the applicant will eventually be tasked with completing fieldwork tasks (especially VHF tracking) independently. As such, the applicant must be comfortable working in both a group setting as well as alone. Since work will be performed on private rangeland, the applicant will need to follow all rules and regulations imposed by the landowners and respect all ranch property. Field conditions include inclement weather, both hot and cold temperatures, high humidity, biting insects, potentially hazardous wildlife, and occasional wet conditions. This position is primarily field work based (~100%). Housing is not provided.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Lead efforts to trap bobwhite quail using ground funnel box traps. Involves prepping trap sites, deploying and operating traps, and the safe handling of captured animals.
• VHF tracking of bobwhite quail using both vehicle mounted whip antennae as well as handheld yagis and receivers.
• Conduct vegetation surveys at locations used by bobwhites as well as at random locations on the landscape. Includes Robel poles, Daubenmire frames, vertical visual obstruction metrics, and others as assigned.
• Operating 4WD vehicles, hand tools, and navigational equipment including both handheld GPS units and phone applications such as Avenza Maps
• Performs other duties as assigned.

This document represents the major duties, responsibilities, and authorities of this job, and is not intended to be a complete list of all tasks and functions. Other duties may be assigned.

Additional Responsibilities

Perform various maintenance tasks including box trap construction and repair, regular vehicle cleaning and maintenance, and other cleaning or maintenance tasks as assigned.

Minimum Requirements

Education - High school diploma or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Experience - Two years of related experience.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Ability to - Ability to multitask and work cooperatively with others.

Licensing / Professional Certification -None.

Physical Requirements - Ability to lift moderately heavy objects. Ability to exert heavy force.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Supervision of Others

This position generally does not supervise employees.

Other Requirements

Work beyond normal business hours and/or work on weekends not to exceed 40 hour work week.

All positions are security-sensitive. Applicants are subject to a criminal history investigation, and employment is contingent upon the institution's verification of credentials and/or other information required by the institution's procedures, including the completion of the criminal history check.

Equal Opportunity/Veterans/Disability Employer.