Forest Health Program - Undergraduate Student - Los Alamos National Laboratory

What You Will Do

This position is for an internship through the SomosSTEM program at New Mexico Highlands University. Candidates will only be reviewed who meet these enrollment requirements.

The selected candidate will work with staff from the Environmental Protection and Compliance Division, conducting field monitoring of wildland fire mitigation, forest thinning, and forest health projects across the Laboratory's approximately 40 square miles. The program collaborates with wildland fire staff in the Emergency Management Division, craft crews, biologists, archeologists, environmental monitoring staff, and scientists from the Earth and Environmental Sciences Division.

Examples of potential projects include:

• Forest inventory, forest health assessment, and fuels inventory and mapping
• Pre-and post-fire mitigation treatment or thinning treatment monitoring and mapping using standard forest inventory and vegetation monitoring methods, remote sensing, and photo monitoring.
• GPS mapping of insect and pathogen affected trees, invasive species, old trees, and urban trees for management planning.

Trails management including trails assessment, signage maintenance, and management planning

What You Need

Minimum Job Requirements:

• Enrollment at New Mexico Highlands University and specifically in the SomosSTEM program
• General knowledge of ecological/forestry field work
• Data and records management, and organizational skills
• Communication skills, both oral and written
• Physically able to work long hours outside, including early mornings and late evenings, with sometimes challenging temperatures and weather

Education/Experience: Current undergraduate student in forestry, ecology, fire ecology, biology, environmental sciences, natural resources management or related field who is enrolled at New Mexico Highlands University. Must also be enrolled in the SomosStem Program. Must has a cumulative GPA of 3.0 on 4.0 scale.

Desired Qualifications:

• Forest/Fire ecology, wildland fire, forest inventory and monitoring, invasive species management, fuels inventory, or southwest plant identification field experience
• Familiarity with erosion control best management practices
• Interest in common language science writing, website content and interpretive signage development

Essential Job Functions (can perform with or without reasonable accommodation):

• Peripheral vision
• Depth perception
• Reading vision
• Distance vision
• Ability to speak
• Ability to discriminate speech

General Physical Mobility

• Stooping
• Crouching
• Balancing

Specific Physical Mobility

• Reaching overhead
• Reaching horizontally
• Reaching down
• Typing or keyboarding
• Use of both hands
• Use of both arms
• Use of both legs
• Use of both feet

Weight Handling Requirements

• Lifting 5-10 pounds
• Carrying 5-10 pounds

Work Environment:

• Outdoors
• In a cold environment
• In a hot environment 90-100 F
• In a dry environment
• In a widely ranging ambient temperature
• Working irregular schedule
• Operation of motor vehicles

Specific Work Environment

• Work under unusual lighting conditions
• Work near electrical power supplies
• Work with biologic or infectious agents
• Work near sources of non-ionizing radiation

Chemical Environment

• Dusts or powders
• Sprays, mists, or vapors
• Fumes

Protective Clothing and Environment

• Headgear or head protection
• Safety glasses or eye protection
• Gloves or hand protection
• Safety shoes or protective footgear

Work Location: This position will be physically located in Los Alamos and White Rock, NM.

Note to Applicants: Along with your resume, please include a detailed cover letter explaining how you meet each of the minimum requirements and any of the desired qualifications

Where You Will Work

Located in beautiful northern New Mexico, Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) is a multidisciplinary research institution engaged in strategic science on behalf of national security. Our generous benefits package includes:

• PPO or High Deductible medical insurance with the same large nationwide network
• Dental and vision insurance
• Free basic life and disability insurance
• Paid childbirth and parental leave
• Award-winning 401(k) (6% matching plus 3.5% annually)
• Learning opportunities and tuition assistance
• Flexible schedules and time off (PTO and holidays)
• Onsite gyms and wellness programs
• Extensive relocation packages (outside a 50 mile radius)

Additional Details

Directive 206.2 - Employment with Triad requires a favorable decision by NNSA indicating employee is suitable under NNSA Supplemental Directive 206.2. Please note that this requirement applies only to citizens of the United States. Foreign nationals are subject to a similar requirement under DOE Order 142.3A.

Clearance: L or Q or Q/SCI (Position will be cleared to this level). Selected applicants will be subject to a background investigation conducted by or on behalf of the Federal Government, and must meet eligibility requirements* for access to classified matter. This position requires a Q clearance. and obtaining such clearance requires US Citizenship except in extremely rare circumstances. Dependent upon the position, additional authorization to access classified information may be required, which may or may not be available to dual citizens. Receipt of a Q clearance and additional access authorization ultimately is a decision of the Federal Government and not of Triad.

*Eligibility requirements: To obtain a clearance, an individual must be at least 18 years of age; U.S. citizenship is required except in very limited circumstances. See DOE Order 472.2 for additional information.

No Clearance: Position does not require a security clearance. Selected candidates will be subject to drug testing and other pre-employment background checks.

HRP: This position is subject to the requirements of the DOE Human Reliability Program as specified in 10 Code of Federal Regulation, Part 712, §712.11. These requirements include on going drug and alcohol testing, as well as periodic medical and psychological evaluations.

426.2: This position is subject to DOE Order 426.2, Personnel Selection, Training, and Qualification Requirements for DOE Nuclear Facilities, which establishes entry-level requirements to ensure candidates selected for specific positions can successfully perform the requirements of the job.

New-Employment Drug Test: The Laboratory requires successful applicants to complete a new-employment drug test and maintains a substance abuse policy that includes random drug testing. Although New Mexico and other states have legalized the use of marijuana, use and possession of marijuana remain illegal under federal law. A positive drug test for marijuana will result in termination of employment, even if the use was pre-offer.

Internal Applicants: Regular appointment employees who have served the required period of continuous service in their current position are eligible to apply for posted jobs throughout the Laboratory. If an employee has not served the required period of continuous service, they may only apply for Laboratory jobs with the documented approval of their Division Leader. Please refer to Policy Policy P701 for applicant eligibility requirements.

• Equal Opportunity: Los Alamos National Laboratory is an equal opportunity employer and supports a diverse and inclusive workforce. All employment practices are based on qualification and merit, without regard to race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status or spousal affiliation, physical or mental disability, medical conditions, pregnancy, status as a protected veteran, genetic information, or citizenship within the limits imposed by federal laws and regulations. The Laboratory is also committed to making our workplace accessible to individuals with disabilities and will provide reasonable accommodations, upon request, for individuals to participate in the application and hiring process. To request such an accommodation, please send an email to applyhelp@lanl.gov or call 1-505-665-4444 option 1.

How to Apply: Login to Your Account to Complete the Application Process

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Follow the instructions below if you if you have never been employed with the Lab or received insurance coverage to create an account:

Work Location:

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How to Apply: Login to Your Account to Complete the Application Process

• Click the Vacancy Name number (in blue) to view any job's details.
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If you experience any technical issues, please email applyhelp@lanl.gov for assistance.