Job Type: Full-time, on-site, seasonal
Location: University of California, Berkeley
Salary: Minimum $25/hour
Description:
Berkeley Forests manages multiple forest research stations throughout the state. Assignments may be at any one of these sites, but most will be at Blodgett Forest in El Dorado County, CA with trips of varying lengths to other properties. Potential for significant portions of the season to be spent at Flatwoods Research Forest in Shasta County, Grouse Ridge Research Forest in Nevada County, or Whitaker’s Forest in Tulare County. Forestry-related research in areas of forest ecology, fire ecology, ecosystem processes, silviculture, and forest management are conducted throughout the Berkeley Forests’ properties. These positions provide broad support for achieving the mission of facilitating research, demonstration, and education. A wide variety of work experience conducting both research and management activities is provided under the supervision of multiple registered professional foresters. Additional information on these properties and their function is available at forests.berkeley.edu/forests.
EMPLOYMENT DATES: 3 – 5 consecutive months, between May 2026 and December 2026. Start and end date are negotiable, but applicant must be available early-June through early August at minimum. Term not to exceed 900 hours total.
These positions are full-time, temporary. Applicants must be physically fit, situationally aware, and capable of sustained physical work during summer forest weather conditions. More than 80% of work is outdoors and may include camping and travel between properties. Work sites may in steep, rugged terrain, and there is a potential for encountering poison oak and hornets/bees.
On-site housing at Blodgett Forest Research Station provided with an expectation to help with chores (cleanliness, building maintenance, dump runs, etc.). Work schedule is typically 40 hours/week M-F but may be adjusted.
Accepting applications until they are filled. (Interviews to begin late Jan/Feb. 2026)
Job Duties:
Resource monitoring program, including measurement of permanent forest inventory plots, riparian research plots, and post-fire data collection.
Various silviculture and ecology research studies with potential for student research opportunities.
Aiding with preparation and implementation of pile and broadcast prescribed burns.
Maintenance of field equipment, vehicles, and living spaces
Mechanical and hand fuel management including: chainsaw thinning and hand pile construction, pre-commercial thinning, herbicide application, roadside clearing, etc.
Reforestation and stand improvement practices including site prep, planting, and pruning.
Surveying of and forest locations using Avenza and GPS Devices.
Infrastructure maintenance
Required Qualifications:
Work experience or coursework including field exercises covering the following:
Vegetation measurement techniques, including use of tree measurement tools.
Identification of common Sierra Nevada plants.
Field orientation/surveying including use of a compass and maps.
Preferred Qualifications:
Work experience or coursework including field exercises covering the following:
Safe use and maintenance of chainsaws, brush cutters or pruners, and forestry hand tools.
Operation of automatic four-wheel drive vehicles and valid Calif. Driver’s license.
Use of field data loggers and computers to collect research-grade precision data.
