OSSS semi-regularly updates our opportunities board with positions related to soil science that members share with us. Below you can find positions for career professionals, students (internships, lab positions, or temporary full-time jobs for current undergraduate and graduate students), and information on federal careers in soil science.
Career Positions
Natural Resource Specialist II, Josephine County Community Development Department, Oregon DEQ
- Application Deadline: Open until filled. Posted 09/11/2024
- Location: Grants Pass, OR
- Salary: $59,529.60 – $68,036.80 Annually
- Link: Natural Resource Specialist II
- Brief Position Description (full description on application website):
- Responsible for performing professional level evaluations and permitting various onsite wastewater treatment systems as well as determining whether they will safeguard public health and the environment. This includes inspection, investigation, documentation of State laws and County ordinances and education in various areas of water treatment, soil, and characteristics of wastes. Work is performed under the oversight of the Department of Environmental Quality, (DEQ) in the State of Oregon and the supervision of the Community Development Department who reviews work or conformance to applicable laws and regulations.
- Key Responsibilities (more on application website):
- Performs evaluations, minor field inspections and investigations in the enforcement of state laws and County ordinances related to wastewater and soil uses.
- Approves and issues operating permits, license renewals, site approvals, construction approvals and certificates of inspection.
Student Positions
Recruiting a PhD student in soil spectroscopy and Andisols at Oregon State University
The Soil and Landscape Modeling Laboratory (https://www.yakunzhang.com/) at Oregon State University, in collaboration with New Mexico State University and USDA-NRCS, is seeking one highly motivated PhD student starting in January 2025.
The primary goal of this project is to investigate rapid and cost-effective mid-infrared (MIR) spectral techniques and machine learning models to identify and classify soil properties and subsequently use these techniques to study the spatial distribution of andic soil properties. This project includes 1) Statistical modeling: using existing USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) national MIR spectral library and local spectral datasets to develop data-driven models to rapidly determine andic and vitric soil properties and classify Andisols, and 2) Field sampling campaigns: collecting climo-, topo-, and chrono-sequences of Andisols in Oregon and New Mexico to improve the understanding of the climatic, topographic, and time controls on the distribution of Andisols.
The PhD student will work in a multidisciplinary environment and engage with scientists at Oregon State University, New Mexico State University, and USDA-NRCS. The student will have the opportunity to travel to Oregon and New Mexico to collect soil samples at National Parks/Forests and travel to the NRCS national laboratory in Nebraska to receive training on soil and spectral analysis. Graduate Research Assistantship will be provided which consists of stipends, tuition remission, and other health insurance benefits. We welcome students of all backgrounds, gender, race, and ethnicity.
Requirements:
- An MS degree in soil science, geography, geoscience, environmental science, or related topics.
- Background in statistical analysis and programming (R, Python, or Matlab).
- Laboratory and fieldwork experience.
- Good communication skills (oral and written) and willingness to work in a multidisciplinary environment.
- English proficiency test for students who graduated from non-English speaking institutes.
Application:
Interested candidates are encouraged to contact Dr. Yakun Zhang (yakun.zhang@oregonstate.edu) with the following documents: i) a 2-page cover letter describing research experience and interests, ii) curriculum vitae, iii) unofficial transcripts, and iv) contact information of three academic references.
Looking for scholarship information? Check it out here!
Federal Careers
Quick Links to Currently Open Federal Opportunities
Here are some quick links to federal soil science jobs in Oregon and Washington. Sometimes unrelated jobs will come up in these searches, so keep in mind that some additional searching within these results will be required. These search links are not all-inclusive and some jobs may be missed by these queries!
USA Jobs Links (Federal Jobs Board)
The following hyperlinks below will take you directly to the USA Jobs website search for currently open jobs listed under those position titles.
Natural Resources SpecialistNatural Resource Specialist – Soil resource specialists with The Bureau of Land Management and Natural Resource Conservation Service are often listed in this job series.
Soil Conservationists – This job series is common for soil scientists working with the Natural Resource Conservation Service.
Biological Science Technician – These positions are often how seasonal opportunities in soil science across the BLM and USFS are advertised. They do require more diligent searching in their job descriptions to find out which are soils-specific, as everything from wildlife biology to hydrology can be the focus of these positions.
Federal Employment Outreach
Federal positions will often have an “outreach” period where interested applicants can send their resume to and communicate directly with hiring managers for specific jobs before they are advertised on USA Jobs. This is a great opportunity to ensure you stand out as an applicant and to get information about the specific position or duty locations, which is not always very apparent on USA Jobs. Click below for the direct link to current outreach advertisements with the Forest Service.
USFS Employment Outreach Portal
- Information on Natural Resource Specialists positions at the Department of Interior: https://www.doi.gov/careers/careers/natural-resource-specialist
- Soil Scientist (0470 series) qualifications for all federal positions