Seasonal Research Positions in Silviculture and Applied Forest Ecology
Job Title: Seedling Field Crew Technicians or Crew Leader
Project: The University of Vermont, Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources is seeking 3-4 field technicians and 1 crew lead to assist on field studies examining the impacts of climate change and invasive species and associated adaptive forest management strategies on planted seedlings in northern hardwood, mixedwood, spruce-fir, and fire-dependent forests across various
locations in Vermont and New Hampshire. Field technicians would work with multidisciplinary teams of graduate students and scientists from the University of Vermont, U.S. Forest Service Northern Research Station, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Dartmouth College, The Nature Conservancy, Vermont Land Trust, Vermont Forest Parks and Recreation, Green Mountain National Forest, and
The Northern Institute of Applied Climate Science
Primary responsibilities:
- Conduct site preparation, planting and measurement of seedlings in remote areas
- Conduct survival monitoring, maintenance and competition control of previously planted seedlings
- Routine maintenance and operation of brush saws for clearing vegetation
- Navigate to field sites using GPS and maps
- Ensure accuracy and consistency in data collection and management
- Collaborate with team members to support research goals
- For Crew Lead, maintaining communication with monitoring coordinator while out in the field
Required Qualifications
- Academic background in forestry, ecology or related fields
- Strong knowledge of forest inventory techniques and tree planting experience preferred
- Physically capable of hiking and conducting daily field work in rough terrain in harsh environmental conditions (heat, rain, biting insects)
- Crew lead applicants should have leadership experience and advanced field skills
- Valid driver’s license required

Crews will train with staff and state agency personnel to learn the data collection protocols, methods, and techniques. Following training, crews will be responsible for planning daily trips, maintaining equipment, traveling to and from field sites, and conducting field work. In addition to these responsibilities, the crew leader will also be responsible for managing a safe and inclusive work environment, relaying consistent communications between supervisor and field crew, and making decisions in the field for the crew.
Physical Demands
Field-based roles typically involve data collection in remote locations with little to no cellular service. Crews will face challenging field conditions, including high temperatures, biting insects and heavy rainfall. Daily hikes of up to 5 miles while carrying up to 20 pounds will be required.
Position Details
Supervision: Field Technicians will work with primarily with their designated crew members, and occasionally with personnel from collaborating agencies and Silviculture and Forest Ecology lab members.
Location: Vermont and New Hampshire, housing provided at each field site, field vehicle provided
Start date: May 5th, 2025
End date: October 30th, 2025
Anticipated hours: 6 months, 40 hours per week (Mon-Thurs, 10 hours days)
Compensation: $18-20 for crew members DOE, $20-22 for crew lead DOE
How to apply:
Interested candidates should e-mail a single PDF with cover letter describing their background, qualifications and interests along with a résumé and two references with subject line “Seedling Crew – Your Name” to Grace Smith(grace.smith@uvm.edu). Please indicate in your email if you would like to be considered for the Crew Leader position. Review will begin January 2025 on a rolling basis. Positions remain open until they are filled. All interviews will be conducted remotely using Microsoft Teams
Summer Undergraduate Research Positions in Silviculture and Applied Forest Ecology
Job Title: Silviculture Field Crew Technicians or Crew Leader
Project: The University of Vermont, Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources is seeking 3-4 undergraduate field technicians and 1 crew lead to assist on field studies examining the impacts of climate change and invasive species and associated adaptive forest management strategies on northern hardwood, mixedwood, spruce-fir, and fire-dependent forests in various locations across Vermont. Field technicians would work with multidisciplinary teams of graduate students and scientists from the University of Vermont, U.S. Forest Service Northern Research Station, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Dartmouth College, The Nature Conservancy, Vermont Land Trust, Vermont Forest Parks and Recreation, Green Mountain National Forest, and The Northern Institute of Applied Climate Science.
Crews will train with staff and state agency personnel to learn the data collection protocols, methods, and techniques. Following training, crews will be responsible for planning daily trips, maintaining equipment, traveling to and from field sites, and conducting field work. In addition to these responsibilities, the crew leader will also be responsible for managing a safe and inclusive work environment, relaying consistent communications between supervisor and field crew, and making decisions in the field for the crew.
Primary responsibilities:
- Conduct forest inventory data, including overstory tree measurements, vegetation and regeneration surveys, coarse woody material assessments
- Conduct survival monitoring, maintenance and competition control of planted seedlings
- Routine maintenance and operation of brush saws for clearing vegetation
- Navigate to field sites using GPS and maps
- Ensure accuracy and consistency in data collection and management
- Collaborate with team members to support research goals
- For Crew Lead, maintaining communication with monitoring coordinator while out in the field
Required Qualifications
- Academic background in forestry, ecology or related fields
- Strong knowledge of forest inventory techniques and tree species identification preferred
- Physically capable of hiking and conducting daily field work in rough terrain in harsh environmental conditions (heat, rain, biting insects)
- Crew lead applicants should have leadership experience and advanced field skills
- Valid driver’s license required

Physical Demands
Field-based roles typically involve data collection in remote locations with little to no cellular service. Crews will face challenging field conditions, including high temperatures, biting insects and heavy rainfall. Daily hikes of up to 5 miles while carrying up to 20 pounds will be required.
Position Details
Supervision: Field Technicians will work primarily with their designated crew members, and occasionally with personnel from collaborating agencies and Silviculture and Forest Ecology lab members.
Location: Vermont, based out of Burlington, VT, field vehicle provided, housing NOT provided
Start date: May 19th, 2025
End date: August 14th, 2025
Anticipated hours: 13 weeks, 40 hours per week (Mon-Thurs, 10 hours days)
Compensation: $18-20 for crew members DOE, $20-22 for crew lead DOE
How to apply:
Interested candidates should e-mail a single PDF with cover letter describing their background, qualifications and interests along with a résumé and two references with subject line “Silv Crew – Your Name” to Grace Smith(grace.smith@uvm.edu). Please indicate in your email if you would like to be considered for the Crew Leader position and/or GMNF Technician (see below). Review will begin January 2025 on a rolling basis. Positions remain open until they are filled. All interviews will be conducted remotely using Microsoft Teams
One (1) field technician needed for GMNF fire-adapted ecosystem research
Fire is an important ecological and cultural component of many northeastern forests. Shifts in fire regimes, mostly through suppression over the last century have resulted in increased mesophication of these forests, with conversion of many of these unique habitats into shade tolerant forests with reduced abundance of ecologically and culturally significant species dependent on fire for maintaining their populations. These forest type conversions have wide-ranging ecosystem and cultural effects. Federal lands with at-risk forest types and habitats are threatened by the lack of fire. We propose to intensively sample threatened stands across biophysical settings on the Green Mountain National Forest supporting these ecosystems. From this effort, we will (1) describe current vegetation and tree growth and recruitment patterns in an array of forest types, and (2) develop management recommendations to ensure maintenance of these forests.
Summer Undergraduate Research Positions in Silviculture and Applied Forest Ecology
Job Title: Silviculture Field Crew Technicians or Crew Leader
Project: The University of Vermont, Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources is seeking four (4) undergraduate field technicians and one (1) crew lead to assist on field studies examining the impacts of climate change and invasive species and associated adaptive forest management strategies on northern hardwood, mixedwood, spruce-fir, and fire-dependent forests in various locations across Vermont and New Hampshire. Field technicians would work with multidisciplinary teams of graduate students and scientists from the University of Vermont, U.S. Forest Service Northern Research Station, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Dartmouth College, The Nature Conservancy, Vermont Land Trust, Vermont Forest Parks and Recreation, Green Mountain National Forest, and The Northern Institute of Applied Climate Science.
Primary responsibilities:
- Establish long-term vegetation monitoring plots
- Conduct forest inventory data collection, including overstory tree measurements, vegetation and regeneration surveys, coarse woody material assessments
- Navigate to field plots using GPS and maps
- Ensure accuracy and consistency in data collection and management
- Collaborate with team members to support research goals
- For Crew Lead, maintaining communication with supervisor while out in the field
Required Qualifications
- Academic background in forestry, ecology or related fields
- Strong knowledge of forest inventory techniques and tree species identification preferred
- Physically capable of hiking and conducting daily field work in rough terrain in harsh environmental conditions (heat, rain, biting insects)
- Crew lead applicants should have leadership experience and advanced field skills
- Valid driver’s license required

Crews will train with staff and state agency personnel to learn the data collection protocols, methods, and techniques. Following training, crews will be responsible for planning daily trips, maintaining equipment, traveling to and from field sites, and conducting field work. In addition to these responsibilities, the crew leader will also be responsible for managing a safe and inclusive work environment, relaying consistent communications between supervisor and field crew, and making decisions in the field for the crew.
Physical Demands
Field-based roles typically involve data collection in remote locations with little to no cellular service. Crews will face challenging field conditions, including high temperatures, biting insects and heavy rainfall. Daily hikes of up to 5 miles while carrying up to 20 pounds will be required.
Position Details
Supervision: Field Technicians will work primarily with their designated crew members, and occasionally with personnel from collaborating agencies and Silviculture and Forest Ecology lab members.
Location: Vermont and New Hampshire, housing provided at each field site, field vehicle provided
Start date: May 19th, 2025
End date: August 14th, 2025
Anticipated hours: 13 weeks, 40 hours per week (Mon-Thurs, 10 hours days)
Compensation: $18-20 for crew members DOE, $20-22 for crew lead DOE
How to apply:
Interested candidates should e-mail a single PDF with cover letter describing their background, qualifications and interests along with a résumé and two references with subject line “Veg Crew – Your Name” to Grace Smith(grace.smith@uvm.edu). Please indicate in your email if you would like to be considered for the Crew Leader position. Review will begin January 2025 on a rolling basis. Positions remain open until they are filled. All interviews will be conducted remotely using Microsoft Teams

Graduate School and Employment Opportunities
Individuals interested in graduate study or employment within the Silviculture and Applied Forest Ecology Lab should review the lab website to see the current areas of research we are working in, as well as the general areas in which I advise students. Generally, I do not accept graduate students unless there is funding available to support your work through an assistantship or fellowship, so please refer to this webpage for advertisements of available assistantships and the Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources Graduate Program webpage for information on graduate assistantships.