GIS/Botany Interns (2 positions) w/ Yamhill County Public Works Dept

Yamhill County Public Works is taking applications for two paid internship positions for students with training in ArcGIS and/or strong taxonomy skills and ability to identify common Willamette Valley native and invasive plants.  Access to ArcGIS through the OSU student site license is desirable.  The work will involve collecting data and making maps for the GIS Roadside Vegetation Inventory.  The project duration will be approximately eight weeks, March-May 2018, and part-time, approximately eight hours per week.

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GIS Intern / Botany Intern
 
POSITION DESCRIPTION – Student Interns (two positions)
Geographic Information System (GIS) / Botany Intern
Posted December 15, 2017.  Positions open until filled.
 
Project Duration
March-May, 2018 (approximately 8 weeks)
Part-time, approximately 8 hours/week
The interns will work as partners to develop schedules and share tasks to ensure that all tasks will be completed by the end of the project period.
 
Location
Yamhill County Public Works Department
2060 Lafayette Avenue, McMinnville, Oregon 97128
 
Salary
$14.00 to $16.00/hour, depending on skills and experience
 
Supervisors
Susan Aldrich-Markham, Professor Emeritus, Oregon State University
John Phelan, Director, Yamhill County Public Works Department
 
Project Overview
Yamhill County Public Works Department (YCPW) recently initiated the GIS Roadside Vegetation Inventory in order to collect georeferenced data on significant features within roadside rights-of-way.  These features include Native Plants, Invasive Plants, Erosion, and Optimal Vegetation.  The GIS Roadside Vegetation Inventory is part of the implementation of the Yamhill County Roadside Vegetation Management Plan adopted in February 2016.
 
The data are managed using Esri’s ArcGIS software.  Data are collected using a Trimble Juno 5B GPS handheld computer with ArcPad and transferred into ArcMap on a desktop computer.  The database of the GIS Roadside Vegetation Inventory, particularly the Native Plants section, is currently in the draft phase.  It will need to be revised over the project period in order to more completely capture significant attributes that YCPW can use to make roadside vegetation management decisions.  The data collection procedure and the performance of database on the Trimble GPS will need to be optimized.
 
Requirements
Driver’s license and transportation to and from Yamhill County Public Works.  Interns will drive a County-owned vehicle while on-the-job.
Cell phone or other camera with GPS capability.
 
Tasks – Interns will cooperate as partners on most tasks.
 
Collect data along Yamhill County road rights-of-way using the Trimble Juno 5B GPS.  Data will be collected at times from a moving vehicle and at times by walking.  The focus will be on county roads with native plants.  Generally two people will collect data, with one person driving and one person handling the GPS.  Other drivers may be the supervisor Susan Aldrich-Markham, a member of the Yamhill County Public Works Roadside Vegetation Management Technical Advisory Committee, or a member of the Native Plant Society of Oregon.
 
Take photos of significant features in the field and link these to georeferenced locations.
 
Recommend revisions to the database as data collection proceeds, in order to more completely capture the kind of information about existing native plant populations and communities that YCPW can use to make roadside vegetation management decisions.  Additional features and attributes may need to be included.  New genera may need to be added to the drop-down boxes on the GPS, and other genera may be removed if they are never seen.  Consult with supervisor Susan Aldrich-Markham on revisions.
 
Tasks requiring more advanced skills
            Transfer the data regularly to a desktop computer with an ArcGIS site license and maintain the data in ArcMap.  Make archived data available as shapefiles to YCPW.
            Create maps in ArcMap to display the data.
            Optimize the performance of the database on the Trimble Juno 5B.
 
Create PowerPoint slides using maps and photos from the field.  The slides may be used for educational purposes by YCPW, including posting to the Web and presentations to YCPW committees, County Commissioners, adjacent landowners, and the public.  The purpose is to highlight significant native plant populations for protection, invasive plant populations for control, and erosion sites for restoration.
 
As a team, write a Final Report and present a PowerPoint slide show summarizing the internship accomplishments to the YCPW Roadside Vegetation Management Technical Advisory Committee.
 
Qualifications
1.           Ability to work independently and manage time in order to complete all tasks by the end of the project period, including the final report and presentation to the Roadside Vegetation Management Technical Advisory Committee.
2.           Training in botany, biology or natural resources.  Interest in native plants.
3.           Ability to take good landscape and close-up plant photos.
4.           Preferred – Strong taxonomy skills and ability to identify common Willamette Valley species of native and invasive plants.
5.           Preferred – Training in and ability to use Esri’s ArcGIS programs, including Arc Map, ArcCatalogue and ArcPad.  Additional field experience is desirable.
6.           Preferred – Access to ArcGIS through the OSU or Linfield College student site license.
 
To Apply
Submit a letter explaining why you are interested in the position and outlining your qualifications.  Specifically address each of the qualifications listed.  Include a list of appropriate courses taken in GIS, botany, biology or natural resources.  Submit at least one letter of recommendation. 
 
Email application letters to:  Catherine Lindberg, YCPW, lindbergc@co.yamhill.or.us.  Selected candidates will be interviewed in person on a mutually agreed-on date.