January 9, 2026
People By River

Pacfish Infish Biological Opinion Seasonal Biological Science Tech (6 Positions)

The US Forest Service Pacfish Infish Biological Opinion (PIBO) Monitoring Program is filling multiple temporary seasonal positions through a cooperative work agreement with Utah State University for the 2026 field season.  Biological Technician (Fish) and Biological Science Technician (Plants) will be filled at $16.50 per hour.  These positions will begin May 5th and incumbents must be able to commit to this start date.  Student employees should anticipate working through August 19th to accommodate the start of classes in the Fall.  Housing and per diem will not be provided for this position.

Duties

  • The incumbent will serve alongside members of the PIBO Monitoring Program team. The project’s goal is to evaluate the status and trend of aquatic and riparian habitat on lands managed by the Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management and other federal agencies within the Interior Columbia River and Upper Missouri River basins. The PIBO program collects data on approximately 450 streams each year, located throughout the states of Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Utah, Nevada, and Montana. 
  • During the summer months the incumbent is required to work remotely for 8 consecutive days, followed by a 6 day break.
  • This is a field-based job requiring living, hiking, and working in remote areas with uneven terrain and inclement weather conditions.
  • Biological Science Technician (Plants) position responsibilities include riparian vegetation data collection and extensive plant identification. You will learn a variety of sampling techniques and how to identify many riparian plant species, including: sedges, grasses, forbs, willows, and other woody plants.  Incumbents are typically exposed to 300-500 riparian plant species per season as part of riparian vegetation assessments.  To qualify, the incumbent must have completed at least one plant taxonomy course and have experience identifying plants using dichotomous keys.
  • Biological Science Technician (Fish) position responsibilities include an intensive reach scale stream survey. Using one of the most rigorously tested sampling protocols available, technicians collect information on a variety of stream attributes including habitat formations, channel geometry, substrate size, stream bank characteristics, gradient, water chemistry, large woody debris, and macroinvertebrate assemblages. To qualify, incumbent must have course work or experience in natural resource management; especially fisheries, water resources, and stream morphology.

Qualifications

  • Applicants must be currently enrolled as an undergraduate student in USU’s Quinney College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (QANR).. 
  • All positions require a valid driver’s license issued by any US state or territory. 
  • Regardless of position the incumbent will spend a great deal of time wading through streams and must be willing to work and live in wet conditions. 

Salary: $16.50 an hour, 40 hours a week for 12 weeks. 

Number of Openings: 6

Location: Leadore, ID; John Day, OR; or St. Regis, MT

Credits/Honors: Successful applicants are required to enroll for 1 credit each in NR 4151 (in the Spring 2025 2nd 7-week session) and NR 4152 (in the Fall 1st 7-week session). Successful applicants may also enroll for up to 3 summer credit hours during the internship; Honors Program participants may enroll for points. Individuals would work with a USU advisor to develop and complete an academic assignment during the internship.

Housing: Not provided.

Closing Date: Open until all positions are filled.

Employment Dates: 15 weeks field season between early-May and the end of August, 2026.

 Apply to the QCNR Internship Program Here

 

Applicant review will begin on February 10 and continue until positions are full. We will be filling 6 positions.

For more information about PIBO, and the seasonal positions, please visit our website.

Also, a short video documentary about QCNR Internships with PIBO can be found at Utah State Today.

The USDA Forest Service is an equal opportunity employer.