What are the responsibilities and job description for the Field Assistant II, Avian Research position at Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh?
Powdermill Field Station and Nature Reserve is Carnegie Museum of Natural History's research station and environmental education center, located approximately one hour southeast of Pittsburgh in the beautiful Laurel Highlands region. Powdermill encompasses 2200 acres where scientists conduct an array of biological research and where the public can enjoy miles of hiking trails, exhibits, and camps and classes. Carnegie Museums is interested in candidates who, through their experience and collaborations, will contribute to diversity and excellence of the Carnegie Museums community.
This is a Temporary position.
Please scroll to the bottom of this page to see information on the starting pay rate.
The Field Assistant II Avian Research conducts and supervises seasonal assistants pursuing Powdermill’s avian research efforts include bird banding, surveying birds by sight and sound, studying avian perception of glass, and/or tracking birds using digitally coded transmitters and automated receiving stations (aka “Motus Wildlife Tracking”).
This is a temporary, full time position estimated to run from August 3, 2026 - October 31, 2026.
QUALIFICATIONS:
EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE:
- Applicants should have a bachelor’s degree in addition to a minimum of 3 years of ornithological field experience.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, & ABILITIES:
- Applicants must have proficient experience with extracting, handling, and banding songbirds.
- Applicant must be able to identify eastern birds by sight and sound and have one year of experience establishing automated receiving stations and digitally coded radio transmitters (aka “Motus Wildlife Tracking”).
- The successful applicant will be able to work well both independently and as part of a team.
- Previous experience studying avian perception of glass is highly desirable.
- The applicant must have valid driver’s license and be available to work extended hours including weekend and/or evening hours.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
- The position requires extended periods of walking, sitting, driving, standing, lifting, and carrying heavy equipment sometimes in inclement weather (e.g. hot, cold, rain).
- The applicant must be able to repeatedly lift 60 or more pounds throughout a day.
PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES:
- The principal responsibility of this position is supervising seasonal assistants or directly assisting with Powdermill’s avian research efforts.
- This includes purchasing and assembling Motus receiving station components in Pittsburgh.
- Traveling throughout the eastern United States to evaluate potential receiver station sites.
- Traveling throughout the eastern US to construct, repair, and download data from Motus receiving stations.
- Maintaining equipment and tools in an organized fashion.
- Training seasonal assistants to conduct aforementioned Motus research or study avian perception of glass using live birds and a flight tunnel.
- Managing and conducting quality checks on data collected from the flight tunnel.
- Additional duties may include extracting birds from mist nets, banding and collecting data from birds {may also include collecting blood samples from birds}, attaching transmitters to birds, tracking birds via radio telemetry, surveying birds by sight and sound (i.e. point counts), repairing nets, trimming vegetation around net lanes, recording data, and checking data.
- Off season duties include curatorial duties and clerical tasks in the CMNH bird collection as required by the Curator of Birds.
The following PA Act 153 clearances, or proof of application of clearances, are required beginning employment and as a condition of continued employment: Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance Pennsylvania State Police Criminal Record Check FBI Fingerprint Criminal Background Check Obtaining the required clearances is completed as part of the new hire process.
Carnegie Museums is an Equal Opportunity Employer
The above job description reflects the essential functions and qualifications for the position identified, and shall not be construed as a detailed description of all the work requirements that may be inherent in the position. The job description does not constitute an employment contract and does not alter the at-will relationship between CMP and the employee.
*GUIDANCE ON ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: The Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”) requires employers to consider and accommodate qualified individuals with disabilities. An individual is qualified if he or she can perform the essential functions of a job with or without reasonable accommodation. An essential job function is any task that is a fundamental part of the job. When considering essentiality, one must focus upon whether the function is essential to this particular job and not to the department as a whole. Some additional guidance on essential functions follows below. Please note that the following guidelines are non-exhaustive. If you have any questions or need additional guidance, please contact Human Resources. A. Is the function required to be performed on a regular basis? If the function is rarely performed, it may not be essential. B. Is the function highly specialized? Is the incumbent hired for his/her expertise or ability to perform the function? The need for special expertise is an indication of an essential function. C. Does the position exist, at least in part, to perform the function? If so, the function is more likely to be essential. D. How much time is spent performing the function and how often? Note that even functions performed 10% of the time could be essential if they are required on a regular basis. E. Would elimination of the function fundamentally alter the job? If so, the function is more likely to be essential. F. What are the consequences of not requiring the incumbent to perform the function? If they are significant, the function is more likely to be essential. G. Are there a limited number of employees among whom the performance of the function could be distributed if the incumbent could not perform it? If so, it is more likely to be essential.