Research Technician - Toolik Field Station Environmental Data Center

Position Description

Research Technician - Toolik Field Station Environmental Data Center The Toolik Field Station Environmental Data Center is hiring a dependable technician to support Arctic research projects. Working closely with the SEDC manager, you will collect, enter, and quality-control ecological, hydrological, and meteorological data. Your day-to-day tasks will include using field guides to identify Arctic flora and fauna and operating specialized equipment to measure greenness, discharge rates, and water chemistry. You will also troubleshoot and repair field and laboratory equipment while executing basic statistical analyses in Excel or R. Because communication is key, you will regularly interact with a diverse scientific community ranging from undergraduate students to senior researchers and agency personnel. Additionally, you will help advise seasonal technicians and interns to keep summer research projects running smoothly. Field and Physical Requirements This position requires a high level of physical resilience to handle demanding fieldwork in variable Arctic weather conditions. You must be physically capable of traveling up to 10 miles round-trip daily across uneven tussock tundra or snow while carrying up to 50 pounds of gear. To access remote research sites, you will operate a wide variety of transportation, including driving 4-wheel-drive trucks on the Dalton Highway. Depending on the season and terrain, you will also navigate using snowmobiles, skis, snowshoes, motorboats, canoes, or simply on foot. Field operations continue through all types of weather, meaning you will work in everything from heat and wind to freezing snow. Strong attention to detail and safety are essential when managing these rigorous transit and field responsibilities. Remote Living and Community Expectations Living and working at a remote facility like Toolik Field Station requires adaptability, a team-first mindset, and a strong work ethic. You will reside on-site for significant periods in a communal setting where personal privacy is naturally limited. The schedule matches the demands of the Arctic field season, routinely requiring 6-day workweeks and averaging 54 hours per week. While you must stay on task with minimal supervision, knowing when to ask questions and learn from your supervisor is critical. Finally, because we operate with a small staff in an isolated area, everyone is expected to pitch in with communal station upkeep. This means occasionally helping out with basic housekeeping, snow removal, food service, and general labor to support the camp.