Research Technician I

About the role

The Research Technician I provides entry‑level technical support for the Spatial and Population Ecology of Carnivores (SPEC) Lab, contributing to the South Texas Ocelot Research Program. This 6‑month fixed‑term position is based at Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge, with housing provided.

Key responsibilities

• Maintain a trail‑camera grid of ~500 cameras, including battery replacement, SD‑card collection/redeployment, and relocation during severe weather or prescribed fire.
• Assist with telemetry tracking of collared felids as needed.
• Store, back up, and manage large volumes of photo data securely.
• Process images and assist with species identification for database entry.
• Support additional carnivore fieldwork, including box‑trapping grids for bobcats.

Required profile

• Ability to work independently in field conditions under general supervision.
• Attention to detail for equipment handling and data management.
• Basic computer literacy for data storage and image processing.

Required skills

• Trail‑camera operation and maintenance.
• SD‑card handling and data backup.
• Telemetry tracking of wildlife.
• Photo processing and species identification.
• Box‑trapping grid maintenance.

What we offer

• 6‑month fixed‑term contract with possibility of extension.
• Housing provided at the refuge.
• Opportunity to contribute to important carnivore conservation research.