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 I, Avian Research assists with Powdermill’s avian research efforts including long-term bird banding, surveying birds by sight and sound, and/or tracking birds using digitally coded transmitters and automated receiving stations (i.e. Motus). This is a temporary assignment expected to run from August 2026 to late October/early November 2026.
QUALIFICATIONS: EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: • Applicants should have a high school degree, or equivalent, in addition to at least 3 months of field experience banding birds. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES: • Applicants must have 3 months experience with extracting, handling, and banding songbirds. • The successful applicant will be able to work well both independently and as part of a team. • The ability to identify eastern birds by sight and sound, interact with the public and other visitors, attach transmitters to birds, track birds via radio telemetry, and collect blood, fecal, and feather samples from birds are desirable. PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: • The position requires extended periods of walking and standing. • Must be able to walk 6 to 10 miles per day on uneven or muddy terrain sometimes in inclement weather (e.g. hot, cold, rain).
PRINICIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES: • The principal responsibility of this position is assisting the Banding Manager and Avian Research Scientist with Powdermill’s avian research efforts. • This includes extracting birds from mist nets, banding and collecting data from birds {may also include collecting blood, feather and fecal samples from birds}, outreach and interacting with the public and visitors, 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 and proofing data.
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.
