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 expected to run from April 13, 2026 – June 6, 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 the 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.

Please see a full list of requirements on the Carnegie Museum's Opportunities Page.