Description of Duties for Geological Technician (Entry Level Geologist/Hydrogeologist classification): This is entry-level, temporary, part-time to full-time work to assist the North Carolina Geological Survey’s senior staff in implementing several federal grants. Grant tasks are: 1) to rescue, inventory and archive geologic data, 2) gather information on Rare Earth Element Minerals, 3) assist in field work for mapping projects on the Coastal Plain, 4) assist in laboratory analyses, and 5) other duties as assigned. For the archiving project, main duties will be to help sort, clean, wash, palletize, inventory, rebox and label geologic core samples. Field work that includes drilling consists of long work hours (10-14 hours/day) at the drill site. Field and laboratory work may include aerobic to strenuous physical labor, outdoor activities in a humid subtropical environment; inclement weather. Typical other geological technician work includes cleaning and processing cores for photography, photographing cores, assisting in field work during coring, managing data, and other duties as assigned to support staff geologists. Exceptional candidates with advanced skill sets will be assigned more advanced tasks, such as assisting with GIS interpretations of depositional systems, and logging core.
The workstation will be the North Carolina Geological Survey’s Coastal Plain Office and Core Repository in Raleigh, NC. Funding is currently available for 30-40/hours/week for six months, with the possibility of extension. Prospective employees need to be prepared for adverse and strenuous working conditions typical of geologic field work, and physically capable of strenuous activities that don’t slow down field operations. Technically, this is an 11 month position which means that a temporary employee cannot work more than 11 months continuously without taking a two-pay period furlough during the 12th month. If an employee works more than 40 hours in a work week, he/she is paid straight time, not time and half.
Minimum Training and Experience for Geological Technician: Graduation from a 4-year college or university with a major in geology. Salary is commensurate with experience level in geology.
Contact Information: Kathleen M. Farrell, PhD, North Carolina Geological Survey, MSC-1620, Raleigh, NC 27699 (email: Kathleen.Farrell@ncdenr.gov; 919-733-7353, x29).