The Southwest Biological Science Center in Flagstaff, Arizona is recruiting for a plant ecologist position. This is a temporary (one year with a possibility of extension) full-time position with the US Geological Survey. The ecologist will assist in several research projects focused on understanding vegetation response to climate and land-use in grasslands and shrublands of the southwestern U.S.
Required and preferred expertise: 1) Master’s degree in ecology, biology, earth sciences, or environmental studies (must have graduated within the last year or currently finishing degree); 2) Skills in GIS and remote sensing – including processing satellite imagery, building geodatabases, running GIS models, and basic understanding of geostatistics and programming; 3) Experience managing and analyzing large ecological datasets and accessing climate (PRISM, WorldClim, Daymet), vegetation (GBIF, SEINet, TRY), and physical (DEM, SSURGO/ STATSGO) databases; 4) Ability to conduct statistical analyses and interpret results (knowing R - statistical language - and experience programming is a plus); 5) Experience taking vegetation and soil measurements in the field and managing a crew of biological technicians; 6) Familiarity with grasslands and shrublands of the southwestern U.S., and drivers of vegetation change, including drought, climate change, and land-use intensification. Salary, deadline to apply, and start date: Salary is $38,000/year. Applications will be reviewed through November 30, 2013. A start date of January 2014 is preferred. Application: To apply, send a 1 page cover letter describing motivation and qualifications for the position, a curriculum vitae, unofficial transcript, and contact information for three references to Dr. Seth Munson ([email protected]).
