Research Scientist I

USNH Employees should apply within Workday through the Jobs Hub app

Working independently and as part of an interdisciplinary collaborative team, conduct data analysis and field research on forest structure, growth and yield, and its relationship with soils and wildlife habitat. Catalog and analyze archived measurements of trees and other vegetation on permanent growth and yield plots, and perform new measurements as needed including conventional forest measurements (tree diameter, height, taper, crown structure, etc.) as well as destructive sampling and measurements using emerging or experimental technologies (terrestrial laser scanning, photogrammetric methods). Perform statistical analysis on geospatial and plot-level forest data in support of project objectives. Manage and document large data sets. Assist the PI in the preparation of manuscripts and extension publications, and in oral presentations at public, professional, and scientific meetings. This person will have occasional field oversight responsibility for undergraduate students. This is a 12-month position, renewable contingent on funding.

Job Duties/Responsibilities:

Identify, catalog, and analyze existing forest data (40%).

• Identify sources of long-term, georeferenced forest data that can support linking composition, habitat, and productivity to soil map unit components and ecological sites. Support the development of approaches to store these data and derived products in a relational database structure.

Statistical Data Analysis (40%)

• Working with the PI, perform statistical analyses of data to help link soils, forest habitats, and wildlife response. Use statistical and machine learning approaches to link forestry variables (site index, volume production, and stand composition and structure) with soils data.

Science Communication (20%)

• Support the PI in developing manuscripts, presentations, and other outreach materials for scientific, professional, and nontechnical audiences. Participate in liaison and communication activities with agency partners.

Minimum Acceptable Education & Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Forestry or a closely related field, with demonstrated experience in geospatial analysis, data management, and analysis of permanent plot data. Master’s degree preferred (completed defense may be acceptable).

Required Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Proficiency with Geographic Information Systems (e.g. ESRI), databases, and common software for statistical analysis (e.g. R).

• Working knowledge of soil science, forest inventory, and wildlife ecology including both birds and mammals.

• Demonstrated oral and written communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Demonstrated field experience with common forest inventory and geospatial data collection tools (plot sampling, horizontal point sampling, geographic positioning systems).

• Ability to work independently in forested conditions, and to conduct field work in challenging terrain or weather conditions.

• Knowledge of tree species and forest types of the northeastern United States, including wildlife habitat associations.

Applicant Instructions:

• Resume/CV

• Cover Letter

Applications that are missing any of the required items may not move forward for consideration. Additional uploaded documents not requested in the position announcement will not be reviewed.

The University of New Hampshire is an R1 Carnegie classification research institution providing comprehensive, high-quality undergraduate and graduate programs of distinction. UNH is located in Durham on a 188-acre campus, 60 miles north of Boston and 8 miles from the Atlantic coast and is convenient to New Hampshire’s lakes and mountains. There is a student enrollment of 13,000 students, with a full-time faculty of over 600, offering 90 undergraduate and more than 70 graduate programs. The University actively promotes a dynamic learning environment in which qualified individuals of differing perspectives, life experiences, and cultural backgrounds pursue academic goals with mutual respect and shared inquiry.

EEO Statement

The University System of New Hampshire is an Equal Opportunity/Equal Access employer. The University System is committed to creating an environment that values and supports diversity and inclusiven