Postdoctoral Fellow: AI in Natural Resources/Environment (McCrary Fellow)

Auburn University; Auburn (AL); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Auburn University invites applications for the McCrary Postdoctoral Fellow, an early-career scholar position at the interface of AI and natural resource management. The Fellow will collaborate across Forestry, Wildlife, and Environmental Sciences to advance AI-driven research and grant proposals.

The role emphasizes data collection and analysis, methodological design, and writing of proposals and papers. Mentorship is provided by the McCrary Endowed Professor to maximize impact.

Qualifications

• PhD in a relevant field with strong AI/machine learning emphasis.
• Demonstrated ability to apply AI techniques to real-world datasets in natural resources or related sciences.
• Experience in grant proposal writing and research dissemination.

Responsibilities

• Identify and collaborate with faculty to integrate AI into research.
• Develop and contribute to grant proposals (NSF, USDA, DOE, DoD, foundations).
• Apply AI methods to environmental data, remote sensing, and ecological modeling.

Skills

AI/ML

Data analysis

Proposal writing

Communication

Education

PhD in relevant field

Tools

Python

R

TensorFlow

Job description

Job Description

Overview

The College of Forestry, Wildlife and Environment at AuburnUniversity invites applications for the McCrary PostdoctoralFellow, a unique opportunity for an early-career scholar to driveinnovation at the intersection of Artificial Intelligence (AI) andnatural resource/environment management. This position aims tofoster collaborative research, including proposal development,across our faculty in Forestry, Wildlife, and EnvironmentalSciences. This is a two-year postdoctoral position, with thepossibility of extension depending on funding availability.

The McCrary Postdoctoral Fellow will be a key contributor toadvancing AI applications within natural resources. This roleprimarily involves collaborating with faculty members across thecollege to develop competitive grant proposals, perform datacollection and analysis, and other research outputs that integrateAI methodologies into research related to forestry, wildlifeconservation, environmental science, and related fields. Thesuccessful candidate will leverage their expertise to identifyopportunities, design research frameworks, and contribute to thewriting and submission of proposals and/or papers. This positionoffers significant intellectual freedom and the chance to shapenovel research directions.

The McCrary Fellow will report to the McCrary Endowed Professor,who will serve as a mentor, providing guidance on projectprioritization, time management, and navigating collaborativeopportunities within the college. This mentorship is designed tosupport the Fellow in effectively engaging with multiple facultyinterests and maximizing their impact on proposaldevelopment.

The successful candidate must meet eligibility requirements forwork in the United States at the time the appointment is scheduledto begin and continue working legally for the term ofemployment.

Responsibilities

• Proactively identify and engage with faculty members across theCollege interested in integrating AI into their research.
• Collaborate in the conceptualization, design, and writing ofgrant proposals (e.g., NSF, USDA, DOE, DoD, foundations) focusingon AI applications in natural resource challenges.
• Contribute expertise in various AI techniques (e.g., machinelearning, deep learning, computer vision, natural languageprocessing, predictive modeling, surrogate modeling) relevant toenvironmental data analysis, remote sensing, ecological modeling,conservation planning, and sustainable resource management.
• Assist in developing research methodologies and experimentaldesigns for proposed projects.
• Stay abreast of the latest advances in AI and natural resourcescience to identify emerging research opportunities.
• Participate in relevant college seminars, workshops, andresearch group meetings.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in a relevant field such as Environmental Science,Forestry, Wildlife Ecology, Geography, Computer Science, DataScience, or a closely related discipline with a strong emphasis onAI/machine learning at the time the appointment begins.
• Demonstrated expertise in applying AI techniques to real-worlddatasets, ideally within the natural sciences.
• Strong track record of research, as evidenced by publicationsor significant contributions to research projects.
• Experience in grant proposal writing and development.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, with theability to articulate complex AI concepts to varied audiences.
• Strong interpersonal skills and a proven ability to workcollaboratively in a team environment.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and deadlineseffectively.

Minimum Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Familiarity with natural resource management concepts andchallenges.
• Proficiency in programming languages commonly used in AI/datascience (e.g., Python, R).

Contract Type

Limited Term

Why Work at Auburn?

• Life-Changing Impact: Our work changes lives throughresearch, instruction, and outreach, making a lasting impact on ourstudents, our communities, and the world.
• Culture of Excellence: We are committed to leveragingour strengths, resources, collaboration, and innovation as a topemployer in higher education.
• We’re Here for You: Auburn offers generous benefits,educational opportunities, and a culture of support and work/lifebalance.
• Sweet Home Alabama: The Auburn/Opelika area offerssouthern charm, vibrant downtown scenes, top-ranked schools, andeasy access to Atlanta, Birmingham, and the Gulf of Mexicobeaches.
• A Place for Everyone: Auburn is committed to fosteringan environment where all faculty, staff, and students are welcomed,valued, respected, and engaged.

Equal Opportunity Compliance Statement

It is our policy to provide equal employment and educationopportunities for all individuals without regard to race, color,national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, genderidentity, gender expression, pregnancy, age, disability, protectedveteran status, genetic information, or any other classificationprotected by applicable law. Please visit the Office of EqualOpportunity Compliance's website to learn more.