Postdoctoral Research Fellow — Land Use & GIS Analysis

West Virginia University; Morgantown (WV); On-site; USD 52,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

The School of Natural Resources and the Environment at West Virginia University invites applications for a Postdoctoral Research Associate in the Natural Resource Analysis Center (NRAC). The role focuses on land-use science, agricultural sustainability, and geospatial analysis to address challenges in West Virginia and the Appalachian region.

The successful candidate will collaborate with faculty, staff, and partners; develop externally funded proposals; publish in peer-reviewed journals; and

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in a relevant field is required.
• Demonstrated research in land-use and land-cover change, land management, or related areas.
• Strong quantitative and analytical skills.
• Experience with GIS and spatial analysis software (ArcGIS Pro, QGIS, R, Python).
• Record of peer-reviewed publications and strong communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Conduct interdisciplinary research on land-use change, agricultural sustainability, and regional development.
• Apply GIS, spatial analysis, and statistics to study environmental and socioeconomic drivers of landscape change.
• Assist in developing externally funded proposals to federal agencies and foundations.
• Publish findings in peer-reviewed journals and collaborate with NRAC and external partners.
• Develop and manage large spatial, environmental, and socioeconomic datasets.
• Mentor graduate and undergraduate students engaged in research projects.

Skills

GIS

Spatial analysis

Quantitative methods

Peer-reviewed publications

Written and oral communication

Education

Ph.D. in Land Management / Natural Resource Management / Geography / Agricultural Economics / Environmental Science / Regional Planning / Sustainability Science

Tools

ArcGIS Pro

QGIS

R

Python

Job description

The School of Natural Resources and the Environment at West Virginia University invites applications for a Postdoctoral Research Associate in the Natural Resource Analysis Center (NRAC). The role focuses on land-use science, agricultural sustainability, and geospatial analysis to address challenges in West Virginia and the Appalachian region.

The successful candidate will collaborate with faculty, staff, and partners; develop externally funded proposals; publish in peer-reviewed journals; and