Research Ecologist (Aquatic)

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE; Columbia Township (MO); On-site; USD 60,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

An established federal agency is seeking passionate Research Ecologists to contribute to groundbreaking studies on aquatic ecosystems. This role involves conducting comprehensive research, collaborating with interdisciplinary teams, and presenting findings that influence ecological practices. The ideal candidates will possess a strong background in biology or related fields, with a focus on ecological research. Join a mission-driven organization dedicated to fostering sustainable practices and enhancing the understanding of ecosystem services. This is a unique opportunity to make a significant impact on environmental policies and practices across the nation.

Qualifications

• Degree in biology or related field with ecology focus.
• Experience in scientific research and data analysis.

Responsibilities

• Conduct scientific research on aquatic ecosystems.
• Collaborate with scientists across various disciplines.
• Present findings to public agencies and stakeholders.

Skills

Scientific Research

Ecology

Data Analysis

Collaboration

Grant Writing

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Biology or Related Field

Master's Degree in Ecology or Related Field

Ph.D. in Ecology or Related Field

Tools

Statistical Software

Research Methodologies

Job description

These two (2) Research Ecologist positions support the USDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station . One is located in Rhinelander WI and one in locations negotiable among the following locations: Parsons, WV; Columbia, MO; Baltimore, MD; Durham, NH; Amherst MA.

This is not a remote position.

For additional information about the duties of this position, please contact:
Rhinelander WI: Deahn DonnerWright at [e-mail]
Locations Negotiable:Keith Nislow at [e-mail]

Duties

• Use ecosystem processes to predict how urban and rural ecosystems will respond to change and quantify the impact of change on ecosystem services and values.
• Collaborate with scientists to integrate biology/ecology with landscape ecology discipline and a range of social science disciplines including planning, geography, and sociology.
• Seek and obtain funding from outside sources to fund scientific research.
• Present results from research studies to other scientists, land managers, public agencies, and the general public
• Conduct scientific research on aquatic ecology and management along urban to rural landscape gradients; urban-dominated landscapes include mosaic of land uses in and around the country's largest cities.
• Develop research to understand how sociological and ecological factors interact to affect patterns, processes, and functions of aquatic ecosystems within heterogeneous landscapes.
• Plan and conduct research that informs the wide range of aquatic habitat restoration actions and approaches currently being employed in urban and rural gradients.
• Determine how aquatic and riparian ecosystems across urban and rural landscapes will respond to change and quantify the impact of change on ecosystem services and values.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service or exempt.
• Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
• Completion of a 3-year probationary period required in accordance with the USDA Demonstration Project Authority. During this time, employee?s conduct and performance will be monitored to determine if employee will be retained.
• Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit E-Verify.

Qualifications

To qualify, you must meet the eligibility and qualifications requirements as defined below by the closing date of the announcement. For more information on the qualifications for this position, visit the Office of Personnel Management's General Schedule Qualification Standards.

Work Experience: Your resume must clearly document the following for each block of work experience; the beginning month and year the work assignment started and ended; the hours worked per week; position title, and series and grade if applicable; and description of duties performed. This information must be provided for each permanent, temporary or seasonal appointment/work assignment or volunteer work and should be clearly documented as a separate block of time. Incomplete, inaccurate or conflicting work history may not be credited for qualifications purposes. This can result in an applicant not being considered for the position.

Basic Requirement for the Ecology Series (0408):
Degree: biology, or a related field of science underlying ecological research that included at least 30 semester hours in basic and applied biological sciences. These hours must have included at least 9 semester hours in ecology, and 12 semester hours in physical and mathematical sciences.

In addition to meeting the basic requirement, you must also possess experience and/or directly related education in the amounts listed below.

Specialized Experience Requirement:
For the GS-11: One year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-9). Specialized experience at this level is defined as:

• Conducting the full cycle of scientific research with defined objectives, limited in scope to investigating specific phenomena or problems, or are segments of related investigations. Research at this level requires fairly conventional techniques and involves applying existing theory or methods to areas previously investigated, but under different conditions, or involves adapting previous studies in light of changes in theory or improved techniques and instrumentation and result in contributions that add to scientific and professional knowledge or support developing new or improved methods and techniques. This research must have been in one or more of the following areas: 1) Quantifying how sociological and ecological factors interact to affect patterns, processes, and functions of aquatic ecosystems across urban to rural environments, 2) Quantify changes in aquatic ecosystems in response to climate change across urban to rural environments, 3) quantify aquatic ecosystem services and values.
• Disseminating research findings at conferences or scientific meetings and contributing to results published in peer-reviewed journals.
• Collaborating and building partnerships with researchers and
• Funding scientific research through external funding sources.

OR
Conferred Master's degree thatincluded scientific research in areas related to the work of the position which is understanding of ecosystem processes, predicting how aquatic and riparian ecosystems in urban to rural landscapes will respond to change, and quantifying the impact of change on ecosystem services and values and/or includes coursework in areas such as quantitative and statistical analysis, ecosystem and aquatic science, and species-habitat relationships; aquatic ecology and management.
For the GS-12: One year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-11). Specialized experience at this level is defined as:

• Conducting the full cycle of scientific research (including identifying research topics, defining study objectives, organizing and conducting the research, interpreting the results, and presenting the findings in the form of reports, demonstrations, manuscripts, and other appropriate technology transfer activities) in one or more of the following areas: 1) quantifying how sociological and ecological factors interact to affect patterns, processes, and functions of aquatic ecosystems across urban to rural environments, 2) quantify changes in aquatic ecosystems in response to climate change across urban to rural environments, 3) quantify aquatic ecosystem services and values.
• Forming, leading, and participating in research teams, regional, and/or national importance.
• Securing funding for scientific research through a variety of external funding sources
• Disseminating research findings at conferences or scientific meetings and publishing results in peer-reviewed journals.

OR
Conferred Ph.D. degree that included scientific research in areas related to the work of the position which is understanding of ecosystem processes, predict how aquatic and riparian ecosystems in urban to rural landscapes will respond to change, and quantify the impact of change on ecosystem services and values and/or includes coursework in areas such as quantitative and statistical analysis, ecosystem and aquatic science, and species-habitat relationships, aquatic ecology and management.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

About the company

The United States Department of Agriculture, also known as the Agriculture Department, is the federal executive department responsible for developing and executing federal laws related to farming, forestry, rural economic development, and food. It aims to meet the needs of commercial farming and livestock food production, promotes agricultural trade and production, works to assure food safety, protects natural resources, fosters rural communities and works to end hunger in the United States and internationally.