RA II - Remote Sensing Ecologist

Colorado State University, United States

Updated: over 1 year ago
Location: Fort Collins, COLORADO
Deadline: 15 Aug 2022

Posting Details
Posting Detail Information


Working Title RA II - Remote Sensing Ecologist
Position Location Fort Collins, CO
Research Professional Position Yes
Posting Number 202201189AP
Position Type Admin Professional/ Research Professional
Classification Title Research Associate II
Number of Vacancies 1
Work Hours/Week 40
Proposed Annual Salary Range $50,000 - $58,000
Employee Benefits
Colorado State University (CSU) is committed to providing employees with a strong and competitive benefits package that supports you, your health, and your family. Visit CSU’s Human Resources website for detailed benefit plan information for permanent full-time and part-time faculty and administrative professional employees in the following University benefit areas: https://hr.colostate.edu/hr-community-and-supervisors/benefits/benefits-eligibility/ & https://hr.colostate.edu/prospective-employees/our-perks/ .
Desired Start Date 09/01/2022
Position End Date (if temporary)
To ensure full consideration, applications must be received by 11:59pm (MT) on 08/15/2022
Description of Work Unit
The Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory is an interdisciplinary ecology research and teaching unit at Colorado State University. Our mission is to improve understanding of the complex interactions between ecosystems, humans, and management activities.
Ecosystems include the many processes of life that support and enrich humankind. These processes include interactions among organisms and species, the flow of energy and the cycling of matter, and the maintenance of diverse and complex communities of microbes, plants and animals.
Our responsibility is to understand the world’s ecosystems and the effect of human societies on ecosystem processes and their long-term sustainability. Research and education are central to that understanding, enhancing our ability to manage for the sustainability of ecosystems, societies and the biosphere.
Position Summary
The Research Associate will join the Vogeler Research Lab in the Natural Resources Ecology Laboratory at CSU to work on applied ecological remote sensing research. Work will primarily focus on western U.S. forest systems, with the opportunity to also contribute to our international projects within several African countries.
Initial projects that the RA may contribute to include 1) a NASA GEDI project fusing multiple remote sensing datasets for scaling up forest structure metrics of relevance to wildlife habitat modeling across broad extents; 2) incorporating ICESat-2 data with products from the previous GEDI project to assess sensitivities of tree canopy cover products to various types and magnitudes of forest disturbances; and 3)delineating trees from historical aerial imagery for characterizing pinyon-juniper woodland change to inform demographic modeling.
The position will involve working independently as well as part of interdisciplinary teams to integrate remote sensing and field data sets into predictive modeling approaches to provide spatial tools for forest management planning, carbon monitoring, and wildlife habitat assessments.
Required Job Qualifications
  • MS in forest sciences, natural resources, or related field


Minimum Experience:
  • Processing airborne lidar data sets for quantifying forest structure;
  • Satellite image processing (e.g. Landsat and Sentinel) within Google Earth Engine;
  • Integrating field data (and other reference data sources) with remote sensing data for calibrating models of forest attributes;
  • Statistical analyses within R software packages including randomForest;
  • Demonstrated oral (e.g. conference presentations) and written (publishing research within peer-reviewed scientific journals) communication of research results
Preferred Job Qualifications
  • Demonstrated project experience fusing multiple remote sensing data sources for characterizing forest attributes, classifying land cover, and conducting change detection;
  • Application of time series algorithms (e.g. LandTrendr, BFAST, CCDC) to satellite imagery;
  • Experience finding and filtering data from a wide variety of sources (e.g. EarthExplorer, NASA DAACs, DataBasin, etc) using interfaces such as REST APIs or emailing data contacts;
  • Experience coordinating with collaborators and lab members for creative problem solving and exchanging information on new research, techniques, and tools;
  • Experience working on multiple projects simultaneously and quickly adjusting priorities.
Diversity Statement
Reflecting departmental and institutional values, candidates are expected to have the ability to advance the Department’s commitment to diversity and inclusion.

Essential Duties


Job Duty Category Research
Duty/Responsibility
Processing of remote sensing imagery; integration of remote sensing and field data sets into predictive modeling approaches to provide spatial tools for forest management planning, carbon monitoring, and wildlife habitat assessments; compiling of reference and validation data sets; conducting validation assessments of spatio-temporal products; interpretation of research results; interacting with collaborators to provide relevant spatial tools for applied ecological research and for management planning.
Percentage Of Time 85
Job Duty Category Dissemination of Results
Duty/Responsibility
Contribute to peer reviewed publications with lab team members; present at professional conferences; relay the results, values, and limitations of spatial products and research results to stakeholders and project collaborators through oral presentations and written reports. 
Percentage Of Time 10
Job Duty Category Mentoring
Duty/Responsibility
Contribute to the mentoring of graduate and undergraduate researchers to promote a collaborative lab research environment and advance the progress of lab research projects. 
Percentage Of Time 5

Application Details


Special Instructions to Applicants
For full consideration, please apply by 08/15/2022 with a cover letter addressing the required and preferred qualifications, resume, and contact information for 3 professional references. References will not be contacted without prior notification of candidates.
Conditions of Employment Pre-employment Criminal Background Check (required for new hires), Special Requirements/Other - Must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. at time of application; the department will not provide visa sponsorship for this position.
Search Contact [email protected]
EEO Statement
Colorado State University is committed to providing an environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based on race, age, creed, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, sex, gender, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, or pregnancy in its employment, programs, services and activities, and admissions, and, in certain circumstances, marriage to a co-worker. The University will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. Colorado State University is an equal opportunity and equal access institution and affirmative action employer fully committed to achieving a diverse workforce and complies with all Federal and Colorado State laws, regulations, and executive orders regarding non-discrimination and affirmative action. The Office of Equal Opportunity is located in 101 Student Services.
The Title IX Coordinator is the Director of the Office of Title IX Programs and Gender Equity, 123 Student Services Building, Fort Collins, CO 80523-0160, (970) 491-1715, [email protected] .
The Section 504 and ADA Coordinator is the Director of the Office of Equal Opportunity, 101 Student Services Building, Fort Collins, CO 80523-0160, (970) 491-5836, [email protected] .
The Coordinator for any other forms of misconduct prohibited by the University’s Policy on Discrimination and Harassment is the Vice President for Equity, Equal Opportunity and Title IX, 101 Student Services Building, Fort Collins, Co. 80523-0160, (970) 491-5836, [email protected] .
Any person may report sex discrimination under Title IX to the Office of Civil Rights, Department of Education .
Background Check Policy Statement
Colorado State University strives to provide a safe study, work, and living environment for its faculty, staff, volunteers and students. To support this environment and comply with applicable laws and regulations, CSU conducts background checks for the finalist before a final offer. The type of background check conducted varies by position and can include, but is not limited to, criminal history, sex offender registry, motor vehicle history, financial history, and/or education verification. Background checks will also be conducted when required by law or contract and when, in the discretion of the University, it is reasonable and prudent to do so.

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