"Research Assistant, Fire Ecology"

Research Assistant, Fire Ecology

Northern Arizona University

Special Information

• This position is an on-site position which requires the incumbent to complete their work primarily at an NAU site, campus, or facility with or without accommodation. Opportunities for remote work are rare.
• This position is subject to the availability of funding. The incumbent is not eligible for Service Professional non-renewal notice, or Classified Staff layoff or recall status.
• Driving a vehicle on behalf of the university is anticipated to be a regular part of this position. Arizona Administrative Code Fleet Safety Policy requires all employees who drive on university business become authorized by submitting Driver's license information for driving record monitoring, and completion of training appropriate to the level of driving performed. The law applies to all faculty, staff, and students who drive personal or university-owned motorized vehicles for any business purpose. More information on the NAU Authorized Driver Policy can be found on the NAU website.

About the Department/College

The Center for Adaptable Western Landscapes (CAWL) advances science-based solutions to respond to the ecological challenges facing the American Southwest.

About the Position

NAU Center for Adaptable Western Landscapes (CAWL) seeks a Research Assistant to support the development, integration, and application of fuel conditions monitoring across the southwestern US and evaluation of fuel treatment effectiveness. The candidate will work with fire science and manager teams to leverage advanced tools to assess fuel load, fire behavior, and fire effects on society and ecosystems. The selected candidate will have knowledge of remote sensing, fire ecology, and quantitative analysis of large, complex datasets. The preferred candidate will have some experience collecting and analyzing data on vegetation and ecosystem structure, landscape condition, climate and weather, and vegetation and fuel treatments. Candidates with knowledge of the use of terrestrial light detection and ranging (LiDAR) to understand ecosystem structure and the effects of management treatments on fuel loads and fire behavior are preferred. Experience conducting other forms of remote sensing, including the analysis and interpretation of satellite imagery and airborne LiDAR is a plus.

Responsibilities Include

40% - Data Collection and Analysis

• Assist with development of methodologies and workflow to apply vegetation and fuel monitoring, including LiDAR and other remote sensing data, to areas treated to reduce fuel load and wildfire risk.
• Support analysis of variation in fuel and other environmental conditions across large landscapes and through time.
• Map fuel loads and environmental conditions across areas receiving management treatments.

40% - Writing and Dissemination of Results

• Assist with preparation/writing of scientific journal articles and information briefs that summarize findings.
• Prepare data, code, and maps to be released to journal outlets and project partners.
• Develop figures and tables to communicate finding.
• Present project results to project partners and may present results at scientific and land manager meetings and workshops.

15% - Project Coordination and Public Engagement

• Assist with project coordination with diverse partners; manage logistical needs of project.
• Assist in providing regular check-ins with science and manager teams and effectively communicate project updates.
• Support efforts to identify new partners and feedback on project developmen.

5% - Other

• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in relevant discipline.
• 2 years of research support experience.

*A combination of related education, experience, and training may be used as an equivalent to the above Minimum Qualifications.*

Preferred Qualifications

• MS in forestry, ecology, remote sensing science or a closely related field by the time of appointment.
• Familiarity with fire science.
• Experience with compilation, synthesis, and analysis of large datasets.
• Knowledge of preparation and publishing peer-reviewed journal articles.
• Experience with field research practice.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

Knowledge

• Intermediate knowledge of principles and techniques of relevant research practices.
• Intermediate knowledge of research methods, protocols, data collection, and analysis.
• Knowledge of proper safety and compliance practices related to the conduct of research.

Skills

• Intermediate technical understanding and proficiency related to conducting relevant research procedures.
• Understanding of remote sensing, fire ecology, and quantitative analysis of large, complex datasets.
• Organizational and project management skills.
• Written and oral communication skills.
• Skill in leading, coordinating, and/or supervising the work of others.

Abilities

• Coordinates and monitors the technical execution of relevant research procedures.
• Balances competing priorities and tasks.
• Organizes data and information and supports analysis.
• Communicates effectively to both technical and non-technical audiences.

Compensation

Salary range is $51,085 to $63,856. Annual salary commensurate with candidate's qualifications and related experience.

Pre-Employment Check

Northern Arizona University requires satisfactory results for the following: a criminal background investigation, an employment history verification and a degree verification (in some cases) prior to employment. You may also be required to complete a fingerprint background check. Also, as an employer in the state of Arizona, NAU is required to participate in the federal E-Verify program that assists employers with verifying new employees' right to work in the United States.

This position has been identified as a safety/security sensitive position. Therefore, per AZ Revised Statute, Northern Arizona University requires satisfactory results for the following: a criminal background investigation, employment history investigation, degree verification (in some cases) and fingerprinting. If you are applying for a job that requires a CDL, you will be required to register with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse and adhere to the clearinghouse requirements.

Notice of Availability of the Annual Fire and Security Report

Each year Northern Arizona University releases an Annual Security Report. The report is a result of a federal law known as the Clery Act. The report includes Clery reportable crime statistics for the three most recent completed calendar years and discloses procedures, practices and programs NAU uses to keep students and employees safe including how to report crimes or other emergencies occurring on campus. In addition, the Fire Safety Report is combined with the Annual Security Report for the NAU Flagstaff Mountain Campus as this campus has on-campus student housing. This report discloses fire safety policies and procedures related to on-campus student housing and statistics for fires that occurred in those facilities. If you would like a free paper copy of the report, please contact the NAUPD Records Department at (928) 523-8884 or by visiting the department at 525 E. Pine Knoll Drive in Flagstaff.

Immigration Support/Sponsorship

NAU will not provide any U.S. immigration support or sponsorship for this position.

Submit your Application

To apply for this position, please click on the "Apply" button on this page. You must submit your application by midnight of the application deadline.

If you are an individual with a disability and need reasonable accommodation to participate in the hiring process, please contact the Disability Resources Office at 928-523-8773, DR@nau.edu, or PO Box 5633, Flagstaff AZ 86011.

To apply, please visit: https://careers.nau.edu/jobs/research-assistant-fire-ecology-flagstaff-arizona-united-states