Ecosystem Scientist

The Biodiversity Research Institute (BRI) is seeking an Ecosystem Scientist to support international carbon sequestration projects. The role involves quantitative ecological assessment, carbon modeling, field monitoring, and stakeholder engagement. A Ph.D. in a relevant field and strong skills in Python or R are required. The position is based in Portland, ME, with significant international travel (15–35%) to project sites. Salary aligns with federal GS levels based on experience.
Position Overview

Hours per Week: 40

Salary: BRI strives to meet federal GS levels commensurate with education and experience

Education Required: Ph.D. in environmental science, ecology, range management, wildlife biology, agronomy, agroecosystems, earth science, or related field

Experience Required: Research experience in carbon or nutrient cycling and dynamic modeling; strong Python or R skills; ability to travel internationally (15–35%)

Description

Biodiversity Research Institute (BRI), a non-profit in Portland, Maine, seeks a broadly trained Ecosystem Scientist to support international nature-based terrestrial carbon sequestration projects. This position collaborates as a BRI partner with CarbonSolve to advance large-scale soil carbon initiatives focused on improved grazing and/or fire management that enhance degraded ecosystems, conserve wildlife, improve livelihoods, and sequester greenhouse gases in soils and plant biomass.

The Ecosystem Scientist will join the Center for Conservation and Climate Change and collaborate with BRI’s Quantitative Wildlife Ecology Research Lab (QWERL). The role spans quantitative ecological assessment, carbon modeling, field monitoring (soils, vegetation, fire, grazing), stakeholder engagement, remote sensing interpretation, and development of carbon accounting workflows for grassland, savanna, shrubland, and grassy woodland ecosystems worldwide.

Responsibilities
• Modify, calibrate, and validate existing models of soil and aboveground biomass dynamics; design new models for diverse ecosystems and climates.
• Design, supervise, and conduct field measurements of soils, vegetation, wildlife, and livestock numbers/locations across carbon projects.
• Engage in significant international travel to project sites and professional meetings in Africa, Europe, and elsewhere as needed.
• Use and further develop training programs for locally hired in-country field crews for monitoring.
• Evaluate potential project areas for carbon sequestration using literature, modeling, and remote sensing tools.
• Use R and ArcGIS and/or Python to analyze monitoring data, formalize model versions, conduct sensitivity and uncertainty analyses, and integrate modeling and carbon accounting with remotely sensed data.
• Engage local stakeholders to develop and implement appropriate grazing and/or fire management plans.
• Write and publish papers in scientific journals; present at meetings; communicate project results.
• Collaborate across teams as analytical lead or support staff to achieve objectives; coordinate working groups to meet research goals.
• Perform all other duties as directed or assigned.

Minimum Requirements
• Ph.D. in environmental science, ecology, range management, wildlife biology, agronomy, agroecosystems, earth science, or related field.
• Strong proficiency in Python or R with experience analyzing large datasets.
• Peer-reviewed research experience measuring carbon or nutrient cycling in ecosystems (e.g., grasslands, savannas, shrublands, grassy woodlands).
• Experience developing, implementing, calibrating, validating, and/or troubleshooting carbon or nutrient dynamic models.
• Competence building databases/spreadsheets and compiling scientific evidence to meet regulatory criteria.
• Experience with data visualization and mapping for reports, publications, and/or online resources.
• Strong scientific and technical communication skills with published work in scientific journals.
• Strong work ethic; ability to prioritize and address needs as they arise.
• Current passport and ability to travel internationally 15–35% of the time.
• Capacity to work independently and collaboratively with US-based and international teams (primarily in Africa).
• Ability to learn and integrate new information into logical or statistical frameworks.

Preferred Qualifications
• Experience with vegetation and soil measurements in remote field locations.
• Experience with git workflow for collaborative code sharing and/or other QA/QC processes.
• Ability to learn and compare multiple biogeochemical process models.
• Skill in facilitating working groups, stakeholder engagement, and decision-science efforts.
• Experience living for extended periods in remote locations outside the US, especially tropical environments.
• Flexibility to work and travel outside normal business hours as needed.
• Valid US driver’s license.

Additional Notes
• Work schedule and location: Full-time (40 hrs/week), salaried; based at BRI offices in Portland, Maine. Travel for work is expected.
• BRI benefits: Fully paid employee health insurance premium; optional dependent coverage; dental; LTD; life insurance; 401(k) with match; generous PTO and paid holidays; reimbursed work travel costs.
• Culture: Supportive, collaborative, inclusive environment with professional development, international travel opportunities, and vertical movement within the organization. BRI is a UN Global Compact member and meets DEI interests in the US.
• Mission alignment: Projects are designed to enhance productivity of degraded ecosystems, conserve wildlife, and improve human livelihoods while sequestering greenhouse gases in soils and biomass.

How to Apply

Send a cover letter, CV, and three references to jobs@briwildlife.org with subject “Ecosystem Scientist,” addressed to: Biodiversity Research Institute, Attn: Ecosystem Scientist, 276 Canco Rd., Portland, ME 04103, 207.839.7600, www.briwildlife.org. Candidates should be prepared to submit and explain a sample of relevant R or Python code they have written relative to biogeochemical modeling, upon request. If no further details are specified, applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.