Research Associate II - Ecological Analyst

CSU Spur is hiring a Research Associate II - Ecological Analyst to support research on virtual fencing technology, invasive species mapping, and erosion impacts. The role involves technical analyses using R and ArcGIS, data organization, and communication with stakeholders. Candidates should have a Master's in Ecology or related fields, or a Bachelor's with relevant experience. The position allows for hybrid/in-office work and is based in Fort Collins, CO.
Posting Details

Posting Detail Information

Working Title Research Associate II - Ecological Analyst Position Location Fort Collins, CO Work Location Position qualifies for hybrid/in-office work Research Professional Position Yes Posting Number 202500479AP Position Type Admin Professional/ Research Professional Classification Title Research Associate II Number of Vacancies 1 Work Hours/Week 30 Proposed Annual Salary Range 55,000 - 60,000 Employee Benefits

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Desired Start Date Position End Date (if temporary) To ensure full consideration, applications must be received by 11:59pm (MT) on 04/13/2025 Description of Work Unit

The NREL is a research and teaching unit at Colorado State University with a mission “to ensure the sustainability of the Earth’s ecosystems through the generation and application of new knowledge.” The department’s interdisciplinary, ecosystem research promotes collaborations among disciplines and across fields of expertise at CSU and throughout the world. As a soft-money research unit, this role is critical to ensure adequate funding to sustain its vital role in the research community both locally and across the globe.

Position Summary

This position will support ongoing research efforts to understand the use of virtual fencing technology on livestock moment and rangeland conditions, explore advanced techniques for mapping invasive species, investigate erosion impacts of modern logging practices, and other ecological projects to be determined. This position will conduct technical spatial and non-spatial analyses to support numerous ongoing projects with The Nature Conservancy, private landowners, state agencies, and partner universities that involve ecosystems across Colorado and the western United Stated. In collaboration with team members, the position will organize relevant data, prepare data for analysis and perform applicable analyses using R statistical programming language and various geographic information systems such as ArcGIS. The individual will document methods and results and communicate these to team members and stakeholders. The individual may also provide mentorship to young professionals and student programs associated with the laboratory.

Required Job Qualifications
• Master’s degree in Ecology, Rangeland Ecology, Ecosystem Science, or related field

OR Bachelor’s degree in one of these fields plus at least three years applicable working experience
• Demonstrated experience with virtual fencing technology and summarizing associated spatial data
• Experience summarizing rangeland field data such as point-line-intercept in R

Preferred Job Qualifications
• Experience with the NASA DEVELOP program
• Proficient with ArcGIS
• Demonstrated experience in technical writing and manuscript production.
• Understanding and use of remote sensing data from publicly available sensors such as Landsat and Sentinel-2 to perform analyses

Essential Duties

Job Duty Category Technical Analysis Duty/Responsibility

Develop, test, and execute R scripts to perform analysis related to virtual fence technology and other lab associated projects. Use geographic information systems to access, manipulate, analyze and visualize remote sensing and field data and associated results.

Percentage Of Time 70 Job Duty Category Report and Publication Development Duty/Responsibility

Support or lead the creation of technical reports for stakeholders and sponsors. Assist with the development of peer-reviewed scientific publications and proposals including writing and figure generation.

Percentage Of Time 25 Job Duty Category Mentoring Duty/Responsibility

Mentor teams of early career professionals and students working on research projects and advise them on technical approaches as well as career goals and science communication.

Percentage Of Time 5

Application Details

Special Instructions to Applicants

Interested applicants must submit a cover letter which addresses how professional experiences align with identified required and preferred qualifications of the position, a current resume, and the names, e-mail addresses, and telephone numbers of three (3) professional references. CSU is committed to full inclusion of qualified individuals. If you are needing assistance or accommodations with the search process, please reach out to the listed search contact.

References will not be contacted without prior notification to candidates. Please note, applicants may redact information from their application materials that identifies their age, date of birth, or dates of attendance at or graduation from an educational institution.

Conditions of Employment Pre-employment Criminal Background Check (required for new hires), Valid Driver’s License Search Contact nicholas.young@colostate.edu EEO

Colorado State University (CSU) provides equal employment opportunities to all applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

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.

References Requested

References Requested

Minimum Requested 3 Maximum Requested 3

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

Applicant Documents

Required Documents
• Resume
• Cover Letter

Optional Documents