Researcher/Scientist IV (Extended Temporary Employment)

The School of Natural Resources and the Environment (SNRE) seeks to fill the role of Researcher/Scientist IV. The researcher will design and implement a field campaign to quantify impacts of earthworks on soil texture, vegetation, and soil moisture. The researcher will use these field data to document impacts and to evaluate hypotheses related to amount of moisture storage, depth of storage, and amount of vegetation enhancement around berms. The researcher will also work with repeat structure-from-motion scans to quantify the extent of erosion caused by degraded earthworks and the rate of soil loss in the vicinity. The researcher will design follow-up field campaigns to extend the findings of this work through additional surveying at similar degraded sites or by finding other opportunities to take advantage of repeat elevation surveys in other locations.

SNRE puts science to work to understand how ecosystems respond to natural and human pressures, as well as help create and maintain healthy and sustainable ecological systems in arid and semi-arid regions around the world. Our research activities take place in the laboratory, in controlled growth environments and in the field. The resulting discoveries help us adapt to the challenges of a changing climate, develop strategies to mitigate the effects, and help create and maintain healthy and sustainable ecological systems. Growing a sustainable future requires an interdisciplinary approach. Learn how we're bridging disciplinary boundaries to produce purpose-driven science with real-world impact.

This is an Extended Temporary Employment (ETE) position.

This position involves travel to various locations throughout the vicinity of Tucson, Arizona to perform assigned duties.

Outstanding UA benefits include health, dental, and vision insurance plans; life insurance and disability programs; paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays; UA/ASU/NAU tuition reduction for the employee and qualified family members; state and optional retirement plans; access to UA recreation and cultural activities; and more!

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• Design and implement a field campaign to quantify impacts of earthworks on soil texture, vegetation, and soil moisture.
• Work independently to lead the field data collection and evaluate findings, managing assistance from support staff and students.
• Use field data to document impacts and to evaluate hypotheses related to amount of moisture storage, depth of storage, and amount of vegetation enhancement around berms.
• Work with repeat structure- from-motion scans to quantify the extent of erosion caused by degraded earthworks and the rate of loss of soil in the vicinity.
• Fully integrates project initiates, results, and future directions in reporting.
• Reviews results with managers and project scientists.
• Makes recommendations to managers.
• Collaborate with USDA scientists to coordinate deliverables, assess the implications to the project, analyze the data, and provide recommendations for best practices and future use cases.
• Scientific writing for publication of two or more peer-reviewed manuscripts.

Knowledge, skills and abilities:

• Strong communication skills.
• Familiarity with field data collection in hydrology and soil science.
• Computational skills including statistical and quantitative analysis.
• Programming ability in Python.

• PhD in a related discipline.
• Minimum of 8 years of relevant work experience, or equivalent combination of education and work experience.
• Must have a valid driver's license and ability to drive according to the University Fleet Safety Policy.

• Experience with Google Earth Engine and/or working with rangeland vegetation or hydrology.

Dr. Mitchel Mcclaran

Professor, Range Management
mcclaran@arizona.edu