Research Scientist

Job Description Position:Research ScientistReports to:Senior Research ScientistWork Week:40 hours as work requiresRevised:October 10, 2024Location: Location is flexible, in a NCASI office (Newberry, FL; Cary, NC), including the potential to work from home if in a southeastern U.S. state where NCASI is currently licensed to operate.Key Words:Forestry, biometrics, forest inventory, forest carbon Position has a two-year duration, anticipated to end in February 2027.Effective Immediately:•Health Care Benefit Package (Medical, Dental, Vision, HSA w/ employer contribution)•401(k) plan with employer match•Dependent Care FSA•Life, Supplemental Life, Disability, and Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance•Identity Theft Protection•Supplemental Accident and Critical Insurance Available•Paid Vacation/Sick/HolidayNCASI (www.ncasi.org) is an independent, non-profit, member-driven research institute that seeks to create credible scientific information required to address the environmental information needs of the forest products sector in North America. Established in 1943, NCASI is recognized as the leading source of reliable data on environmental issues affecting the forest sector and has nearly 100 member companies throughout Canada and the United States. With a staff of 50 technical professionals, NCASI conducts research, undertakes surveys, performs field measurements, and sponsors research by universities and others to document the environmental performance of forest management and facility operations, to gain insight into opportunities for further improvement in meeting sustainability goals. NCASI is an equal opportunity employer.NCASI is seeking an individual of high integrity in a temporary (2 years), post-doctoral capacity to contribute to NCASI’s Technical Studies Program activities addressing forest biometrics, with an emphasis on forest inventory and analysis, carbon estimation and accounting.Essential Job Functions: The Forest & Wood Carbon Data Platform, an initiative sponsored by the USDA, seeks to integrate comprehensive and transparent carbon data related to forests and wood products into a singular, user-friendly interface. This position will facilitate the development, integration, and cross-sector collaboration for this platform to ensure a seamless and unified approach to hosting, sharing, and utilizing forest carbon tools. Specifically, this position will:1.Work closely with NCASI staff, USDA Forest Service, platform developers, relevant working groups, and NCASI Member Companies to ensure that platform development goals align with project objectives and stakeholder needs. 2.Support efforts to improve the Managed Forest Systems chapter in the Entity-scale Guidelines (Version 3) by addressing gaps in greenhouse gas flux estimation and silvicultural practices. Align improvements with platform infrastructure and ensure integration of research tools like the National Volume Estimator Library (NVEL) into the platform.3.Facilitate integrating research products, data streams, and decision support tools into the platform, including outputs from entities such as the Partnership for Small Area Estimation, Forest Carbon Modeling Group, Treemap, and other projects and data sources that may arise during the period of contract.4.Read, absorb, and process complex technical information quickly, with the ability to communicate this information to Members and other stakeholders.Minimum Qualifications:1.Doctoral degree in forest management, forest biometrics, forest mensuration, or a related field with experience in managing complex environmental research projects with a demonstrated ability to provide project leadership.2.An indication of the ability to publish in peer-reviewed literature.3.Highly effective oral and written communication skills.4.Ability to travel on NCASI business, such as quarterly meetings for project updates and to support NCASI Member Companies and their trade associations.5.Exhibit professional appearance and demeanor, a demonstrable ability to work effectively with others, evidence of a stable employment history, and evidence of organizational skills, professional presentation skills, and self-motivation.6.Eligible for immediate employment in the U.S.Strongly Preferred Qualifications:1.Knowledge of the principles of forest biometrics, forest economics, statistics, forest management, forest carbon, and related disciplines including forest products markets and the forest products supply chain.2.Familiarity and understanding with forest inventory and monitoring methods and databases including the USDA Forest Service Forest Inventory & Analysis (FIA) and Timber Products Output (TPO) databases knowledge of accounting for carbon in forests and in harvested wood products.3.Strong statistical and computational skills including an understanding of sampling designs, SQL queries, and modeling approaches; familiarity with remote sensing methods and data sources used to monitor forests and land uses.4.Demonstrated ability to: (i) understand research needs in the fields of forest monitoring and assessment; (ii) prepare synthesis reports based on data and reports prepared by students, contractors, colleagues and others; (v) manage large datasets; and (vi) manage and moderate meetings.5.Demonstrated ability to achieve results through collaboration with, and respect for, co- workers and funding partners.6.Ability to successfully manage multiple priorities.7.Experience in the forest products sector.8.Proficiency in the use of the Microsoft Office Suite of business software.To apply, please submit your curriculum vitae electronically to: Dr. Holly Munro, Senior Research Scientist, NCASI, hmunro@ncasi.org. Review of applications will begin on November 1, 2024, and continue until the position is filled. The desired start date for the position is on or before February 1, 2025. NCASI is an equal opportunity employer.