Faculty Research Assistant - GIS Spatial Analyst w/Institute for Natural Resources

Title:  Faculty Research Assistant- GIS - Spatial Analyst
Posting Number: P04812UF
Applicant View of Posting:  https://jobs.oregonstate.edu/postings/107856
Department:  Institute Natrl Res Dir (RNR)
Job Location:  Portland

​The Institute for Natural Resources is seeking a Faculty Research Assistant- GIS – Spatial Analyst.  This is a full-time (1.0 FTE), 12- month professional faculty position.

INR has a variety of projects related to developing and delivering spatial data for forest and rangeland ecosystems in the western US that require expertise in spatial data analysis, along with the ability to help interpret and display data in ways that meaningfully communicate results to various stakeholders. 

The INR GIS – Spatial Analyst will work with the INR Rangeland, Forest, and Oregon Explorer teams to support their work.  Work includes finding, aggregating and/or developing spatial data needed to produce vegetation maps, state-and-transition model input datasets, other vegetation change analyses, ecosystem services analyses, and species distribution models.  Work also includes evaluating model outputs, documenting work processes and data sources through structured metadata and clear documentation, conveying meaningful information through maps and charts, and communicating results of these analyses to a diverse audience.  Some maps and charts may be created for online data delivery through the Oregon Explorer Natural Resources Digital Library.


Position Duties
50% - Develop and appropriately document GIS data, attribute vegetation models and assist the INR Forest Landscapes Program and INR modeling leads with ongoing projects related to forest planning and mapping.
35% – Provide GIS technical assistance to the Rangeland Sustainability Program, including map making, working with large raster datasets and vegetation plot datasets, and analyzing and displaying data to help cooperators and partners understand status and trends to support coordinated planning.
10% – Assist with INR staff with cartography, spatial analyses, and mapping on other projects as time permits.
5% – Contribute to outreach, including publications, presentations, and public meetings. 


Minimum/Required Qualifications

• MS in geography, biology, conservation biology or wildlife biology with a focus on GIS. 
• At least 2 years of experience working with GIS data and software. 
• Experience with R or Python programing needed, along with a clear understanding of spatial data documentation and organization.
• Experience or training in interpreting spatial data using  charts and/or maps. 
• Ability to work independently, while supporting the work of INR research scientists, program managers and research scientists.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to clearly communicate technical concepts to a broad range of people with varying levels of GIS expertise, including members of the INR staff team and external project partners.

Preferred (Special) Qualifications

• Ability to multi-task and support a diverse range of projects while working with a diverse range of people.
• Knowledge of ecosystems in the Pacific Northwest, or the western US, and the types of data that exist about them.
• Some experience working with imagery or satellite data.
• Demonstrable commitment to promoting and enhancing diversity

Working Conditions / Work Schedule
Typical working environment, in the office or occasional tele-commuting is acceptable as agreed upon between employee and supervisor.