Research Scientist, Ecology

Position Title:

Research Scientist, Ecology

Position Type:
Permanent Position

Application Review Begins:
Monday, October 12, 2026

Final date to receive applications:
Monday, November 30, 2026

Institution:
Atlanta Botanical Garden

Department/Division:
Conservation & Research

Field (e.g., systematics):

City:
Atlanta, Georgia, United States

The Atlanta Botanical Garden seeks a Research Scientist, Ecology to join the SECC within the Department of Conservation & Research. The Research Scientist will lead applied ecological research that advances the conservation and recovery of rare and imperiled plants and the restoration of their habitats, with particular emphasis on the southeastern United States. Working within the SECC and Garden’s strategic plans, the successful candidate will develop and lead collaborative research focused on priority areas such as restoration ecology, especially research integrating fungal and other microbial interactions, conservation translocations and reintroductions, adaptive management, demography and population dynamics, and/or population viability.

The scientist will translate research findings into practical conservation strategies while contributing to the Garden's leadership in plant conservation science. This position combines research leadership with field-based conservation, grant development, scientific publication, collaboration with conservation partners, and mentorship of staff and emerging scientists.

• Ph.D. in ecology, conservation biology, plant biology, botany, restoration ecology, natural resources, or a closely related discipline.
• Demonstrated record of designing, conducting, analyzing, and publishing original ecological or conservation research.
• Expertise in one or more areas relevant to rare-plant conservation, such as population ecology, demography, restoration ecology, reintroduction biology, conservation translocations, or population viability.
• Strong quantitative and analytical skills and experience working with ecological or biological datasets.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and manage collaborative research or conservation projects.
• Experience obtaining or contributing substantially to externally funded research or conservation programs.
• Record of peer-reviewed scientific publication appropriate to career stage.
• Excellent scientific writing, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with researchers, agency personnel, land managers, conservation practitioners, students, and other partners.
• Experience supervising or mentoring research staff, students, technicians, or interns.
• Ability to work independently while contributing effectively to interdisciplinary teams and institutional research priorities.

• Research experience with rare, threatened, or endangered plants.
• Experience with plant reintroduction, conservation translocation, population augmentation, or adaptive management.
• Experience with demographic monitoring, population modeling, or population viability analysis.
• Experience in ecological restoration, particularly wetland, grassland, woodland, or other southeastern ecosystems.
• Strong plant identification skills, particularly with flora of the southeastern United States.
• Experience collaborating with state and federal natural-resource agencies.
• Experience with GIS, spatial analysis, species distribution modeling, or statistical programming.
• Experience working in a botanical garden, nonprofit conservation organization, university, government agency, or comparable research setting.

• Research:
  Conduct and oversee…