Research Scholar

Job Summary/Basic Function:

Serves as an independent researcher or collaborator on a multi‑scholar research initiative. May have lead responsibility for discrete components of a larger project under the general direction of a senior or principal researcher.

Recognized subject matter expert who knows how to apply theory and put it into practice with in‑depth understanding of the professional field with limited oversight from managers. Independently performs the full range of responsibilities within the function; requires deep job knowledge of area typically obtained through higher education combined with experience. Manages large projects or processes and problems faced are difficult and often complex;

analyzes problems/issues of diverse scope and determines solutions. May manage programs that include formulating strategies and administering policies, processes, and resources; functions with a high degree of autonomy. Influences others regarding policies, practices and procedures.

60% of Time the Research Scholar may:

• Lead development of deep learning algorithms capable of identifying individual plant species in UAS imagery, including convolutional neural networks (CNNs), object detection models, semantic segmentation workflows, transfer learning approaches, and multi-temporal image analysis methods.
• Build, test, and document open‑source software and web applications that enable researchers and land managers to generate species maps from UAS imagery.
• Work with large image datasets, including tens of thousands of georeferenced individual plants paired with high‑resolution UAS imagery collected across Idaho, Oregon, and other western dryland ecosystems.
• Develop robust approaches that generalize across landscapes, sensors, and environmental conditions, and evaluate uncertainty in AI predictions for ecological inference.
• Collaborate closely with ecologists, statisticians, federal scientists, and stakeholder organizations at Boise State University, USDA Agricultural Research Service, and the Sevilleta LTER program.
• Publish project results in high‑impact peer‑reviewed journals and share reproducible code, data products, and workflows that support ecological research and rangeland management.
• Present findings at meetings, conferences, workshops, and collaborator institutions; periodic travel between Boise, Idaho, and Burns, Oregon, is expected.

35% of Time the Research Scholar may:

• Operate and maintain research or field equipment, as applicable.
• Supervise or mentor and train undergraduate and graduate students, postdocs, and research staff.
• Take lead responsibility for discrete components of a larger research project under the general direction of a senior or principal researcher.
• Prepare complete documentation of research activities for reference purposes, including following applicable data management protocols.
• Analyze, interpret, and document research findings for review.
• Compare actual results and expected results and suggest solutions to correct the deviations.
• Evaluate existing research techniques and recommend improvements to ensure quality and productivity.
• Assist in the preparation of proposals and reports.
• Assist in the teaching of classes.

5% of Time the Research Scholar will:

Perform other duties as assigned.

• Team player with an excellent work ethic, meticulous attention to detail, and high intrinsic self‑motivation to learn and work in the lab or field, as applicable
• Ability to acquire accurate, reproducible data with a critical eye towards consistency, reproducibility, and the scientific method in general
• Scientific writing skills demonstrated through peer‑reviewed publications
• Experience presenting research results in meetings, conferences, and seminars
• Excellent project and time management skills
• Strong interpersonal and mentoring skills
• Advocate for safety and ethics in the workplace

Requires a minimum of a Ph.D. degree or equivalent terminal degree in a relevant discipline, with a minimum of 2 years postdoctoral experience (or equivalent research experience)…