Visiting Assistant Research Scientist, Quantitative Ecology - INHS​/PRI

Visiting Assistant Research Scientist, Quantitative Ecology

Illinois Natural History Survey

Prairie Research Institute

The Prairie Research Institute (PRI), a research and service institute of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, centrally located between Chicago, St. Louis, and Indianapolis, houses five State Scientific Surveys covering a wide range of expertise, including biology, water resources, climate, geology, sustainable technology, and archaeology. PRI's mission is to provide objective, integrated scientific research and services that allow citizens and decision-makers to make choices that ensure sustainable economic development, enduring environmental quality, and cultural resource preservation for the people, businesses, and across Illinois, the nation, and the world.

The Illinois Natural History Survey (INHS), one of the five Scientific Surveys housed by the Prairie Research Institute, is seeking a Visiting Quantitative Ecologist, who will be based out of the Illinois River Biological Station (IRBS), to assist with IRBS database harmonization and construction to build a central data repository capable of serving several ecological modeling and inferential needs. Using ecological data and build models to evaluate invasive carp management and measure ecological response in Illinois' rivers.

This position will be based in Havana, Illinois and may allow for remote or hybrid work opportunities.

The Illinois River Biological Station (IRBS) is one of six stations of the Upper Mississippi River Restoration (UMRR) Program's Long Term Resource Monitoring Element (LTRM), funded by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and administered by the United States Geological Survey's Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, La Crosse, Wisconsin. Staff here also coordinate the Long-Term Survey and Assessment of Large River Fishes in Illinois (LTEF) on the Illinois River Waterway and select pools on the Upper Mississippi River, black carp research on the La Grange Reach of the Illinois River, fish and vegetation monitoring and research at the Emiquon Preserve, and aid in the Illinois Department of Natural Resources ongoing management of bighead and silver carps.

The need for flexible research and monitoring of water quality, and native and invasive aquatic organisms is the scientific foundation of IRBS.

Remote and Hybrid work options may be available for this position, with the ability to be on-site as needed per the University's Workplace Flexibility policy.

Duties & Responsibilities Include

* Assimilate, curate, and harmonize disparate ecological and environmental data sources from existing and ongoing data collection on the major rivers of Illinois across partners.

* Create pipelines and data caches for continuous environmental data sources to be integrated into database and workflows for predictive modeling.

* Use existing harmonized data sets and continuous data sources to evaluate and predict invasive carp management strategies and native ecosystem response at varying invasive carp densities.

* Work closely with and coordinate efforts between IRBS, state, federal, and University partners associated with the project.

* Analyze data, synthesize results, and author annual technical reports and multiple manuscripts for submission to peer-reviewed scientific journals.

* Assist other biologists with experimental design, analysis, and writing for a variety of aquatic ecology-related projects.

* Disseminate research findings to management agencies, the scientific community, and public through presentations at professional meetings, public outreach activities, and in written reports.

* Ensure the safety of staff and equipment.

* Respond to requests for scientific/technical information and communicate effectively with collaborators.

* Participate in community outreach and service event and mentor hourly staff.

* Perform other duties as needed to further the mission and goals of the Survey, PRI, and the University of Illinois.

* Keep abreast of developments in this discipline

Additional Physical Demands

The work of this position takes place in an office setting. The work is sedentary and involves sitting for extended periods of time working at a computer, using a keyboard and mouse, and using repetitive hand motions for data entry. Will require working in a lab environment. Lab safety equipment use is required. May require standing and stationary positions. Overnight travel may be necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of this position.

Minimum Qualifications

Master's degree in biology, Aquatic Ecology, Fisheries, Statistics, or ecological statistics, or related field. Alternate degree fields will be considered depending on the nature and depth of the experience as it relates to this position. A minimum of 3 years of experience and demonstrated analytical/statistical method application to ecology-based research questions and demonstrated research communication through peer-reviewed manuscripts. Familiarity and experience with…