Job Summary: The Valente Biodiversity Conservation Lab is hiring a 1-year research assistant (1 October 2026 – 30 September 2027) to support ongoing data collection, management, and analysis. This work takes place within the College of Forestry, Wildlife, and Environment at Auburn University in close collaboration with employees from the U.S. Geological Survey and Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR). The focus of the project has been to help ADCNR understand the impacts of historical management activities of Alabama’s wildlife populations and inform future approaches to habitat management on state lands. Field work on the project has largely been completed, and we are seeking a research assistant who will assist with equipment maintenance, data organization, processing, and analysis, and report and manuscript preparation.

Essential Functions:

·         Maintain field and lab equipment

·         Coordinate all aspects of data management, including data entry, proofing, formatting, and analysis

·         Participate in field-based sampling efforts for birds, mammals, and vegetation as necessary to complete the project

·         Ensure field vehicles are maintained

·         Acquire and maintaining GIS databases

·         Disseminate project information in the form of reports, peer-reviewed manuscripts, and presentations

·         Process remotely recorded data (camera images and acoustic files)

·         Document protocols

·         Gather and organize publicly available datasets for integration into our analyses

Minimum Qualifications:

·         Bachelor’s degree in wildlife, biology, ecology, forestry, or a closely related field from an accredited institution

·         Strong communication skills in oral and written English

·         Capable of working in both outdoor and settings

·         Strong computer skills

·         Self-motivation, a positive attitude, and strong interpersonal skills

·         Ability to work independently and as part of an interdisciplinary team

Desired Qualifications – Note that while these skills and qualifications are desirable, previous experience in all of these areas is not required. Please do not self-select yourself out of applying, as there are many ways to be successful in this position and many different types of skills that will be useful.

·         MS degree in wildlife, biology, ecology, natural resources, forestry, or a closely related field from an accredited institution

·         Prior field experience conducting avian point counts, small mammal trapping, and vegetation sampling

·         Strong data management skills and experience using R, Github, GIS and remote sensing software

·         Experience presenting and publishing peer-reviewed research

·         Experience working with government agencies and other diverse stakeholder groups

Rate: $45k – $55k annually, commensurate with experience