Job Description
Senior Biodiversity Scientist
Position Overview The Senior Biodiversity Scientist position plays a pivotal role in supporting the mission of NatCap TEEMs by leading, conducting, and supporting biodiversity and ecosystem service research projects. This position reports directly to the Center Director and their supervisor if different from the Center Director. Working closely with the Center Director and its Governing Council, the Senior Biodiversity Scientist ensures that the ecological dimensions of biodiversity are effectively integrated into the Center's broader research, strategy, and modeling efforts. This position will be responsible for developing and managing research programs that highlight the impact of human activities on biodiversity and ecosystems, as well as their contributions to people and economies.
Council, the Senior Biodiversity Scientist ensures that the ecological dimensions of biodiversity are effectively integrated into the Center's broader research, strategy, and modeling efforts. This position will be responsible for developing and managing research programs that highlight the impact of human activities on biodiversity and ecosystems, as well as their contributions to people and economies.
By collaborating with the Center Director and Governing Council, this role will enhance the Center's capacity to produce rigorous, evidence-based insights that support global decision-making on sustainable development. The Senior Biodiversity Scientist will lay the groundwork for a biodiversity and global change ecology research program within the NatCap TEEMs framework, emphasizing innovative, collaborative, and interdisciplinary approaches that align with the Governing Council and the Center Directorâ™s vision for NatCap TEEMs.
This position entails 65% research 15% program support, 10% fundraising, 5% Stakeholder Engagement, and 5% administrative duties. The position involves occasional travel, typically 3 times/year, but not exceeding 5times/year, for conferences, presentations, and collaborative professional events.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES Research and Knowledge Dissemination (65%) - Lead research in global change ecology with a focus on developing models that assess the impact of environmental changes on biodiversity and ecosystems.
- Publish individually or collaboratively with other NatCap TEEMs researchers in high-impact, peer-reviewed journals to contribute to the broader scientific community.
- Stay up-to-date with the latest scientific literature, integrating new insights into ongoing projects, and actively share key developments with the other NatCap TEEMs researchers to inform and enhance collaborative efforts.
- Collaborate with the other NatCap TEEMs researchers to support the Centerâ™s broader research agenda, engaging in interdisciplinary projects that extend beyond this positionâ™s responsibilities to advance the Centerâ™s mission.
- Conduct original, independent research on ecosystems, biodiversity, and human impacts on wildlife, aiming to produce scientifically rigorous and policy-relevant results that support sustainable development locally and internationally.
- Review, synthesize, and effectively disseminate the most relevant scientific knowledge across the NatCap TEEMs network and to external partners, ensuring findings are FAIR (findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable) if as much as possible.
- Dedicate 25% of research time to personal projects that align with areas of interest, such as novel research in global change ecology, fostering innovation and creativity within the field.
- Develop and refine ecological models to evaluate the effects of human activities and environmental changes on biodiversity and ecosystems, contributing to decision-support tools that inform policy.
- Present research findings at national and international conferences, showcasing NatCap TEEMsâ™ contributions to biodiversity science and fostering dialogue with the global research community.
- Mentor junior researchers and create a supportive, collaborative team environment that encourages skill development and professional growth.
Project Management and Fundraising (25%)
- Collaborate closely with the Center Director, Governing Council, and other key stakeholders to ensure that research goals and strategies are deeply informed by ecological science, providing expert guidance to foster innovative and impactful research.
- Work with the Center Director and Governing Council to develop research projects that align with the overarching vision of NatCap TEEMs, ensuring that biodiversity and ecosystem considerations are at the forefront of the Centerâ™s objectives.
- Lead and manage research projects as the Principal Investigator (PI), or provide essential project management support as a co-PI or co-investigator (co-I), driving interdisciplinary initiatives that integrate biodiversity science with economic modeling.
- Support the Center Director in fundraising efforts by identifying and pursuing relevant funding opportunities for biodiversity research, including grants, gifts, and private sector funds.
- Design, support, and manage interdisciplinary research programs as PI that focus on ecosystem and biodiversity science, ensuring alignment with economic and ecological frameworks.
- Oversee comprehensive grant management, ensuring adherence to timelines, budget constraints, and reporting requirements for large, collaborative projects in the role of PI.
- Proactively identify and secure funding sources, taking the lead in preparing high-quality grant proposals in collaboration with interdisciplinary teams.
- Engage with a wide range of stakeholders to ensure that project objectives are consistent with both institutional priorities and broader research goals.
- Coordinate and support the efforts of scientific staff and external collaborators, managing priorities to ensure successful project execution and impactful research outcomes.
Administrative Support (10%)
- Provide expert consultation on projects led by NatCap TEEMs members that require ecological or biological expertise, including support for PhD student research and side projects initiated by other lead scientists/researchers, helping them to ensure that these projects are scientifically sound, even if they are not part of the positionâ™s core research portfolio.
- Assist, support, and deputize the Center Director as requested and needed, contributing to strategic planning, project oversight, and the implementation of research initiatives.
- Support in organizing and facilitating meetings, ensuring agendas are prepared, records are maintained, and project documentation is accurate and up to date.
- Support the Centerâ™s data management, reporting, and other administrative tasks, streamlining project operations and ensuring compliance with institutional requirements.
Required Qualifications
- An advanced degree (Ph.D. preferred) in ecology, environmental science, natural resource management, climate change, or a related field is required.
- One year of postdoctoral research experience.
- In-depth knowledge of environmental economics, natural capital accounting approaches, ecosystem valuation, climate adaptation strategies, and relevant policy frameworks.
- Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement abilities, with experience working effectively with diverse stakeholders across sectors and cultures.
- Eagerness to engage with multiple organizational partners in person and online.
- Ability to create and foster a rich, dynamic team atmosphere that encourages collaboration and knowledge-sharing
- Commitment to sustainability, conservation, social equity, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Preferred Qualifications
- Publication record of at least three peer-reviewed papers.
- Expertise or experience using InVEST or working with the Natural Capital Project.
- Proficiency in research methodology such as statistical analysis in R, empirical natural sciences work, and theoretical natural sciences work.
- Interest in applying for competitive funding to manage and support a foundational biodiversity research program within TEEMs.
- Publication record in peer-reviewed journals in ecology and ecology-related fields.
- Willingness to expand expertise in environmental economic modeling and research methods.
About University of Minnesota Twin Cities
The University of Minnesota, founded in the belief that all people are enriched by understanding, is dedicated to the advancement of learning and the search for truth; to the sharing of this knowledge through education for a diverse community; and to the application of this knowledge to benefit the people of the state, the nation, and the world.
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