Research Associate (data science/rangelands)

Mission

Woodwell Climate Research Center (Woodwell Climate) conducts science for solutions at the nexus of climate, people, and nature. We partner with leaders and communities for just meaningful impact to address the climate crisis.

Woodwell Climate is a rapidly growing, top-ranked, independent non-profit climate research institute whose mission is to advance science-based climate policies through scientific research and outreach. Our world-leading research and impact helps individuals, organizations, corporations, communities, and nations understand the realities of climate change, recognize the impact on our planet, and embrace the urgent action needed to safeguard the future of life on Earth.

Summary

Join Woodwell Climate’s Rangeland team as a Research Associate on a 2-year project focused on applying ecosystem carbon model simulations for conservation practices within U.S. rangeland systems, including those in Montana and Colorado. The successful candidate will work closely with our partners at the World Wildlife Fund and Columbia University, and will interact with ranch managers and other collaborators. The successful candidate will lead model simulations within a high-performance computing (HPC) environment, and may assist the team with model structural improvements, optimization, and parameterizations. The candidate will help process remote sensing and geospatial data, will lead model verification using field and lab data, will compute change detection analyses and data summary statistics. The successful candidate will develop reports for ranch managers, and will organize/co-lead a workshop in Montana for participating ranch managers.

Responsibilities Include But Not Limited

• Lead RangeSTAR model simulations within a HPC environment
• Mange very large geospatial datasets with a HPC environment
• Refine computing code (Python) and improve model parameter calibration
• Assist the team in developing an efficient pipeline for implementing the model across millions of acres
• Lead project reports/presentations
• Organize and lead a workshop for participating ranch managers
• Archive project data
  
  

Must Have The Following Knowledge, Skills And Abilities

• Minimum of 3 years of demonstrated a record of successful original research
• Cloud computing and HPC
• Experience improving and implementing process models
• Strong data science skills including proficiency in spatial data analysis
• Familiarity with different gridded geospatial data formats (NetCDF and Zarr)
• Experience using version control (Git, GitHub)
• Experience developing code within a Unix/Linux environment
• Strong coding skills using Python (R, Julia, C/C++ or other languages a plus)
• Superior oral and written communication and networking skills
• Ability to work as a member of a highly collaborative team in a fast-paced environment
• Willingness to travel about 5% of time
  
  

Qualifications

• 3+ years’ experience with a Masters degree in Environmental Data Science, Earth System Science, Ecology, Geography, Environmental Engineering, Computer Science or a related discipline or 5+ years experience, appropriate for the requirements of the job with a bachelors degree or
• Ph.D. (granted or expected soon) in Environmental Data Science, Earth System Science, Ecology, Geography, Environmental Engineering, Computer Science or a related discipline
  
  

Physical Requirements

In the office:

• Ability to tolerate sustained periods of walking, standing, sitting
• Ability to lift 25 pounds
• Ability to communicate, verbally and written
• Ability to kneel, bend, and carry items
• Ability to use phone and computers
• Repetitive movements
  
  

Work Environment

The functions of this role are primarily conducted indoors, but travel to organize a workshop within Montana is required. .

Hours Of Work

• This role is paid on a salaried, exempt, basis
• Typically, full-time employees work 40 hours during a Monday through Friday workweek. However, this is a salaried position. Therefore, the individual is expected to work as required to complete the duties of the position. This may mean weekend hours and/or hours beyond 40 per week
  
  

Application review will begin ongoing

Desired Start Date: September 2025

Fixed-term: 2 years

Classification and Compensation: This is a full-time, salaried, exempt position, the annual salary range is $65,000 plus dependent on qualifications/experience. Woodwell offers a generous benefits package and work life balance.

Location: Falmouth, Massachusetts, hybrid and/or remote

Application Instructions: To apply, please send your cover letter addressing your experience and qualifications in relation to the responsibilities of this position and curriculum vitae as a single PDF to our career’s portal.

Please visit Woodwell's website to learn more about Woodwell’s work.

Located on a 10-acre campus near the village of Woods Hole, the Woodwell Climate Research Center (Woodwell) is a private, non-profit research center. Woodwell is a leading source of climate science that drives the urgent action needed to solve climate change. Woodwell has 100+ staff members and is excited to welcome new employees to this work.

Woodwell Climate is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, mental, or physical disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, familial status, veteran status, or genetic information. Woodwell is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for all individuals in employment practices, services, programs, and activities.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Woodwell

WE NEED ALL VOICES IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE

Climate change is the greatest challenge of our lifetimes. Woodwell Climate Research Center (Woodwell) understands that the climate crisis—from causes to consequences—is inextricably linked with persistent social injustice. Effectively addressing either requires addressing both. The climate crisis demands that we bring to bear all of the knowledge, expertise, innovation, and creativity that we can collectively muster, and those who have been marginalized and disproportionately impacted must be heard.

The work Woodwell Climate does—the questions we ask, the ways we seek answers, and the strategies we put forward—is stronger when shaped by a diversity of knowledge, perspectives, and experiences. We strive to welcome, respect, and amplify differing voices. We value individuals as they are, with all their differences in race, age, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, language, and mental and physical abilities.

Woodwell Climate acknowledges that our organization, and the scientific community more broadly, have a long way to go in living up to these ideals. We approach the work of improving our organization with the same ambition and commitment to systemic change that we bring to addressing climate change.

We will inevitably make mistakes, but we will continue to listen, learn, and do this critical work. We understand that this work requires an ongoing commitment from each and every one of us. We are actively engaged in building and sustaining an equitable and inclusive culture within our organization, and in fostering greater diversity in climate science.

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