Research Scientist

Job Description

The Virginia Tech Center for Ecosystem Forecasting is recruiting a Research Scientist with a Ph.D. in Environmental Science, Quantitative Ecology, Ecological Statistics, Natural Resources, Environmental Engineering, or a related field. We are seeking to recruit an integral, long-term member of our team who will contribute to environmental modeling and forecasting research across multiple funded projects. Following the mission of the Virginia Tech Center for Ecosystem Forecasting, we seek a team member who is excited to both create and apply innovative environmental models and forecasts that provide actionable forecast insights to guide decision-making and management. We encourage applicants to visit our website (https://ecoforecast.centers.vt.edu) to learn more about the Center, its mission and values, current projects, and our highly collaborative, interdisciplinary research team.

Specific responsibilities for the on-site position include: 1) developing ecological forecasts (especially for lake and reservoir water quality) using a suite of models and datasets; 2) leading and co-authoring peer-reviewed publications, presentations, and data products; 3) providing guidance and mentorship to team members and supporting ongoing Center programs (including the Macrosystems EDDIE educational program); and 4) serving in a leadership role in the Center, which includes setting priorities, engaging partners, preparing reports, and collaborating with CEF co-directors and staff to apply for external funding.

The review of applications will begin on Monday, 22 December, with anticipated Zoom interviews being scheduled in early January. Funding for this position is available for multiple years, pending satisfactory performance during an initial probationary period and subsequent annual performance reviews. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa for this position at this time.

Required Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Environmental Science, Quantitative Ecology, Ecological Statistics, Natural Resources, Environmental/Civil Engineering, or a related field
• Significant experience in publishing peer-reviewed journal articles, demonstrated by publication record
• Significant quantitative research experience in ecosystem modeling, environmental forecasting, and/or computational ecology, demonstrated by publications and/or software development
• Significant experience working in the R and/or Python programming language, demonstrated by GitHub (or other code repository) portfolio
• Significant experience in environmental data analysis, demonstrated by publications and presentations
• Experience with collaborative coding, demonstrated by GitHub (or other code repository) activity
• Ability to work in interdisciplinary collaborative teams, demonstrated by previous team research experiences

Preferred Qualifications

• Postdoctoral research experience
• Experience with water quality models, demonstrated by developing, calibrating, and applying water quality models, especially for lakes and reservoirs
• Experience publishing data and code products, demonstrated by authorship of published data and code
• Experience in data and forecast visualization, demonstrated by development and dissemination of data and forecast visualizations
• Experience in mentoring and/or supervising
• Experience working across computational platforms (e.g., command line, Docker, cloud computing and storage, RStudio, etc.)

Overtime Status

Exempt: Not eligible for overtime

Appointment Type

Restricted

Salary Information

Commensurate with experience

Hours per week

40 hours - exempt position

Review Date

December 22, 2025

Additional Information

The review of applications will begin on Monday, 22 December, with anticipated Zoom interviews being scheduled in early January. Funding for this position is available for multiple years, pending satisfactory performance during an initial probationary period and subsequent annual performance reviews. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa for this position at this time.

The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.

About Virginia Tech

Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking a hands-on, transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to be leaders and problem-solvers. A comprehensive land-grant institution that enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout the world, Virginia Tech is an inclusive community dedicated to knowledge, discovery, and creativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse enrollment of more than 36,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in eight undergraduate colleges, a school of medicine, a veterinary medicine college, Graduate School, and Honors College. The university has a significant presence across Virginia, including Blacksburg, the greater Washington, D.C. area, the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke, sites in Newport News and Richmond, and numerous Extension offices and research institutes. A leading global research institution, Virginia Tech conducts more than $650 million in research annually.

Virginia Tech endorses and encourages participation in professional development opportunities and university shared governance. These valuable contributions to university shared governance provide important representation and perspective, along with opportunities for unique and impactful professional development.