Research Associate (Intermal Employment Opportunity)

DepartmentForest Eng/Resourcs/Mgmt (FOR)

Position TitleResearch Associate

Job TitleResearch Associate (Intermal Employment Opportunity)

Appointment TypeAcademic Faculty

Job LocationCorvallis

Benefits EligibleFull-Time, benefits eligible

Remote or Hybrid option?

Job Summary

This is an Internal Employment Opportunity

The Department of Forest Engineering, Resources & Management (FOR) invites applications for a full-time (1.00 FTE), 12-month, fixed-term Research Associate position. Reappointment is at the discretion of the Department Head.

This position is for a forest biometrics research associate in the Department of Forest Engineering, Resources & Management. The incumbent will develop, implement, and help fund field, methodological, andputational research in remotely sensed forest inventory and in forest modeling. Strong program management, data management, programming, IT, and writing skills are required. Mentoring and instructional ability is also needed. While primarily an office position, some fieldwork occurs in most months of the year.

Why OSU?

Working for Oregon State University is so than a job!

Oregon State University is a dynamicmunity of dreamers, doers, problem-solvers and change-makers. We don't wait for challenges to present themselves we seek them out and take them on. We wee students, faculty and staff from every background and perspective into amunity w everyone feels seen and heard. We have deep-rooted mindfulness for the natural world and all who depend on it, and together, we knowledge, tools and skills to build a better future for all.

FACTS:

Top 1.4% university in the world

More research funding than all public universities in Oregonbined

1 of 3 land, sea, space and sun grant universities in the U.S.

2 campuses, 11 colleges, 12 experiment stations, and Extension programs in all 36 counties

7 cultural resource centers that offer education, celebration and belonging for everyone

100+ undergraduate degree programs, 80+ graduate degrees plus hundreds of minor options and certificates

35k+ students including more than 2.3k international students and 10k students of color

217k+ alumni worldwide

For more interesting facts about OSU

Locations:

Oregon State has a statewide presence with campuses in Corvallis and Bend, the OSU Portland Center and the Hatfield Marine Science Center on the Pacific Coast in Newport.

Oregon State's beautiful, historic and state-of-the-art main campus is located in one of America's best college towns. Corvallis is located close to the Pacific Ocean, the Cascade mountains and Oregon wine country. Nestled in the heart of the Willamette Valley, this beautiful city offers miles of mountain biking and hiking trails, a river perfect for boating or kayaking and an eclectic downtown featuring local cuisine, popular events and performances.

Total Rewards Package:

Oregon State University offers with benefits eligible positions that is designed to meet the needs of employees and their families including:

Medical, Dental, Vision and Basic Life. OSU pays 95% of premiums for you and your eligible dependents.

Free confidential mental health and emotional support services, and counseling resources.

Retirement savings paid by the university.

A generous paid leave package, including holidays, vacation and sick leave.

Tuition reduction benefits for you or your qualifying dependents at OSU or the additional six Oregon Public Universities.

Robust Work Life programs including Dual Career assistance resources, flexible work arrangements, a Family Resource Center, Affinity Groups and an Employee Assistance Program.

Optional lifestyle benefits such as pet, accident, and critical illness insurance, giving you peace of mind and the support you need to thrive in all aspects of your life.

Future and current OSU employees can use the to learn more about the full value of the benefits provided at OSU.

Key Responsibilities

35% - Writing and ing

Draft grant proposals and revise and submit them in coordination with the principal investigator and college research office.

Draft research manuscripts, revise and submit them in coordination with the principal investigator, respond to peer review, andplete typesetting and proofs of accepted submissions.

Collaborate with student co-authors, including editing and revising manuscripts drafted by students.

Prepare and give conference presentations as opportunities arise, other tasks permitting.

30% - Research

Design and implement experiments in forest inventory methods or the design and improvement of forest models. Implementation is very likely to require writing substantial amounts ofputationally efficient code in multiple languages, often R, C#, or Python, and integration of many supporting packages.

Conduct fieldwork as needed for data acquisition. LiDAR scanning is the mostmon task but collecting imagery, ground measurements, and permanent plot maintenance are also needed.

20% - Laboratory

Collaborate with the principal investigator to set broad priorities for research capability development, study implementation, and opportunities for students.

Maintain, upgrade, or replace lab software and equipment. Common tasks include keeping lab specific codebases up to date, fixing software defects, custom building or reconfiguring desktopputers, monitoring data storage health, working closely with college IT staff on d infrastructure, cleaning and other preventative equipment and facility care, and recharacterizing LiDAR scan acquisition and SLAM accuracy after equipment suppliers make hardware, firmware, and software updates. Lessmon tasks include adding features to or building new capabilities in lab software outside of coding directly on research projects; updating, revising, or expanding protocol and policy documentation; and dealing with hardware failures.

Assist graduate students with thesis planning and execution. Foster a safe, inclusive, and weing workplace environment and provide equitable opportunities and constructive feedback that supports student progress.

10% - Co-instruction

develop and co-teach (up to a maximum of one course per academic year as the instructor of record) graduate courses in forest biometrics with emphasis on machine learning methods.

5% - Other duties as assigned

What You Will Need

PhD in forest biometrics at the time of appointment

Demonstrated ability to work independently, including development of research studies and grant writing.

Publication records in forest biometrics, forest modeling, object based remote sensing, or related fields.

Proven advanced software development skills with proficiency in parallel processing of large (potentially multi-terabyte) datasets andputationally intensive experiments.

IT asset management and technician ability to operate and troubleshoot remote sensing equipment and labputing infrastructure.

Good teamwork andmunication skills facilitating effective and congenial interactions with students, other employees, supervisors, and partners.

Commitment to a safe, inclusive, and weing workplace whether in the office or in the field.

This position requires driving a university vehicle or a personal vehicle on behalf of the university; tfore, the incumbent must successfullyplete a motor vehicle history check, possess and maintain a current, valid driver's license in their state of residence, be determined to be position qualified and self-report convictions as per University Policy 05-030.

What We Would Like You to Have

Ability to rapidly review source code of external packages, identify defects, and find workarounds or make fixes. Or, alternatively, characterize defects inplex closed source codes andmunicate needed improvements.

Proven experience ofpetitive coding inpiled and interpreted languages

Familiarity with machine learning methods, including variable selection for random forests and design of neural networks.

Engineering experience, particularly in electronics, signal processing, or software design.

Working Conditions / Work Schedule

Primarily typical office environment with need to lift remote sensing equipment in rugged protective cases, desktopputers, and monitors. Occasional travel to field sites as well as conferences, workshops, or other events. Ability to work on foot in forest stands with inclement conditions is required; fieldwork may occur in inclement conditions (steep slopes, high or low temperatures, wildfire smoke, rain or snow, slippery footing, stinging insects, poison oak, ticks, thorn thickets, and similar), require camping, and driving/travel with a personal vehicle.

Pay MethodSalary

Pay Period1st through the last day of the month

Pay DateLast working day of the month

Rmended Full-Time Salary RangeSalary ismensurate with skills, education, and experience.

Link to Position Description

168378

Posting Detail Information

Posting NumberP09101UF

Number of Vacancies1

Anticipated Appointment Begin Date06/16/2025

Anticipated Appointment End Date

Posting Date05/13/2025

Full Consideration Date

Closing Date05/20/2025

Indicate how you intend to recruit for this searchCompetitive / Internal

Special Instructions to Applicants

This is an Internal Employment Opportunity

When ing you will be required to attach the following electronic documents:

1) A resume/CV; and

2) A cover letter indicating how your qualifications and experience have prepared you for this position.

You will also be required to submit the names of at least three professional references, their e-mail addresses and telephone numbers as part of the application process.

For additional information please contact:

Bogdan Strimbu

Bogdan.Strimbuoregonstate.edu

...

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability, protected veteran, and other protected status.

OSU will conduct a review of the National Sex Offender Public prior to hire.

OSU is a fair chance employermitted to inclusive hiring. We encourage applications from candidates who bring a wide range of lived experience including involvement with the justice system. This job has critical or security-sensitive responsibilities. If you are selected as a finalist, your initial job offer will be contingent upon the results of a job-related pre-employment check (such as a background check, motor vehicle history check, sexual misconduct reference check, etc.). Background check results do not automatically disqualify a candidate. Take a look at our including the section for more details. If you have questions or concerns about the pre-employment check, please contact OSU's Employee and Labor Relations team at employee.relationsoregonstate.edu