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Research Ecologist, South & Central American Tropical Forests

Smithsonian Institution
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Research Ecologist, South & Central American Tropical Forests

ForestGEO Staff Scientist

 

Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute 

Panama City, Panama. 

 

The Forest Global Earth Observatory (ForestGEO) is a global network of forest research plots and scientists dedicated to the study of forest function and diversity. ForestGEO conducts long-term, large-scale research on forests around the world to increase scientific understanding of forest ecosystems, guide sustainable forest management and natural-resource policies, monitor the impacts of environmental change, and build capacity in forest science.

 

The Research Ecologist will apply a scientific knowledge of forest ecology, systematics and evolution, remote-sensing, climate change, and related fields to improve understanding of the origin and maintenance of diversity in South & Central American forests, with a strong focus on forests of the Amazon Basin, leading to an improved understanding and how these forests evolved, are maintained, and are being impacted by climate and other aspects of global change. 

The incumbent will join a team of ForestGEO staff scientists at the Smithsonian and will oversee the implementation of the GEO-TREES initiative in the tropical Americas, including South and Central America. This will include establishing partnerships with forest, technology, and infrastructure experts, and coordinating the collection of ground data in plots from ForestGEO and other regional forest networks. The incumbent will also support data collection, analysis, and training across South & Central American ForestGEO sites. 

Major Duties:

 

  • Design and develop independent research related to the ecology and evolution of South & Central American plants and forests with an emphasis on one or more of the following: species biology; community and population ecology; global change science; and ecosystem ecology. 
  • Prepare scholarly publications of a descriptive and theoretical nature.
  • Develop and guide future research directions for ForestGEO and GEO-TREES South & Central American Programs
  • Coordinate plot censuses, facilitate data sharing, foster collaboration that encourages broad use of regional networks, and maintain strong relationships with partner institutions
  • Develop and implement training and capacity strengthening activities in tropical forest ecology for students and researchers 
  • Engage with the STRI, ForestGEO, and GEO-TREES intellectual communities through participation in seminars, local collaborations, committees, special events, etc. Promote STRI, ForestGEO, and GEO-TREES to diverse audiences, including the general public and to prospective donors.

Qualifications:

 

  • PhD in ecology, forestry, tropical biology, or environmental science 
  • Fluency in English, and in Spanish and/or Portuguese
  • A strong analytical background, an established record of research, and scholarly publication in forest science
  • Strong written and communication skills and demonstrated ability to work in a team with diverse backgrounds.

 

This is an indefinite position. Based at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) headquarters in Earl Tupper Center, Ancon, Panama City, Panama, the role will be filled at the IS-13 level. The successful applicant will be required to travel both internally within Panama and internationally to countries such as Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Argentina, Brazil (including Manaus), and others as needed.

 

To apply, send a single PDF file containing a cover letter including a statement of research interest, CV, contact information for three references, and three relevant publications or manuscripts to Lauren Krizel, ForestGEO Program Manager, krizell@si.edu.

 

Review of applications will begin on 2 January 2025 and continue until the position is filled. 

 

For further information, contact ForestGEO Director, Stuart Davies, daviess@si.edu.

 

STRI is an equal opportunity employer. We encourage all qualified applicants of all races, color, religions, ethnicities, gender identity, sexual orientations, sex, ages, abilities, national origin, disability, protected veteran status and backgrounds to apply for all jobs at STRI. We maintain a fair and respectful recruitment process for all candidates. If you require accommodations during any phase of the application or interview process, please let us know, and we will be happy to assist.

For more information on the position or STRI, please see our webpage: http://www.stri.si.edu/