GPS Data Analyst (Researcher l)

Overview

The national SARS-CoV-2 Targeted Surveillance project in cervids seeks a research assistant to join our project. The position will be hosted at Utah State University, but the person hired will assist with analyses across our 25-site, 9-institution national project. The research assistant will hold a MSc in Ecology or similar field and have advanced data management and quantitative skills. This is an excellent role for a forward-looking data analyst seeking to expand or hone their movement modeling and spatial analysis skillset. This role’s primary supervisor will be Kezia Manlove (USU). Site PIs involved with movement data analysis include Guillaume Bastille-Rousseau (Southern Illinois University), George Wittemyer (Colorado State University), Kim Pepin (USDA National Wildlife Research Center), Meggan Craft (University of Minnesota), Mark Wilber (University of Tennessee), and David Walter (Penn State University/USGS).

 

This position is telework eligible within the state of Utah. Telework outside of the state of Utah is subject to review and approval by the University prior to a job offer being extended.

Responsibilities

Duties will include designing and performing a variety of movement analysis routines on high-resolution GPS data across the study sites. They will interface with site-level biological staff, and serve on the movement analysis working group with multiple project post-docs and PIs. The successful applicant will work with post-docs to design analysis routines and then perform analyses explicitly for several sites, while also serving as a sounding board for site-level staff running analyses at other sites. This will require excellent communication, organization, computational, and coordination skills, as well as a strong capacity for close collaboration and self-direction.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• MS in wildlife biology, ecology, epidemiology, or similar
• Familiarity with the R statistical computing environment 

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with a suite of movement ecology data analysis tools, including net squared displacement, HMMs, RSFs, iSSAs, movescape, circuitscape, or contact network analysis
• Familiarity with google earth engine (particularly with packages such as rgee and/or geemap)
• Experience working with high performance computing

Required Documents

Along with the online application, please attach:

 

1. Resume to be uploaded at the beginning of your application in the Candidate Profile under “Resume/CV” 

2. Cover letter to be typed/pasted at the end of your application 

 

**Document size may not exceed 10 MB.**

Advertised Salary

$59,000; Commensurate with experience, plus excellent benefits

ADA

Employees work indoors and are protected from weather and/or contaminants, but not, necessarily, occasional temperature changes. The employee is regularly required to sit and often uses repetitive hand motions.

College/Department Highlights

The S. J. & Jessie E.Quinneyy College of Natural Resources is nationally and internationally recognized for its research, extension, and teaching on natural and socio-environmental ecosystems. It is a high-impact college at Utah State University with over $15M in research funding annually, 55 tenure-track faculty in three departments, and close partnerships with federal and state natural resource agencies.  

 

 The Department of Wildland Resources in QCNRR encompasses research in applied terrestrial ecology, including the ecology and management of wildlife, forests, rangelands, conservation biology, and climate change adaptation.  Award-winning faculty teach courses that prepare students for professional careers in many natural resources fields, including programs accredited by the Society of American Foresters and the Society for Range Management and aligned with the Society of Ecological Restoration. 

University Highlights

Founded in 1888, Utah State University is Utah’s premier land-grant, public service university, with a strong commitment to excellence, access, and inclusion, empowering people to lead successful lives of involvement, innovation, and impact. Utah State provides high-quality education to 27,500-plus students locations throughout the state, including at three residential campuses, eight statewide campuses, and 23 education centers. USU Online educates students from all 50 states and 55 countries. For over 25 years, USU Extension has served and engaged Utahns in all of Utah’s counties. As an R1 research institution, Utah State is dedicated to advancing knowledge through research and scholarly activities, providing a high-quality undergraduate and graduate education at an affordable price.

 

Utah State is committed to cultivating a community of inclusive excellence where all perspectives, values, cultures, and identities are acknowledged, welcomed, and valued. We seek to recruit, hire, and retain people from all walks of life who will champion excellence in education, research, discovery, outreach, and service. We believe that promoting a strong sense of community and belonging empowers and engages all members of USU to thrive and be successful. Forbes recognized our commitment to employees when they named Utah State the best employer in Utah in 2023. Learn more about USU. 

 

The university provides a Dual Career Assistance Program to support careers for partners who are also seeking employment. Additionally, USU is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities. To request a reasonable accommodation for a disability, contact the university’s ADA Coordinator in the Office of Human Resources at (435) 797-0122 or hr@usu.edu. 

 

About the Region

U.S. News and World Report ranked Utah first for its strong economy, fiscal stability, education, and health care. Outstanding outdoor recreational opportunities abound throughout the state, including five national parks, 43 state parks and recreation areas, and 15 alpine ski resorts. The home of USU’s main campus, Logan, is a city of 54,000-plus people in a picturesque mountain valley 80 miles north of Salt Lake City. The Logan metro area claimed the top spot in the Milken Institute’s 2022 ranking for best-performing small cities in the nation. 

 

*updated 04/2024

Notice of Non-discrimination

In its programs and activities, including in admissions and employment, Utah State University does not discriminate or tolerate discrimination, including harassment, based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other status protected by University policy, Title IX, or any other federal, state, or local law.

The following individuals have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the application of Title IX and its implementing regulations and/or USU’s non-discrimination policies:

 

Executive Director of the Office of Equity Matthew Pinner, discrimination@usu.edu, Distance Education Rm. 401, 435-797-1266

Title IX Coordinator Cody Carmichael, titleix@usu.edu, Distance Education Rm. 404, 435-797-1266

Mailing address: 5100 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322

For further information regarding non-discrimination, please visit https://equity.usu.edu/, or contact:

U.S. Department of Education, Office of Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 800-421-3481, OCR@ed.gov

*updated 09/2023