Overview The National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) is a $430 million dollar observatory project dedicated to understanding how changes in climate, land use and invasive species impact ecology. For the next three decades NEON will collect a comprehensive range of ecological data on a continental scale across 20 eco-climatic domains representing US ecosystems. NEON will use cutting edge technology including an airborne observation platform that will capture images of regional landscapes and vegetation; mobile, relocatable, and fixed data collection sites with automated ground sensors to monitor soil and atmosphere; and trained field crews who will observe and sample populations of diverse organisms and collect soil and water data. A leading edge cyberinfrastructure will calibrate, store and publish this information. The Observatory will grow to 300+ personnel and will be the first of its kind designed to detect and enable forecasting of ecological change at continental scales.
Position Summary Reporting to the Senior Supervising Scientist of the Fundamental Instrument Unit (FIU), the FIU Staff Scientist will support science project development and management activities for the FIU component of the NEON Observatory. The FIU consists of an automated suite of meteorological, atmospheric, soil and ecophysiological measurements. The FIU is responsible for developing innovative data products and QA/QC algorithms, sensor deployment in the field, a mobile sensor platform, field procedures, training materials for field staff, developing new site designs and ongoing technology assessments. Essential Duties and Responsibilities: • Coordinate, design and execute a mobile research platform for the NEON Observatory • Coordinate, design and execute technical transfer and procedures for the NEON Observatory • Communicate key science issues and technical transfer to a wide range of audiences, including scientists and non-experts alike. • Develop FIU data quality assurance, quality control procedures, and uncertainty analyses • Design and coordinate FIU dataflows with other related NEON groups Required Experience: • 3 or more years experience in meteorological, ecophysical or related work • Strong experience working with quantitative uncertainty analyses and time-series analyses • Experience delivering a final product from concept through testing to completion • Experience working in a collaborative scientific or engineering enterprise Education: • Doctoral degree in an environmental science field, such as biometeorology, ecosystem science, micrometeorology, soil ecology, or other related field Preferred Experience: • Post doctoral experience • Field work in related field of study • Some work experience with production data flow • Knowledge of a wide range of meteorological related sensors, and measurement techniques and their associated data acquisition and analysis procedures, • Design of metadata, and data handling tools Skills and Abilities: • Ability to incorporate components specific to the incumbent’s area of expertise into a challenging Observatory-based design • Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively in written and oral forms • Demonstrated critical thinking with respect to scientific writing and review • Ability to travel (infrequently) to remote field locations, and travel to conferences • Ability to develop the dataflow designs for different and contrasting data types To Apply: go to www.neoninc.org NEON Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Women, Minorities, Veterans and Disabled Persons are encouraged to apply.
