Coastal Ecology Research Staff

Chartered by the state of Georgia in 1785, the University of Georgia is the birthplace of public higher education in America and the state’s flagship university. UGA is currently ranked among the top 20 public universities in U.S. News & World Report. The University’s main campus is located in Athens, with extended campuses in Atlanta, Griffin, Gwinnett, and Tifton. UGA employs approximately 3,100 faculty and more than 7,700 full-time staff, with an enrollment exceeding 41,000 students.

About the Department

For more than 50 years, UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant has served the state through integrated research, education, and extension programs that promote the responsible use and stewardship of Georgia’s coastal resources. The department connects university expertise with local needs to strengthen the economic vitality and resilience of coastal communities. Education staff enhance environmental literacy and inspire stewardship, while the research program supports applied studies addressing pressing environmental challenges. Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant is managed through a federal-state partnership between UGA and NOAA’s National Sea Grant College Program.

About the Role

This position is for a staff researcher in the Coastal Ecology Lab with Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant, located at the off-campus UGA facility in Brunswick, Georgia. The role involves diverse and dynamic responsibilities across multiple extramurally funded projects, focusing on ecological surveys and research, primarily on wildlife—especially reptiles—and general assessments of habitat health in Georgia’s Coastal and Coastal Plain regions.

Overnight travel for fieldwork (1-4 nights/week) is expected, particularly from September to April, due to field sites in multiple counties. The position requires a minimum one-year commitment, with annual extensions possible based on performance and funding.

Responsibilities

• Conduct and assist with coordination of surveys for gopher tortoises and indigo snakes, including line transect distance sampling and burrow scoping.
• Use pre-development data to project impacts and develop plans for avoidance or relocation of impacted species on industry lands (e.g., utility-scale solar, mineral surface mining).
• Execute mitigation actions such as relocations and exclusion fence/recipient pen monitoring.
• Develop and implement local stewardship, habitat management and restoration, and staff/contractor education initiatives.
• Conduct research on post-translocation status of gopher tortoises, including vegetation assessments using transects and UAVs/drones.
• Engage in adaptive management and process improvement for wildlife and habitat using collected data.
• Perform fieldwork at multiple locations, including radio tracking, checking game cameras, and seasonal trapping of tortoises to swap equipment and download data.
• Participate in new and ongoing projects, including proposal development as time allows.
• Undergo and maintain task-specific training, including safe venomous snake handling, state vehicle/computer use, and working with minors in education programs.
• Complete required certifications (e.g., MSHA) for field site access as part of onboarding.
• Manage and analyze datasets for sponsor reports, natural resource agency permits, peer-reviewed publications, and professional presentations.
• Produce maps using ArcGIS and conduct data analysis with self-initiative, collaborating with supervisors on results.
• Assist with public communications, including social media content development, project promotion, and participation in public/classroom education events.
• Participate in husbandry of captive education and research animals at the Brunswick facility.
• Operate in both independent and team settings, with opportunities for leadership and coordination.

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent (required).
• Undergraduate degree in Biology, Ecology, Wildlife Management, or related field OR 3 years of relevant experience in field research and wildlife (preferred).
• Dedicated interest in conservation and management of wildlife and ecologically viable habitats.
• Experience with ArcGIS, statistical analysis, and data management.
• Field experience with surveying for Gopherus spp., including burrow scopes.
• Experience driving 4WD trucks on challenging unpaved roads.
• Knowledge of ecological survey and monitoring methods, including transect surveys, visual encounter surveys, and trapping.
• Familiarity with southeastern habitats and upland sandhills plant/animal communities.
• Experience with animal movement research (GPS/VHF systems).
• Ability to multi-task projects and responsibilities.
• Strong organizational and professional skills.

Preferred qualifications include experience working on development sites or with industry partners, Trimble GPS units/Terraflex, and UAVs/data analysis.

Skills

• Initiative in communicating progress and challenges to supervisors.
• Drive to acquire knowledge needed for effective job performance.
• Interest in contributing to novel equipment and statistical advancements.
• Ability to schedule internal meetings and manage timelines.

Benefits

• Eligible for dental, eye, and life insurance.
• Retirement investment options.
• Paid leave for federal holidays, accrued vacation, and sick leave.

Staff must provide their own housing, cell phone, and transportation for work commute and fieldwork (reimbursable for fieldwork if UGA fleet vehicles are unavailable).

Pay

Advertised salary range: $40,000 - $46,464.

Schedule

• Full-time position (40 hours/week).
• Typically 5 days/week (M-F), with 3-4 field days and 1-2 office days; schedule may vary based on tasks.
• Overnight travel for fieldwork (1-4 nights/week), especially September–April.