Postdoctoral Research Scholar

About the Role

The Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources has a wide variety of strengths in forestry and natural resources management, policy and economics, environmental science and technology, renewable energy assessment, wildlife and conservation biology, tree improvement, silviculture, forest biotechnology, and international forestry. The Department has over 90 full-time faculty and staff, and more than 750 undergraduate and 150 graduate students. Faculty, staff, and students collaborate with business, industry, government, community groups, and non-government organizations to address challenges facing our state and the world. These partnerships facilitate research, teaching, and outreach.

The College of Natural Resources (CNR) at North Carolina State University is a world leader in the sustainable use of natural resources, encompassing the many ways in which people’s physical, economic, and social needs are met through natural resources.

Responsibilities

• Create AI algorithms and workflows for extracting relevant data from large image datasets and integrating this data with environmental information.
• Ensure public accessibility of developed AI workflows and software, and maintain computer infrastructure to run these models.
• Present research findings at conferences and lead or contribute to peer-reviewed publications, with first authorship strongly encouraged.
• Mentor undergraduate researchers while working in the Biodiversity Lab at the NC Museum of Natural Sciences, which is on public display.
• Participate in professional development opportunities, including training on teaching techniques, career paths, and workshops focused on interdisciplinary research, data sharing, and coding.
• Contribute to science communication efforts, including public engagement products like physical exhibits, podcast episodes, and videos.
• Develop and maintain a project website and ensure public accessibility of AI workflows and software on platforms like GitHub, Hugging Face, PyPi, and Zenodo.
• Lead or collaborate on grant preparation with other team members.

Requirements

• PhD in ecology, remote sensing, computer science, or related field.
• Expertise in developing, implementing, and optimizing advanced artificial intelligence (AI) models and algorithms for data analysis and extraction.
• Proficiency in programming languages such as Python and R to create and manage data workflows and conduct statistical analyses.
• Experience with machine learning frameworks and techniques pertinent to image processing and data integration.
• Ability to manage, collate, and integrate large datasets from various sources, including environmental and sensor data.
• Commitment to ensuring public accessibility of developed AI workflows and software through code repositories and user-friendly platforms.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills for scientific dissemination and public engagement.

Preferred Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Computer Science, Quantitative Ecology, or a closely related field with a strong emphasis on AI and data science.
• Demonstrated experience in developing and applying computational tools to large-scale scientific problems.
• Familiarity with interdisciplinary research approaches, particularly at the nexus of computer science, remote sensing, and environmental sciences.
• Interest in contributing to educational and outreach initiatives and mentoring junior researchers, such as undergraduate students.
• Prior experience in preparing and contributing to scientific publications and grant applications.

Benefits

• Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance.
• Retirement and Leave benefits.
• Faculty and Staff Assistance Program.
• Access to LEAD courses for career enhancement.
• Free attendance at non-revenue generating sporting events.
• Childcare benefits, Wellness & Recreation Membership, and Wellness Programs.

Perks and benefit eligibility is based on part-time or full-time employment status.

Pay

Anticipated hiring range: $58,656 - $68,656.

Schedule

Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Location: Raleigh, NC