Special Information

• This position is a hybrid position which allows the incumbent to complete their work at both an NAU site, campus, or facility and at a non-centralized site with or without accommodation.
• This position is subject to the availability of funding. The incumbent is not eligible for Service Professional non-renewal notice, or Classified Staff layoff or recall status.

About the Department/College

The School of Forestry (SoF) has 20 faculty (tenure-, teaching- and research-track) administering an SAF-accredited Forestry BS degree plus an active graduate research program in forestry. Our well-equipped facility jointly houses the School of Forestry, the Ecological Restoration Institute, Centennial Forest (education and research forest), and a unit of the USDA Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station.

Flagstaff has a population of about 76,000 year-round residents and, at 7,000 feet elevation, is situated in the world's largest contiguous ponderosa pine forest. The SoF has a long tradition of experiential learning for NAU forestry students in the NAU Centennial Forest and neighboring national forests. The NAU Centennial Forest is the University's research, teaching, and demonstration forest – a cooperative venture between Northern Arizona University and the Arizona State Land Department. At nearly 50,000 acres, the Centennial Forest covers the spectrum from windblown desert grasslands to stately ponderosa pine forests. Flagstaff and Coconino County are rich in sites of cultural and historical significance and feature numerous national parks and monuments throughout the Colorado Plateau, including the Grand Canyon.

Northern Arizona University is a 28,000-student institution with its main campus in Flagstaff, a four-season community at the base of the majestic San Francisco Peaks. NAU's emphasis on undergraduate education is enhanced by its graduate programs, research, and distance learning.

At NAU, we foster an environment in which all members of the community feel safe, respected, and free to participate. We embrace equity and inclusion as foundational values of NAU and welcome all applicants. Committed to a civil working and learning environment, NAU has earned a solid reputation as a university with all the features of a large institution but with a personal touch.

About the Position

The School of Forestry at Northern Arizona University seeks a full-time Research Associate to support research efforts on the use of remote sensing data to estimate forest volume and biomass removal in ecological restoration projects. The successful candidate will design and implement workflows for processing aerial LiDAR and other remotely sensed data, perform independent analysis, and contribute to model development and validation across large-scale forest landscapes. The role includes drafting reports, contributing to peer-reviewed publications, mentoring students, and supporting stakeholder engagement across research collaborations.

Responsibilities Include

25% - Research Design & Analysis

• Develop and implement research protocols and workflows to process and analyze aerial LiDAR and field data in support of restoration treatment planning (4FRI).
• Independently perform statistical analysis, modeling, and spatial mapping of estimated forest biomass and volume removal across treatment units.
• Analyze outputs, quantify uncertainty, and refine methodologies based on evaluation and validation.

25% - Tool Development & Data Management

• Design or improve existing tools and procedures for data analysis and visualization.
• Contribute to software/codebase documentation.
• Ensure data integrity, adherence to research protocols, and compliance with safety and ethical guidelines.

25% - Collaboration & Communication

• Coordinate with internal and external research partners and funding agencies to ensure quality and relevance of work.
• Lead or co-author technical reports, peer-reviewed manuscripts, and science delivery products.

20% - Mentorship & Training

• Mentor graduate and undergraduate students and assist with training on technical tools and methods.

5% - Other

• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master’s degree in forestry, ecology, geospatial sciences, biometrics, or a related field.
• Four or more years of experience conducting and supporting research activities involving geospatial analysis and forest ecology.

*A combination of related education, experience, and training may be used as an equivalent to the above Minimum Qualifications.

Preferred Qualifications

• Ph.D. in landscape ecology, forest biometrics, remote sensing, or a related discipline.
• Expertise in processing and analyzing LiDAR and other remotely sensed data for forest inventory or ecological applications.
• Proficiency in machine learning and statistical modeling techniques.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

Knowledge

• Knowledge of research principles, forest ecology, remote sensing, and geospatial data processing.

Skills

• Skill in programming or scripting for spatial and statistical analysis (e.g., R, Python, or equivalent).
• Effective written and oral communication skills, with ability to convey findings to both technical and non-technical audiences.

Abilities

• Ability to conduct complex independent analysis, monitor and evaluate research outcomes, and adapt methods accordingly.
• Ability to mentor students and coordinate project tasks across teams.

Compensation

Salary range is $58,882 to $73,434. Annual salary commensurate with candidate's qualifications and related experience.

Pre-Employment Check

Northern Arizona University requires satisfactory results for the following: a criminal background investigation, an employment history verification and a degree verification (in some cases) prior to employment. You may also be required to complete a fingerprint background check. Also, as an employer in the state of Arizona, NAU is required to participate in the federal E-Verify program that assists employers with verifying new employees' right to work in the United States.

This position has been identified as a safety/security sensitive position. Therefore, per AZ Revised Statute, Northern Arizona University requires satisfactory results for the following: a criminal background investigation, employment history investigation, degree verification (in some cases) and fingerprinting. If you are applying for a job that requires a CDL, you will be required to register with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse and adhere to the clearinghouse requirements.

Notice of Availability of the Annual Fire and Security Report

Each year Northern Arizona University releases an Annual Security Report. The report is a result of a federal law known as the Clery Act. The report includes Clery reportable crime statistics for the three most recent completed calendar years and discloses procedures, practices and programs NAU uses to keep students and employees safe including how to report crimes or other emergencies occurring on campus. In addition, the Fire Safety Report is combined with the Annual Security Report for the NAU Flagstaff Mountain Campus as this campus has on-campus student housing. This report discloses fire safety policies and procedures related to on-campus student housing and statistics for fires that occurred in those facilities. If you would like a free paper copy of the report, please contact the NAUPD Records Department at (928) 523-8884 or by visiting the department at 525 E. Pine Knoll Drive in Flagstaff.

Immigration Support/Sponsorship

NAU will not provide any U.S. immigration support or sponsorship for this position.

Submit your Application

To apply for this position, please click on the "Apply" button on this page. You must submit your application by midnight of the application deadline.

If you are an individual with a disability and need reasonable accommodation to participate in the hiring process, please contact the Disability Resources Office at 928-523-8773, DR@nau.edu, or PO Box 5633, Flagstaff AZ 86011.