WI DNR Seeks LTE Natural Resource Research Scientist & Forester

The Wisconsin DNR is hiring an LTE (Limited Term Employee) – Natural Resource Research Scientist- Sen and Forester-Sen located at Rhinelander Service Center in Rhinelander or in Madison, Wisconsin. This dual LTE appointment is comprised of two 20-hour positions for an expected work schedule of 40 hours per week. The intention is to hire one candidate on both positions. Both positions will be based either out of the Wisconsin DNR Forestry Headquarters in Rhinelander (preferred), WI or the Science Operations Center in Madison, WI, but will require some travel across Wisconsin.

The Natural Resources Research Scientist position will manage and analyze datasets and data requests for a wide variety of forestry research projects within the Division of Forestry, Forest Ecology and Economics section. Current projects are diverse and highly collaborative, focusing on research and application of science to forest ecology and management, which will provide the successful applicant many opportunities to grow and develop a varied skillset. Research within the section could include but is not limited to an assisted migration study in collaboration with the USFS to determine viable climate change mitigation techniques, a study of deer impacts on forest regeneration, and a collaborative study to determine the effects of mycorrhizal associations on forest health and small mammal communities. The highly collaborative nature of our research requires a data scientist with experience collating data from a wide variety of sources, working independently and as part of a team, statistical analysis, and building and maintaining databases to be utilized by internal and external partners.

The Forester Senior position will coordinate and conduct a variety of forestry work in the field including data collection and the set up and maintenance of study sites and related equipment. This position will also design and implement spatial databases and perform spatial data analyses for a variety of forestry projects. Current projects within the section are diverse, highly collaborative, and utilize large spatial datasets. This position will also collate and enter field-collected data and performing data quality assurance measures. This field work will be a mixture of working independently and as a member of a team. Occasional overnight travel for fieldwork will occur, not to exceed 25% of the successful candidate’s time.

For those who are interested, the application deadline for the Dual LTE-Natural Resource Research Scientist-Sen and Forester-Sen position is on April 24, 2023, and the application can be found at https://wj.wi.gov/9932.