Open Source Forest Data Analyst

This position supports the Forest Service Research Data Archive (FS RDA) which preserves and publishes digital scientific data and related research products in alignment with federal open science policies and Forest Service directives. The role involves assisting scientists across FS Research Stations the Forest Products Lab the International Institute of Tropical Forestry and the Joint Fire Science Program in preparing research data for public release. Key responsibilities include reviewing and processing diverse data types (e.g. tabular geospatial) developing and validating metadata and documentation and providing training or direct support to researchers to ensure data publications meet archival and usability standards. By facilitating high-quality data publication this position helps advance forest fire and wood innovation research while supporting reuse of scientific data by both the research community and the public.

Forests rangelands and aquatic ecosystems support human societies the environment and the wealth of life on Earth. The Department of Forest and Rangeland Stewardship at CSU consists of foresters range scientists hydrologists and social scientists that study natural environmental processes and how they interact with human systems. The Department is interdisciplinary and has an applied emphasis particularly on questions related to the efficiency of wildland fire management. The Department offers comprehensive undergraduate and graduate programs in a wide variety of disciplines within forestry natural resources management and rangeland ecology.

For full consideration please apply by November:59 PM (MT).

Job Category: Research and Analysis
Percentage of Time: 90%

Duty/Responsibility:

• Review analyze and organize a wide variety of files and documents to ensure accurate categorization and accessibility; maintain orderly digital filing system.
• Review metadata (data documentation) submitted by scientists which may also involve helping write metadata.
• Verify metadata are complete fully describe data are compliant with the FS RDAs metadata standard and understandable to a non-subject matter expert.
• Review data submitted by scientists. Ensure data are in proper archival format and fully described in the associated metadata.
• Provide assistance and/or consultation with the preparation of data and supplemental files for publication. (This includes but is not limited to tabular data geospatial datawhich might involve processing GIS layerssound or video files databases documents image files etc.)
• Help teach scientists how to prepare data and documentation for publication which may include one-on-one interaction or potential presentations.
• Other data publishing related tasks as determined by FS staff.

Job Category: Project Management
Percentage of Time: 10%

Duty/Responsibility:

• Set up timelines to deliver products.
• Coordinate with other team members.

• Must successfully pass a background check.
• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States by the proposed start date.
• Must comply with Colorado State University and U.S. Forest Service policies and procedures.
• Ability to maintain access to federal data systems and government information resources if required.
• Occasional travel may be required.
• Ability to work remotely and/or on-site as required by the project.

• Bachelors degree with natural resources environment or geospatial specialization.

• Proficient with Microsoft Word Excel Adobe Acrobat and text editors such as Notepad Notepad or Microsoft Visual Studio Code.
• Competent in ArcGIS Pro.
• Working knowledge of HTML and XML including the ability to interpret and modify code.
• Demonstrated ability in developing and/or interpreting the following geospatial metadata standards: Federal Geographic Data Committee: Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata (FGDC CSDGM) and International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 19115.
• Strong attention to detail with the ability to accurately review edit and update documents while ensuring consistency accuracy and compliance with formatting and content standards and strong organizational and time management skills.
• Ability to confidently review and interpret data presented in multiple formats (e.g. tabular geospatial and database formats).
• Demonstrated ability to read and generally understand and interpret documentation data and terminology relevant to forest management fire and a wide range of biological physical and social sciences (e.g. wildlife and fisheries hydrology soils science plant sciences forest genetics silviculture forest products geospatial science various social sciences that address human interaction with forests etc.).

Search Contact: Yu Wei

To apply please upload the following applicant documents. Ensure your materials fully address the required and preferred job qualifications of the position. Please note applicants may redact information from their application materials that identifies their age date of birth or dates of attendance at or graduation from an educational institution.

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Colorado State University strives to provide a safe study work and living environment for its faculty staff volunteers and students. To support this environment and comply with applicable laws and regulationsCSUconducts background checks for the finalist before a final offer. The type of background check conducted varies by position and can include but is not limited to criminal history sex offender registry motor vehicle history financial history and/or education verification. Background checks will also be conducted when required by law or contract and when in the discretion of the University it is reasonable and prudent to do so.

Colorado State University (CSU) provides equal employment opportunities to all applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race color religion age sex national origin disability status genetics protected veteran status sexual orientation gender identity or expression or any other characteristic protected by federal state or local laws.