Research Ecologist
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About The Position
The mission of the UW Arboretum, which is a center within the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research (OVCR), is to conserve and restore Arboretum lands, advance restoration ecology, and foster the land ethic. The Research Ecologist supports the Arboretum program by engaging in fundamental and applied research that aligns with Arboretum's mission, overseeing research program staff and day-to-day operations, and serving as the research program's internal and external liaison. Founded in 1934, the Arboretum serves as a research and teaching center that includes remnant and restored ecosystems and classic horticultural areas for use by campus students and educators, as well as tens of thousands of members of the public annually. The Arboretum is the site of the first successful prairie restoration and serves a worldwide community of scholars, researchers, and practitioners engaged in restoration, research, and education. It is an urban green space with over 1200 acres, including natural areas, gardens and 17 miles of trails. It offers a variety of educational programming, and hundreds of volunteers help carry out mission-related activities. Created as a field research and teaching laboratory for university faculty and students, the Arboretum has a long history of scholarship in the field of ecological restoration, conservation and land stewardship. The Research Ecologist is expected to continue this tradition of research excellence. UW-Madison is highly rated in the field of Ecology and Environmental Science providing a rich academic environment for collaborative research. The UW Arboretum supports dozens of research projects per year, including research by undergraduate and graduate students, faculty from multiple departments, and external organizations. The Arboretum awards several competitive graduate student fellowships annually and supports an active citizen science program. This position reports to the Arboretum Director and will oversee three research staff, including a data and GIS coordinator, a citizen science coordinator, and a research specialist. As research ecologist you will provide research leadership and vision in restoration ecology and conservation building on the Arboretum's long-standing reputation in these areas, and taking advantage of the Arboretum's diverse ecological systems and rich research base. You will be expected to secure intramural and extramural funding through grants to help strengthen financial independence of the Arboretum's research programs. In addition to leading research initiatives, you will manage the Arboretum's research unit, which includes supervising, mentoring, and evaluating performance of the research unit's three staff, and facilitating their professional development. You will Administer the day-to-day operational activities of the research unit and serve as liaison between the Arboretum research unit and researchers both internal and external to UW. An important aspect of his position is contributing to the restoration, management, and preservation of Arboretum lands and biological communities by providing science-based guidance to the Arboretum's Land Care team. The Arboretum has strong connections to the surrounding community and provides unparalleled opportunities for science outreach, communication, and participatory science initiatives. This is an exciting opportunity for someone who wants to help us pioneer the next phase of research for this historic program.
