Employment Opportunity: Natural Resource Economics Research Assistant
U.S. Geological Survey, Science and Decisions Center
The U.S. Geological Survey’s (USGS) Science and Decisions Center is seeking multiple research assistants to support environmental and natural resource economics projects. The incumbents will work alongside principal investigators to support studies on invasive species and wildlife management, outdoor recreation, water resources, and natural hazards. Key tasks include identifying and reviewing relevant literature, data collection, model development, interpreting results, and contributing to peer-reviewed publications or other means of disseminating findings.
The USGS Science and Decisions Center is an innovative and interdisciplinary research team that integrates physical, biological, socioeconomic, and information sciences to help diverse stakeholders make more informed decisions (https://www.usgs.gov/programs/science-and-decisions-center). The research assistants will collaborate with Center scientists and research partners from within and outside the federal government.
A research assistant must have:
- Completed a bachelor’s degree in economics or related field within the past twelve months.
- A demonstrated ability to conduct interdisciplinary literature reviews.
- The ability to identify and collect data by contacting a wide range of sources, such as other federal bureaus and state or county government agencies.
- Excellent writing capabilities.
- Experience conducting research.
A preferred candidate will have:
- Completed a master’s degree in economics or related field within the past twelve months.
- A degree related to and/or experience with natural resource management or policy.
- An understanding of federal land management agencies, outdoor recreation management, water policy, and/or the natural hazards context.
- Experience with statistical software.
The position is a USGS Student Services contract position. This means:
- Applicants must be U.S. citizens.
- Applicants must either have graduated within the past twelve months or be currently enrolled as a student.
- For all legal purposes, student is regarded as an independent contractor. Payments for services are reportable and taxable as earned income. No Federal, State, or Local income taxes will be deducted. No Social Security or Medicare taxes will be deducted. Student is responsible for payment of all taxes. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) will report the total amount paid under this order to the Internal Revenue Service on a Standard Form 1099. The student is not considered an employee and will not receive a W-2 form.
The positions are full-time and anticipated to begin on or around July 1, 2022. Currently, one year of funding is available, and additional time may be allocated based on availability of additional funding and performance evaluations. The positions are physically located in either Fort Collins, CO or Reston, VA and are telework eligible. The pay rate is determined by duty station location and level of education completed and ranges from $20.54 per hour to $38.66 per hour.
Contact information: For questions related directly to the job, contact Chris Huber, Economist, at chuber@usgs.gov.
How to apply: Please submit a cover letter, resume, unofficial transcripts, and a relevant academic writing sample to chuber@usgs.gov by 11:59 PM (Mountain Time) Tuesday, May 3, 2022. Please use “Natural Resource Economics Research Assistant Application” as the subject line for your email.
