Research Ecologist, Temperate Forests

Research Ecologist, Temperate Forests - ForestGEO Program

Application Deadline: 30 October 2026

Department: Smithsonian Environmental Research Center

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Edgewater, MD

Compensation: $143,913 / year

Description

OPEN DATE: September 28, 2026

CLOSING DATE: October 30, 2026

POSITION TYPE: Trust Fund

APPOINTMENT TYPE: Temporary, Not to Exceed 3 years with the possibility of extension

DUTY LOCATION: Edgewater, Maryland The position requires domestic and international travel of approximately one to two months per year, including participation in field research activities in temperate forest environments.

Position sensitivity and risk: Non-Sensitive/ Low Risk Open to all qualified applicants

What are Trust Fund Positions?

Trust Fund positions are unique to the Smithsonian. They are paid for from a variety of sources, including the Smithsonian endowment, revenue from our business activities, donations, grants and contracts. Trust employees are not part of the civil service, nor does trust fund employment lead to Federal status. The salary ranges for trust positions are generally the same as for federal positions and in many cases trust and federal employees work side by side. Trust employees have their own benefit program, which may include Health, Dental & Vision Insurance, Life Insurance, Transit/Commuter Benefits, Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance, Annual and Sick Leave, Family Friendly Leave, 403b Retirement Plan, Discounts for Smithsonian Memberships, Museum Stores and Restaurants, Credit Union, Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center (Child Care), Flexible Spending Account (Health & Dependent Care).

Conditions of Employment

• Pass Pre-employment Background Check and Subsequent Background Investigation for position designated.
• Complete a Probationary Period.
• Maintain a Bank Account for Direct Deposit/Electronic Transfer.
• The position is open to all candidates eligible to work in the United States. Proof of eligibility to work in U.S. is not required to apply.
• Applicants must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.

OVERVIEW

The Research Ecologist, Temperate Forests position operates at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC), located in Edgewater Maryland, and supports ForestGEO, a pan-Smithsonian program focused on global forest diversity and function, led by the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI). SERC and STRI are two of nine Smithsonian research centers, with complementary research programs advancing our understanding of environmental change, biodiversity, ecosystem function, and resilience across temperate and tropical systems, respectively.

The primary responsibilities of this position are to build and strengthen collaborations among ForestGEO temperate-zone sites, with an emphasis on U.S. forests, while establishing and maintaining an independent research program in temperate forest ecology. Collaborative responsibilities include leading the implementation of the GEO-TREES initiative in the United States and fostering research collaborations that leverage SERC’s forest research resources and the broader ForestGEO network.

ForestGEO plots are managed by a voluntary consortium of research institutions, forestry agencies, and universities, with each responsible for managing and overseeing long-term censuses of woody species in a dedicated, large-scale research plot. These long-term censuses provide a foundation for a broader range of complementary research that leverages ForestGEO sites, infrastructure, data, and scientific networks to address emerging questions in forest ecology and global change. Developing and fostering such complementary research is an important component of this position and will help maximize the scientific value and impact of the ForestGEO network.

In addition to advancing collaborative research initiatives, the incumbent conducts independent research in forest ecology, applying advanced theories, principles, and methodologies. Leveraging the ForestGEO network, including the SERC Forest Dynamics Plot, as well as complementary research programs at SERC and other institutions, the incumbent contributes