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Position Summary

The Aquatic Landscape Ecology Lab is looking for a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Database Manager to play an important role in collecting, managing, and creating spatial data and associated metadata that supports a wide range of aquatic ecology projects occurring for rivers, inland lakes, and the Great Lakes. 

Examples of duties include development of environmental predictors in support distribution modeling of aquatic biota, synthesis and management of data to support achieving objectives Michigan's State Wildlife Action Plan, and summarization of environmental conditions for Great Lakes waters including habitat and anthropogenic stressor data. The successful candidate will have an opportunity to enhance their skillset and work experiences in a supportive team environment.

Major Duties/Responsibilities:

• Develops and populates spatial datasets (point, vector, and raster) to help inform aquatic conservation questions.
• Designs and performs spatial analyses to support the needs of internal and external partners.
• Database management including user access, security, and updates.
• Provides training and troubleshooting and resolves geospatial issues for researchers, graduate students, and collaborators for GIS and database software.
• Ensures data integrity and generates metadata following proper Federal Geographic Data Committee standards
• Maintains, develops, and updates Standard Operating Procedures related to GIS and database products.
• Coordinates with MSU IT to transition from a physical server storage to a cloud-based server.
• Contributes to scientific presentations and publications.
• Completes other duties as assigned within the scope the role.

Unit Specific Education/Experience/Skills

Knowledge equivalent to that which normally would be acquired by completing a four-year college degree program in the specific field of research employment or other related science fields such as B.S. degree from a four-year college degree program in GIS, Geography, Computer Science, Natural Resources Management, Biology, Environmental Studies, or related field; one to three years of related and progressively more responsible or expansive work experience in standard laboratory procedures and safety requirements and performing analytical and research techniques in an area related to research being performed; such as experience and comfort working remotely as well as in an office setting, experience managing and maintaining large geospatial databases, experience using GIS to analyze and summarize data and create maps, experience using R/Python scripting/programming languages to analyze data and create figures, excellent communication skills and fluent in English; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Desired Qualifications

• M.S. degree from a four-year college degree program in GIS, Geography, Computer Science, Natural Resources Management, Biology, Environmental Studies, and related field and 2 years of relevant experience in a professional setting.
• Familiarity with hydrography datasets including National Hydrography Dataset (NHD) products and the Water Boundary Dataset (WBD).
• Experience georeferencing fish sampling data to a standardized hydrologic framework.
• Experience attributing landscape information to hydrologically relevant spatial units.
• Knowledge of aquatic ecosystems, biology, and research, particularly as it relates to priority fish species in Michigan.
• Skilled in cartography with proven experience creating standardized map products.
• Working knowledge and familiarity with web mapping applications.
• Ability to publish and share data, coding, and software in online repositories (e.g., GitHub, Dryad).

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

All qualified