Student Contractor, Quantitative Ecologist, USGS

Position Overview

Application Deadline: June 10, 2026

Salary: $21 to $51 per hour

Education Required: Bachelor’s; graduate students or recent graduates within two years preferred

Experience Required: At least 1 year

Description

The U.S. Geological Survey is hiring a Student Contractor, Quantitative Ecologist, based at the Denver Federal Center in Lakewood, Colorado, with remote work allowed, at $21 to $51 per hour, with applications due June 10, 2026.

The USGS Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center conducts research on land change dynamics and effects on US national natural resources. The team focuses on urban forest ecology and monarch migration analysis, working at the intersection of remote sensing, ecological modeling, and human-impact assessment.

The Student Contractor will be hired with a fixed period of performance and contribute to one of two research tracks: urban forest ecology (modeling urban forest time series and applying an urban heat model focused on human health impacts) or monarch migration analysis (comparing tagged monarch movement data from the 1990s-2000s with modern Bluetooth-enabled tag data, and modeling gridded climate data to identify extreme heat and drought events affecting monarch breeding and movement).

Responsibilities

• Build computational models in Python and/or R, with optional use of Google Earth Engine.
• Develop reproducible workflows for geospatial data.
• Write maintainable code and clear documentation.
• Apply statistical or machine-learning methods to ecological and climate datasets.
• For the Urban track: model urban forest time series from 1985 to present, building on Corro et al methods; extend urban heat model applications focused on human health.
• For the Monarch track: conduct comparative analysis on tagged monarch movement data across decades; apply movement models including correlated random walks and hidden Markov models; model gridded climate data (DAYMET, ERA5, PRISM) to identify extreme heat and drought.
• Deliver work products to clear specifications and on schedule.
• Complete required onboarding including background check and documentation of eligibility prior to start.

Requirements

• Experience in computational modeling with strong programming skills (Python and/or R; GEE optional).
• Familiarity with reproducible workflows and geospatial data.
• Ability to write maintainable code and clear documentation.
• Well organized and careful with documentation.
• Comfortable delivering work products to clear specifications.
• Bachelor’s degree (graduate students or recent graduates within two years preferred).

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with GIS and remote sensing (extracting and processing satellite imagery, spatial projections, re-scaling spatial data, imagery and data repositories, APIs).
• Experience with gridded climate datasets (DAYMET, ERA5, PRISM).
• Experience with statistical or machine-learning methods.
• Experience with data QA/QC.
• For Monarch track: familiarity with tag-based movement data and movement models (correlated random walks, hidden Markov models).
• Veterans are encouraged to apply.

Additional Notes

• Up to 40 hours per week during summer; flexible approximately 20 hours per week during the academic year.
• Appointment temporary with defined start and end dates and deliverables aligned to an awarded project timeline.
• Position remains open until filled.
• Modeling work may be completed at USGS Science Center offices or at the student’s home institution.

How to Apply

Send a brief cover note stating your preferred track (Monarch and/or Urban) and a resume or CV to Dr. Peter Ibsen at pibsen@usgs.gov. Include “USGS student contractor (Urban or Monarch)” in the subject line.