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Data Scientist, Temporary

Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh
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This is a temporary benefits eligible assignment expected to run from August 4, 2025, through August 3, 2026.

 

Carnegie Museum of Natural History (CMNH) seeks a Data Scientist for a one-year project at Powdermill Nature Reserve (Powdermill), its research station and environmental education center located approximately one hour southeast of Pittsburgh in the beautiful Laurel Highlands region of western Pennsylvania. Powdermill staff and visiting researchers have conducted a diverse array of research across its 2,200 acres including bird banding (64 yrs), avian point counts (12 yrs), vegetation surveys (17 yrs apart), salamander surveys (6 yrs), and aerial photogrammetry of succession of tornado blowdowns (12 yrs). Additional information about the long-term bird banding program can be found at https://powdermillarc.org/ and the vegetation surveys at https://maps.carnegiemnh.org/index.php/projects/vegetation/.

 

The successful candidate will play a leading role in the collection, organization, analysis, and interpretation of existing long-term data at Powdermill. Responsibilities for this position include gathering and digitizing data collected by Powdermill staff and visiting researchers, centralizing and organizing data in cross referenced databases for synthetic and cross taxa analyses, visualizing and analyzing data for exhibits online or at Powdermill’s Nature Center. Publishing results in scientific journals is desired but not required. The Data Scientist may also provide additional statistical support for other research projects undertaken by the Powdermill Research Staff and assist with current data collection as needed. 

 

The ability to work on site at Powdermill is strongly desired; however, a competitive candidate could work remotely with regular travel to Powdermill including an initial two-week orientation to Powdermill research and datasets, and quarterly multiday meetings thereafter. The position is funded through a grant and is guaranteed for one year. If promising research and publications are developed that require additional time to complete, an extension of the position may be possible. 

 

QUALIFICATIONS:

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

  • PhD preferred.
  • Master’s degree in Ecology, Conservation Biology, Ornithology, Forest Ecology, or related field required.
  • Applicants must have experience with database development and management, and proficiency with Microsoft Dataverse, GIS, or R to visualize and analyze data.

 

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

  • Must have experience organizing, managing, visualizing, and analyzing data.
  • Must be able to work well both independently and as part of a team as well as excelling in scientific communication.
  • Proficiency writing scientific publications is strongly desired.

 

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: Work is primarily sedentary in nature; no special demands are required.

 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND ACCOUNTABILITIES:

  • Creation of a singular or cross reference database to allow synthetic ecological analyses across taxa, allow outside researchers to easily access data and metadata, and convey to the general public the value of long-term data. The Data Manager & Analyst will work with the Education and Exhibits Departments to create data driven web-based or physical exhibits.
  • Other duties as assigned.

 

Expected starting pay range, based on experience, $54,000 - $60,000.