Research Assistant for Wildfire, Ecosystem Resilience, and Risk Assessment Initiative (WERK)

The Bay Area Environmental Research Institute (BAERI, https://baeri.org/), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization focused on enabling and conducting research in Earth and space science, is seeking a Research Assistant for the NASA Ames Earth Science Division (https://www.nasa.gov/earth-science-at-ames/). The position will work for the Wildfire, Ecosystem Resilience, and Risk Assessment Initiative (WERK) that aims to develop ecosystem monitoring data products and assessments to support California state partners’ urgent needs in protecting public safety and natural resources from catastrophic wildfires and growing environmental variability. Specifically, the research assistant will support the aboveground biomass and fuel mapping tasks. 

Ideal candidates will have experience with vegetation plot monitoring datasets, geospatial data management, remote sensing, and statistical analysis. The position is based at NASA’s Ames Research Center (ARC) in Moffett Field, CA, with an initial duration of one year and the possibility of extension. The scientist is expected to work on-site at least two days per week. Alternative arrangements may be considered where appropriate. The anticipated start date is summer 2026.

Essential Job Duties

  • Assist in the development and harmonization of forest plot datasets across California.
  • Work with the project team on data compilation, data cleaning, remote sensing algorithm applications, processing pipeline development and delivery.
  • Develop documentation and training materials to allow team members and partners to successfully operate the data processing pipeline.
  • Contribute to research manuscripts in peer-reviewed journals.
  • Present research findings at conferences and public forums.
  • Contribute to the research community in Ames Earth Science division and beyond.

Minimum/ Required Qualifications

  • Master’s Degree (or Bachelor’s degree with more than three years of experience in this field) in forest ecology, geography, remote sensing, or a relevant multidisciplinary degree.
  • Experience collecting and/or working with forest plot monitoring datasets (e.g., stem maps, species, size, biomass).
  • Proficient in Python or R programming languages for data management and statistical analysis.
  • Experience with data processing and mapping with Geographic Information Systems (GIS), preferably QGIS.
  • Demonstrated experience in planning, designing, executing, and coordinating research.
  • Experience developing and maintaining appropriate documentation and training materials to allow team members and customers of various backgrounds and disciplines to successfully operate.
  • Strong communication skills that allow for working effectively as a member of a research team.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Experience with tree allometry and biomass quantification.
  • Demonstrated contribution to scientific publications in peer-reviewed journals.
  • Experience manipulating airborne lidar data.
  • Previous research with machine learning, image processing, feature extraction.
  • Familiarity with handling large and various data types including optical satellite and airborne data.
  • Knowledge and experience with quantitative approaches in terrestrial ecosystem & land system science.
  • Familiarity with high performance computing (HPC) environments.
  • Experience on deep learning frameworks such as PyTorch, Keras or TensorFlow is highly desired.

Salary Range

  • $65K–70K / year

To Be Considered for This Position

Please submit a cover letter (usually one to two pages) to [email protected] with subject line “WERK Hire Research Assistant: [your name]” stating the applicant’s interest in the project, prior research experience and/or projects of particular relevance, areas of interest, key competencies, and anticipated date of availability. Include also a full CV and the names of three references. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age or protected veteran status. Review of applications will begin on April 30th, 2026, and continue until the position is filled.

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