Careers • Open Positions
Ecological Scientist
Shape the Science of Carbon, Biodiversity & Water Quality
Wisconsin | Northern Illinois | Eastern Iowa • Full-Time • Nonprofit
Do you want your field boots in a tallgrass prairie one week, a SE coastal wetland the next, and working on a peer-reviewed journal the next? We are a fast-moving nonprofit ecological science organization at the cutting edge of geospatial science, carbon crediting, biodiversity markets, and water quality science — and we are looking for a driven Ecological Scientist to help us push those frontiers.
HOW TO APPLY
Send the following to Bartlett Durand at bartlett@aeinstitute.org
Cover letter: Tell us about your research, your field experience, and why this mission excites you
Current CV or resume
References: Contact information for at least two professional references
We review applications on a rolling basis.
We are an equal-opportunity employer committed to diversity, inclusion, and the science of a more sustainable world.
THE OPPORTUNITY
This is a high-autonomy, high-impact role reporting directly to the Executive Director and collaborating closely with our Chief Science Officer. You will split your time between field-based ecological research, rigorous data science and visualization, and translating that science into real-world impact — from carbon credit methodologies to grant-funded research and peer-reviewed publications. No two weeks look alike.
WHAT YOU’LL DO
Work with the CSO to develop cutting-edge methodologies for carbon crediting, biodiversity credits, and water quality metrics.
Conduct and publish original research; present findings at scientific conferences.
Train in and use a propriety visual data tool “Stratifyx” along with use of GIS and remote sensing for natural resource mapping, evaluation and restoration planning.
Hit the field — data collection, sample analysis, equipment management, and occasional multi-day wilderness deployments.
Support project management, client communications, and administration alongside science.
Support the Executive Director and CSO in statements of work, bids, and grant proposals.
WHO YOU ARE
MS or PhD in Ecology, Environmental Science, Soil Science, Forestry, or related field.
2 - 5+ years of professional experience in field-based ecological research.
Hands-on GIS/geospatial analysis expertise applied to environmental science or carbon work.
Comfortable in remote wilderness settings — camping, hauling gear, and staying scientific.
Strong communicator: equally fluent writing journal articles and briefing corporate partners.
Self-directed, adaptable, and energized by a dynamic nonprofit environment.
US passport preferred; open to occasional international project travel.
WHY JOIN US
We are a small, expert team doing work that matters globally. You will have direct influence on how carbon markets are built and validated, how biodiversity is quantified, and how conservation science is funded — with the freedom to pursue original research alongside mission-driven applied work. If you are energized by both wilderness fieldwork and scientific rigor, this is your role.
Office Location: Offices in Brodhead, Wisconsin and Middleton, Wisconsin.
Project Locations: Wisconsin, Northern Illinois, or Eastern Iowa
Benefits: Health, Dental, Vision
Travel: Required (domestic) + international (optional)
HOW TO APPLY
Send the following to Bartlett Durand at bartlett@aeinstitute.org
Cover letter: Tell us about your research, your field experience, and why this mission excites you
Current CV or resume
References: Contact information for at least two professional references
We review applications on a rolling basis.
We are an equal-opportunity employer committed to diversity, inclusion, and the science of a more sustainable world.