research

The Aldo Leopold Wilderness Research Institute will soon be advertising for a research scientist position focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion in relation to stewardship of Federally designated wilderness.

With the holiday weekend approaching, and the desire to recruit broadly for this position, those interested are advised that the positions will likely to be open for applications on, or about, July 5^th, 2021. The posting will be open for applications on USA Jobs for 10 days or until we receive 50 applications, whichever happens first.

About the Position: 

The scientist is expected to develop meaningful and impactful lines of research, partnerships, and outreach related to investigating and improving the relevance of Federally designated wilderness to communities who have been historically underrepresented and/or under resourced.

Although there is flexibility in research topics (due to funding opportunities, the Institute’s broad and evolving wilderness science agenda, and an incumbent’s expertise), example areas where the scientist will provide leadership include: 1) understanding recreation experiences, preferences, barriers, and incentives for communities who have historically been underrepresented and/or under resourced with respect to Federally designated wilderness; 2) improving the delivery of government benefits and services, related to management of wilderness, to ensure that families of all backgrounds can access opportunity; 3) improving information on how the demographics of society are changing and how those changes will impact the way people value and use wilderness; (4) explorations of the “relevancy” of wilderness, which is either related to long-standing relevancy that has not been emphasized or new relevancy emerging due to a changing society; and 5) studying new methods to assess whether proposed and existing wilderness management laws and policies advance equity and inclusion.

To be clear, applicants DO NOT need a wilderness background. Applicants must have experience with scholarship, tools, and/or methods, which can be from a broad range of academic backgrounds, but this experience must be applicable to research about the engagement of underrepresented or under-resourced communities in relation to Federally designated wilderness. Once a member of the Institute, most of the scientist’s work, most of the time must support stewardship of the National Wilderness Preservation System (NWPS). But, the discipline of public lands management, and specifically wilderness stewardship, can be learned as part of on-the-job training.

About the Institute: 

The Aldo Leopold Wilderness Research Institute, part of U.S. Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station (RMRS), is an interagency, national research facility located on campus at the University of Montana. The Leopold Institute is the only federal research group in the United States dedicated to development and dissemination of knowledge needed to steward the 111-million acre, U.S. National Wilderness Preservation System. We have a long a long history of conducting and sharing science in support of the NWPS, as well as collaborating with academic, NGO, tribal, community, and other partners within the U.S. and internationally. In addition to being administered by the RMRS, the Institute’s work is responsive to an Interagency Wilderness Policy Council. This collaboration, defined by an interagency agreement among the Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Service, and U.S. Geological Survey, and facilitated through an Interagency Wilderness Steering Committee, helps to ensure the Institute’s work is relevant to wilderness managers.

It’s a great time to join the team. Wilderness and wilderness conservation remain important, at home and globally; and in many ways, are more important than ever. Wilderness is essential to climate change mitigation, fresh water supplies, habitat connectivity, food and economic security, and spiritual and physical health, to name only a few benefits. We have significant stewardship challenges in front of us and endless opportunities to conduct science and develop partnerships that make a difference to all people. We are in the process of building our next, ten-year, science strategic plan…and, you can help to shape this plan. We are a passionate and collegial group dedicated to stewarding wilderness in the U.S. and internationally, and we welcome you to join our team.

More information about the Leopold Institute can be found here: https://leopold.wilderness.net/