Job Opportunity: Conservation Scientist at the Chicago Botanic Garden

[Tina Stanley]

POSITION OVERVIEW: We seek to hire a conservation scientist at the assistant scientist rank to join the Garden’s Negaunee Institute for Plant Conservation Science and Action (https://www.chicagobotanic.org/research). This is a full-time, career-track position. Specifically, we seek early-career applicants who have spatial analysis expertise and are interested in dedicating their first year in this role to co-creating a research program with diverse regional partners to tackle impactful regional questions in urban ecology. The successful candidate will join a highly collaborative group of scientists focused on addressing key conservation and restoration challenges. In addition to conducting research, the successful candidate will serve as faculty in our joint Plant Biology and Conservation graduate program with Northwestern University. All scientists participate in education programs as well as community and Garden-wide engagement activities. Start date is flexible with a preference for early 2024.

ABOUT US: The Chicago Botanic Garden’s Negaunee Institute for Plant Conservation Science and Action is a global leader in plant-based research, education, and engagement to sustain and enrich life. The Institute is housed within the 38,000 square foot Plant Conservation Science Center on our Glencoe, Illinois campus. Our building has eight shared, function-based labs and currently hosts 27 science staff and more than 40 graduate students through a graduate program in Plant Biology and Conservation (offered jointly with Northwestern University). The Garden’s natural areas, managed by a team of ecologists, serve as a living laboratory for our work. Scientists have access to 75,000 sq. ft. of production greenhouse space and technical assistance from CBG’s experienced horticultural staff to assist with propagation and production of plants for research. The Garden also has an herbarium and seed bank and supports several unique programs including two community science initiatives – Budburst and Plants of Concern, a synthesis Center for Conservation and Restoration (sCORE), a Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) site program, as well as a Conservation and Land Management Internship Program and Stewardship and Ecology of Natural Areas (SENA) internship program. Our research, conservation, and training activities engage with and support local, regional, and national partners.

Based in the Chicago metropolitan area, the Garden is striving to reflect and serve the racially diversity in the Chicago Metropolitan area in our visitorship, staff, and programs. We opened 51 years ago as a beautiful place to visit, and it has matured into one of the world’s great living museums and conservation science centers. The Garden’s mission is grounded in the belief that caring for gardens and natural areas is fundamentally important to the well-being of everyone. The Garden strives to make its campuses and all its programs available and accessible to people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities. We value diversity in all its forms and at every level of our organization: board, staff, volunteers, and vendors. Through the diversity of backgrounds, perspectives and experiences, the Garden is more effectively able to create extraordinary and welcoming experiences for our increasingly diverse audiences. We are committed to ensuring a sense of belonging to every individual we encounter, regardless of age, race, gender, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, physical ability, intellectual ability, or economic status. The Garden is currently developing several initiatives to promote equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility in science and conservation. You can read more on these initiatives and the Garden’s commitment to EDIA here.

QUALIFICATIONS:
-A Ph.D. is required.
-Background in geography, biology, ecology, botany, environmental studies, social science, or related area.

-A key strength of the Garden is a collaborative environment that allows us to take an interdisciplinary approach to applied conservation/restoration challenges.

-We seek a candidate who has experience in co-creating research with diverse partners, and an interest in building and maintaining a research program focused on urban ecology with local and regional partners of the Chicago region.
-We also seek a candidate with strong spatial analysis and quantitative skills, and experience utilizing a wide range of statistical approaches.
-Candidates will be expected to build at least 25% of their research program in the Chicago region in collaboration with regional partners, and to be present in Chicago during most of the summer to mentor students in our science career continuum programs.
-We value scientific discourse that is accessible to the public as scientists based at a public-facing institution, in addition to competency in publishing research in scientific journals.
-We highly value people who are enthusiastic about science communication and dedicated to increasing equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility in the environmental field.

TO APPLY:
Please visit https://tinyurl.com/CBGConservationScientist for the full job posting and to apply. In addition to the Garden application materials, in lieu of a cover letter, please submit: (1) curriculum vitae that highlights experience working with partners, grants, and publications; (2) statement on your proposed research that combines spatial analyses expertise to build an impactful urban ecology program, including examples of how you have or will work with internal or external partners to design, implement, and apply results (1-2pgs); (3) statement on how you can contribute to the Garden’s diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility goals Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Accessibility | Chicago Botanic Garden including on respectful and equitable work with partners (max 1 pg); and (4) contact information for three references.

Review of applications begins October 23, 2023 and will continue until a suitable candidate is hired. Contact Andrea Kramer at akramer@chicagobotanic.org with any questions.

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