Research Assistant (Tropical Wildfires) in Falmouth, Massachusetts at Woodwell Climate Research Center Inc

Mission:

Woodwell Climate Research Center (Woodwell Climate) conducts science for solutions at the nexus of climate, people, and nature. We partner with leaders and communities for just meaningful impact to address the climate crisis.

Woodwell Climate is a rapidly growing, top-ranked, independent non-profit climate research institute whose mission is to advance science-based climate policies through scientific research and outreach. Our world-leading research and impact helps individuals, organizations, corporations, communities, and nations understand the realities of climate change, recognize the impact on our planet, and embrace the urgent action needed to safeguard the future of life on Earth.

Summary:

Join Woodwell Climate’s Tropical Wildfire team to support research on wildfire, deforestation, forest degradation and climate change in tropical ecosystems with an emphasis on the Amazon and Cerrado biomes. In this role, you will conduct spatial, statistical, and data-intensive analyses, collaborate with our scientists, researchers and external partners in the United States, Brazil and other countries, including practitioners and institutions working in wildfire management, environmental governance and conservation. The project will assess where fires occurred in standing forests, how impacts varied across land-tenure and governance contexts, and which institutions held relevant responsibilities for prevention, enforcement, preparedness and response.

Responsibilities include but not limited to:

Support a project examining the exceptional 2024 wildfire season in the Brazilian Amazon

Contribute to projects examining the environmental and human drivers of tropical fire, the effects of different disturbances, and opportunities to improve ecosystem protection and climate resilience

Integrate spatial data on fire, land cover, land tenure, jurisdiction, and institutional responsibility and will work closely with researchers and partners involved in fire management and environmental governance in Brazil

Contribute to a broader portfolio of research on wildfire, deforestation, forest degradation, ecosystem condition, and climate impacts across the Amazon, Cerrado, and other tropical regions

Compile, organize, document, and quality-check large spatial and tabular datasets

Conduct geospatial analyses related to wildfire, deforestation, forest degradation, vegetation dynamics, governance, climate, and ecosystem change

Develop, adapt and maintain reproducible analytical workflows using Google Earth Engine, Python, R, GIS software, and leading AI-enabled tools

Maintain clear and well-documented code, metadata, data-management records and analytical workflows

Use contemporary AI tools to support coding, data analysis, literature synthesis, documentation, and problem-solving, while critically evaluating outputs for accuracy, bias, reproducibility, and scientific validity

Explore appropriate applications of machine learning and other AI-based methods to environmental and remote-sensing analyses

Integrate satellite observations, environmental datasets, administrative boundaries, and other geospatial information

Perform statistical analyses and contribute to the interpretation of findings, including the evaluation of uncertainty, methodological assumptions, and analytical limitations

Produce publication-quality maps, figures, tables, data summaries and other research outputs

Conduct literature reviews and synthesize relevant scientific evidence

Contribute to scientific manuscripts, technical reports, presentations, proposals, and policy-oriented materials

Participate in project meetings and communicate progress, results, analytical challenges, and methodological decisions clearly and concisely

Contribute flexibly to additional research projects across the Tropical Wildfire programme as project needs evolve

Work with Brazilian datasets, literature and/or project partners

Must have the following Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Geospatial data processing and analysis using relevant programming environments and analytical tools.

Proficiency in R for data management, statistical analysis, and scientific visualization.

Proficient using GIS software such as QGIS or ArcGIS.

Ability to work with large, complex, and heterogeneous spatial and tabular datasets.

Data-quality assurance, reproducible research, metadata, and analytical documentation

Strong quantitative reasoning, critical-thinking, problem-solving skills, identify errors, evaluate assumptions, assess uncertainty, and troubleshoot analytical workflows

Ability to learn and apply new analytical methods, datasets, and software tools, manage multiple tasks, prioritize effectively and meet project deadlines

Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Work independently on co-defined analytical tasks and collaboratively within an interdisciplinary research team

Engage professionally and constructively with research partners and practitioners from different institutional and cultural contexts

Demonstrated interest in climate change, tropical ecology, wildfire, deforestation, forest degradation, conservation, environmental governance, or related fields

Experience working with satellite remote-sensing data a plus

Familiarity with tropical forest and savanna ecosystems, particularly the Amazon or Cerrado a plus

Experience with land-tenure, governance, or fire-management data a plus

Experience using Git or GitHub preferred

Experience contributing to scientific or policy-oriented outputs.

Bilingual in in English and Portuguese preferred

Abillity to do some travel

Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree in biological sciences, ecology, geography, environmental science, remote sensing, data science or a related field

Work Environment:

The functions of this role are conducted indoors

Hours of Work:

• This role is paid on a salary basis.

• Typically, full-time employees work 40 hours during a Monday through Friday workweek. However, this is a salaried position. Therefore, the individual is expected to work as required to complete the duties of the position.

Application review will be ongoing, starting August 15, 2026

Desired Start Date: September/October 2026

Fixed-term: One year, with possible extension

Classification and Compensation: This is a full-time, salaried, exempt position, the annual salary starting at $50,000 dependent on qualifications/experience (Based in Falmouth, MA, USA). Salaries outside Falmouth, MA will be up to or equivalent based on location. Woodwell offers a generous benefits package and work life balance.

Location: Falmouth, Massachusetts onsite, hybrid or remote.

Application Instructions: To apply, please send your cover letter addressing your experience and qualifications in relation to the responsibilities of this position and resume as a single PDF to our career’s portal. Incomplete applications with no cover letter will not be reviewed.

Please visit Woodwell's website to learn more about Woodwell’s work.

Located on a 10-acre campus near the village of Woods Hole, the Woodwell Climate Research Center (Woodwell) is a private, non-profit research center. Woodwell is a leading source of climate science that drives the urgent action needed to solve climate change. Woodwell has 100+ staff members and is excited to welcome new employees to this work.

Woodwell Climate is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, mental, or physical disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, familial status, veteran status, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws. Woodwell is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for all individuals in employment practices, services, programs, and activities.