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Ecological Research Assistant Jobs in Indiana (NOW HIRING)

Indiana University

Postdoctoral Scholar

Bloomington, IN · On-site

... ecology, science and technology studies, bioeconomy research, and related fields. * Assist in developing conceptual and analytical frameworks that bridge scientific, humanistic, and social scientific ...

State of Indiana

Biologist

Orland, IN

$47K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

... ecological, recreational, and economic benefits of Indiana's fish, wildlife, and their habitats ... * Assist other biologists on large-scale research and management projects. * Perform general ...

State of Indiana

Biologist

Orland, IN · On-site

$47K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

... ecological, recreational, and economic benefits of Indiana's fish, wildlife, and their habitats ... * Assist other biologists on large-scale research and management projects. * Perform general ...

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Ecological Research Assistant information

What is the difference between Ecological Research Assistant vs Environmental Technician?

AspectEcological Research AssistantEnvironmental Technician
Required CredentialsBachelor's degree in ecology, biology, or related fieldAssociate's or bachelor's degree in environmental science or related field
Work EnvironmentResearch sites, laboratories, fieldwork in natural habitatsEnvironmental testing labs, field sites, monitoring stations
Employer & Industry UsageUniversities, research institutions, government agenciesEnvironmental consulting firms, government agencies, industry

Ecological Research Assistants primarily focus on conducting field research and data collection related to ecosystems and wildlife, often working in academic or research settings. Environmental Technicians tend to perform environmental testing, monitoring, and compliance tasks, working in labs or on-site at environmental sites. While both roles require related educational backgrounds, their work environments and specific duties differ, making each role suited to different career interests within environmental fields.

What challenges do ecological research assistants face when working in the field?

Ecological Research Assistants often encounter challenges such as unpredictable weather conditions, difficult terrain, and exposure to insects or wildlife while collecting data outdoors. Adaptability and attention to safety protocols are essential, as fieldwork may require long hours in remote locations. Additionally, assistants must be meticulous in recording and managing data to ensure accuracy, which is crucial for the success of ecological studies. Collaborating effectively with scientists and team members helps overcome these challenges and fosters a supportive work environment.

What skills and qualifications are needed to be an ecological research assistant?

To thrive as an Ecological Research Assistant, you need a background in ecology or environmental science, experience with fieldwork, and strong data collection and analysis skills, often supported by a relevant bachelor's degree. Familiarity with statistical software (such as R or SPSS), GIS tools, and field sampling equipment is typically required. Attention to detail, teamwork, adaptability, and effective communication help you excel in variable outdoor conditions and collaborative research settings. These skills and qualities are crucial for ensuring accurate data collection, efficient project execution, and valuable scientific contributions.

What is an ecological research assistant?

Ecological Research Assistants are professionals who support ecologists and environmental scientists in conducting field and laboratory research related to ecosystems, wildlife, and environmental processes. Their duties often include collecting and analyzing data, maintaining equipment, recording observations, and assisting with experiments in natural habitats. They play a crucial role in advancing scientific understanding of ecological systems and often work for universities, government agencies, or environmental organizations. This position may require fieldwork in various weather conditions and locations, as well as proficiency in data analysis and scientific reporting.

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What job categories do people searching Ecological Research Assistant jobs in Indiana look for?

The top searched job categories for Ecological Research Assistant jobs in Indiana are:

What cities in Indiana are hiring for Ecological Research Assistant jobs?

Cities in Indiana with the most Ecological Research Assistant job openings:

Ecological Research Assistant jobs near you
Infographic showing various Ecological Research Assistant job openings in Indiana as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 76% Full Time, 20% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 98% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 1% Remote job distribution.

Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Midwest Regional Energy Symbiosis

University of Notre Dame

Notre Dame, IN • On-site

$48K - $65K/yr

Full-time

Posted 22 days ago

University Of Notre Dame rating

7.4

Company rating: 7.4 out of 10

Based on 45 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

337th of 618 rated colleges and universities

Job description

Description
The University of Notre Dame invites applications for a Postdoctoral Research Fellow to join a collaborative, interdisciplinary team of researchers from Notre Dame, Indiana University, Purdue University, and the University of Wisconsin to develop and pilot an AI-enabled material flow and industrial symbiosis framework that connects energy, water, and resource loops. This innovative research engages the Midwest's strong presence in manufacturing, agricultural landscapes, construction activity, and freshwater resources as a living regional laboratory to develop transferable methods for mapping, modeling, and evaluating industrial symbiosis opportunities across interconnected energy, water, material, agricultural, industrial, and construction systems. The postdoctoral fellow will serve as the central analytical and coordination lead for the project, working under the technical guidance of the PI and co-investigators.
The postdoctoral fellow will contribute to key project outcomes, including, but not limited to:
  • Developing an innovative industrial symbiosis framework that outlines short-term feasible and long-term transformative cross-sector exchanges.
  • Creating a transparent AI-enabled and replicable methodology that can be adapted to other Midwestern and U.S. regions to support energy-water-resource engineering and circular economy research.
  • Coordinating meetings and work with faculty teams and other research assistants.
  • Lead the co-authorship of interdisciplinary, peer-reviewed publications in high impact journals and develop the foundation for future grant proposals.

The postdoctoral fellow will assume the following key responsibilities:
  • Compiling, managing, and integrating geospatial and infrastructure datasets related to industrial facilities, manufacturing processes, water and wastewater systems, solid waste streams, agricultural production, energy systems, construction-related material demand, and secondary resource flows.
  • Developing regional material flow inventories that identify major sources, sinks, transformation points, and potential exchange pathways.
  • Conducting industrial symbiosis screening to identify feasible cross-sector resource exchanges.
  • Supporting the development of transparent AI-enabled assessment methods.
  • Conducting simplified material flow analysis, life-cycle assessment, and techno-economic screening to evaluate selected symbiosis pathways.
  • Preparing technical briefs, maps, diagrams, scenario portfolios, and visualizations to support team coordination and communication with public and private sector partners.
  • Producing first drafts of scholarly manuscripts and contributing technical content, preliminary results, figures, and supporting analyses for follow-on grant proposals.

This search is conducted with leadership from Notre Dame's Just Transformations to Sustainability Initiative, a University-wide effort to build a sustainable future where people and nature flourish together. The Initiative supports an interdisciplinary cohort of postdoctoral scholars dedicated to advancing sustainability research grounded in the principles of integral ecology and integral human development.
This is a full-time position available with an initial appointment of one-year, renewable for an additional year on the basis of satisfactory performance and availability of funding.
Qualifications
Required Qualifcations:
  • Ph.D. (in hand by the starting date) in industrial ecology, environmental engineering, civil and environmental engineering, systems engineering, sustainable manufacturing, urban systems, architecture/engineering, environmental science, geography, data science, or a closely related field.
  • Demonstrated research experience in one or more of the following areas: material flow analysis, life-cycle assessment, techno-economic analysis, industrial symbiosis, circular economy, resource recovery, waste management, water-energy-food systems, sustainable manufacturing, or low-carbon construction/material systems.
  • Strong quantitative and data-integration skills, including experience working with geospatial data, infrastructure datasets, environmental inventories, or regional-scale resource-flow data.
  • Expertise with LCA/MFA tools, databases, or methods; experience with software such as SimaPro, openLCA, Brightway, Python, R, GIS platforms, or related analytical tools is desirable.
  • Experience with AI, machine learning, optimization, spatial analysis, scenario modeling, or decision-support methods is strongly preferred, especially when applied in transparent, interpretable, or policy-relevant contexts.
  • Ability to synthesize complex multi-sector information into clear analytical outputs, including maps, figures, diagrams, tables, technical memos, and scholarly manuscripts.
  • Strong writing, communication, and coordination skills, with the ability to work across a multi-institutional and interdisciplinary research team.
  • Interest in regional sustainability, circular resource engineering, industrial ecology, and applied research that supports energy-water-resource loop closure.

Application Instructions
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis starting on September 1, 2026, and will continue until the position is filled.
Interested applicants should submit the following materials at their earliest convenience:
  1. A two page cover letter that describes in detail their research interests, background and qualifications for the role.
  2. A detailed curriculum vitae.
  3. Three recent publications or dissertation chapters.
  4. Contact information for at least three references.

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