STEM OPT Forest Ecologist Jobs
Forest Ecologist roles in ecological research, land management, and conservation fall within STEM-designated CIP codes, making them eligible for the 24-month STEM OPT extension. Your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify to hire you on STEM OPT, and you'll need a qualifying STEM degree in biology, ecology, or a related field to apply.
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Get Access To All JobsPOSITION OVERVIEW
Position title: Postdoctoral Position in Forest Fire Ecology and Global Change
Salary range: $69,073 - $82,836
Percent time: 100%
Anticipated start: May 1, 2026 or later
Position duration: 2 years
APPLICATION WINDOW
Open date: February 23, 2026
Next review date: Monday, Mar 9, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.
Final date: Sunday, May 31, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.
POSITION DESCRIPTION
The Department of Geography, at the University of California, Santa Barbara and the Western Fire and Forest Resilience Collaborative (WFFRC) seeks to hire a qualified candidate for a postdoctoral research position focused on the fire ecology and California’s Sierra Nevada Mountains and the broader western United States.
We seek a highly motivated Postdoctoral Scholar to work at the interface of fire ecology, forest dynamics, and ecosystem modeling as part of the Western Fire and Forest Resilience Collaborative (WFFRC) based in the Trugman Lab at UC Santa Barbara. The postdoc will lead efforts to parameterize and apply the individual-based forest landscape model iLand to develop scalable ecological inferences on fire–vegetation interactions in the Sierra Nevada Mountains and the broader western United States.
The successful candidate will work closely with an interdisciplinary team of ecologists, modelers, and Earth system scientists to integrate field observations, remote sensing products, and existing datasets into a mechanistic modeling framework. The position offers substantial intellectual independence and opportunities to publish high-impact research addressing forest resilience, disturbance regimes, and climate change.
The appointee may work on one or multiple additional ongoing lab projects, depending upon interests and past experience; opportunities also exist to collaborate with mathematical modelers, remote sensing projects, and field scientists across California ecosystems and the broader western United States.
QUALIFICATIONS
Basic qualifications
Applicants must have completed all requirements for a Ph.D. (or equivalent) in Ecology, Environmental Science, Forestry, Earth System Science, or a related field, except for the dissertation, at the time of application.
Additional qualifications
The Ph.D. (or equivalent) must be formally conferred by the start date of the appointment.
Preferred qualifications
- Experience with individual-based or forest landscape models
- Familiarity with western U.S. forest ecosystems and fire regimes
- Experience working with remote sensing or large spatial datasets
- Interest in linking modeling results to management- or policy-relevant questions
- A track record of scholarship including talks and peer-reviewed publications appropriate to career stage.
- Strong quantitative skills and experience with ecological or Earth system models
- Proficiency in programming and data analysis (e.g., R, Python, C/C++, or similar)
- Demonstrated interest in fire ecology, forest dynamics, or disturbance ecology
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
Document requirements
- Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.
- Cover Letter
- Statement of Research - A short (1-2 page) statement of research experience and interests related to the project.
Reference requirements
3 required (contact information only)
References will be contacted for final candidate(s) by email and/or phone, requesting one (or more) of the following: discussion over email or phone, letter of recommendation.
JOB LOCATION
University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara CA
As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct.
“Misconduct” means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant’s previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment or discrimination as defined by the employer.
- UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
- UC Anti-Discrimination Policy for Employees, students and third parties
- APM - 035: Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination in Employment
Additionally, you will be required to comply with the University of California Policy on Vaccination Programs, as may be amended or revised from time to time. Federal, state, or local public health directives may impose additional requirements.
The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.
POSITION OVERVIEW
Position title: Postdoctoral Position in Forest Fire Ecology and Global Change
Salary range: $69,073 - $82,836
Percent time: 100%
Anticipated start: May 1, 2026 or later
Position duration: 2 years
APPLICATION WINDOW
Open date: February 23, 2026
Next review date: Monday, Mar 9, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.
Final date: Sunday, May 31, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.
POSITION DESCRIPTION
The Department of Geography, at the University of California, Santa Barbara and the Western Fire and Forest Resilience Collaborative (WFFRC) seeks to hire a qualified candidate for a postdoctoral research position focused on the fire ecology and California’s Sierra Nevada Mountains and the broader western United States.
We seek a highly motivated Postdoctoral Scholar to work at the interface of fire ecology, forest dynamics, and ecosystem modeling as part of the Western Fire and Forest Resilience Collaborative (WFFRC) based in the Trugman Lab at UC Santa Barbara. The postdoc will lead efforts to parameterize and apply the individual-based forest landscape model iLand to develop scalable ecological inferences on fire–vegetation interactions in the Sierra Nevada Mountains and the broader western United States.
The successful candidate will work closely with an interdisciplinary team of ecologists, modelers, and Earth system scientists to integrate field observations, remote sensing products, and existing datasets into a mechanistic modeling framework. The position offers substantial intellectual independence and opportunities to publish high-impact research addressing forest resilience, disturbance regimes, and climate change.
The appointee may work on one or multiple additional ongoing lab projects, depending upon interests and past experience; opportunities also exist to collaborate with mathematical modelers, remote sensing projects, and field scientists across California ecosystems and the broader western United States.
QUALIFICATIONS
Basic qualifications
Applicants must have completed all requirements for a Ph.D. (or equivalent) in Ecology, Environmental Science, Forestry, Earth System Science, or a related field, except for the dissertation, at the time of application.
Additional qualifications
The Ph.D. (or equivalent) must be formally conferred by the start date of the appointment.
Preferred qualifications
- Experience with individual-based or forest landscape models
- Familiarity with western U.S. forest ecosystems and fire regimes
- Experience working with remote sensing or large spatial datasets
- Interest in linking modeling results to management- or policy-relevant questions
- A track record of scholarship including talks and peer-reviewed publications appropriate to career stage.
- Strong quantitative skills and experience with ecological or Earth system models
- Proficiency in programming and data analysis (e.g., R, Python, C/C++, or similar)
- Demonstrated interest in fire ecology, forest dynamics, or disturbance ecology
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
Document requirements
- Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.
- Cover Letter
- Statement of Research - A short (1-2 page) statement of research experience and interests related to the project.
Reference requirements
3 required (contact information only)
References will be contacted for final candidate(s) by email and/or phone, requesting one (or more) of the following: discussion over email or phone, letter of recommendation.
JOB LOCATION
University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara CA
As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct.
“Misconduct” means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant’s previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment or discrimination as defined by the employer.
- UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
- UC Anti-Discrimination Policy for Employees, students and third parties
- APM - 035: Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination in Employment
Additionally, you will be required to comply with the University of California Policy on Vaccination Programs, as may be amended or revised from time to time. Federal, state, or local public health directives may impose additional requirements.
The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding STEM OPT Authorization in Forest Ecologist
Verify your CIP code before applying
Ecology and environmental science degrees typically carry STEM-designated CIP codes, but not all programs do. Confirm your degree's CIP code with your DSO before targeting Forest Ecologist roles to avoid filing an I-983 training plan against an ineligible degree.
Check E-Verify status before each application
Federal agencies, state forestry departments, and university research labs each have separate E-Verify enrollment. Search the E-Verify employer search by organization name to confirm enrollment before you invest time in an application or accept an offer.
Target federal and state land management agencies first
USDA Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, and state forestry divisions routinely hire ecologists and are already E-Verify enrolled as federal contractors or government employers, removing one major STEM OPT compliance hurdle from the equation.
File your I-983 training plan around field seasons
Forest Ecologist work often runs on seasonal fieldwork cycles. Align your I-983 training plan start date with your employer's project calendar so your training objectives match actual work assignments, reducing the risk of DSO-flagged inconsistencies during the 12-month review.
Use Migrate Mate to filter for STEM OPT-eligible ecology roles
Search Migrate Mate for Forest Ecologist positions filtered by E-Verify enrollment and STEM OPT compatibility, so you're only applying to employers who can legally onboard you within your OPT authorization window without additional compliance steps on their end.
Forest Ecologist jobs are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Forest Ecologist JobsFrequently Asked Questions
Does a Forest Ecologist role qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
Forest Ecologist positions typically qualify if your underlying degree carries a STEM-designated CIP code, such as ecology, biology, environmental science, or forestry. The role itself must also require and directly apply your STEM degree. Your DSO confirms CIP code eligibility, and USCIS reviews the connection between your degree field and the actual job duties when you file the STEM OPT extension.
Does my Forest Ecologist employer need to be enrolled in E-Verify?
Yes. E-Verify enrollment is a hard requirement for any employer hiring a STEM OPT student. Federal agencies and federal contractors are generally already enrolled, but private ecological consulting firms, nonprofits, and some state agencies may not be. Confirm enrollment through the E-Verify employer search before accepting an offer. An employer who is not enrolled cannot legally hire you on STEM OPT, regardless of willingness.
What goes into an I-983 training plan for a Forest Ecologist?
Your I-983 must describe how the Forest Ecologist role directly relates to your STEM degree, including specific learning objectives tied to ecological fieldwork, data analysis, or resource management. Your employer signs the plan and must provide a reporting structure with a qualified supervisor. The plan is reviewed at 12 months into the extension and again at the end. Vague objectives that could apply to any science role are the most common reason DSOs flag training plans for revision.
How does cap-gap protect me while waiting for an H-1B if I'm on STEM OPT?
If your employer files an H-1B petition on your behalf before your STEM OPT expires and you're selected in the lottery, cap-gap automatically extends your STEM OPT work authorization through September 30 of that year. You can continue working as a Forest Ecologist during this period without a gap. If October 1 passes without H-1B approval, you'll need to stop working unless another authorization applies. USCIS provides guidance on cap-gap eligibility on their STEM OPT pages.
Where can I find Forest Ecologist jobs that accept STEM OPT students?
Migrate Mate lists Forest Ecologist and related ecology roles filtered for STEM OPT eligibility, including employer E-Verify enrollment status. Federal land management agencies, university research programs, and environmental consulting firms are the most active hirers. Searching by role type and authorization requirement on Migrate Mate narrows results to employers already set up to onboard STEM OPT students without additional compliance steps on your end.
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