Researcher / Forest Ecology (Contract)

[What the role is]

The Singapore Botanic Gardens (SBG) is one of the oldest tropical botanical gardens and one of only three botanic gardens in the world inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It now also hosts a Tropical Forest Ecology Research programme to coordinate research to inform forest conservation strategies and policy in Singapore and the region.

The SBG is a Division of the National Parks Board which is responsible for Singapore’s network of parks and nature reserves.

[What you will be working on]

You will be part of a team that runs the Long-Term Forest Ecological Monitoring (LTFEM) project, the anchor project of the Tropical Forest Ecology Research Programme at the Singapore Botanic Gardens of the National Parks Board.

Specifically, you will:

• Carry out a census of seedlings and saplings as well as re-surveys of previously tagged trees in the LTFEM permanent plot network.
• Monitor the phenology of selected trees.
• Plan for surveys and prepare the necessary permissions and equipment prior to each session of field work; key in data and maintain the equipment after each session of fieldwork.
• Oversee interns and volunteers, and coordinate with researchers that would be making use of the LTFEM plot network.
• Conduct first-cut analyses of the data collected and generate summaries (e.g. graphs, tables, maps) of the results.
• Draft field guides to identify select families of tree species.

[What we are looking for]

• Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in Biology, Environmental Sciences, Life Sciences or Geography, or related disciplines.
• Physically fit enough to carry equipment and walk long distances in forested terrain and carry out data collection.
• Organised, meticulous, and independent.
• Good interpersonal skills and ability to work in a team environment under time pressure.
• Good written and verbal communication skills in the English language
• Preferably experience with plant identification, data analysis (e.g., using the statistical programming language R), and Geographic Information Systems software.
• Preferably possess a Singapore Class 3 driving license.