Junior Data Scientist

The Covey Lab at Skidmore College is looking for a curious, motivated recent College graduate to join us as a Junior Data Scientist. This is a full-time Skidmore College position, based in the Covey Lab and funded through a research award from The Soil Inventory Project (TSIP). Working at the intersection of environmental science, data analytics, and agricultural systems, it's an early-career role designed to build real applied experience while supporting undergraduate education and the soil research the lab carries out with TSIP.

TSIP (www.tsip.org) is a rapidly growing nonprofit organization that measures and maps soil carbon in agricultural landscapes using innovative distributed technologies. Through a combination of citizen science, professional networks, and cutting-edge data analytics, TSIP is building the infrastructure needed to support the transition to regenerative, resilient, and carbon-friendly agriculture systems.

The Junior Data Scientist will work most closely with the lab's Staff Data Scientist, supporting the lab's TSIP-funded data work and Skidmore's teaching mission while developing their own skills across the full data science workflow. This is a hands-on, mentored role: the Junior Data Scientist will contribute to live projects, help maintain the tools and pipelines behind that work, and grow into a mentor for the undergraduate students who work alongside them. It's a strong fit for a recent graduate who wants applied, mentored experience in environmental data science, whether as a launchpad toward graduate study or a data-focused career.

The Junior Data Scientist reports to Kristofer Covey, Associate Professor of Environmental Studies and Sciences, who also supervises the lab.

This position offers the opportunity to:

• Build practical data science skills across soil science, agricultural systems, and environmental monitoring datasets

• Contribute to real environmental data infrastructure that partners and researchers rely on

• Mentor and support undergraduate students in environmental data science

• Collaborate with an interdisciplinary team of researchers, practitioners, and students

• Contribute to peer-reviewed research and public scholarship

• Gain a broad foundation that prepares you for graduate study or a data science career

Roles & Responsibilities

Data and analysis

• Help faculty, students, and TSIP staff gather, assess, organize, profile, and clean environmental data for analysis

• Write and maintain code in R and Python, picking up tools like Google Earth Engine, JavaScript, or SQL as projects require

Support TSIP's data infrastructure (working with the Staff Data Scientist and TSIP's CTO)

• Assist in developing automated, self-service sample design tools

• Help build and maintain automated reporting systems

• Support the upkeep of data pipelines

• Run quality-control checks that help keep data accurate and consistent

Support teaching and coursework

• Help faculty develop data-driven exercises and course materials

• Assist with workshops in environmental data analysis

• Provide hands-on support to students during class sessions

• Prepare and maintain technical documentation

Mentor and support students

• Offer near-peer mentoring to undergraduates building data science skills

• Help supervise and support student data fellows

• Provide one-on-one guidance on class and research projects

Contribute to research

• Support ongoing research on soil sampling design and related questions, contributing to analysis, figures, and writing rather than leading independently

• Help prepare technical documentation and educational materials

• Present work in lab meetings and, where appropriate, in public settings

This role involves periodic travel, both to conduct fieldwork (including assisting and supervising students in the field) and to represent TSIP and meet with partners, along with occasional evening and weekend work as needed to meet deadlines.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's degree in environmental science, data science, computer science, statistics, geography, ecology, or a related field (recent graduates encouraged to apply)

• Working knowledge of R and/or Python

• Some experience cleaning, analyzing, and visualizing data, whether through coursework, research, internships, or personal projects

• Familiarity with version control such as Git

• Strong interest in soil, environmental, or agricultural systems

• Clear written and verbal communication

• Enthusiasm for working with and mentoring students

• Ability to manage tasks and follow through with limited supervision

Desired

• Coursework or project experience in geospatial analysis (QGIS, ArcGIS Pro)

• Google Earth Engine

• Remote sensing products (Landsat, Sentinel, LiDAR)

• Soil databases (SoilGrids, gSSURGO, POLARIS)

• SQL and basic database management

• Experience building data apps or reports, for example in Observable Framework or other web and data-visualization tools

• Prior teaching, tutoring, or research-assistant experience

• Field or lab experience with soil sampling

Position Details

• Full-time, one-year position, renewable based on performance and funding

• Access to professional development opportunities

• Support for conference attendance and research

• A collaborative, mentored research environment

• Benefits eligible position

Application Requirements

• Cover letter describing your interest and relevant experience

• Current CV or resume

• A portfolio or a few examples of data science projects (coursework, research, or personal projects are all welcome)

• Contact information for three references

Required documents needed to apply:

• On-line application

• Cover Letter

• Resume

• List of Three References

“No visa sponsorship is available for this position.”

EEO STATEMENT

Skidmore College is committed to being an inclusive campus community and, as an Equal Opportunity Employer, does not discriminate in its hiring or employment practices on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, gender, age, national or ethnic origin, physical or mental disability, military or veteran status, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, predisposition or carrier status, domestic violence victim status, familial status, dating violence, or stalking, or any other category protected by applicable federal, state or local laws.

Employment at Skidmore College is contingent upon an acceptable background check result.

CREATIVE THOUGHT MATTERS.