Research Director

Job Summary

Hudson Carbon is hiring a Research Director to lead our research team in the design, planning, and execution of new and ongoing research projects. The Research Director will play an important role in developing and advancing research priorities, as well as developing and coordinating a team of researchers to carry out our work.

Key Responsibilities

• Collaborate with the Executive Director, other HC research staff, and advisors, on developing research priorities.
• Provide support to the research team in carrying out aspects of ongoing research projects, including problem-solving, experimental design, data analysis, participating in field and lab work, etc.
• Design and develop successful grant proposals for new research projects, and effectively develop & execute experimental designs and research plans.
• Be able to develop detailed, precise and accurate project budgets.
• Manage grant reporting requirements, and ensure that reports and supporting materials are submitted in a timely fashion.
• Work with research team and collaborators at other organizations on developing manuscripts for publication.
• Stay abreast of emerging trends and technologies related to measurement, monitoring, reporting & verification (MMRV) protocols for the voluntary carbon market, regulatory markets, and corporate insetting.
• Work with the Executive Director and Policy Coordinator on policy initiatives related to our research.

Education & Experience

• PhD in biogeochemistry, soil science, or a related field of environmental/ecosystem science
• Proficiency in the use of GIS software (preferably ArcGIS), including geospatial data processing and analysis workflows
• Proficiency in statistics & data science, including in the use of R & Python languages
• Experience with predictive soil mapping and/or greenhouse gas flux data analysis (eddy covariance & chamber flux)
• Experience in field research, including experimental design, field data collection, and data management & analysis
• Experience in writing successful research grant proposals

The Ideal Candidate…

• Is inspired by the potential for regenerative organic agriculture, agroecology, sustainable forestry, and landscape restoration to address climate change, desertification, and other major threats to our planet’s ecosystems.
• Is a systems-thinker with an appreciation for the complexity of ecological systems, and a passion for holistic solutions.
• Is a self starter that is comfortable problem-solving, troubleshooting, and learning new skills through practical application.
• Is a team player who works well with others in a collaborative setting, and is open to learning from peers with a diverse set of skills and backgrounds.
• Is organized, punctual, attentive to detail, and highly skilled at written and verbal communication.
• Has a genuine interest in food and agriculture, particularly regenerative organic production systems, biodynamics, agroecology, and agroforestry.
• Is interested in a unique opportunity to gain practical research experience with access to world-class advisors from reputable institutions, and to advance their career outside traditional academic programs.

Compensation: $80K-$100K annual salary, based on experience, including a robust benefits package

About Hudson Carbon

Hudson Carbon is an on-farm research institute and soil lab based at Old Mud Creek Farm & The Churchtown Dairy, in Hudson, New York. Our work is focused on developing and implementing research projects that are aimed at better understanding the dynamics of soil & biomass carbon, and greenhouse gas cycling in regenerative, organic agricultural systems & regenerative forest management. Beyond contributing to the literature, our goal is to operationalize our research to catalyze the adoption of regenerative organic agriculture and forestry as a solution to climate change, ecological degradation, and food sovereignty. We achieve this by contributing to state and federal policy development, and collaborating on food system development projects more broadly.  To that end, we work with world-class research institutions like Woods Hole Marine Biological Laboratory, The Woodwell Climate Research Center, the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, as well as other local and regional stakeholders, including farmers, land conservancies, cooperative extensions, and state & federal legislators. Hudson Carbon was founded and built by organic farmers, bringing a unique perspective to the space, grounded in practical domain knowledge, systems-thinking, and a passion for ecologically-minded agricultural production.