Required qualifications

• Upper level undergraduate or graduate student (recently graduated students are also encouraged to apply)
• Experience or coursework in geospatial analysis
• Experience or familiarity with Python and SQL
• Experience working with Github
• Ability to work hybrid or in person in Minneapolis

We are hiring a computer science candidate that can help us better understand the code underlying the BRAT model (versions exist in both Python and SQL); help us organize and begin updating the code; and make recommendations on how to run the model on a large scale. The ideal candidate will have a computer science and geospatial background, be highly motivated, able to work independently, and work well within a timeline.

Job duties

100% - This candidate will be creating a comparison summary of the SQL BRAT and pyBRAT code to help understand differences between these two model versions, as well as creating a data flow diagram for SQL BRAT that includes databases, input data, and the structure of output data. In addition, this candidate will define the fuzzy logic used in SQL BRAT and propose future tasks to either incorporate, modify, or redo pyBRAT and SQL BRAT.

The Fairfax Beaver Lab uses geospatial tools to study the relationship between beavers, fire, drought, and climate change. An important tool in this lab is the Beaver Restoration Assessment Tool (BRAT), which is a geospatial model that predicts where beavers are most likely to build dams. This model is important for restoration planning, prioritization, and science that predicts the potential impacts beavers can have on a landscape. However, this model is currently slow and cumbersome to run and update as we learn more about beaver behavior.

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The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC)

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