Gaia AI is hiring a motivated forestry/fuels field professional to support a U.S. Department of Defense (DoD)-funded research project focused on fuel load monitoring and wildfire risk. You’ll collect high-quality field and lab measurements that will be used to evaluate and calibrate LiDAR-derived 3D point clouds for next-generation fire modeling workflows (including QUIC-Fire and FastFuels).

This role is a great fit for someone who enjoys a mix of hands-on fieldwork + organized lab processing, and who takes pride in producing clean, reliable data.

What you’ll do

Fieldwork (near Georgia Athens + regional travel as needed)

• Collect surface fuel load samples using clip plot methods (0.25 m²) following established protocols and project guidance
• Conduct forest inventory measurements with a strong focus on accuracy and consistency:
• DBH (diameter at breast height)
• Total height (and additional tree metrics as required by protocol)
• Support plot navigation, setup, and documentation (flagging, labeling, metadata capture)
• Operate and assist with deployment of Gaia AI ground-based LiDAR field equipment (training on Gaia AI technology provided)

Lab-based work (Athens, GA area)

• Process clip plot samples: sorting, drying, and weighing biomass
• Maintain organized sample tracking (labels, chain-of-custody, logs) to ensure samples and measurements remain linkable to plot IDs and LiDAR scans
• Help keep the workflow efficient and QA-friendly (catching inconsistencies early)

What success looks like in this role

• Tree measurements are repeatable and accurate (critical for linking to LiDAR point cloud outputs)
• Clip plot samples are collected, labeled, and processed cleanly
• Data and samples remain traceable from field → lab → final dataset
• You communicate clearly about progress, issues, and field conditions

Qualifications

Required

• Demonstrated experience in forestry, fuels, ecology, or natural resources fieldwork (professional, academic, or equivalent)
• Ability to accurately measure DBH and tree height (or strong related experience and the ability to quickly pass a measurement accuracy check during onboarding)
• Strong attention to detail (you care about clean labels, consistent methods, and traceable datasets)
• Ability to work independently and manage time well alongside extended periods of fieldwork.
• Comfort working outdoors in variable conditions (heat, humidity, uneven terrain) and carrying weight
• Valid driver’s license and ability to travel to field sites

Preferred

• Experience with fuels sampling methods (clip plots, surface fuels, vegetation cover estimates, etc.)
• Lab experience processing ecological or soils/biomass samples (sorting/drying/weighing)
• Familiarity with GPS navigation, plot layouts, and field metadata collection
• Experience collaborating with federal/state land managers or research teams

Location & schedule

• Preferred location: Georgia (Athens area strongly preferred)
• Start: As soon as available (project field seasons begin February 15 2026; training and ramp-up can start earlier depending on availability)
• Work follows a seasonal cadence with concentrated fieldwork and lab processing periods:
• ~3–4 months during 2026
• ~4–5 months during 2027
• Field weeks and lab weeks may alternate depending on project needs

(We can discuss the exact structure depending on candidate availability and project timing.)

What we offer

• A chance to directly contribute to DoD wildfire risk and prescribed fire science
• Hands-on experience supporting a cutting-edge workflow connecting field fuels + LiDAR + fire behavior modeling
• Work alongside an experienced team collaborating with USFS researchers and federal partners
• Training on project protocols and Gaia AI equipment
• A mission-driven team building practical tools for better forest and fire management

About Gaia AI

Climate change and wildfire risk are reshaping how forests are managed. Gaia AI is a climate tech company building modern, high-precision tools for forest monitoring using advanced sensors and perception AI. Our work supports forest management for multiple values, including carbon, biodiversity, sustainable wood production, and wildfire risk mitigation.

*Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.