Jobs

Water Projects Lab and Field Research Assistant (posted 5/25/2023)

Water Resources Research Center, UMass Amherst

Job Summary
Conduct and coordinate field sampling in the Blackstone River for a grant funded applied research project. Water sample analyses for Total Phosphorus and chlorophyll-a, pH. Statistical analysis of data and develop charts for data reports.

Examples of duties:

  • Coordinate and implement data collection programs to meet the applied research and educational outreach goals of grant funded projects. Assure data collection programs meet the research/educational objectives with efficiency.
  • Train and lead field crews, complete required quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) calculations and qualitative evaluation; Lead project data management and data qualitative presentation and review for reporting.
  • Execute statistical analyses and other data interpretation operations to meet research and educational goals. Implement models, as required by the project design, and statistically analyze results. Provide collected information for project reports.
  • Execute laboratory analyses including for chlorophyll-a and total phosphorus, as well a pH and conductivity. Oversee management of the Environmental Analysis Laboratory including executing quality control assessment program. Furnish lab results, including summarized comments. Manage client billing and communication.
  • Manage equipment and quality assurance for laboratory analysis as well as field water quality monitoring, including - sample collection and processing equipment needs; calibration of instruments; instrument field deployment and recovery; data management, processing, analysis, review, and reporting; manufacture and distribution of Quality Assurance samples; manage internal lab QA/QC processes and procedures.
  • Train, supervise and manage undergraduate students in the analysis of chlorophyll-a, laboratory upkeep and equipment maintenance. Train and supervise field crews, including students, to collect and analyze water samples.

Minimum Qualifications

  • Minimum of Bachelor’s Degree in an area of Environmental Science, Chemistry, Engineering, or equivalent.
  • Experience running laboratory analyses and knowledge of laboratory QA/QC procedures required.
  • Experience conducting water quality sampling.
  • Driver’s License.
  • Computer literacy (MS Office, in particular Exce; R).

Preferred Qualifications

  • Computer literacy (Teams, Zoom, ArcGIS helpful)
  • UMass Lab Safety Training Certification

Physical Demands/Working Conditions
Working in the field under varied meteorological conditions in sometimes rough terrain (e.g poison ivy).

Work Schedule
Monday – Friday 8:30AM – 5:00PM
Once a month April-November 6AM – 4PM
May be required to work some nights and weekends.
Temporary position June 2023 – June 2024

Salary Information
$26/hour, up to 20 hours/week

Will work under the direct supervision of the WRRC Associate Director.

For more information or to apply, please email wrrc[at]umass[dot]edu


Associate Director/Specialist at Arizona Water Resources Research Center ( posted 5/15/23)

Candidates are sought for an Associate Director (Year-to- Year Professional) and Associate/Full Extension Specialist (Continuing Status Eligible, Fiscal Year appointment), at the Water Resources Research Center in the Division of Agriculture, Life and Veterinary Sciences, and Cooperative Extension at the University of Arizona. The rank for the Extension Specialist will depend on the candidate’s record and experience, with the academic home depending on the field of specialization. This position will work closely with the WRRC Director to administer the WRRC, a Research and Extension Center within the Division, and one of a national network of federally authorized water resources research institutes/centers. Main duties and responsibilities of the position include providing program direction for the WRRC, conducting applied research and engagement programs, and establishing and maintaining extramural funding. The minimum qualifications include a Doctorate or equivalent terminal degree, a minimum of five years of work experience related to Arizona’s and regional water management, a strong record of scholarly accomplishments, and a record of collaborative projects and programs.
WRRC Associate Director Job Posting


Multiple postdoctoral openings on a new multi-disciplinary project at UW-Madison (Posted 5/25/23)

1. Water wave mechanics and / or fluid mechanics
2. Limnology and / or biogeochemistry and / or environmental chemistry
3. Applied mechanics and / or ice dynamics and / or computational mechanics

All positions will likely involve a combination of lab, field, and modelling work. However, there is flexibility to tailor the precise project and research to the competencies and interests of selected applicants, so please do get in touch if you feel you would be qualified and interested. This is an opportunity to work in a supportive, collaborative, and multi-disciplinary team with other researchers with mentoring from multiple faculty in different departments.

In addition, UW-Madison offers many professional development opportunities to postdocs (https://postdoc.wisc.edu/careers/) and faculty mentors will be able to provide additional support to develop and reach career goals. Madison as a city is also an attractive place to live and work (https://gradlife.wisc.edu/living-in-madison/).

The desired start date is September 2023, but there is some flexibility in this. To apply, please first contact us at the e-mails below with your CV and a brief paragraph describing your research and educational background and what interests you about this research.

All postdoctoral appointments will be for an initial period of 1 year, with renewal for a 2nd year based on satisfactory performance.

Project description:

Lakes are very important resources for humanity, since they store freshwater, support biodiversity, sequester carbon, and provide space for recreation. To better predict how lakes respond to management practices and how they will influence and be influenced by climate change, we aim to bring together diverse researchers and tools to investigate how wave-driven processes across scales and seasons could hold the key to predicting coupled physical and biological aspects of lake dynamics. Topics of investigation could include, but are not limited to, the role of waves and fluid motions in driving particulate motion, triggering and quenching algal blooms, driving aerosol formation, influencing ice formation and break up, and mediating under-ice processes

Contacts:

Nimish Pujara (npujara[at]wisc[dot]edu; Civil and Environmental Engineering)
Tim Bertram (timothy.bertram[at]wisc[dot]edu; Chemistry)
Hilary Dugan (hdugan[at]wisc[dot]edu; Limnology / Integrative Biology)
Jennifer Franck (jafranck[at]wisc[dot]edu; Mechanical Engineering)
Till Wagner (till.wagner[at]wisc[dot]edu; Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences)
Grace Wilkinson (gwilkinson[at]wisc[dot]edu; Limnology / Integrative Biology)
Luke Zoet (lzoet[at]wisc[dot]edu; Geosciences)