Position Website with Application Information
Primary Position Function/Summary:
Conduct research projects that focus on the intersection of microbial ecology and biogeochemistry to gain better understanding of controls on soil nitrogen cycling in agricultural systems.
Major Duties and Responsibilities:
- Assist with laboratory tasks by processing and analyzing soil, gas, and water samples, assisting with stable isotope tracer experiments and laboratory assays for carbon and nitrogen cycling processes.
- Conduct field research by maintaining field-deployed instrumentation such as soil sensors and autochambers for soil-atmosphere trace gas flux measurements, and collecting plant, soil, gas, and water samples.
- Supervise undergraduate students, including training, assigning tasks, tracking work performance and deliverables, organizing datasets, and creating an inclusive and collaborative environment.
- Opportunity to assist with data analysis and manuscript preparation.
Required Education, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
Education Required – Bachelor’s degree in biology, environmental science, chemistry, or related field. Alternate degree fields will be considered/accepted depending on depth and breadth of experience and skills as related to this position.
Education Preferred – Bachelor’s degree in biology, environmental science, chemistry, or related field.
Experience Required - Experience in in the laboratory and field related to biogeochemistry or related disciplines (e.g., above, and belowground plant sampling, trace gas flux measurements, soil sampling, wet chemistry, gas chromatography).
Experience Preferred –
- Experience running analytical instrumentation of any kind, including for soil, water and gas samples (i.e., SmartChem discrete autoanalyzer, gas chromatograph, isotope ratio mass spectrometer).
- Experience with wet chemistry, such as conducting laboratory assays for soil carbon and nitrogen cycling processes or following protocols in college-level lab courses.
- Experience with molecular biology techniques such as DNA extraction.
Training, Licenses or Certifications Required – Valid driver’s license
Knowledge, Skills, and Ability –
- Enthusiasm for learning new skills.
- Ability to work in a large collaborative team environment.
- Strong organizational skills.
- Ability to work long days in the field under hot and humid conditions.
- Basic computer skills (MS Word, Excel).
Environmental Demands – Field work including working in adverse weather and field conditions.
