INSTAAR Field Technician

Job Summary

The Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research (INSTAAR) at the University of Colorado-Boulder is seeking a highly qualified Professional Research Assistant to manage field activities related to a funded project investigating water, energy, soils, and plant processes. Fieldwork will be conducted in the Como Creek watershed near INSTAAR’s Mountain Research Station, 8 miles north of Nederland, CO and 24 miles from CU Boulder’s main campus. The field manager will work collaboratively with scientists and engineers to develop, install, and operate a modular remote sensing and meteorological instrumentation platform (i.e., a tram) in a forested environment. The raised-track tram will be 2 meters high and 120 meters long. The tram will consist of an automated cart that will move along the tram track and make environmental measurements with co-located ground-based electrical resistivity mapping of underlying soil moisture and the water table, observations of tree sap flux, and study plots of soil nutrients and plant phenology.

The University of Colorado Boulder is committed to building a culturally diverse community of faculty, staff, and students dedicated to contributing to an inclusive campus environment. We are an Equal Opportunity employer, including veterans and individuals with disabilities.

Who We Are

As the University’s oldest institute, lNSTAAR (Institute of Arctic & Alpine Research) has a long history of addressing pressing environmental issues. Our traditional focus has been on polar and alpine regions, where effects of global change are especially pronounced. In recent decades, our research has broadened to include environmental challenges that span local, regional, and global scales. Research topics vary widely and include Quaternary and modern environments, human and ecosystem ecology, biogeochemistry, landscape evolution, hydrology, oceanography, and climate.

INSTAAR’s research activities integrate field studies, state-of-the-art laboratory experiments, sample analysis, and numerical and laboratory modeling. Our field sites are located across all seven continents and the world’s oceans. Our expertise across fields helps us generate influential science that can inform public and policy decisions and move us toward a more sustainable society. INSTAAR’s national and international research leadership is augmented by exceptional strength in graduate education and bringing undergraduates into the research process.

What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be

The person in this position will serve as a field manager for a new NSF-funded multidisciplinary project led by CU Boulder on the topic of climate change and population pressures on ecosystem services in the Colorado Front Range. Primary responsibilities will include:

• Construction, installation, programming, and maintenance of environmental monitoring systems and related instrumentation.
• Develop methods related to site preservation and tram operation.
• Operation and maintenance of a unique instrumentation design.
• Train students and visiting scientists on tram operation and data analysis.

What You Should Know

• This is a five- to six-month, part-time position. Salary will be commensurate with experience at the level of a Professional Research Assistant. The required start date is April 1, 2022, and the preferred end date is August 31, 2022, or September 30, 2022.
• The applicant will split work between the Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research (INSTAAR) and the Como Creek field site. Lodging and meals may be available at the Mountain Research Station.
• The candidate will perform field work in this job position.
• Workdays are flexible with advanced planning.
• The willingness and ability to work in a high-elevation settings with unpredictable weather conditions.
• All University of Colorado Boulder employees are required to comply with the campus COVID-19 vaccine requirement . New employees must provide proof of vaccination or receive a medical or religious exemption within 30 days of employment.

What We Can Offer

Month salary range from $1,750.00 to $1,916.00 at 50% FTE.

Benefits

The University of Colorado offers excellent benefits , including medical, dental, retirement, paid time off, tuition benefit and ECO Pass. The University of Colorado Boulder is one of the largest employers in Boulder County and offers an inspiring higher education environment. Learn more about the University of Colorado Boulder .

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Be ambitious. Be game-changing. Be Boulder.

What We Require

• Minimum requirements include a Bachelor's degree in the natural sciences, engineering, or related fields.
• Demonstrated experience with the programming and maintenance of Campbell Scientific data-loggers and/or other micro-processing platforms.
• Experience and interest in maintaining and troubleshooting environmental instruments in the field and laboratory.
• Experience and interest in spending long days working at a field site in a wilderness environment under variable weather conditions typical of the Colorado Rocky Mountains.
• Ability to train and supervise students and visiting scientists in field methods.

What You Will Need

• Be able to work effectively with minimal daily supervision.
• Comfortable traveling by foot and 4WD vehicles
• Excellent communication skills, both verbally and written, including listening, and responding to questions effectively.
• Ability and willingness to travel between CU Boulder (INSTAAR) and Como Creek / Mountain Research Station. Travel is reimbursable and will require personal vehicle use.
• Knowledge and skill in wiring, programming, troubleshooting, and maintaining Campbell Scientific or similar datalogger systems.
• Capable of carrying up to 50 lbs on rough or steep terrain for two miles.
• Proficiency with basic computer software including the Microsoft Office suite and online collaboration tools such as Zoom, Slack, or Google Drive.
• Must have the ability to pay close attention to details and keep clear and accurate records.
• Willingness to learn new methods or skills related to new instrumentation and designs to support project goals (e.g., geophysical instruments, soil/sediment collection, tree sap flow measurements, hemispherical and hyperspectral imaging, and tram function).
• Ability to follow directions including responding constructively to others’ ideas and suggestions and a willingness to develop creative solutions to challenges that arise.

What We Would Like You To Have

• Preferred qualifications include a Master’s degree in the natural sciences, engineering, or related fields.
• Experience with the construction, operation, maintenance, and data analysis of environmental instruments such as meteorological stations, sapflow sensors, soil moisture sensors, and eddy covariance measurements.
• Interest in co-designing and troubleshooting a unique moving environmental tram system.
• First aid / wilderness training or experience?
• Expertise in data analysis and QA/QC procedures using statistical software such as R, Matlab, Python, or SPSS.

Special Instructions

To apply, please submit the following materials:

1. Resume or CV
2. Cover letter addressed to the Search Committee briefly describing your qualifications, professional goals, and specific interest in this position.
3. List of contact information for three references who may be contacted on your behalf.

If you are selected as the finalist, your degree will be verified by the CU Boulder Campus Human Resources department using an approved online vendor. If your degree was obtained outside of the United States, please submit a translated version as an optional attachment.

Review of applications will begin in December and will continue until the position is filled. Any questions can be directed to Keith Musselman (keith.musselman@colorado.edu)

Note: Application materials will not be accepted via email. For consideration, applications must be submitted through CU Boulder Jobs .

Posting Contact Information

Posting Contact Name: Boulder Campus Human Resources

Posting Contact Email: Recruiting@colorado.edu