Research Assistant

Research Assistant Position

A research assistant position in the research group of PI Robert Letscher, within the Ocean Process Analysis Laboratory (OPAL), a research center in the Institute for the Study of Earth, Oceans, & Space (EOS) is sought. The researcher will be responsible for performing seawater sampling, seawater filtration, and seawater chemical analyses associated with an oceanographic expedition to the tropical and subtropical eastern North Pacific Ocean aboard the R/V Kilo Moana for a period of one month from June 20th through July 21st, exact dates still subject to change. The cruise will stage in San Diego, CA with the researcher being required to help load the ship with the scientific gear and unpack all gear within the ship's labs and prepare for use. This will occur on June 18th and June 19th in the port of San Diego. The researcher will aide in unloading the ship in the port of Honolulu, HI on July 21st and July 22nd. During the cruise, the researcher will be expected to be available during the hours of 6am to 6pm to perform tasks as needed. The researcher will be given on the job training in how to properly collect and analyze the seawater samples to be collected and will then be expected to work independently each day to repeat and complete their assigned tasks. This is not considered essential staff.

Duties/Responsibilities

• Seawater sampling (40%)
• Collecting seawater samples at sea, to be generated from 1) incubation experiments and 2) CTD casts.
• These will occur daily.
• Seawater filtration (10%)
• Setting up and monitoring 2-4 liter seawater filtrations through various filter types.
• Preparing the filters for preservation (freezer).
• Seawater chemical analyses (50%)
• Performing chemical analyses on collected seawater samples at sea including dissolved ammonium and enzyme rate assays.

Minimum Acceptable Education & Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in biology, chemistry, environmental, or geosciences.

Required Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Prior experience with general wet chemistry laboratory protocols and skills such as pipetting, preparation of reagents, and cleaning of glassware.
• Ability to work independently to complete assigned tasks.
• Ability to work as part of a larger team to achieve team goals.
• Prior experience with using spreadsheet software to enter and process data

Applicant Instructions:

Applicants should be prepared to upload the following documents when applying online within the My Experience: Resume/CV section of the application: (Maximum of 5 Documents)

• Resume/CV
• Cover Letter

Compensation Pay Range: $29.35 per hour

Please be advised that this position is supported by external sponsor funding. As such, continued employment in this role is contingent upon the availability of those external funds. If, for any reason, the sponsor funding is reduced or discontinued, employment may be subject to modification or termination in accordance with applicable policies and procedures.

The University of New Hampshire is an R1 Carnegie classification research institution providing comprehensive, high-quality undergraduate and graduate programs of distinction. UNH is located in Durham on a 188-acre campus, 60 miles north of Boston and 8 miles from the Atlantic coast and is convenient to New Hampshire's lakes and mountains. There is a student enrollment of 13,000 students, with a full-time faculty of over 600, offering 90 undergraduate and more than 70 graduate programs. The University actively promotes a dynamic learning environment in which qualified individuals of differing perspectives, life experiences, and cultural backgrounds pursue academic goals with mutual respect and shared inquiry.

EEO Statement

The University System of New Hampshire is an Equal Opportunity/Equal Access employer. The University System is committed to creating an environment that values and supports diversity and inclusiveness across our campus communities and encourages applications from qualified individuals who will help us achieve this mission. The University System prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or marital status.

The pay range for this position is listed above. Actual offer will be based on skills, qualifications, experience, and internal equity, in addition to relevant business considerations. More information on benefits can be found here: USNH Employee Benefits | Human Resources

Location: Durham

Salary Grade: Adjunct Hourly Staff 00