Junior Research Assistant

Junior Research AssistantFixed Term (Fixed Term) Position$25.05, per hourHourly Pay FrequencyPosition PurposeGeospatial lab and field assistant to support assessments of water use and water contamination in the Central Valley and the Central Coast, under the Rose Foundation project "Assessing nitrate and metal contamination in drinking water for historically marginalized communities in the Central Valley and along the Central Coast of California". and the Next10 funded project "How does the rapid rise in data centers for generative AI impact water availability in California's most vulnerable regions?"Essential Duties and ResponsibilitiesAll of the areas below will be conducted under the direction and guidance of the supervisor.1. Field WorkUnder the direction of the supervisor, the research assistant will participate in field work, collecting water samples from wells, interviewing residents, conducting archival research.2. Geospatial AnalysisUnder the direction of the supervisor the research assistant will contribute to geospatial analysis tasks, including generating interpolation and interactive maps, trend analysis, visualizations, story maps.3. Writing SupportUnder the direction of the supervisor, the research assistant will conduct searches of the scientific literature at the request of the supervisor and summarize findings, including posting articles to online repositories. They will also summarize findings from the Water and Climate Justice lab for articles and reports.General GuidelinesFollows instructions, safety and ethical protocols.Identifies and determines cause of problems; develops and presents recommendations for improvement of established processes and practices.Maximizes productivity through use of appropriate tools.Researches and develops resources that create timely and efficient workflow.Prepares progress reports, informs supervisor of project status and deviation from goals. Ensures completeness, accuracy and timeliness of all operational functions.Prepares and submits written or oral reports as requested and required.Develops and implements standard operating procedures to support the functions of the laboratory.Performs data collection tasks efficiently and with precision.Qualifications1. KnowledgeBasic knowledge of field work, including techniques for well water sampling. Knowledge of ethics procedures in the context of conducting research with human subjects (IRB protocols). General knowledge of water flow, water contamination, and water resource management in California (i.e. has taken ENVS 160 Water Resources or similar course)2. SkillsExperience in ArcGIS, R coding, and data visualization. Strong writing and critical thinking skills. Good organizational skills and comfort working with community residents.3. AbilitiesOnce instructions and guidance are received, ability to work independently.Ability to follow established lab protocols.Work cooperatively as part of a research team, including regular progress reports to supervisor and other members of the Water and Climate Justice lab.Keep detailed records of work in shared driveAbility to drive and visit field places4. EducationB.S. degree in environmental studies or sciences, or closely aligned field, preferred.5. Years of Experience1 year of undergraduate research experience requiredPhysical DemandsThe physical demands described below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, as amended, the California Fair Employment & Housing Act, and all other applicable laws, SCU provides reasonable accommodations for qualified persons with disabilities. A qualified individual is a person who meets skill, experience, education, or other requirements of the position, and who can perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.Considerable time is spent driving in the field, walking on uneven terrain to collect water samplesConsiderable time is spent at a desk using a computer terminal.May be required to travel to other buildings on the campus.May be required to travel to field sites within CaliforniaWork EnvironmentThe work environment characteristics described below are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.Work will be in communities of the Central Valley and the Central Coast and in a typical low-hazard computer lab (spatial analysis lab, SCDI 4018) environment. Some tasks can be performed remotely.