Position Title: Research Asst,Sr

Employee Classification: Research Asst,Sr

College/Division: Engineering College

Department: 360400-CIVIL ENGINEERING

Internal or External Search: External - Open to all applicants

Location: Las Cruces

Offsite Location (if applicable):

Target Hourly/Salary Rate:  $43,908.80; Commensurate with Experience

Appointment Full-time Equivalency:  1.0

Exempt or Non-Exempt:  Exempt

Summary:  Join NMSU's water research team as a Senior Research Assistant! This role supports vital water quality analysis projects, focusing on fit-for-purpose applications. You'll collaborate with NMSU faculty, students, and external partners to enhance water sampling and analysis, characterize water constituents, and assess toxicity on aquatic life and mammals. Your responsibilities will include monitoring, gathering, and analyzing water, soil, and plant samples, conducting treatment experiments, and assisting with lab management.

Classification Summary:
Performs senior-level professional research in support of a major research project. Acts as a project leader in directing and coordinating other research assistants and technicians. Supervises data collection, evaluation, and analysis. Assists faculty researchers or acts independently in the design of research projects, the development of methods and procedures, the preparation of research proposals, and the writing of research findings. Reports to faculty researcher or principal investigator.

Classification Standard Duties:
Acts as a project leader and directs the collection, processes, and assists in the compilation and verification of research data, samples, and/or specimens, following strict protocol and detailed instructions. Performs or assists with the execution of routine research protocol, such as interviewing, testing, and/or scientific procedures. Uses specialized analytical equipment, instrumentation, and/or statistical software, as specifically assigned, to assist with routine data analysis and interpretation, as appropriate to the position. Assists in the setup, operation, and maintenance of research equipment, instrumentation, and/or facilities, as specifically instructed. May travel to field research sites or other locations to collect and record data and/or samples, as appropriate to established study objectives and protocols. Follows established departmental policies, procedures, and objectives, continuous quality improvement objectives, and safety, environmental, and/or infection control standards.

Required Education, Experience, Certification/License, Equivalency
Education- Bachelor's degree in a related field.
Experience- Five (5) years of professional experience related to the standard duties as outlined.
Equivalency- None

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Knowledge of research methods, laboratory procedures, terminology specific to the research field.
Skill in the use of computerized systems and databases.
Ability to understand and follow basic scientific research protocol and procedure. Ability to understand and follow complex, detailed technical instructions.

Job Duties and Responsibilities
The position is to support water research projects for water quality analysis for fit-for-purpose applications. The researcher will work with NMSU faculty, students, state and federal agencies, industry and environmental groups to improve:
1) the sampling and analysis approaches to accurately characterize water quality.
2) an understanding and characterization of the various constituents of concern in water
3) characterization of toxicity of treated water on aquatic life and mammals.

This position:
Monitors, gathers, and analyzes the characteristics of water, soil, and plant samples.
Analyzes samples using a variety of standard and advanced approaches.
Conducts treatment experiments. Works with NMSU faculty and students to conduct water treatment experiments.
Assists in managing water research labs.
Performs other related duties as assigned.

Preferred Qualifications

Special Requirements of the Position

Department Contact:  Pei Xu, (575) 646-5870, pxu@nmsu.edu

Contingent Upon Funding: Contingent upon funding

Bargaining Unit Eligibility: This is NOT a bargaining unit position with American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees (AFSCME).

Standard Work Schedule: Standard (M-F, 8-5)

If Not a Standard Work Schedule: 

Working Conditions and Physical Effort

Environment: Work is normally performed indoors.

Physical Effort: Light physical effort. Effort applies to no more than two (2) hours per day.

Lifting Requirements: Requires handling of average-weight objects up to 10 pounds or some standing or walking.

Risk: No or very limited exposure to physical risk.