Department Contact: Carolina Mijares, (575) 646-4337 & mijares@nmsu.edu

Internal or External Search: External - Open to all applicants

Advertising Summary: The New Mexico Water Resources Research Institute (NM WRRI) at New Mexico State University (NMSU) invites applications for a Research Scientist Associate to join an interdisciplinary team working to improve water resilience and sustainable agriculture across New Mexico.

This position offers an exciting opportunity to work alongside researchers, agricultural producers, acequia associations, Tribal Nations, pueblos, irrigation districts, and other community partners to develop innovative solutions to water management challenges intensified by drought and climate variability. The successful candidate will contribute to cutting-edge research that integrates hydrology, geospatial science, community engagement, systems modeling, and regional planning to support informed water management decisions.

The Research Scientist Associate will contribute to projects funded by the Bureau of Reclamation, National Science Foundation, and other state and federal sponsors. Current research focuses on the Northern Rio Grande and San Juan Basins, where communities are collaboratively identifying watershed-scale water management strategies that strengthen agricultural productivity, water security, and long-term resilience.

Working within a transdisciplinary team of scientists, engineers, and community partners, the successful candidate will help evaluate alternative water management scenarios, integrate social and natural systems research, and develop decision-support tools that inform water policy and resource management throughout the Southwest.

Position Details

Position Title: Research Scientist Associate

College/Division: Research, Creativity and ED

Department: 470500-WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH INSTITUTE

Location: Las Cruces

Offsite Location (if applicable):

Target Hourly/Salary Rate: Commensurate with Experience

Appointment Full-time Equivalency: 1.0

FLSA Status: Exempt

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

Contingent Upon Funding: Contingent upon external funding

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

If Not a Standard Work Schedule: 

Job Duties and Responsibilities: Collaborate closely with the Principal Investigator, project team, and community partners to advance research that supports sustainable water management and agricultural resilience.

Primary responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Lead and coordinate assigned research activities, project milestones, and technical deliverables.
Collaborate with agricultural communities, acequia associations, Tribal Nations, pueblos, irrigation districts, and other stakeholders to co-develop and evaluate alternative regional water management strategies.

Conduct specialized research using geospatial analysis, remote sensing, hydrologic modeling, water budget analysis, and related quantitative methods.

Integrate research findings into watershed models, visualization tools, and decision-support products that inform community and regional planning.

Collect, analyze, and synthesize environmental, hydrologic, and social data to support project objectives.

Mentor graduate students and contribute to an interdisciplinary research environment.

Prepare technical reports, presentations, and peer-reviewed publications for scientific, agency, and stakeholder audiences.

Assist with proposal development and contribute to expanding NM WRRI's externally funded research portfolio.

The successful candidate will be expected to:

Develop collaborative research partnerships and contribute to the institute's research growth.

Participate in the preparation and submission of at least three external funding proposals annually.

Publish at least three peer-reviewed scholarly publications annually.

Travel within New Mexico to conduct fieldwork, participate in stakeholder meetings, and collaborate with project partners as needed.

Qualifications

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

Equivalent Qualifications: 

Preferred Qualifications: 

Special Certification/Licensure: 

Working Conditions and Physical Effort

Environment: Work is normally performed in a typical interior/office work environment.

Physical Effort: No or very limited physical effort required.

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.