Research Assistant - Geospatial and Environment

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TITLE:Research Assistant Geospatial Application and Environment

DEPARTMENT: Center for Geospatial Intelligence and Environmental Security, College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources

CLASSIFICATION:Staff-12 months

EFFECTIVE DATE:TBD

STANDARD

WORK HOURS:

37.5 hours per week

LOCATION:On-Site-Main Campus

EMPLOYMENT STATUS:Full-Time

EMPLOYMENT CLASSIFICATION:Non-Exempt

JOB SUMMARY:

The Research Assistant Position in The College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources at Kentucky State University would serve as a support person for the research or extension program and will participate in research duties specific to the objectives of the proposal funding sources. The position supports the experimental and agronomic research components of funded projects, including field, laboratory, and environmental monitoring using eddy covariance;

drone deployment and geospatial analysis; and social research actively assisting with data collection, analysis, reporting, and the dissemination of findings through publications, presentations, and progress reports.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

• Leadandinvestigateexperimentsexaminingcarbondynamicsofreclaimedminedlandsin Eastern Kentucky as part of the Appalachia Renewal Project using the Eddy Covariance flux tower.
• Manage, maintain, andcollectdatafromeddycovariance(fluxtower) installations in
  
  Martin
  
  County, Eastern Kentucky, including routine field checks, sensor troubleshooting, and continuity assurance.
• Leadsoilsamplingcampaignsacross Kentuckyandnearby Mesonetstationstosupportsoilcarbon  model development under the 1890 Multi-state Climate and Long-term Agroecosystems Research projects.
• Leadindesigning,implementing,andmaintaininglaboratory,field,andgreenhouseexperiments supporting the Soil Health Group in accordance with project protocols and safety standards.
• Performlaboratoryandfieldexperiments,includingsoilsampling,sample preparation/processing,and relevant chemical/physical measurements as required by project objectives.
• Collect,enter,manage,andanalyzedatasetsrelatedtosoil,water,sediments,anderosionusingSWAT and other analytical/modeling tools; support interpretation of results.
• Supportsocio-economicresearchcomponentsofinterdisciplinaryprojectsasassigned(surveysupport, coding/cleaning, descriptive/inferential analysis) and integrate findings with biophysical outcomes for reporting.
• ApplyQA/QCprocedurestoensurevalidityandreliabilityofresults;identifyoutcomesthatexceed tolerances, document corrective actions, and maintain reproducible workflows.
• Maintaincompleteandaccuraterecords(fieldlogs,laboratorynotebooks,metadata/datadictionaries, and organized digital project files); maintain inventory and keep laboratory spaces clean, safe, and orderly.
• Review up-to-date scientific literature to support method selection, interpretation, and development of ongoing, proposed, or emerging research activities.
• Analyzedatafromexperimentsandintegratedcomponentsasassigned;preparepublication-quality graphics, maps, tables, and text for manuscripts, presentations, extension materials, and sponsor reporting.
• Assistindevelopingprogressreports,technical summaries,andgrant-supportmaterialsalignedwith sponsor requirements and project timelines.
• Assist with maintenance of research infrastructure, including greenhouses, farm facilities, and field sitesasneeded;demonstrateabilitytoworkindependentlyinfarming/researchactivitiesandcontribute effectively to team-based projects.
• Train,supervise,andmentorresearchassistantsandgraduate,undergraduate,andhighschoolstudents supporting thesis, capstone, practicum, and project-based research.
• Facilitateandconductinformationaltalks,tours,andoutreachatfielddays,stakeholder meetings,and professional events.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

REQUIRED:

• Knowledgeofeddycovarianceprinciplesandabilitytooperate,maintain,andtroubleshootaflux tower and meteorological sensors.
• Abilitytoprocess,qualitycheck,andmanagelargeGHGandmicrometeorologicaldatasetsusing appropriate methods and software.
• Proficiencyinstatisticalanalysisandvisualization,producingpublication-readytables,figures,and graphics for reports and manuscripts.
• AbilitytouseGIS,remotesensing,andtoolssuchasSWAT, includingintegrationofmultipledata sources.
• Knowledgeoflab,field,andgreenhouseresearchmethods,includingexperimental setupand implementation.
• Socialandsocio-economicresearchknowledgeisanadvantage,includingsurveysupport,datacoding and cleaning, and basic analysis.
• Abilityto search andsynthesizescientificliteratureforresearch planning and interpretation.
• KnowledgeofQAandsafetystandards,includingsafehandlingproceduresandcompliance requirements.
• Abilitytooperate andmaintainlabandfieldequipmentandfollowprojectprotocols.
• Strongtechnicalwritingforprogressreports,summaries,and sponsor deliverables.
• Strongcommunicationand teamwork,withtheabilityto…